Donnerstag, 27. November 2008

Berlin Residential Real Estate Market 2009 Outlook

A survey of 118 cities in Germany has seen the average rent level in Berlin at 5.58 Euro per sqm per month net rent. This takes Berlin to rank No. 55 with Munich in the lead with an average net rent of 11.36 as shown in a study published by the association of the Berlin-Brandenburg housing corporations. Even in small cities like Jena (7.06), Greifswald (6.49) or Lübeck (6.07) the average rent is currently higher than in Berlin.

Yet another indicator for the development potential of the Berlin residential market. With the current price level for Investment Property at early last year’s level and growing numbers of pressured sales due to “De-Leveraging” where investors sell properties to generate fresh cash the yields have improved significantly. Recently some big investors in the Berlin market like ORCO Germany have sold properties between 2 - 20 % below their book values.

The take-up by the market is relatively slow as most banks require up to 40 % equity to match their lending. “Equity is king” and those who have it can cherry-pick. Any relaxation in this area will depend on the development of the financial crisis and any forecasts on this a currently very vague.

In order to make the right decision on property investments reliable pre-acquisition information and investigation is vital.To then ensure a long term successfull outcome, performance targets, measurement concepts and concepts for performance improvement have to be implemented based on the information gathered during the pre-acquisition process.

A bundle of services and tools necessary to achieve the fundamental set-up requirements of a property investment are described on www.berlin-portfolio.com

Uwe Falkenberg

source: http://www.quickannounce.com/berlin-residential-real-estate-market-2009-outlook/

Berlin rental yields and real estate market in the financial crisis


MARKET OVERVIEW

Though there was a construction boom in the 1990s after the unification of East and West Germany, the property market in Germany has been relatively flat over the past decade, according to Tobias Just, head of real estate research for Deutsche Bank. Prices are growing slightly in desirable markets like Berlin and Munich, but Mr. Just said most markets were holding steady or experiencing a slight downturn. “We haven’t had a rapid growth period like other markets,” he said, “so there is nothing to correct.” The stability may also be ascribed to Germany’s conservative mortgage system. Over 90 percent of the mortgages issued in Germany have fixed interest rates, and borrowers typically put down 30 percent of the purchase price. “This is a nice cocktail to prevent prices from going through the roof,” Mr. Just said.

Germany’s tenant-friendly laws are another factor in keeping property prices down. Rent control is strict, and evictions are slow and expensive for property owners. The laws favor tenants because “most of the electorate is renting,” he said. Roughly 50 percent of all residential units in Germany are rentals, and many are owned by the government or by nonprofit public welfare agencies. Although there was an influx of foreign investors buying rental units from 2003 to 2006, prices stayed stagnant because of an oversupply of rental units.

The market for luxury homes in the Munich area is small but strong, according to Christian Ehbauer, owner of Re/Max Exclusive in Gruenwald. Older luxury condominiums in Munich cost 6,000 to 9,000 euros per square meter ($695 to $1,040 per square foot), but some new units sell for as much as 12,000 to 16,000 euros per square meter ($1,390 to $1,850 per square foot).
Well-appointed single-family homes in Gruenwald or Starnberg, suburbs south of Munich, cost 1.4 million to 2.8 million euros ($1.7 million to $3.5 million), but Mr. Ehbauer has seen mansions with lake frontage in Starnberg sell for as much as 8 to 12 million euros ($1 million to $15 million).

source:

Credit Crunch Could Boost German Property Market

(OPENPRESS) November 26, 2008 -- According to a survey by travel portal kayak.co.uk 60 percent of Britons have no intention of canceling their winter holiday plans because of the economic downturn. Meanwhile, Grahame McKenzie of tourism website Travel Mole, has predicted that the global downturn will cause Britons to holiday in locations within Europe, such as Spain and Italy, naming France, Italy and Germany, he added: "Potentially there may be an upsurge in ferry bookings, so people will be able to shove all their stuff in a car and just jump in with their kids and everything."Liam Bailey, chief market analyst for overseas property portal Property Abroad gave us his views on the reports:"Firstly, it is possible that the findings from the Travel Mole survey go against Grahame McKenzie's predictions -- for this winter anyway -- of course depending on whether or not some of the 60 percent have made their winter holiday plans to go further afield than Europe, which I believe is a fairly safe bet. McKenzie's statements give no indication of whether he meant this winter only or winters for however long the 'credit crunch' lasts." While it is highly likely that some people will decide to holiday in Europe, most Britons already do holiday in Europe, so I can't see there being a 'massive upsurge', but even a slight upsurge could generate a boost in European property markets.""McKenzie being right would make the biggest difference to Germany, because German property traditionally has very low rental yields, because of government restrictions, and because of the fact that very few Germans own their own homes meaning that most rentals are residential. This would -- possibly very quickly -- give Germans the ability to raise their rental rates on short-term leases only, because the government would see the positive effect this could have on the economy combined with the increase in tourism."Property Abroad has over 300 properties in Germany, with prices starting at just over £29k on a tenanted 1 bedroom Berlin apartment. Untenanted German apartments are always priced slightly higher; for example a 1 bedroom untenanted apartment in Berlin -- though in a different area -- is priced at £46,405.

