Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Athena Home Loans vs Baufi24 Expats
Athena Home Loans
Higher score in this comparison
Baufi24 Expats
What sets them apart
| Compare | Athena Home LoansReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Baufi24 ExpatsReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.24% to 6.39% | 4% to 4.5%Lower |
| Loan amount | A$10,000 to A$2,000,000 | €1,000 to €100,000 |
| Term | 300 monthsHigher | 12 to 180 months |
| Arrangement fee | AUD 0 - no application, valuation, ongoing, monthly or exit fees on Straight Up and Power Up | 0 EUR |
| Funding time | 15 mins to apply online, with fast pre-approval | Financing confirmations preferably within 24 hours |
| Representative example | Comparison rate based on a $150,000 secured loan over a 25 year term | Property loan example: net loan amount 300,000 EUR, 2% repayment, 90% loan-to-value, Sollzins 4.38% with 10-year fixed Zinsbindung |
| Rate type | Variable | Fixed |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Broker |
| Loan types | Secured, Bridging, Debt consolidation | Secured, Personal, Car, Debt consolidation |
| Free early repayment | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Eligibility | Home owners and investors, including self-employed; all loans subject to Athena's eligibility and lending criteria | Not confirmed |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Same on both: Credit check (Soft prequal).
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Key differences
- Athena Home Loans scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at Baufi24 Expats: 2008 vs 2019.
- APR is lower at Baufi24 Expats: 4% to 4.5% vs 6.24% to 6.39%.
- Term is higher at Athena Home Loans: 300 months vs 12 to 180 months.
- Support channels: only Athena Home Loans offers Chat.
- Loan types: only Athena Home Loans offers Bridging.
- Loan types: only Baufi24 Expats offers Personal, Car.
Our verdict on each
Athena Home Loans
Athena Home Loans suits Australian owner-occupiers and investors who want a fee-free home loan from a direct lender. It offers a variable rate of 6.24% with fees of AUD 0 on Straight Up, though the fixed period runs 1 to 3 only.
Baufi24 Expats
Baufi24 Expats is a German property finance broker built for expats buying, remortgaging or letting in Germany, with loan amounts of €1,000 to €100,000 and a soft first credit check. It suits buyers who would rather have a broker place the case than apply to a single bank.
Score breakdown
| Area | Athena Home Loans | Baufi24 Expats |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Straight Up and Power Up carry fees of AUD 0, with no application, valuation, ongoing, monthly or exit fees. | 9.5Higher |
| Offer | 9.9HigherVariable rate of 6.24%, free early repayment, and applications that take 15 mins to apply online, with fast pre-approval. | 9.4Fixed rates held for 10 at 4.38% with 0 EUR in fees make a low-cost German property offer. |
| Trust | 8.8 | 8.8 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Athena Home Loans | Baufi24 Expats |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ASIC 502611 | Not confirmed |
| Germany | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Athena Home Loans: 1. Additional countries for Baufi24 Expats: 1.
Which one suits you
Pick Athena Home Loans if offer and term matter most.
Pick Baufi24 Expats if apr matter most.
Ranges side by side
| Fact | Athena Home Loans | Baufi24 Expats |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.24% to 6.39% | 4% to 4.5% |
Also worth a look
State Bank of Mauritius has term at up to 360 months, against 300 months for Athena Home Loans and 12 to 180 months for Baufi24 Expats.
