Selling property for parents, grandparents and loved ones

As a child, you worry about mom and dad; as a grandchild, you worry about grandma and grandpa. Retirement savings don’t last forever, and neither do the savings. At some point, the property becomes too big, and at the same time the savings become less and less. At the latest now, a solution must be found for your loved ones!

What to do when you need to sell?

Prevention is better than aftercare: options

Before it is about expressions of grief, it is about good solutions. People grow old and at some point, life has to be organized appropriately. For many, this means selling the house and moving into an age-appropriate condominium. Accordingly, close people have to make decisions. This includes living wills, in case your loved ones are no longer able to make their own decisions at some point. But it is just as much a part of thinking about your own property.

One thing is also Important: First and foremost, do not think about your own inheritance, but about the family!

Let’s take a look at the 3 options for your understanding: Sale of the property, partial sale and real estate annuity! Tip, you will find further links to all three topics, with detailed explanations. What to do when someone gets old? Here are three alternatives!

Options in the sale of real estate:

1. Real estate annuity – selling with lifelong right to live
2. Partial sale – Proportionate, with option for total sale
3. Sale – Complete sale of the property

In addition, for owners: an extra tip on the subject of bequeathing correctly.

Real estate pension: sale with extra “pension” – Option 1

Your first option is the real estate pension. The real estate annuity is especially interesting for people who have already reached a higher age, usually from 70, 75 years. Should you prefer a solution in which your relatives can stay in their own property until the end of their life (!) without any complications, then the life annuity is an option you should consider.

Life annuity means that the property is sold in its entirety, but the owner retains a full right of residence and use until death. These privileges are secured by the usufructuary right. In addition, the seller receives a small, monthly extra “pension”. Another advantage, they no longer have to worry about maintenance costs in the future. This is the responsibility of the new owner. All in all, a comfortable solution, especially in old age.

Real estate pension simply explained:

• Direct, complete sale
• Lifetime right of residence and use
• Small, monthly “extra pension” for former owner
• No maintenance costs

Read more about topic here:

• Real estate pension

Unconcerned and reassured into old age.

Partial sale: Proportionate, with possibility of total sale – option 2

The second option for your loved one, if you want them to be able to continue living in their property, whether it’s a condo or a house, is to partially sell a property.

A partial sale works like this, you sell the part of a property, usually between 10% and 50% pro rata, to a finance company. For this sold part, the financial company charges a so-called “usage fee”. The user fee is paid in return for the fact that sole residential rights and rights of use are still granted. This means that the finance company merely becomes the partial owner. The advantage: you get the sale price relatively uncomplicated, without a major credit check, as with loans from the bank. The disadvantage: the user fee is relatively high, e.g. compared to a mortgage loan.

Partial sale summarized:

• You sell a part of your property (usually 10-50%)
• Partial purchase house: Yes
• Partial purchase apartment: Yes
• Partial purchase of land: Yes
• Financial company becomes part owner
• You remain the sole user of the property
• You pay monthly usage fee
• Total sales in X years (optional)

Read more about the advantages and disadvantages here:

• Partial sale property

Complete real estate sale – option 3

Your third option, if you need to find a solution, is the complete sale of condominium, house, apartment building. For the regular process, the question often arises, sell privately or sell with broker? Especially the emotional situations, such as deciding on the future of their own parents or grandparents, it is recommended to work with an experienced broker. After all, it is about all the advertisements, communication with interested parties, selection according to serious, unseriös, the subsequent credit checks, arrangement of viewing appointments and many more. Of course, also a big factor, the previous real estate valuation.

Read more here:

• Sell property

Selling real estate: Procedure and steps

To give you an initial overview of how such a sales process works, explained here in 18 simple steps, categorized into 3 phases.

1. Preparation: prepare property and sale
1. Financial planning and timing of sale
2. Hire real estate agent
3. Records and documents
4. Increase real estate value
5. Determine offer price
6. Create exposé
2. Sales phase: market property and find buyers
1. Market real estate
2. Contact with prospective buyers
3. Filter and select prospective buyers
4. Credit check
5. Viewing dates
6. Sales talk & purchase price negotiation
3. Sales processing: purchase contract until handover
1. Draw up purchase contract with notary
2. Notary appointment
3. Land register entry and payment processing
4. Handover of the property
5. Notary fees & broker commission
6. Pay taxes

These 3 options are primarily available to you.

These were the most important tips for selling with and for your loved ones!

Whether a condominium in a prime A-location or a…

… Condominium in 60/70 prefabricated building:

Extra tip: Bequeath / inherit correctly

Here are a few extra tips for you.

Sale with usufruct

If you are considering a direct, outright sale of your parent’s, grandparent’s or loved one’s property, be sure to take a look at usufructuary rights. Usufructuary right simply means “lifetime, sole right of occupancy.” So, it means that your loved ones hold the sole right to use the property, even after the sale. The same applies in other cases, such as an anticipated inheritance (link above: Inheritance).

