Author: Property under 20k team

Houses and apartments get more expensive in Germany – even in the countryside

Low interest rates and not enough sites to build on have been increasing real estate prices in Germany for years.

Also in 2018, but now it is not just happening in the big cities.

In 2017, Germans also had to spend significantly more money to fulfill their dream of owning their own home. “The prices continue to rise,” said Peter Ache, branch manager of the working group of the expert committees of the German Press Agency.

In the working group the reports of the local expert committees come together. Unlike many market studies, they gain their insights from the actual sales contracts. The working group will present its next nationwide report at the end of 2019.  Continue reading Houses and apartments get more expensive in Germany – even in the countryside

Generation rent

Generation rent is a generation of young adults who, because of high house prices, live in rented accommodation and are regarded as having little chance of becoming homeowners.

Doesn’t this feel like flushing money down the toilet?

First time buyers in England are not having it easy.

Before they can get a foot on the property ladder they may spend many years renting and end up spending more than 50,000 Pounds in rent.

Figures from the Association of Residential Letting Agents show that tenants will be renting for an average of 13 years and in 2015 spent 22% of their wages in rent. Continue reading Generation rent

Property viewing – what to look out for when buying a home?

Property viewing is vital to check on the construction quality, property boundaries, and energetic condition. When you like to buy a house there are a lot of things to check and consider.

Quality of life is the most important goal when buying a home. To make buying a home a worthwhile investment in the future, you need a cool mind and ideally the advice of an expert.

Property viewing is of immense importance.

You get a first impression of the property already when seeing some photos of it. But this can never replace a real property viewing. You would not be able to see the smell or see the noise of a nearby road on the photos. Continue reading Property viewing – what to look out for when buying a home?

The best time of the year to sell your house

Does it matter when do you put your house for sale? Actually yes.

Property sales vary along the year usually peaking during June, July and August.

The same way birds nest during spring time it seems we are more likely to think about finding a home as days get longer and daffodils start to bloom.

Quoting Leo Tolstoy – “Spring is the time of plans and projects”.

Continue reading The best time of the year to sell your house

Moving back with the parents to save up for a deposit

There is really no way around it, if you are planning to buy a home you will need to have enough for a 10% deposit.

The way things go, you will need to save at least 20k to 30k before you can dream of getting a place you can call your own.

Now the tricky part, unless you have a good “parents bank” to back you up, this sum may take years and years to put together.

In the meantime, you need to live somewhere and as we all know, rents can be quite hefty. Continue reading Moving back with the parents to save up for a deposit

Can’t afford to buy a home? What about Shared ownership?

If you are thinking about buying a home, the first thing you need to do is to put together enough money for a deposit – typically 10% of the selling price and them be able to demonstrate that you can pay your mortgage.

Easier said than done; it may take many years of savings to come up with enough money for a deposit…and as property prices continue to raise the chances to borrow the amount you need may get slimmer and slimmer.

Here is an idea: What about Shared ownership?

Continue reading Can’t afford to buy a home? What about Shared ownership?

Buying a home with a friend

High property prices and hefty deposits meant, for many first-time buyers, putting off the dream of owning their first home. But here is an idea – why not to join forces with a friend or two to get your foot on the property ladder?

That’s exactly what more and more young professionals are doing.

Soaring property prices and stagnant wages meant that just over a quarter of those aged between their mid-twenties and mid-thirties can manage to own their own places. Continue reading Buying a home with a friend

Where do you want to live? Suburbs or city center?

Do you like it Green and quiet or you are rather in the middle of the action?

Suburbs or city center, close to the park or the shopping center: Before choosing to buy a property, you need to choose the location.

Families are drawn to the outskirts or suburbs

On the outskirts and in suburbs are the typical development areas with charming terraced houses, as well as detached houses of developers. Continue reading Where do you want to live? Suburbs or city center?

Houses for kids – Get your little ones excited about real estate

We are buying, restoring and selling real estate for the last 8 years now. We have two girls, 5 and 3 years old. Going to the DIY shop has been part of the weekly routine all their life. No wonder our girls are full of ideas about having their own little building projects.

Of course they have their own little space in the garden with the traditional sand pit where they can unleash their creativity. I already watched them assembling stones to built ways and building houses for little bugs they collected. Sometimes they use little sticks to pretend they are drilling holes or using it as a screwdriver.

Continue reading Houses for kids – Get your little ones excited about real estate

Buying a house in the USA – A step by step guide

Buying a house in the USA could be the first step toward the American dream.

Buying real estate abroad is now common practice for more and more investors and the USA is definitely one of the most sought after places to buy investment properties. Continue reading Buying a house in the USA – A step by step guide