State Bank of Mauritius reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Athena Home Loans | Baufi24 Expats |
|---|---|---|
| Loans | 293 of 2043 | 396 of 2043 |
| Mortgages | 117 of 853 | 172 of 853 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Athena Home Loans | Baufi24 Expats |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Fixed rate |
| Legal entity | Athena Mortgage Pty Ltd | Baufi24 Baufinanzierung GmbH |
| Headquarters | Australia | Germany |
| Founded | 2019 | 2008Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Email, Help centre |
Mortgages
| Fact | Athena Home Loans | Baufi24 Expats |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | 6.24% | 4.38%Lower |
| APRC | 6.24% | Not confirmed |
| Fixed period | 1 to 3 years | 10 yearsHigher |
| Maximum loan to value | 85% | 90%Higher |
| Product fee | A$0 | €0 |
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Buy to letCovers more | Purchase, Remortgage, Buy to let |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Athena Home Loans | Baufi24 Expats | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.24% to 6.39%below the median | 4% to 4.5%lowest quarter | 9.99 |
| Term | 300 monthshighest quarter | 12 to 180 monthshighest quarter | 60 months |
| Origination fee (%) | 0%at the median | Not confirmed | 0% |
Median across 1096 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Athena Home Loans
Pros
- Straight Up and Power Up carry fees of AUD 0, with no application, valuation, ongoing, monthly or exit fees
- Free early repayment, so you can pay the home loan off ahead of schedule without a charge
- Variable rate of 6.24% with a 1 to 3 fixed period available
Cons
- The fixed period runs 1 to 3, short against a site median of 10 years for the wider market
- Maximum loan to value is 85%, below the 90% seen across lenders on the site
- Purpose covers purchase, remortgage, first-time-buyer and buy-to-let, with no split or construction option listed
Baufi24 Expats
Pros
- A soft prequalification, soft prequal, so an early rate indication comes without a full credit search.
- Loan amounts of €1,000 to €100,000 over terms of 12 to 180, covering property and renovation alike.
- Speed: Financing confirmations preferably within 24 hours.
Cons
- A broker, broker, means the lender behind the deal is chosen after the application rather than up front.
- Fixed rates only, fixed rate, so there is no variable option to pay less if base rates fall.
- Lending is capped at 90% of the property value, so a larger deposit falls on the borrower.
Who each suits
Athena Home Loans
Who it suits
- Home owners and investors in Australia, including self-employed applicants
- Buyers who want fees of AUD 0 and no exit fee on Straight Up and Power Up
- Self-employed applicants who can meet Athena's eligibility and lending criteria
Who should look elsewhere
- Borrowers wanting a long fixed period, since the fixed period runs 1 to 3
- Buyers needing a maximum loan to value above 85%, where Creduma ES may be worth checking
- Anyone looking for a credit check free prequalification, since credit checks here are soft prequal
Baufi24 Expats
Who it suits
- Expats and overseas buyers purchasing a home in Germany, or remortgaging one they already own.
- Landlords financing a buy-to-let property, with that purpose listed in purchase, remortgage and buy to let.
- Borrowers happy to begin with a soft prequalification, soft prequal, rather than a full search straight away.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers shopping outside Germany: Cashspace quotes PHP 12 to PHP 36 in Philippine pesos, a different market and currency from this broker.
- Borrowers priced on Spanish terms: the rates at Sofkredit, 10.74% to 18.06%, belong to a different lending market.
- People who want a high minimum: Creduma ES sets a floor of from €12,000 on what it will lend.
Country by country
| Country | Athena Home Loans | Baufi24 Expats |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Germany | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Athena Home Loans
What does Athena Home Loans charge in fees?+
Straight Up and Power Up carry fees of AUD 0, with no application, valuation, ongoing, monthly or exit fees. Early repayment is free, so paying the home loan off early adds no charge. The legal entity behind the loans is Athena Mortgage Pty Ltd.
What rate does Athena Home Loans offer?+
Athena Home Loans is a variable rate lender, and the advertised initial rate is 6.24%. Comparison rates on Straight Up start at 6.24%, and the representative example is based on a secured loan over a longer term.
Baufi24 Expats
What does it cost to arrange a property loan with Baufi24 Expats?+
On build finance the arrangement fee is 0 EUR and the product fee is €0, so nothing is charged up front on the property loan itself. The cost sits in the rate and the instalment instead, with a published property example built on 4.38% held for 10.
How long is the rate fixed for?+
The rate type is fixed, fixed, and the fixed stretch is 10, so payments are predictable for that part of the term. A variable option is not listed, fixed rate. Longer fixed stretches buy certainty, at the cost of missing any fall in base rates.
Other options to compare
Athena Home Loans
Baufi24 Expats