Mortgages and real estate
Our clients finance their homes at sustainably low cost
Optimal financing helps you save a lot of money and taxes over the years. To keep costs low in the long term, you need the right strategy, similar to investing money.
Check carefully which mortgage model best suits your interest rate expectations and risk profile. Only then should you choose a mortgage lender and make a long-term commitment. And keep all aspects in mind when you want to build, buy, renovate, convert or sell real estate.
I make sure that buying or building a home does not become an adventure.
Discover all the latest news about mortgages as well as interest rate and market trends – with tips on your mortgage strategy:
How do I find the most favourable mortgage?
Many property owners are convinced that the best approach to getting a cheap mortgage is to compare as many offers as possible. That’s incorrect, as the smartest way to save money actually involves selecting the right mortgage model and term. Adopting the correct mortgage strategy saves far more money on interest costs than simply choosing the cheapest provider.
What should I bear in mind about fixed-rate mortgages?
Fixed-rate mortgages are only worth having if after taking one out, interest rates rise and stay at a high level over the long term. That is why you should always have at least part of your mortgage as a money market mortgage. Firstly, over the last 30 years money market mortgages have always been cheaper than fixed-rate mortgages over the long term. Secondly, they incur far lower fees if you have to unexpectedly sell your property and therefore prematurely break your mortgage – in case of divorce, for example.
How do I recognise a reversal of interest rates trends in good time?
It pays to finance your property with cheap money market mortgages for as long as possible and only switch to fixed-rate mortgages when interest rates start to rise sustainably. Keep a close eye on interest rate trends if your mortgage is due to expire in the next 12 to 18 months. If you expect them to rise sharply, it may be worth fixing the interest rate for the new mortgage weeks or months in advance. The VZ mortgage monitoring system automatically notifies you by e-mail as soon as interest rates exceed or fall below the limit you have defined.
How can I save taxes with real estate?
Owning real estate entails obligations – including paying taxes. As a real estate owner, you have several options for reducing your tax burden. By cleverly planning maintenance costs and renovations or by paying off the mortgage indirectly in a tax-optimised manner via pillar 3a and your pension fund. Or by carefully keeping all receipts of value-enhancing investments so that you can deduct them from the real estate gains tax when you sell the property.
How is the value of a property calculated?
Anybody buying, selling or inheriting a property needs to know how much the property is actually worth. There are various methods to determine the market value. Which one works best depends on several factors – such as the location, the age or the condition of your property.
What do I need to know about investment properties?
Multi-family houses are in high demand as a sound capital investment. However, there are several things to consider in order to find the right property with the lowest vacancy risk. As with all capital investments, real property is subject to fluctuations in value. If the interest rate rises or falls, this can affect both the price and the profitability of a property. Therefore, it is all the more important that you hedge against possible losses in value and optimise the return.
What do I have to consider when selling my property?
Selling a property is demanding and requires marketing knowledge and negotiating skills. If you hire an estate agent, you should be particularly wary of disadvantageous contract clauses. For example, if you accept an exclusive right to sell, you cannot simply change the agent if you are dissatisfied with their performance.
What do I have to pay attention to in a construction project?
Cost overruns are common in construction projects. The unexpected additional burden brings many building owners to their financial limits. Experience shows that additional costs become apparent at an early stage. Nevertheless, architects and planners often pull the emergency brake much too late.