Can a foreigner buy a property in North Rhine-Westphalia?

Generally, buying a property in North Rhine-Westphalia is possible for foreigners and there are no restrictions. You can buy real estate in Germany even if you do not have a German residence permit, but buying process does not automatically entitle you to such a permit.

How much deposit do I need to buy a property in North Rhine-Westphalia?

You will need to make a significant deposit before you buy property in North Rhine-Westphalia. A minimum deposit of 20% is standard, and in some cases, emigrants are requested to deposit in the amount of 30–40%, since they are considered as a higher risk.

Is buying property in North Rhine-Westphalia a good investment?

Yes, since Germany attracts a large number of foreign and domestic investors who are looking for high-quality and highly profitable real estate. Objects generate income of 3–4% per annum, and in the north of the country — up to 5–6%. For some time, interest rates will remain low, which is good for those who want to buy and keep property in key locations.

Are there property taxes in Germany?

Yes. The tax base is the assessed value of the property. The basic property tax rate in Germany is 0.35%, multiplied by a municipal factor. The effective tax rate is usually between 1.5% and 2.3%.

How can I get German citizenship?

A person can become a German citizen in one of three ways: by birth, by adoption as a minor, or by naturalization. A person may be born a German citizen through descent from his parents, or through place of birth.

Can I get a German passport if I was born there?

If you do not have German parents, but are born within the borders of Germany, you qualify for citizenship by birth or by right of soil.

How can I get residency in Germany?

To apply to become a permanent resident in Germany, you must fulfill the following conditions: five uninterrupted years of residence in Germany with a residence permit, five years of secure livelihood, including health insurance and social insurance (pension) contributions.

How long do you have to live in Germany to become a citizen?

You must have lived in Germany on a residence permit for at least 8 years or you must have lived in Germany on a residence permit for 7 years and attended an integration course (or 6 years on special integration circumstances).

How can I get permanent residence in Germany?

Most foreign residents can apply for a permanent residence permit in Germany — a ”settlement permit“ — after five years. Some people may get it sooner. For example, if you are a non-EU national married to a German citizen, you could file your application for a settlement permit after three years.

How many countries can German passport enter without visa?

German citizens can travel to 188 world countries without a visa, or with a visa-on-arrival, as of today. The country has risen to the second place, up from the third place it held with France in the last Henley Index update.

How much does German citizenship cost?

You need to pay the naturalization fees. Application form — 255 euros for adults and 51 Euros for children under 16 years old. Test for naturalization/citizenship — 25 euros.

Property for Sale in North Rhine-Westphalia, Buy Real Estate from 398,000 €

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With garden

Exclusive four-level home with a gym and spa in Dortmund, Germany

Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

1,950,000 €

Total area 382 m² · Land area: 3,479 m² · 6 bedrooms · 5 bathrooms

With garden

Five-storey, sunny house with a garden, sauna, and parking in Oberkassel (4th district), Düsseldorf, Germany

District 4 (Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

4,217,000 €

Total area 368 m² · Land area: 181 m² · 4 bedrooms · 4 bathrooms

With garden

Two-story house with a garage and a large plot in Jüchen, Düsseldorf, Germany

Jüchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

790,000 €

Total area 140 m² · Land area: 1,200 m² · 2 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With garden

Well-maintained house with a large plot in Willich, Germany

Willich, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

1,200,000 €

Total area 180 m² · Land area: 5,800 m² · 4 bedrooms · 1 bathroom

With garden

Two-storey house with a garden and a parking in Neuss, Düsseldorf, Germany

Neuss, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

520,000 €

Total area 120 m² · Land area: 568 m² · 3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With garden

Magnificent villa with a huge plot in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany

Mulheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

3,430,000 €

Total area 620 m² · Land area: 21,732 m² · 9 bedrooms · 4 bathrooms

Elvira Gracheva

Head of Sales Tranio Europe

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With garden

Two-storey house with a large plot and a garage in Essen, Germany

Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

535,000 €

Total area 180 m² · Land area: 809 m² · 2 bathrooms

Furnished

Furnished one-bedroom apartment in Golzheim, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

