An independent magazine for building a life in Germany.
Comparison
Buying property in Germany as an expat? We compare the best English-speaking mortgage brokers and how to get approved with foreign income.
By Mahiuddin Al Kamal · 5 options
Getting a mortgage (Baufinanzierung) in Germany as an expat is very doable, but the process rewards shopping around. Rates vary widely between banks, and a broker who compares dozens of lenders will almost always beat walking into your own bank. The catch for expats: some banks are cautious about foreign income, short residency, or non-EU citizenship, so the right broker matters even more.
We compared the providers expats actually use: Hypofriend (English-first, built for expats), Interhyp (Germany's largest broker, best raw reach), and Smava for the smaller personal loans that sometimes bridge a deposit.
We weighted English-language service, size of the lender network (more banks = better odds and rates), and how well each handles expat-specific hurdles like foreign income and visa status. Hypofriend wins for most expats because it combines a 750+ lender comparison with advisors who actually understand a non-German applicant.
Warning: German mortgages typically require a deposit of at least 20% of the purchase price plus closing costs (another ~10%). Start saving and comparing early. Approval with a thin credit history in Germany takes longer.
01 / At a glance
Pick an option name to jump to its full write-up below.
| Option | Rating | Best for | Type | English | Expat focus | Personal loans | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick Hypofriend | 4.7 | English-first mortgages | Broker (750+ banks) | 100% | High | No | Visit Hypofriend website, opens in a new tab |
| Interhyp | 4.4 | Largest lender network | Broker | Limited | Medium | No | Visit Interhyp website, opens in a new tab |
| Smava | 4.2 | Personal loan comparison | Loan marketplace | No | Low | Yes | Visit Smava website, opens in a new tab |
| Dr. Klein Mortgage brokers | 4.1 | Local advisor + big panel | Broker | Limited | Medium | No | Visit Dr. Klein website, opens in a new tab |
| CHECK24 Comparison marketplaces | 4.0 | Broad loan comparison | Marketplace | No | Low | Yes | Visit CHECK24 website, opens in a new tab |
Scroll the table sideways to see every spec.
02 / In detail
English-speaking mortgage broker built for expats in Germany. Compares 750+ lenders and handles the whole Baufinanzierung process online.
Pros
Cons
Germany's largest independent mortgage broker. Huge lender network and local advisors in most cities.
Pros
Cons
Personal loan (Ratenkredit) comparison marketplace. Compares offers from 20+ German banks in one soft-check application.
Pros
Cons
Mortgage brokers
Large independent mortgage broker with local advisors across Germany and a big lender panel.
Pros
Cons
Comparison marketplaces
Germany's biggest comparison site for personal loans and mortgages. Fast, broad, soft-check quotes.
Pros
Cons
Heads up: some links in this article are partner links, so we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is general information, not financial or tax advice. Learn more.
Related
AccommodationDestatis logged the strongest building permit jump since 2026 in June 2026, while Grunderwerbsteuer still ranges from 3.5 to 6.5 percent by state. Here is what actually closes a purchase for a non-citizen buyer.
Loans & MortgagesKfW's August 2026 SME financing report confirms self-employed applicants still face tighter underwriting than salaried borrowers. Here's the exact document list and lender shortlist that changes that math.
Loans & MortgagesThe Bundesbank's July 2026 report flagged tighter mortgage underwriting on thin-file borrowers, and expats without a Schufa history can pay up to 0.5 points more or get rejected outright.
