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Buying real estate in Berlin


Saxowert is your partner for real estate transactions in the capital city

Berlin is one of the most important European centers and attracts people from all over the world. If you are looking for a property here, you had better not do without professional support. Our real estate agents will find the perfect property in Berlin for you and accompany you from the first consultation to the successful completion of the purchase.

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The Berlin real estate market


As the capital and the largest city in the country, developments in Berlin receive nationwide and not infrequently international attention. Already in the 1920s, Berlin was one of the most important cultural centers in Europe and after 1989, the city quickly succeeded in regaining its former importance. The decision to make Berlin the capital of the united Federal Republic of Germany was associated with a rapid upswing that continues to this day.

Infrastructure has been improved and construction is underway everywhere, but due to the high influx of new residents, demand for housing continues to significantly exceed supply - in the last five years, the city's population has grown by 200,000. The situation on the real estate market is correspondingly tense. The city's cultural life in particular continues to have a global appeal. This is reflected not least in tourism: With 34 million overnight stays in 2019, Berlin ranks third in Europe after London and Paris.

The demand for real estate in Berlin remains high, although political attempts at regulation have led to declines in turnover on the real estate market in recent years. After 14 % of the total turnover of the German real estate industry was generated here in 2013, the share initially fell and, from 2016, absolute turnover also fell again. However, Berlin is still one of the most important locations for the real estate industry in Germany. However, the market is also setting limits to unbridled growth, and asking prices for apartments have risen much more slowly in recent years, especially as higher rents are no longer so easy to enforce. The situation is quite different for owner-occupied homes. Here, the price increase has intensified significantly since 2017, and prices of over €5,000/m² can now be expected for existing properties and over €8,000/m² for newly built houses. This means that Berlin has far exceeded the German average within just a few years. The number of offers for both existing and newly built properties is declining sharply and has almost halved within five years. The great real estate boom has therefore come to an end in Berlin, at least for the time being.

Successfully owning your own property in Berlin with Saxowert

Especially in Berlin, the purchase of a property should be well prepared, because ultimately a lot of money is at stake. With us, you also keep an eye on the long-term forecasts. Within the scope of our non-binding and free purchase consultation, we provide you with a good insight into the current market situation and show you your individual possibilities as a prospective buyer. In addition, our agents have many helpful tips for your real estate business.

 

As soon as your plans have become more concrete, we will start looking for real estate in Berlin. Our real estate agents work closely with numerous professional partners on site and thus find an optimal offer for you in a short time that meets your expectations.

We provide you with transparent information on all advantages and disadvantages of the respective property. Our detailed exposés also give you a comprehensive impression of the various properties. Are you interested in one of our offers? Then we will arrange an appointment for you to view the property. As an interested party, you should always take advantage of the opportunity to view the property in person, even if it is a future capital investment. Under certain circumstances, an appraisal by an external expert may also be worthwhile.

You were able to convince yourself of the property on site and have decided to buy it? Then we can help you with the necessary preparations. Above all, it is important to have a well-thought-out financing strategy in order to be well secured in the long term. Thanks to our competent partners in insurance companies and banks, we can offer you the right solution here as well. In addition, we review the purchase contract and strengthen your position as a buyer in possible renegotiations.

Everything went as you had imagined so far? Then there is nothing standing in the way of signing the purchase contract and closing your real estate purchase in Berlin. We take care of all organizational and legal issues as well as the certification of the transaction by a notary. Of course, we will continue to be there for you after the real estate transaction has been completed if you have any questions or problems.

Finding the right property in Berlin

Even though the situation in Berlin's real estate market is tense, you can still find a wide range of different properties here. The Corona crisis has once again increased the demand for single-family homes. Particularly popular - and expensive at the same time - is the southwest of the city with Charlottenburg, Zehlendorf and Dahlem. In contrast, Köpenick and Spandau offer good residential locations and, above all, significantly lower prices, but more and more Berliners are expanding their search for a home to the surrounding areas, where conditions are often better and there is also more space.

