Buying a house is a considerable financial commitment. Banks and other financial institutions issue mortgages to fund property purchases. But buyers are obliged to provide at least 20% of the purchase price by way of equity. Half of this can come from an occupational pension (pension fund), while the other half must take the form of assets (account balances, shares). So anyone hoping to buy a home simply has to build up equity from early on. There are various ways of building up the necessary equity: in addition to individual savings products/solutions, it is also possible to use funds from a gift or an advance on inheritance. Banks also accept private loans – from, say, family members – subject to certain conditions.