I don't mean pay for the whole amount. Say the property costs EUR200k. You put EUR50k down as a deposit and get a mortgage for the remainder. The monthly rental

I don't mean pay for the whole amount. Say the property costs EUR200k. You put EUR50k down as a deposit and get a mortgage for the remainder. The monthly rental then pays off the mortgage, and after 10-20 years you have a house worth much more than EUR200k (due to appreciation in the housing market). Obviously you need to do your own calculations to make sure the rent covers the mortgage, allowing for periods where the property isn't rented, repairs etc. Getting a "buy-to-let" property like this is pretty common in the UK. I'm assuming something similar would work in Germany.