Purchase-related cost calculator

Calculate purchase-related costs: transfer tax, notary and estate agent

On top of the bare purchase price for the plot and house come substantial additional costs. This calculator shows you the Grunderwerbsteuer (real-estate transfer tax) for your federal state, the notary and land-registry fees and — if you wish — the estate-agent commission. That way you see the realistic grand total for your budget and financing.

Your inputs

Plot purchase price (€)

House purchase price (€)

Federal state (Bundesland)

Grunderwerbsteuer (real-estate transfer tax) in Nordrhein-Westfalen: 6.5%Grunderwerbsteuer (real-estate transfer tax) rate in Nordrhein-Westfalen: 6.5%. Basis: federal-state legislation, as of 2026.

Notary and land registry: 1.75%

1.5%2%

Notary and land registry together typically come to around 1.5 to 2 percent of the purchase price (as of 2026).

Include estate-agent commissionSimplified buyer's share of 3.57% including VAT (as of 2026).

All rates are statutory or typical market values for 2026. The calculation is a simplified model and is no substitute for a notary or bank quote.

Total purchase-related costs

€38,775

that's around 8.3% of the purchase price

Breakdown

Purchase price (plot and house)	€470,000
Grunderwerbsteuer (transfer tax, 6.5%)	+ €30,550
Notary and land registry (1.75%)	+ €8,225
Estate-agent commission (buyer's share 3.57%)	not included
Total purchase-related costs	€38,775
Grand total (purchase price plus costs)	€508,775

Simplified model calculation, as of 2026. The Grunderwerbsteuer (real-estate transfer tax) is applied here to the entire purchase price. If the plot and house are bought separately, the actual tax base may differ. Notary, land-registry and estate-agent costs vary by property and region.

Why purchase-related costs belong in your financing

Anyone buying a property usually plans around the purchase price — and overlooks that the additional costs carry noticeable weight. The Grunderwerbsteuer (transfer tax), notary, land registry and a possible estate-agent commission add up, depending on the federal state, to around 9 to 15 percent of the purchase price. Banks generally do not finance these items; they have to be covered from your own equity. Anyone who plans for them too late quickly runs into a financing gap.

In most cases the largest single item is the Grunderwerbsteuer. Its rate is a matter for the individual states and in 2026 ranges from 3.5 percent in Bavaria (Bayern) to 6.5 percent in several federal states. Notary and land-registry office add a further 1.5 to 2 percent or so. If you engage an estate agent, the buyer's share also applies, which in a private property purchase is usually split equally. The official transfer-tax rates of the states are published by the Federal Ministry of Finance (Bundesfinanzministerium).

You can additionally work out the pure build and completion sum of your prefab house with our prefab house cost calculator. All values on this page are a simplified model calculation (as of 2026) and are no substitute for an individual notary or bank quote.

Common questions about purchase-related costs

The key answers on the Grunderwerbsteuer (transfer tax), notary, land registry and estate-agent commission when buying a property in 2026.

Which purchase-related costs arise when buying a property?

Purchase-related costs (Kaufnebenkosten) include the Grunderwerbsteuer (real-estate transfer tax), the notary and land-registry fees and — if an estate agent is involved — the agent's commission. Together, depending on the federal state and the situation, these items add up to around 9 to 15 percent of the purchase price. The calculator sums these items and shows the grand total of purchase price plus costs. All figures are a simplified model calculation, as of 2026.

How high is the Grunderwerbsteuer in my federal state?

Each federal state (Bundesland) sets its own Grunderwerbsteuer (real-estate transfer tax). In 2026 the range runs from 3.5 percent in Bavaria (Bayern) to 6.5 percent in, among others, North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Brandenburg, Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein. Via the federal-state dropdown in the calculator, the tool automatically applies the correct rate and shows it in the breakdown. The basis is the legislation of the individual states, as of 2026.

What should I expect for notary and land registry?

The notary and land-registry office together usually cost around 1.5 to 2 percent of the purchase price. The notary certifies the purchase contract and handles the transfer of ownership; the land-registry office (Grundbuchamt) registers you as the new owner. In the calculator you can set the rate within this range. The exact fees depend on the statutory schedule of costs and the specific effort involved.

Does the buyer have to pay the estate-agent commission?

When private individuals buy an owner-occupied property, the estate-agent commission is usually split equally between buyer and seller. A widely used buyer's share nationwide is 3.57 percent including VAT. In the calculator you add this share optionally via a checkbox. Whether a commission arises, and how much, depends on the specific contract. This is a simplified model calculation, as of 2026.