A person offers to arrange your German mortgage and calls themselves independent. Before engaging them you should be able to verify their identity, activity and the scope of that claim. A memorable brand name or a good personal recommendation does not replace this preparation.
Who is responsible for which task?
Record the full contractual partner and their contact details. Ask whether the matter concerns brokerage, independent fee-based advice or a discussion directly with a credit institution. The applicable framework depends on that role.
§ 34i GewO governs the permit for the commercial brokerage and advice on consumer mortgage loans described there. However, the provision contains exceptions, among others for certain supervised institutions and for correspondingly authorised activities from the EU/EEA area. [VERMITTLUNG] Therefore a missing specific German permit note is not to be taken as proof of unauthorised activity without examination.
Cross-check information about independence
Ask for the permit and register details appropriate to the role and attribute them to the actual contractor. For the traders covered in paragraph 1, § 34i paragraph 8 provides for entry in the register under § 11a. [VERMITTLUNG] Resolve discrepancies with the competent register or permitting authority before relying solely on a supplied image of a proof document.
A register hit does not automatically confirm that every e-mail address or telephone number actually belongs to that person. If names, activity or communication channel do not match, that precise difference must be clarified. The site does not report any real provider as verified.
Ask for a concrete explanation of “independent”
For the independent fee-based advice described in § 34i paragraph 5 the provision requires a sufficient number of market contracts as a basis and prohibits payments from the lender as well as dependence on it. [VERMITTLUNG] Therefore explicitly ask which role has been agreed, who bears the remuneration and how the considered selection is arrived at.
Avoid privately concluding that a fee paid by yourself already fully proves compliance with all requirements. Likewise, brokerage for other remuneration is not automatically unsuitable solely because of that difference; the actual mandate must be assessed.
Assess the engagement only once its scope is clear
Have the scope of services, remuneration, considered offers and required documents explained clearly. A proven professional status does not replace checking whether the proposed approach addresses your financing need. However, it is a much more concrete starting point than the advertising word “independent” alone.
In the end you should know who is to act for you and which open question still needs to be clarified with which authority. This preparation is not an official licensing check and is not a personal recommendation for a broker.