Advantage: The usufruct right brings you the advantage that your relatives are not dependent at any time, on the goodwill or the consent of the seller.

Inheritance in advance: Taxes & Co.

Tip. Before it is too late, talk to your parents and grandparents about the inheritance early on. After all, an early inheritance can save you quite a bit, especially on taxes. Learn more about early inheritance here:

• Bequeath correctly

For heirs:

• Inherit correctly

Inheriting correctly also often means preventing disputes among children.

Take care!

6 providers in comparison! Test winner + ranking

Here is the overview with test winner! After the list, you will find once again all the detailed calculations for the usage fee and the increase in value.

German part purchase – Best price / performance

Rank 1 by conditions in the 1st step of the partial sale and in the 2nd step of the total sale is currently Deutsche Teilkauf (as of 01/22).

• Usage fee p.a. = 2.89 % = 241 Euro
• Increase in value (total sales) = + 41.53
• Let evaluate on German part purchase

House anchor – Best conditions

Is part of Deutsche partial purchase, almost the same, only +1 euro in the monthly cost of use.

• Usage fee p.a. = 2.90 % = 242 Euro
• Increase in value (total sales) = + 41.53
• Get rated on house anchor

Value factor

At 29.13%, the increase in value over 15 years is -12.4% compared to #1 and #2. Likewise +1 euro per month, compared to the test winner.

• Usage fee p.a. = 2.90 % = 242 Euro
• Increase in value (total sales) = + 29.13
• Let evaluate on value factor

Partial sale One

Teilverkauf One offers fair conditions for sellers with Deutsche Teilkauf and Hausanker.

• Usage fee p.a. = 2.89 % = 241 Euro
• Increase in value (total sale) = + 28.50
• Get rated on partial sale One

House provision

Also with Hausvorsorge you pay monthly + 1 Euro compared to the test winner. In terms of total sales, Hausvorsorge is currently – 15.19% in relation to rank 1 and rank 2.

• Usage fee p.a. = 2.90 % = 242 Euro
• Increase in value (total sales) = + 26.34

Engels & Völkers

• Usage fee p.a. = 2.75 % = 229 Euro
• Increase in value (total sale) = + 25.33

German part purchase – test winner

The conditions at a glance (source: Rechner deutsche-teilkauf.de).

• Valuation on: German part purchase

User fee: 241 € / month / 2.89 % p.a.

• Share: 20%
• User fee: 241 Euro

Usage fee after partial sale in %:

• User fee / year = 2,892 euros
• % p.a. = 2.89

Total sales: + 41.53 % increase in value

Total sale at Deutsche Partial purchase after 15 years, incl. appreciation and fees.

• Value in 15 years: 699,128 euros
• Residual share: 566,103 euros
• Fee: No implementation fee
• Second disbursement: 566,103 euros

Value appreciation and fees in %:

• Increase in value: 41.53
• Fees: 0 %‬
• Second payout: 41.53

The total revenue is thus (in 15 years) 566,103 euros.

House anchor

Hausanker belongs to Deutsche Teilkauf. The conditions are almost the same. Only in the usage fee you pay monthly + 1 Euro. The conditions at a glance (source: hausanker.de calculator).

• Rating on house anchor

User fee: 242 € / month / 2.90 % pa.

• Share: 20%
• User fee: 242 euros

Usage fee after partial sale in %:

• User fee / year = 2,904 Euro
• % p.a. = 2.90

Total sales: + 41.53 % increase in value

Total sale at Deutsche Partial purchase after 15 years, incl. appreciation and fees.

• Value in 15 years: 699,128 euros
• Residual share: 566,103 euros
• Fee: No implementation fee
• Second disbursement: 566,103 euros

Value appreciation and fees in %:

• Increase in value: 41.53
• Fees: 0 %‬
• Second payout: 41.53

The total revenue is thus (in 15 years) 566,103 euros.

Value factor

With Wertfaktor you can sell a property worth 500,000 euros only from 20%, maximum 50%. The conditions at a glance (source: calculator Wertfaktor.de).

• Valuation on value factor.

User fee: 242 € / month / 2.90 % pa.

• Share: 20%
• User fee: 242 euros

Usage fee after partial sale in %:

• User fee / year = 2,904 Euro
• % p.a. = 2.90

Total sales: + 29.13 % increase in value

Total sale at value factor after 15 years, including appreciation and fees.

• Value in 15 years: 673,000 euros
• Residual share: 538,400 euros
• Fee: – 21.872 Euro
• Second disbursement: 516,528 euros

Value appreciation and fees in %:

• Value appreciation: 34.60
• Fees: 4.06 %‬
• Second payout: 29.13
• Attention: Total sale under inflation

The total revenue is thus (in 15 years) 538,368 euros.

