Make the most of your building savings contract for future construction financing: A practical guide
3 Jul 2025
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
The dream of owning a home often seems out of reach, especially with fluctuating interest rates. A building savings contract can be the key, but only when applied correctly does it unleash its full potential. This article shows you how to turn a simple savings product into a powerful tool for your home financing.
The topic in brief and concise terms
A building savings contract secures fixed loan interest rates for the future, thus protecting against interest rate increases.
Government subsidies such as the housing construction premium and employee savings allowance can increase your savings performance by up to 183 euros per year.
The accumulated savings are recognised by banks as full-value equity, which improves the terms for the main financing.
Ein Bausparvertrag ist mehr als nur ein Sparbuch für die eigenen vier Wände; er ist ein strategisches Finanzinstrument. Viele schließen einen Vertrag ab und lassen ihn über Jahre ungenutzt, oft mit minimaler Rendite. Doch wer die drei Phasen – Ansparphase, Zuteilung und Darlehensphase – versteht und aktiv gestaltet, kann sich entscheidende Vorteile sichern. Es geht darum, sich die heute oft noch günstigen Darlehenszinsen für ein zukünftiges Projekt zu sichern, sei es ein Kauf in zehn Jahren oder eine Modernisierung in fünf. Dieser Leitfaden führt Sie durch die Ebenen der Bauspar-Strategie: von den schnellen Fakten über praxisnahe Rechenbeispiele bis hin zu Expertenwissen über rechtliche Details. So stellen Sie sicher, dass Sie Ihren Bausparvertrag für die zukünftige Baufinanzierung richtig nutzen.
The three phases of building savings: From saver to borrower
A building savings contract follows a cycle of three clearly defined phases. First comes the saving phase, during which you regularly deposit money until a minimum balance, usually 40 to 50 percent of the agreed target amount, is reached. If, for example, you have agreed on a target amount of 50,000 euros, you save approximately 25,000 euros.
Then comes the allocation phase, in which the building society provides you with the accumulated savings and the loan. The final stage is the loan phase, where you repay the loan at the interest rate agreed upon when the contract was signed. These fixed interest rates are the greatest advantage in an environment of rising market interest rates.
Understanding these three phases is the foundation for fully exploiting further strategic possibilities.
State subsidies: Secure annual grants of up to 140 euros
The government supports wealth building for homeownership with attractive subsidies. The housing subsidy (WoP) is one of the best-known incentives for home savers. Eligible singles receive ten per cent on their annual contributions of up to 700 euros, which corresponds to a subsidy of 70 euros.
For married couples, the amounts double to 1,400 euros in contributions and 140 euros in subsidies. The income limit for taxable income is 35,000 euros for singles and 70,000 euros for couples. Another form of support is the employee savings allowance, which is available for company-provided asset-forming benefits.
Here is an overview of the most important incentives:
Housing Subsidy: Up to 70 euros (singles) or 140 euros (couples) per year.
Employee Savings Allowance: Nine per cent on contributions up to 470 euros, thus up to 43 euros annually.
Home Riester: Government subsidies and tax advantages for certified Riester home saving contracts.
Asset-Forming Benefits (VL): Up to 40 euros monthly directly into the contract from the employer.
Our Expert Tip: Check your eligibility for subsidies annually, as income limits and personal circumstances can change. Applications can often be made retroactively for up to two years. With these grants, you can significantly accelerate your capital-building for your tailored home financing.
The building savings contract as an equity booster: How to convince the bank
Banks see equity as a crucial factor for lending and interest rate conditions. A building savings contract strengthens your position, as the accumulated savings including interest is recognised as full equity. An equity ratio of 20 to 30 percent is ideal to obtain the best terms.
A building savings contract ready for allocation of 50,000 euros, with 25,000 euros saved, directly increases your equity by these 25,000 euros. This reduces the loan-to-value ratio of the financing, which in turn leads to a lower interest rate for the main loan. Even a reduction in the interest rate by 0.5 percentage points can mean several thousand euros over the term.
Even a contract not yet ready for allocation can serve as security or be utilised via an advance loan for affordable property financing. In this way, the contract becomes a flexible tool to overcome financing hurdles, especially in the case of a property loan without much equity.
Strategic Use: Plan follow-up financing, purchasing, and modernization smartly
A building savings contract can be used in a versatile manner when strategically planned. One of the most common applications is securing interest rates for a future refinancing. If your initial fixed interest rate expires in ten years, you can secure today's loan interest rates with a building savings contract signed now.