About Property Abroad

Property Abroad is rapidly growing into one of the best known, trusted and most successful overseas property portals in the U.K. With a slick dynamic site and very reasonable rates Property Abroad currently has among the most extensive worldwide property listings on the net.

To find out more contact the team at:
les@property-abroad.com
Property Abroad LTD
182 York Road HartlepoolT
S26 9EA

http://www.property-abroad.com/

source: http://www.theopenpress.com/index.php?a=press&id=41127

Dienstag, 18. November 2008

In Berlin - Real Estate continues to rise

Cost of the inhabited and commercial real estate in Germany has grown on 5,2 % from the beginning of current year, however it still can’t be compared with the level of 2007. Such information has been represented in Real Estate Price Indicator’s report, published by investment group Estavis.


The prices in Berlin have risen on 2 %. In the areas located in vicinities of large city agglomerations, the gain has made 0,8 %. However, as a whole on the country cost of habitation and the commercial areas has decreased on 9,3 % in comparison with last year.


Last Thursday the Federal statistical bureau of the country declared that in the third quarter of 2008 growth of gross national product of Germany was reduced to 0,5 %, after recession(on 0,4%) in the second quarter. Reduction of gross national product’s growth within two quarters testifies about the end of recession.


Mittwoch, 12. November 2008

ANGELINA JOLIE and BRAD PITT COMPRANO A BERLINO CASA DA 600 MQ!


BERLINO - Brad Pitt (43 anni) e Angelina Jolie (31 anni) hanno comprato a Berlino un enorme appartamento da 600 metri quadrati. A riferirlo, nel suo primo numero dell'edizione tedesca, è oggi il settimanale americano 'Vanity Fair'. La nuova casa berlinese della famosa coppia di Hollywood - che negli ultimi mesi sono stati a più riprese nella capitale tedesca - è un attico situato nel quartiere 'Mitte' (Centro) non lontano dall'Alexanderplatz, nella parte est di Berlino.Pitt e Jolie possiedono, oltre a varie case negli Stati Uniti, un appartamento anche a Parigi. Di recente la Jolie aveva espresso l'intenzione di non voler far crescere i propri figli a Hollywood e di considerare per questo un possibile trasferimento in Europa. Brad Pitt da parte sua ha rapporti di amicizia con gli architetti berlinesi Lars Krueckeberg, Wolfraum Putz e Thomas Willemeit, che hanno progettato fra l'altro la sua villa a Los Angeles.Brad Pitt e Angelina Jolie hanno una figlia, Shiloh, nata lo scorso maggio in Namibia. L'attore da parte sua ha adottato anch'egli i due bambini - Maddox e Zahara - precedentemente adottati dalla Jolie. Il primo esemplare in tedesco di 'Vanity Fair', che avrà cadenza settimanale, è uscita in 500 mila copie e costa solo un euro.

ANGELINA JOLIE and BRAD PITT have taken a step closer to moving to Europe permanently by buying an apartment in Berlin, Germany. The couple have been regular visitors to the German capital, and have now taken ownership of a luxury 600 square metre (6,500 square foot) attic flat in what used to be East Berlin, according to the German edition of Vanity Fair. The GIRL, INTERRUPTED star - who already has homes in the US and an apartment in Paris, France, with Pitt - wants her adopted children MADDOX and ZAHARA and her biological daughter SHILOH to grow up outside the Hollywood bubble. Pitt is good friends with German architects LARS KRUECKEBERG, WOLFRAM PUTZ and THOMAS WILLEMEIT, who designed his house in Los Angeles.

