KfW bank promotional loans 2026

KfW loan for buying a house: all programmes for 2026 at a glance

The KfW bank grants low-interest promotional loans for the purchase and construction of residential property. We show you which KfW programme suits your project, how high the loan amounts are in 2026 and how the application through the house bank works.

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KfW programmes for buying and building a house in 2026

The KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, Germany's reconstruction credit institute) is Germany's largest promotional bank. For private individuals who want to buy or build a house, these five programmes are particularly relevant. The loan amounts and conditions apply as of 2026 — the binding conditions are published by the KfW on a daily basis.

Programme	Purpose	Max. loan amount	Condition
KfW 124 Home ownership programme	Purchase or construction of owner-occupied residential property (new build & existing)	up to €100,000	no income limit, no energy standard required
KfW 297 / 298 Climate-friendly new build	New build or first acquisition of a climate-friendly efficiency house	up to €100,000 (with QNG up to €150,000) per residential unit	Efficiency House 40 / QNG sustainability seal
KfW 300 Home ownership for families	New build/first acquisition of a climate-friendly house by families	up to €270,000 depending on number of children & standard	min. 1 minor child, income limit, EH 40
KfW 308 Young buys old (Jung kauft Alt)	Purchase & refurbishment of unrefurbished existing buildings by families	up to €150,000 depending on number of children	min. 1 minor child, income limit, refurbishment obligation
KfW 358 / 359 Supplementary loan	Additional low-interest loan supplementing grant funding	up to €120,000 per residential unit	supplementary to an eligible measure, income bonus where applicable

Information as of 2026, without guarantee. Loan amounts, interest rates and income limits are subject to change. Binding information is provided by the KfW – funding for private individuals.

KfW loans as a low-interest building block of your financing

KfW loans from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau do not replace classic construction financing but supplement it. Here is how it works in practice: you cover the majority of the purchase price with an annuity loan from your house bank. On top of that you place one or more KfW promotional loans as particularly low-interest building blocks — together with your own equity, this makes up the overall financing. Since KfW interest rates in 2026 are clearly below the open market rate, each promotional building block reduces the average interest burden of your entire loan.

For families with minor children, a close look pays off especially. The strongest interest reductions are offered by the programmes "Home ownership for families" (300) and "Young buys old" (308) — but tied to income limits and, for new builds, to the Efficiency House 40 level. Anyone who exceeds these limits or wants to acquire an existing property without a refurbishment obligation turns to the income-independent home ownership programme (124) with up to €100,000.

How the application through your house bank works

Unlike the state grant, you never apply for KfW loans directly with the promotional bank, but through your financing bank or a broker — this procedure is called the pass-through principle. The sequence matters: the application must be with the KfW before the conclusion of binding purchase, delivery or service contracts and before the start of construction. Anyone who first signs the purchase contract and then applies for the promotional loan loses eligibility. For energy-linked programmes, an energy efficiency expert additionally confirms the required standard.

Pure grants — for example for age-appropriate conversion — by contrast, are applied for by private individuals independently and online via the KfW grant portal. Here too the rule applies: apply first, then commission. Our guide to the funding for house construction and specifically to KfW funding 2026 provides a detailed overview of all funding for your building project. Which programmes specifically suit your situation is determined by the funding finder in a few steps.

KfW loan and prefab house: a convincing combination

Prefab house builders in particular benefit especially from KfW loans, since many providers already meet the Efficiency House 40 standard as standard — exactly the requirement of the most heavily funded programmes "Climate-friendly new build" and "Home ownership for families". The binding fixed price of a prefab house also simplifies the bank's calculation and your application, because the build sum and construction time are established early. Anyone who combines both — an eligible prefab house plus a KfW loan — finances their home considerably more cheaply than with a pure bank loan.

What speaks for a KfW loan

Interest rate clearly below the open market rate
High loan amounts as a building block for bank financing
Particularly strong interest reduction for families
Also usable for buying existing properties
Programmes can often be combined

To the promotional loan in three steps

1
Determine the programme and provider
Check which KfW programme suits your project and find an eligible (prefab house) provider.
2
Apply before signing the contract
The house bank or broker submits the KfW application — before purchase or construction contracts are concluded.
3
Payout and integration
After approval, the promotional loan flows into the overall financing as a building block.

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Important questions about the KfW loan for buying a house

The most common questions on KfW programmes, the application route and conditions in 2026 — answered concisely.

How do I apply for a KfW loan for buying a house?

In 2026, you do not apply for KfW loans directly with the KfW, but through your house bank or a financing broker (the so-called pass-through principle). The correct sequence is important: the application must be submitted before concluding purchase, delivery or service contracts and before the start of construction. The bank submits your application to the KfW, checks your creditworthiness and integrates the promotional loan as a building block into your overall financing. Grants from the KfW grant portal (for example for age-appropriate conversion), by contrast, are applied for by private individuals directly online with the KfW.

What is the difference between KfW 124 and KfW 300?

The KfW home ownership programme (124) is a low-interest loan of up to €100,000 for anyone who buys or builds owner-occupied residential property — regardless of the energy standard and with no income limit. "Home ownership for families" (300), by contrast, is aimed exclusively at families with at least one minor child who build or first acquire a climate-friendly new-build efficiency house. Funding 300 is tied to income limits and the energy standard, but in return offers considerably higher loan amounts and more heavily subsidised interest rates.

Can I combine several KfW programmes?

Yes, in many cases KfW programmes can be combined, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. A new-build efficiency house can, for example, be funded via "Climate-friendly new build" (297/298), while a conversion runs in parallel via other building blocks. In practice, the home ownership programme 124 and the supplementary loan can often be bundled with further funding and the bank loan into a financing mix. Your house bank checks the exact combinability on a case-by-case basis.

Are there KfW loans without an income limit?

Yes. The KfW home ownership programme (124) has no income limit in 2026 — anyone who finances owner-occupied residential property can use it. Income-linked, by contrast, are the family programmes: "Home ownership for families" (300) and "Young buys old" (Jung kauft Alt, 308) are tied to a taxable household income and to minor children. Anyone who exceeds the limits falls back on the income-independent new-build and home ownership programmes.

How large is the interest advantage of a KfW loan in 2026?

The interest advantage depends on the programme and the chosen term. In 2026, KfW promotional loans are noticeably below the open market interest rate — depending on the programme, between around 0.5 and 2 percentage points cheaper. The interest reduction is strongest for the income-linked family programmes. On a loan amount of €100,000 and a 20-year term, even one percentage point of interest advantage easily adds up to a five-figure amount. The binding, up-to-date conditions are published by the KfW itself.

Does the KfW also fund the purchase of an existing property?

Yes. The home ownership programme (124) expressly also funds the purchase of existing houses and flats for owner occupation. For families there is additionally "Young buys old" (308), which specifically supports the acquisition and subsequent energy-efficient refurbishment of older, unrefurbished existing buildings. The KfW funds individual energy-efficiency measures on purchased existing properties via the supplementary loan and separate refurbishment programmes.

What documents do I need for the KfW application?

For the application through the house bank, you generally need proof of income, the draft purchase or construction contract, plot and property documents and — for energy-linked programmes — the confirmation of an energy efficiency expert (BzA/gBzA). For family programmes, proof of the children and the income tax assessments of the last two years are added. Your bank puts together a specific checklist so that the application is complete and arrives in good time before the contract is concluded.