785,000 €

Total area 82 m² · 1 bedroom · 1 bathroom

With balcony/terrace

Modern 4-apartment cottage with a parking in Pulheim, Germany

Pulheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

1,870,000 €

Total area 360 m² · Land area: 522 m²

With garden

Spacious and stylish house with a plot and a garage in Essen, Germany

Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

590,000 €

Total area 233 m² · Land area: 702 m²

New two-bedroom apartment in the center of Dusseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

750,000 €

Total area 98 m² · 2 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

New townhouse in Hagen, Dortmund, Germany

Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

811,000 €

Total area 149 m² · Land area: 603 m² · 4 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With garden

Four-story house overlooking the Rhine River in Benrath, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

695,000 €

Total area 151 m² · Land area: 220 m² · 4 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms

Parking lot

Well-maintained three-storey house with a garage in Essen, Germany

Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

559,000 €

Total area 190 m² · Land area: 394 m² · 4 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms

Multi-level townhouse with ф parking in Oberbilk, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

699,000 €

Total area 125 m² · 3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With garden

Stylish and bright house with a garden in Pulheim, Cologne, Germany

Pulheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

890,000 €

Total area 167 m² · Land area: 768 m² · 3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With garden

Furnished house with a large landscaped plot in Aachen, Cologne, Germany

Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

1,495,000 €

Total area 360 m² · Land area: 3,420 m² · 4 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms

With garden

Modern two-storey house in Essen, Germany

Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

606,000 €

Total area 140 m² · Land area: 400 m² · 3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

Four-storey townhouse with a garden and a garage in Krefeld, Düsseldorf, Germany

Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

622,000 €

Total area 182 m² · Land area: 358 m²

With balcony/terrace

Modern one-bedroom apartment in Düsseldorf, German

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

750,000 €

Total area 96 m² · 1 bedroom · 1 bathroom

With balcony/terrace

Modern cottage with a garden and a garage in Menden, Germany

Menden, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

1,250,000 €

Total area 257 m²

With balcony/terrace

Four-level house with commercial space in Willich, Germany

Willich, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

608,000 €

Total area 298 m²

With garden

Four-level house with access to a garden, sauna, and parking in Oberkassel (4th district), Düsseldorf, Germany

District 4 (Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

3,579,000 €

Total area 373 m² · Land area: 162 m²

Stylish two-bedroom apartment in the center of Dusseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

670,000 €

Total area 82 m² · 2 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With balcony/terrace

New two-bedroom apartment with a parking in Cologne, Germany

Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

510,000 €

Total area 80 m² · 2 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

New townhouse in Krefeld, Germany

Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

536,000 €

Total area 138 m²

With balcony/terrace

Bright duplex apartment in the center of Dusseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

1,800,000 €

Total area 222 m² · 3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With balcony/terrace

Modern and spacious apartment in Tönisvorst, near Düsseldorf, Germany

Tönisvorst, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

599,000 €

Total area 125 m² · 2 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With balcony/terrace

New three-bedroom apartment, Flingern, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

590,000 €

Total area 81 m² · 3 bedrooms · 1 bathroom

New two-bedroom apartment in Derendorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

789,000 €

Total area 92 m² · 2 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With garden

Two-level house with a swimming pool in Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

759,000 €

Total area 124 m² · Land area: 261 m² · 3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

Well-maintained two-storey townhouse in Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

685,000 €

Total area 140 m² · Land area: 520 m² · 4 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms

Residential complex

New apartments in Xanten, Westphalia, Germany

Xanten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

From 526,000 €

Total 6 units available from the developer

Built in 2026

2 bedrooms from 526,000 €

With balcony/terrace

New apartment opposite the zoo in Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

685,000 €

Total area 82 m² · 1 bedroom · 1 bathroom

New two-storey penthouse in Dusseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

1,690,000 €

Total area 140 m² · 3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

Duplex penthouse in the center of Flingern, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

895,000 €

Total area 97 m² · 3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

Furnished

Well-maintained one-bedroom apartment with a parking in a prestigious area, Dusseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

590,000 €

Total area 83 m² · 1 bedroom · 1 bathroom

Residential complex

New apartments in Meerbusch, a suburb of Düsseldorf, Germany

Meerbusch, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

From 534,000 €

Total 6 units available from the developer

Built in 2026

1 bedroom from 534,000 €

2 bedrooms from 698,000 €

3 bedrooms from 956,000 €

New two-bedroom apartment in the center of Flingern, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