Since the always limited area of land is one of the decisive factors for pricing in the real estate market, real estate prices are highest in Berlin's city center, as expected. In the southern city district of Mitte, the standard land value is currently widespread at 12,000-16,000 €/m², in some locations even well over 20,000 €/m². As a rule, only commercial properties that promise a high return due to their central location are worthwhile here. Comparatively inexpensive condominiums can be found, apart from larger apartment block neighborhoods, especially in Reinickendorf, Spandau and Wedding.

However, you should not only keep the real estate prices in Berlin in mind when choosing the right property, but also your plans and wishes. A home of your own or a condominium means a new home and should match your ideas as best as possible. Those who like it rather quiet, should rather look around on the outskirts or in the western parts of the city. Those who prefer to live in lively and vibrant surroundings are sure to find a suitable apartment in Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Neukölln or Wedding. Among families, Prenzlauer Berg and Pankow, with their good infrastructure and many recreational opportunities, are particularly popular, in addition to the typical single-family home neighborhoods. Larger commercial properties tend to find space on the outskirts of the city, where they can also benefit from proximity to the autobahn or the airport. Berlin-Mitte, on the other hand, is more worthwhile for high-turnover retail areas or prestigious visitor addresses.

Whatever you are looking for, with Saxowert you will find the right property for your plans in Berlin. Whether it is a condominium in Lichtenberg, a villa in Lichterfelde or an office building in the Mitte district, we will support you reliably and professionally. From the first consultation to the signing of the purchase contract, you can always rely on our service. You are welcome to take a first look at our wide range of properties in Berlin or to create a search request with us. We will notify you immediately if we have a suitable offer for you.

FAQ about buying real estate in Berlin:


Despite all the difficulties in recent years, Berlin is overall a very secure real estate location that has great potential for the future. This is due not least to the international importance and appeal of the German capital. Although investments are no longer a foregone conclusion as they were a few years ago, they can certainly pay off with the right concept and good local knowledge. As a place to live, Berlin also offers optimal conditions for a wide variety of needs and, with a 40 % share of parks, green spaces and wooded areas, is greener than most major cities in Europe. The various neighborhoods each offer their own unique flair, and when it comes to art and culture, Berlin regularly sets trends for all of Europe. The city also plays a major role as a business location.

Whether owning your own property is worthwhile depends above all on your individual circumstances and plans for the future. If you only want to move to Berlin temporarily, a rental property is probably the better choice. Even without sufficient assets and a regular and stable income, owning your own property can quickly become a financial burden. If the equity ratio is too low, you will also only be able to obtain loans at poor conditions - or not at all.

However, if you have already saved enough money and can plan for the long term, buying real estate is almost always a good decision. Real estate is still a safe investment that is much less susceptible to fluctuations than, for example, cryptocurrencies or shares. If you use the property yourself as living space, the increase in value is also always tax-free. Once the loan is paid off, you also live rent-free and only bear ancillary and maintenance costs. Finally, you enjoy significantly more freedom in designing and furnishing your property. In addition, if your private circumstances change unexpectedly, you can simply rent out your house or apartment in Berlin. For non-commercial real estate purchases, you can also benefit from various subsidy programs. We will be happy to advise you on your options as a prospective buyer.

Many people do not know that when buying real estate, there are additional costs beyond the actual purchase price. First, land transfer tax is due for every purchase, which in Berlin is currently 6% of the purchase price. Further costs arise for the land register entry and the notarial certification. Finally, of course, a real estate agent also costs money.

In principle, the amount of the broker's commission can be freely negotiated in most cases but is usually 7.14% of the purchase price for non-commercial properties. Since 2020, sellers who commission a broker must also pay at least half of the commission, so in this case you as a buyer can expect costs of 3.57% of the purchase price. Overall, you should plan for incidental purchase costs of 10-15% of the original purchase price in your calculation. Depending on the financing model, you also need to keep an eye on the interest on your loan in the long term.

If you are not familiar with the real estate market and do not have the right contacts, you will have a hard time looking for real estate in Berlin. Demand is huge, supply is scarce, and prices are comparatively high. As professional real estate agents, we keep a close eye on current developments in Berlin and can count on the support of many competent local partners. With our help, you can save not only a lot of time, but also a lot of money. We will find an offer for you that optimally meets your expectations. You can rely on us every step of the way, from the initial consultation to the signing of the purchase contract. We are also there for you in case of legal questions.