Donnerstag, 6. November 2008

Trend BERLINO: Costa la metà di Roma: 20 affari nella città più cool d´Europa


We were proud to be featured in the October/November Issue 2008 of DOVE CASE in Italy.
p62 CASEottobre08/novembre08
Berlino über alles
per Annalisa Failla
prezzi bassi e 20 occasioni sicure
Quase 8 milioni di turisti all´anno. 1500 eventi al giorno. 15 compagnie low cost. Cultura, affari, manifestazioni fieristiche: la capitale tedesca è il vero centro dell´Europa. Ma i costi sono sproporzionati rispetto a Malino o Roma: dai 1500 euro al mq delle zone emergenti ai 3500 del Mitte, il quartiere finanziario. Ecco perché conviene comprare e mettere a reddito
Giovane, dinamica, verde e in perenne trasformazione, Berlino é il place-to-be del vecchio continente. E i dati confermano: 7.6 milioni di turista dolo nel 2007 e circa 127,000 immigranti che hanno deciso di vivere qui. D´altronde Berlino non ha niente da invidiare alle altre città europee: con più musei che giorni di pioggia (in tutta circa 175), 130 teatri e 500 galerie d´arte, é una località in continuo fermento. Non c´è da stupirsi dunque se nella sua agenda si contano fino a 1500 eventi al giorno, che spaziano dalle mostre d´arte a paenning ed eventi alternativi, tipici dello spirito giovane della città. Fin dalla prima metà del Novecento, durante i rampanti anni Venti, Berlino ha attirato artisti da tutto il mondo, dando vita a una varietà di scenari culturali eterogenea. Creativi e designer la considerano un laboratorio di tendenze, mentre le più grandi archistar hanno progettato musei, palazzi e interi quartieri: come Potsdamer Platz, che con il Sony Center firmato Helmut Jahn, gli edifici di Renzo Piano e Richard Rogers, e la sede della Mercedes-Benz, opera di Rafael Moneo, è frai i simboli della rinascita cittadina. Ogni anno a febbraio c´è la Berlinale, il famoso festival del cinema, grazie al quale anche Hollywood ha riscoperto la città, ambientandovi film come Intrigo a Berlino di Steven Soderbergh, con George Clooney, o Valkyrie di Bryan Singer, con Tom Cruise, nelle sale a febbraio 2009.
La cittá è un enorme cantiere: in ogni zona si scorgono gru, ruspe, impalcature. I musei sono sottoposti a un constante rinnovamento, le vecchie fabbriche diventano loft ultramoderni, gli antichi palazzi tornano a splendere con le loro facciate classische. Grande polo di comunicazione e innovazione, Berlino rimane tuttavia una città a misura d´uomo. Nelle strade si respira aria di novità e creatività, gli edifici futuristici e i palazzi degli affari del Mitte si alternano ai vecchi cortili dei quartieri ebrei, alle gallerie d´arte e alle palazzine color pastello di Prenzlauer Berg. "Dopo la caduta del Muro, si è cercato di dare una struttura urbanistica moderna alla città, pur mantenendo in vita ciò che era rimasto di antico. Ecco perchè oggi vecchi palazzi ed edifici avvenuristici coesistono uno di fronte all´altro, spiega l´architetto italiano Carlo Ponzini, che ha lavorato nella capitale tedesche per diversi anni. "La cosa interessante è che tutto funziona e questo fa la forza di Berlino".
Non solo: la posizioni delle città ha da sempre favorito le comunicazioni con l´Oriente, portando Berlino in primo piano nel commercio internazionale e facendola diventare un ponte naturale nei rapporti tra Est e Ovest. Da tutto il mondo atterrano e decolano ogni giorno più 80 compagne aeree, di cui 15 low cost. Lo spostamente della capitale da Bonn, inoltre, ha garantito l´arrivo di manager, businessman e politici. Anche secondo la classifica anuale dell´fDi magazine, pubblicazione del gruppo Financial Times , la capitale tedesca è uno dei centri economici più dinamici d´Europa, dietro Londra e Parigi.
Per non parlare di un mercato immobiliare che va controcorrente: rimasto stagnante per decenni, comincia a crescere solo ora, pur mantenendosi molto competitivo. I prezzi variano dai 1500 al metro quadro per le zone più giovani e alternative ai 3500 nelle location più centrali e alla moda. E c´è di più: solo 15 per cento dei berlinesi possiede una casa, fattore che ha dato il via e un´enorme mercato affittuario. "Dopo la Seconda guerra mondiale, i tedeschi hanno perso fiducia nel mattone e per anni hanno preferito affittare piuttosto che comprare", racconta Joao Paglione, agente della Berimmo Real Estate. In più, di recente, la forte domanda di abitazioni h afatto crescere molto i canoni d´affitto, originariamente piuttosto bassi. Secondo un´indagine dell´azienda di consulenza immobiliare Jones Lang LaSalle , negli ultimi mesi i prezzi sono saliti in media del 2,8 per cento, toccando pichi del 50 per cento nelle zone top. Per l´affito di un appartamento non ammobiliato e senza contare le spese condominiali e di riscaldamento si sarebbero raggiunti otto euro al metro quadro nel centralissimo quartiere del Mitte, che diventano 10-12 qualora la casa sia arredata. Prezzi incredibilmente bassi, se paragonati a Milano e Roma. Stessa tendenza a Charlottenburg e Wilmersdorf, i ricchi quartieri residenziali dell´Ovest, dove un affitto mensile si calcola sui 7-8 euro al metro quadro (9-11 € se ammobiliato). Uno straniero che investisse a Berlino affittando un appartamento, potrebbe contare se una rendita tra il 4 e il 6 per cento. "Quando i prezzi crollavano non c´era nessuno stimolo a comprarer; ora che il mercato immobiliare sta crescendo, anche i tedeschi cominciano ad acquistare casa", sottolinea Paglione. "Il primo passo da fare nell´acquisto di un appartamento è la scleta del quartiere." spiega Andrea Barbato , titolare della societá d´investimento Bato Group, che offre una consulenza a 360 gradi: dall´acquisto alla gestioni degli immobili. "Ogni area è diversi, ogni strada ha una sua storia e un suo modo di vivere". La zona più alla moda é sicuramente Prenzlauer Berg, antico centro operaio dell´Est, oggi un allegro quartiere pieno di ristoranti, locali e negozi di abbigliamento. Qui abitano giovani famiglie, attori e genti di spettacolo, como el regista tedesco Wim Wenders, che al confine con il Mitte possiede un loft di 400 metri quadri con piscina. "Grazie alla popolarità del quartiere, i prezzi sono alzati, ma sono aumentati anche i canoni d´affito. Ecco perché è la zona ideale dove comprare" spiega Barbato.
Poco più a sud si trova il Mitte, storico quartiere ebraico della città e vera icona della rinascita berlinense: qui si delinea la zona delgi affari, con Potsdamer Platz e le vie intorno a Friedrichstrasse, vicino alla quale si sta sviluppando il grande progetto di appartamenti e ufici Yoo, firmato da Philippe Starck. Verso nord si susseguono invece piccole vie con locali e negozietti turistici, oltre ai famoso Hackesche Höfe, il complesso di cortili che oggi ospita appartamenti, boutique di moda e gallerie d´arte.
A Kreuzberg si trasferiscono sempre più giovani, attratti da affiti meno cari e da un´atmosfera vivace e multiculturale. Qui ha base il popolo di creativi, artisti e impiegati nella aziende multimediali che lavorano vicino al Viktoria Park.
L´antica Berlino Ovest è rimasta un´enclave della borghesia tedesca: a Charlottenburg e Wilmersdorf si incontrano belle zone residenzali con strade alberate, riffante villette monofamiliari e palazzine neoclassiche.
Inviati da DCase, Annalista Failla e il fotografo Nicolò Lanfranchi