House provision

The conditions at a glance (source: Rechner hausvorsorge.com):

User fee: 242 € / month / 2.90 % pa.

• Share: 20%
• User fee: 242 euros

Usage fee after partial sale in %:

• User fee / year = 2,904 Euro
• % p.a. = 2.90

Total sales: + 26.34 % increase in value

Total sale at home provision after 15 years, including appreciation and fees.

• Value in 15 years: 672,934 euros
• Residual share: 538,347 euros
• Fee: – 32.974 Euro
• Second disbursement: 505,373 euros

Value appreciation and fees in %:

• Increase in value: 34.59
• Fees: 6.12 %‬
• Second payout: 26.34
• Attention: Total sale under inflation

The total revenue is thus (in 15 years) 561,813 euros.

Engels & Völkers

Place 5 in the raking of the partial buyers is Engels & Völkers with the following conditions in the overview (source: computer ev-liquidhome.com):

User fee: 229 € / month / 2.75 % pa.

• Share: 20%
• User fee: 229 Euro

Usage fee after partial sale in %:

• User fee / year = 2,748 euros
• % p.a. = 2.75

Total sales: + 25.33 % increase in value

Total sale at Engels & Völkers Liquidhome after 15 years, including appreciation and fees.

• Value in 15 years: 672,934 euros
• Residual share: 538,347 euros
• Fee: – 37,011 Euro
• Second disbursement: 501,336 euros

Value appreciation and fees in %:

• Increase in value: 34.59
• Fees: 6.86 %‬
• Second payout: 25.33
• Attention: Total sale under inflation

The total revenue is thus (in 15 years) 560,086 euros.

Partial purchase makes sense? Partial sale + credit comparison

Partial purchase – Can you sell part of your house? Yes. Sell part of your own property, continue to live in it, it sounds tempting, especially if there is immediate money. The terraced house, single-family house or even the condominium in the apartment building. Surely you have already seen the advertisements of the many part purchase offerers. This purchase offer adresses itself in particular to older real estate owners, who need money, for example for a more pleasant Lebensabend. But, is a partial purchase really sensible? A look at usage costs and a small comparison, what is “cheaper”: Partial purchase or real estate loan?

First, a quick, short definition.

What is meant by partial purchase?

With partial purchase you sell a part of your property to a financial company. In return, you get the purchase price (independent of banks / loans), depending on how much share of your property you want to sell. The financial company then becomes the part owner. This makes you a community of owners consisting of two parties.

Of course, no second person moves into your property; you remain the sole user. However, as the former sole owner, you now pay a fee for the use of the part of the property that no longer belongs to you in full after the partial purchase – comparable to rent. This payment is referred to as “compensation for use” or “usage fee”.

Advantage! Sold fast, paid fast

So “advantage” could be described as:

• Financing method independent of banks

Disadvantage? Use in cost comparison

As described in the introduction, the “Partial Purchase” offer is aimed in particular at older property owners.

“Banks give no / few loans to older people”.

Such a common prejudice. That is why advertising with the “partial purchase of your property” currently works so well. However, the subsequent costs are often not taken into account. For example, if you sell 25% of the property and then pay 300 euros a month usage costs, you should definitely compare the amount with a regular real estate loan, more precisely mortgage loan.

Usage fee for partial purchase – disadvantage

Now for the “follow-up costs.”

What is monthly user fee? Many currently advertise it as “easy,” “convenient,” “no bank.” True. But the price is high. First of all, the ongoing costs incurred in the partial purchase to financial companies. The financial company becomes a co-owner. The sold part of the property, will be returned to you.

So you do not give “half” of the garden or part of your rooms: you continue to use your property alone.

For this you pay the “compensation for use”.

Amount of compensation for use

The compensation that the financial company requires for the use of the property is usually:

between 3-5% of the amount paid out

The sum refers to 1 year in each case.

Real estate loan comparison: 2-4% cheaper

How much do you currently pay for a “classic” real estate loan? Due to the low interest rate phase, you currently only pay:

approximately 1% of the disbursed amount

Total purchase price mostly below inflation – disadvantage

If you think carefully about the online calculation of step 2) the total purchase, you will notice that you do not specify any regions(real estate location) of the property. Accordingly, the increase in value is a very rough value. But let’s take this as a basis.

Inflation factor – If you now add inflation as a second factor, which according to the European Central Bank should be at 2% per year, but is currently even at 5% (as of 01/22), then you will see:

The increase in value of only 25%, 30% in 15 years, does not even equal inflation.

Partial sale property

Read more about partial sale here – A look at costs of use, advantages, disadvantages, the total sale, the calculated increase in value under inflation and a comparison, what is “cheaper”: partial purchase or the alternative real estate loan, more specifically the mortgage loan? In addition taxes, sale from community of heirs, divorce and much more. My recommendations for sellers!

• Partial sale property