It is also ideal for planned modernisations. For loans up to 50,000 euros, an expensive land register entry is often not necessary, saving costs of several hundred euros. This makes it perfect for energy renovations or conversions in a few years.
Here are three strategic use cases:
Refinancing: Secure a loan interest rate of, for example, two percent for the remaining debt in 10 or 15 years today.
Additional purchase costs: Use your savings to cover the additional purchase costs (around 10-15 percent of the purchase price) that banks are reluctant to finance.
Modernisation without land register entry: Finance a new heating system for 25,000 euros flexibly and with minimal bureaucratic effort.
Our expert tip: Adjust the building savings amount realistically to your goal. A too high amount will only lead to unnecessarily high contract fees of one to 1.6 percent. Proper planning makes the contract a precise instrument for your future financing strategy.
Your path to a tailored financing solution
A building savings contract is not a given, but a tool that must be used correctly. The right strategy depends on your goals, time frame, and financial situation. Whether for interest rate security, as proof of equity, or for flexible modernisation – thoughtful planning is the key to success.
The complexity of tariffs, funding conditions, and legal frameworks requires careful analysis. Professional advice will help you choose the optimal savings amount, apply for appropriate funding, and seamlessly integrate the contract into your overall financing strategy. This ensures that your path to home ownership rests on a solid foundation.
Request your personalised risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked for free and receive specific suggestions for optimisation.
More useful links
Wikipedia offers a comprehensive article that explains the basics and workings of a home loan contract.
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides information on construction prices and the property price index in Germany.
An overview of the construction industry in Germany can be found at the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
The German Bundesbank publishes statistics on interest rates for housing loans to private households.
The Federal Ministry of Finance explains the employee savings allowance.
The Consumer Advice Centre offers an article on whether a home loan savings contract is worthwhile.
Information on reclaiming unauthorized building society charges can be obtained from the Consumer Advice Centre.
Statista provides statistics on the development of mortgage interest rates in Germany.
Further statistics on interest rates for housing loans to private households in Germany are available from Statista.
A statement on the Residential Property Credit Directive is available on the Federal Ministry of Finance website.
FAQ
Was sind die größten Nachteile eines Bausparvertrags?
Die Hauptnachteile sind die Abschlussgebühren von ein bis 1,6 Prozent der Bausparsumme, die sofort fällig werden, und die oft niedrigen Guthabenzinsen während der Ansparphase. Zudem sind die Darlehen meist mit hohen Tilgungsraten verbunden, was eine hohe monatliche Belastung bedeutet.
Wie schnell wird ein Bausparvertrag zuteilungsreif?
Die Zeit bis zur Zuteilungsreife hängt von der Höhe Ihrer Sparrate, der Vertragslaufzeit und der erreichten Bewertungszahl ab. In der Regel dauert es sieben bis zehn Jahre, bis die nötigen 40 bis 50 Prozent der Bausparsumme angespart sind und der Vertrag zugeteilt werden kann.
Kann ich einen Bausparvertrag für eine Renovierung nutzen?
Ja, ein Bausparvertrag ist ideal für Modernisierungs- und Renovierungsmaßnahmen. Für Darlehenssummen bis 50.000 Euro ist häufig kein Eintrag ins Grundbuch erforderlich, was den Prozess vereinfacht und Kosten spart.
Sind die Gebühren in einem Bausparvertrag verhandelbar?
Die Abschlussgebühr ist in der Regel ein fester Vertragsbestandteil. Eine Verhandlung ist unüblich. Unzulässige Gebühren wie die jährliche Servicepauschale können Sie jedoch zurückfordern, basierend auf einem BGH-Urteil.
Was ist der Unterschied zwischen Wohnungsbauprämie und Arbeitnehmersparzulage?
Die Wohnungsbauprämie ist eine direkte staatliche Zulage auf Ihre eigenen Einzahlungen. Die Arbeitnehmersparzulage ist eine Förderung auf vermögenswirksame Leistungen, die Ihr Arbeitgeber für Sie anlegt. Beide Förderungen können unter bestimmten Einkommensgrenzen für denselben Bausparvertrag genutzt werden, aber nicht für dieselben eingezahlten Beträge.
Was bedeutet die Bewertungszahl?
Die Bewertungszahl ist eine Kennzahl der Bausparkasse, die Ihre Sparleistung (Dauer und Höhe der Einzahlungen) misst. Sie bestimmt die Reihenfolge, in der die Bausparverträge zugeteilt werden. Eine höhere Bewertungszahl führt zu einer schnelleren Zuteilung.
