One of the biggest decisions facing you, if you are considering a move to Frankfurt is where you would like to live. There are so many things to consider - usually price and location are at the top of the list.  Be sure to consider how close you want or need to be to the workplace, local or international schools, and/or public transportation, which includes busses, U-Bahn trains, and S-Bahn trains.  You probably also want to consider whether you are looking for a single-family house or a unit in a multi-family building, and whether or not you would like or would need a garden or garage, which are not as common for German homes as in the US.  Luckily, there are many towns and suburbs in and around Frankfurt to suit every expat's accommodation and lifestyle needs.

Real estate and relocation service agencies provide information on everything you need to know about housing in Germany from buying a property to renting to short- term stay. You can either decide to rent an apartment/house through a Real Estate Agency or by researching on the Internet. Most of the time people who offer an apartment - agencies or private individuals - speak English so that you can contact them directly. If you decide to rent an apartment through a Real Estate Agency don't forget that they normally charge 2 months’ rent as commission - which is offset by the fact that Agencies often have more listings than what you can find online - another difference between searching for real estate in Germany vs. in the US. And when it comes to terminating a lease, most German owners require a full 3 months' notice. Here are some websites where you can search available listings: www.immobilienscout24.de, www.immonet.de, www.immowelt.de, www.immobilo.de, www.wohnfinder.de

It is rather difficult to find furnished accommodation in Frankfurt. Most places are rented empty, except the bathroom and a built-in kitchen (kitchens are sometimes also not furnished). 1 to 2 months' basic rent is charged by the owner as a security deposit (Kaution). This is repaid (with accumulated interest) at the end of the contract, provided there are no damages and all bills have been settled. Sometimes heating bills will only be issued once a year, usually in January, and therefore it might be possible that the deposit is not returned until the final heating bill is settled  (quite some time after vacating the apartment).

Frankfurt was ranked 59^th out of 214 expat destinations worldwide - it is truly a great place to live, with a large international community.  On the other hand, according to Mercer’s 2014 Cost of Living Survey, Frankfurt is the second most expensive city in Germany. However, expats will find that there are a number of ways to save money, while still maintaining a good quality of life in this modern but very German city.

To find out more about Frankfurt, here is a video you might enjoy: https://youtu.be/f-2WiCUIWnM. 

These links can tell you more about Frankfurt am Main: https://frankfurt.de/english, www.find-it-in-frm.de. 

There are also a number of Facebook pages dedicated to Expats in Frankfurt!