When it comes to the housing market in Germany, renting is still the most popular way to go. According to surveys from Germany's Federal Statistical Office, in 2018 some 42% of Germans owned the home they lived in whereas some 58% rented. This is the lowest rate of home ownership in the EU. The highest is Romania, where 96% percent own their homes.

After WWII, a mass housing shortfall and lack of private capital spurred the construction of rental social housing in West Germany, while in communist East Germany ownership was, of course, taboo. This historic trend towards renting mixes with rental protection that remains strong today. Germans wanting to buy face stringent conditions to get a mortgage — and they're skeptical of credit, anyway.

If you rent, make sure you don't overpay. But how? Just check your "Mietspiegel," or "rental mirror." Calculated by local authorities, it shows the average rental price per square meter in an area and reflects fluctuations, such as when demand or luxury construction ups rents. At the end of 2018, the average was highest in Munich: €17.56 per square meter. It's also the most expensive place to buy.

If you are planning a move, you need to know what type of place you're looking for. Do you want a detached family house or a split townhouse? Your own flat or shared flat, known as a "Wohngemeinschaft" or "WG"? How many rooms? Whatever you do, allow a few months for the search. And remember: A first-floor apartment is not on the ground floor, so you'll have to lug your stuff up the stairs.

If renting, prep for a multiround process that's sort of like a talent contest. You'll need to sell yourself as the ideal tenant! You'll be asked for personal info, credit scores and about all your living habits. Questions on nationality and family plans are technically not allowed. Unlike elsewhere, you can't put down a deposit that takes the property off the market for others, so woo away!

A rental price can either be "warm" or "cold." And no, this doesn't have to do with how attractive it is. Cold rent ("Kaltmiete") is the price you pay for the space, while warm rent ("Warmmiete") usually includes heating, electricity and water. Whether the renter pays these costs directly or reimburses the owner depends on the arrangement. Building admin costs also get added on to all this.

When you rent, you are required to pay a security deposit that can equal no more than three months of "cold" rent. You get it back when your rental period ends, minus any damages or outstanding utility costs. But don't expect a quick return — landlords have the right to hold a deposit or part of it for up to 6 months, which means you could have to pay the next one before getting your old one back.

What do you mean there's no kitchen? While this might shock some newbies to the German housing market, it's typical for German homes to be totally unfurnished, lacking even stoves and fridges. In some cases, you can buy the existing kitchen off the outgoing tenant. Otherwise be prepared to install your own. Happily, your neighbors might be able to help: Many Germans do their own home renovations!

Moving day has arrived! But do you have your permit reserving street space for the moving truck? This must be arranged ahead of time with local authorities. Self-made signs saying "Please don't park" won't cut it — though you'll see them, anyway. Also, don't forget to register your new address with local government once you've moved, so you can get an updated proof of residency documents.

Flat found? Check! Moved? Checked! Kitchen installed? Check! Time to party! Many Germans throw a housewarming party after a successful move. It's a way to say thanks to those who helped you move, meet the neighbors and show off the new digs. Guests often give the newly moved hosts bread and salt; the traditional food staples are a wish for good luck in a new home.

Berlin's endless rows of tenements were once horribly overcrowded, with large families often living in one- or two-room flats. But in recent years, these so-called Altbau, or old buildings, have enjoyed a rapid renaissance. These blocks in the Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin were, until the early 1990s, often empty and in a state of severe disrepair. Now everyone wants to rent an Altbau.

In former East Germany, where nearly all accommodation was rented from the government, prefab concrete housing blocks known as Plattenbau rose up across the communist nation. Not only were they cheap, but they were often preferred to Altbau apartments because they offered all modern conveniences like new plumbing that didn't leak, reliable electricity and hot water.

According to the most recent statistics from Statista (2015), 48 percent of Germans rent and 52 percent are home-owners. Most renters live in apartments - and make the most of their balconies. Some barbeque or lounge, while others grow overflowing gardens that utilize every last inch of precious outdoor space. Balconies can be veritable ecosystems that become rather bleak in the winter months.

In some Germans cities, particularly Berlin, rental houses are made up of front and back buildings separated by an inner courtyard through which the life of these rental communities ebb and flow. They are unique communal spaces across which people view each other's lives, and where they interact as they park their bicycles or access their numerous garbage bins.

Only the names of residents are used to identify the flats inside a building in Germany. These names on the intercom of a Hamburg apartment building typically have no corresponding flat number. That means you have to address letters to Germany clearly because the mail carrier only has the name to go by.

Known as WGs, or Wohngemeinschaften, shared apartments are popular in big cities where apartment prices are rising and availability is shrinking. People who share flats often also rent out the living area to bring prices down as much as possible. This is especially so in Berlin, a city full of artists, students and people on low budgets.

Painting the apartment before you leave is another German rental tradition. Leaving the walls shiny white for the next residents isn't such a bad thing - but it means you have to spend days preparing walls and climbing ladders before you move out. Not all rental contracts force tenants to paint the apartment - however they are obliged to leave it as they found it.

In some German cities, kitchens and appliances are not included in rental properties. That means the tenant has to purchase their own and have it installed at their expense. Alternatively, some people buy the previous tenant's kitchen at a discount if they aren't planning on taking it with them to their next living space.

Among the quirks of Altbau apartments is that many didn't use to include facilities, which were sometimes shared communally. That means that you'll find bathrooms today that are wedged into the smallest - and oddest - spaces. Or, in some cases, they might be huge and replace an entire former room. This shower in a Berlin flat was built in the kitchen cupboard.

When scanning apartment listings in Germany, you'll generally find the sizes given in square meters and the number of rooms. The latter includes not just bedrooms, but also living space. The kitchen and bathroom(s) are listed separately. Apartments are most expensive in Munich, Frankfurt and Stuttgart, where new tentants pay on average 16.55, 13.37 and 12.95 euros per square meter respectively.