What counts as equity?

Can you increase the equity ratio through parents' house and property? In other words, use this as a mortgage. Or does that make little sense because the liability risk for them would then be too high, even though I will probably inherit it!?

If you consider this idea, I would rethink whether you can afford building or owning property.

You are talking about your parents' retirement provision, which will certainly still be needed, possibly made liquid and used for living in old age.

Regards

No, that is not their retirement provision, they have owned the house for 100 years and they don't see it the way you do. It's just about looking better for the banks. As soon as we have deselected the loan-to-value ratio, I would want to dissolve the mortgage.