Existing property purchase: Process after viewing? Information at the office?

Thank you very much up to this point!

One more important thing that I had to learn myself: Don't be shy! I am quite assertive but always tried not to step on the owners' toes. That's nonsense. With this amount of money, you should shamelessly question everything that’s on your mind. Look everywhere and touch everything you want to have checked.

Just bought a great used house as well. We searched for almost a year and looked at a lot. Since we don't know much, whenever a house was a possibility, we always took a known architect with us for the second viewing and then had an expert inspect it before buying. We paid for the expert for 2 houses, but we are glad about it. We almost bought the first one, but then the entire roof frame was moldy. The second time, everything fit. So only buy with an expert and make a selection beforehand. Regards Simon

Hello Simon,

Therefore, only buy with an expert.

THANK YOU for this post; it cannot be repeated often enough here!

Unfortunately, homebuyers often save money in the wrong place and believe they can buy an existing property based on appearances and hearsay. The trouble often comes shortly after the ink under the notary contract is dry, and then there is often no turning back!

Rhineland greetings

As Der Da wrote, it really makes little sense at the moment to buy an existing property.

Such generalizations are just as wrong as the statement that it makes no sense to plan a new build. Both depend heavily on the respective market conditions, which can vary greatly depending on the region and also the time.

Regarding the question of the thread starter:

1. Depending on the equity situation, check the credit framework in advance. Contact banks, request offers.
2. Visit the house. If you like it, arrange a second appointment with an expert.
3. If the expert gives the all-clear, submit your price offer.
4. Meanwhile, you can also inquire about existing pollution at the building authority.
5. Commitment. Find a notary. Have the contract prepared. Read the contract thoroughly before signing. If you have questions, the notary is the right person.
6. Sign the contract. Have the notary arrange entry of the priority notice in the land register (part of the contract).
7. Draw up the loan agreement.
8. After the notary’s request, carry out the simultaneous transaction (payment, receipt of funds, handover, land register entry).

Such general statements are just as wrong as the statement that it makes no sense to plan a new build. Both depend heavily on the specific market conditions, which can vary greatly depending on the region and also over time.

Regarding the question of the thread starter:

1. Depending on your equity situation, check your credit limit in advance. Inquire at banks, get offers.
2. Visit the house. If you like it, arrange a second appointment with an appraiser.
3. If the appraiser gives their OK, submit your price offer.
4. In the meantime, you can also inquire about any previous contamination at the building authority.
5. Commitment. Find a notary. Have the contract prepared. Read the contract thoroughly before signing. If you have questions, the notary is the right person.
6. Sign the contract. Have the notary arrange the registration note in the land register (part of the contract).
7. Make the loan agreement.
8. After the notary's request, carry out the simultaneous transaction (payment, receipt of funds, handover, registration in the land register)

That's exactly how we did it and everything went perfectly!
In total, we searched for about a year for the right house and it was the 10th one.
Just take a look at interesting properties, you will quickly notice differences there too. In our area, the market for good properties is quite picked over, but we were lucky. Through another viewing where we asked the realtor if he maybe had something else for us, our dream house came up because he was just in negotiations for it.
He didn't even have to list the house... But he was also a good realtor who really took care of everything and wasn't some smooth talker who you can tell just wants to sell. He already knew our appraiser and afterward, the appraiser told us that you are really in good hands with him.
Maybe you also have small real estate fairs near you... for example, we found our appraiser there even though we didn't have a house in sight yet.
But making contacts never hurts...

Definitely don't rush into anything, even if the house looks so good, have an appraiser inspect it and have the contracts checked by a lawyer. A notary usually only looks to ensure that the contracts do not contain anything illegal, but not whether something is perhaps not optimally arranged for you.
Appraiser and lawyer costs are just a few hundred euros and I definitely wouldn't save on that!
You often see the people who skip that in various TV shows where their building needs to be saved...