620,000 €

Total area 73 m² · 2 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With garden

Three-storey house with a garden and a garage in Angermund, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

638,000 €

Total area 171 m² · Land area: 809 m² · 4 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

New one-bedroom apartment in Cologne, Germany

Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

518,000 €

Total area 74 m² · 1 bedroom · 1 bathroom

New apartment with a garden in the center of Flingern, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

645,000 €

Total area 82 m² · 2 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

Stylish two-bedroom apartment in Dusseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

415,000 €

Total area 84 m² · 2 bedrooms · 1 bathroom

New doppelhaus in Kürten, Cologne, Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

500,000 €

Total area 98 m² · Land area: 249 m²

New two-bedroom apartment in a modern building, Dusseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

543,000 €

Total area 82 m² · 2 bedrooms · 1 bathroom

Modern doppelhaus with a large plot and parking in Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

750,000 €

Total area 74 m² · Land area: 470 m² · 2 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

With garden

Two-storey house with a garden and a garage in Angermund, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

670,000 €

Total area 170 m² · Land area: 739 m² · 2 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms

Residential complex

Modern residential complex with terraces, a large green garden, and balconies in a quiet area of Dusseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

From 398,000 €

Total 25 units available from the developer

Built in 2024

1 bedroom from 398,000 €

2 bedrooms from 695,000 €

3 bedrooms from 810,000 €

Residential complex

Spacious apartments with balconies and a green garden in a new residential complex, Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

From 490,000 €

Total 23 units available from the developer

Built in 2024

1 bedroom from 490,000 €

2 bedrooms from 796,000 €

Tranio’s client cases

All cases

21 February 2022
Turning monastery into a senior home: German renovation project to yield 12% annually for its investor
In August 2021, Tranio helped its client to invest €1 million in the construction of a German retirement home with an annual yield of 12%. Retirement homes in Europe are one of the most sought-after assets among investors...
10 February 2022
A burgeoning ROI in Berlin: A Tranio client’s experience with residential real estate in Germany
Within the course of three years, one Tranio client experienced an inspiring uptick in the yields of his Berlin real estate investment. Between 2018 and 2020, the market value increased by 28%, and the property began to turn...
10 February 2022
High yields, moderate risk: Case study of a lucrative senior-living facility investment in Dortmund
In 2020, a German developer informed Tranio they were interested in raising funds for the construction of a new senior-living facility. After comprehensive analysis and due diligence, we successfully guided several investors...
07 February 2022
Construction of a residential building in Berlin to yield 10% p.a. with moderate risks
In 2021, Tranio helped its client to invest €1.7 million at an annual yield of 10% in a residential building in Berlin in the excavation phase with 75% of the apartments already being sold. The remaining risks were calculated...
13 December 2021
In commercial property investment, the devil is in the details: Case study of a Berlin supermarket
The skills required for effective commercial real estate management span far beyond rent collection and such menial tasks as routine repairs and tax reports. Unforeseen events are bound to occur, and when they do, if not...
28 October 2021
Investor spotlight: Managing risks when investing in German serviced apartments
By the time Pavel B. approached Tranio with an interest in investing in rental properties abroad, he was already an experienced commercial real estate investor. With a German supermarket and Greek flats under his belt, he...
20 July 2015
Buying to let: Tranio client invests in rental property abroad
Elena, a Tranio client, decided to invest her family’s savings in an apartment abroad that could be leased out.
29 May 2015
Bought in five hours: how to pick an apartment in Berlin from your computer
Buying property overseas can be daunting, especially the first time. client, Sergey (28), has just disproved these theories after finding and reserving a property in a record five hours!
08 May 2015
I came, I saw, I bought: how to fall in love with a flat and buy it at once
Muscovite Vladimir Kolesnik used to travel to Baden-Baden. After many years spent in hotels, he finally made up his mind to buy his own home there with help of Tranio.com.
18 March 2026
Turnkey EU Residence Permit: How a Family Bought an Apartment in Tranio’s Filosofia Project and Received a Greek...
In 2025, a family came to us: a married couple and their adult son. Their goal was to obtain a European residence permit. Initially, they were choosing between Cyprus and Greece. Ultimately, the Greek Golden Visa programme...

Property for sale in North Rhine-Westphalia