Immobilien: Wann ein Verkauf innerhalb der Familie cleverer ist als eine Schenkung

Since 2010, property prices for single and family homes, as well as investment apartments, in Germany have risen by more than 80 percent on average, according to the housing price index from the real estate consultancy Empirica. For many property owners, the question arises sooner or later: How can I hand down my house or apartment to the next generation in a tax-efficient manner?

The levers are considerable, as children can receive up to 400,000 euros from each parent without incurring tax. If the value of the property exceeds the tax-free allowance, it may be beneficial to donate it outright during one's lifetime. The German newspaper Handelsblatt explains how parents can plan the transfer of real estate without compromising their own pension security, and highlights an option that families often underestimate.

Transferring a property within the family does not necessarily mean that the parents lose all control over it. In the donation contract, they can reserve certain rights, such as a lifetime right to live in the property or a right of inheritance.