Private buyers & owners
We assist with buying or selling a house, flat or plot of land. For retained rights of use, joint ownership and family transfers, we also assess the specific agreement and its consequences for the person represented.
OWNERSHIP · TRANSACTIONS · USE
Real estate law
Understand value.
Structure ownership.
Real estate connects personal plans with long-term obligations. We assist with acquisition, sale, development and joint ownership, focusing on contracts, actual use and your commercial objectives.
Discuss your matterLand. Buildings. Legal arrangements.
YOUR MATTER
One property.
Different plans.
Buyers and sellers, investors, occupiers and co-owners view a property from different perspectives. We establish the relevant legal position and clarify which interests the engagement covers.
Businesses & investors
For commercial property, portfolios and development projects, we connect contract review with the intended use. Buyers and developers need different safeguards from selling businesses. Existing uses, third-party rights and further specialist assessments are taken into account.
Institutional owners
We assist institutions and public bodies with acquiring, disposing of and using their properties. Decision-making powers, restrictions on use and long-term occupancy models are aligned with the project. For heritable building rights and collaborations, we clarify the respective contractual position.
OUR SERVICES
From acquisition
to long-term use.
We assess a property's legal basis and assist with agreements governing its transfer and use. Legal representation, notarial functions and technical assessments remain clearly allocated.
Property purchases and sales
Understand obligations before signing.
We help buyers assess the property's condition, encumbrances, when the purchase price falls due and handover. We advise sellers on disclosures, liability provisions and securing payment. We review and negotiate drafts for the party represented and assist with coordination with the notary. Existing tenancies, financing conditions and required consents are considered where relevant to the engagement.
Project development and transactions
Plan the project from its legal foundations.
We assist developers and investors in preparing acquisitions and developments. We advise owners and sellers on conditions, cooperation duties and remaining obligations. Our legal review covers rights over land, contracts and existing uses. Coordination with planning, finance and technical specialists follows the agreed scope. We also prepare contractual arrangements for acquisition conditions and the phased implementation of larger projects.
Land register and rights over land
Understand ownership, encumbrances and priority.
We advise owners on existing entries and proposed changes. We help purchasers evaluate third-party rights and their effects on the purchase. For rights holders, we assess the existence and scope of their rights and options for securing them. Land register extracts, the underlying consents and actual circumstances are considered together. We prepare necessary entries, amendments or deletions and coordinate notarial and land registry implementation separately.
Usufruct, rights of residence and rights of way
Enable use. Set clear limits.
We help holders of rights of use define and exercise those rights. We advise landowners on encumbrances, maintenance duties and possible changes. We review rights of residence, usufruct, pedestrian and vehicle access and utility rights against the agreements and register entries. In disputes over scope, access or costs, we seek a legally grounded solution and represent the relevant position. Neighbouring property issues are included where needed.
Heritable building rights and long-term use
Consider term, investment and reversion together.
We assist landowners with contractual commitments affecting their land and securing agreed performance. We advise holders of heritable building rights on investment, ground rent, transfer and expiry of the right. We assess adjustments, consent requirements and possible compensation provisions. When entering into or amending arrangements, we align the contract with financing and use. For institutional owners, particular decision-making requirements and purpose restrictions are considered.
Estate agency law and commission
Assess agency services and remuneration objectively.
We advise buyers and sellers on estate agency agreements, commission claims and property information. We assist estate agents in drafting contracts and assessing their own fee claims. We clarify which services were agreed and performed, how the contract was formed and which special rules apply. For inaccurate statements or disputed agency services, we assess liability and counterclaims from the respective client's perspective.
Joint ownership and division
Organise ownership shares and joint decisions.
We assist co-owners and members of a community of heirs with use, costs, disposal and possible division. One party may wish to retain the property while another seeks to realise their share. We assess these positions separately and negotiate buyout or sale arrangements within the engagement. We also assess the options and risks of a court-ordered auction to dissolve joint ownership. Family and inheritance issues are coordinated with the property arrangements.
Defects, handover and property disputes
Compare the actual condition with the agreements.
We assist buyers with alleged defects, missing disclosures and handover problems. We advise sellers on the validity of claims and remaining duties. We assess contractual clauses, knowledge, documentation and possible evidence. Technical causes are clarified by suitable specialists where necessary. For construction, tenancy or neighbour disputes, we apply the relevant rules and agree further representation.
WORKING TOGETHER
From your concern
to your next decision.
A draft purchase agreement, planned development or dispute between owners requires different assessments. We determine which documents and specialist input your project needs.
Assess the property and interests
We discuss the property, parties involved and your role. Use, commercial objectives and upcoming dates determine the initial review needed.
Review the legal foundations
We review contracts, land register documents and other agreed materials. Outstanding points, risks and further review requirements are clearly identified.
Agree and support
We prepare amendments, conduct negotiations or represent your position in a dispute. Notarial steps and supplementary specialist assessments are coordinated.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Initial
Guidance.
Frequently asked questions about property transactions and rights over land. Contracts, register entries and actual circumstances must be considered together.
Legal information: 31 October 2026
Must a purchase of land be notarised?
A contract creating an obligation to acquire or transfer ownership of land generally requires notarisation. We provide legal review and negotiation from the instructing party's perspective; notarial involvement is coordinated separately.
How does legal review differ from the notary appointment?
As lawyers, we represent the interests of our client. A notary's work, by contrast, is directed towards independent and impartial assistance to the parties. A legal review can therefore identify a client's risks and negotiation points in advance; the roles must remain distinct.
Is estate agency commission split equally in every property purchase?
No. The special rules depend, among other things, on the property, the agency appointment and whether the buyer is a consumer. Where both parties appoint an agent for the purchase of a flat or single-family house, section 656c BGB may require equal obligations. We assess the specific agreement rather than assuming a standard allocation.
Is the purchase contract alone sufficient for a review?
Additional documents are often needed. These may include a land register extract, registration consents, plans, tenancy agreements and information about the property's condition. We determine which documents we need and which technical or commercial assessments should be undertaken separately to suit the engagement.
Do you also advise on inherited or jointly owned properties?
Yes. We assess the specific form of ownership, use and costs, and options for a buyout or disposal. Individual participants' interests may differ. We therefore clarify whom we represent in advance and connect property issues with inheritance or family law where needed.
Can you still assist after handover?
Yes. For defects, missing documents, disputed statements or outstanding obligations, we assess the contract and available evidence. Buyers and sellers may each instruct us on these matters. Deadlines and possible further steps are clarified against the specific facts.
How does working together begin?
In your first contact, describe the property, your role and your concern. We offer a free telephone conversation of around 15 minutes for an initial assessment. Detailed contract or document review is agreed separately, including scope and fees.