Dienstag, 4. November 2008

10 Tenanted Apartments in Berlin for SALE

Price: EUR 395,000
Net rent: EUR 34,750
Net yield: 8.8%

Year of construction: 1983
Year of renovation: 1999
Total living area: 617.7 sq m (excluding storage rooms and balconies)

These ten apartments are all fully renovated and were given modern fully-tiled white bathrooms and double glazed PVC windows in 1999. Each apartment offers very generous room sizes and substantial balconies with views over the City towards Mitte. All apartments are let to reliable long-term tenants. The apartments form part of a very well managed development. Corridors, lifts etc are cleaned twice weekly. The grounds include ample parking and a variety of young trees and plants. The accounts for the development are EUR260,000 in credit (i.e. the buyer effectively gets EUR12,000 in free contributions). The development is in a green area of Eastern Berlin popular with young families.

The local U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations are a 5 minute walk away, the local park is a 2 minute walk. The development includes several small shops and a nursery. The regional shopping centre is just 5 minutes by car, and the very popular Gardens of the World attraction is just as accessible.

The centre of Berlin can be reached in 20 minutes by car or train. They were fully refurbished in 1999 (windows, internal doors, electrics, heating, and insulation were upgraded. They have all new bathriooms. Ideally, the owner wishes for them to be sold individually. Sales of individual properties are also possible.

Freitag, 17. Oktober 2008

Berlin is cool and property is remarkably affordable

by Lorna Blackwood

Apartments in the trendy parts of the German capital go for as little as £45,000





Berlin is pinning its hopes on the young. More than half its population is below the age of 35, media companies are flocking to the city and, with three excellent universities, it is establishing itself as the biotech and research capital of Germany.



The Government has invested €75billion (£59 billion) to improve the infrastructure of the city, enticing expatriates to find a home there or invest in residential properties. This, combined with numerous cultural and scientific places of interest, is only adding to the city's attraction.
The recent privatisation of the public housing stock has led to a small increase in the number of homeowners. However, the city has a strong rental culture - only 14 per cent of local people own their home - and with the rents low and laws heavily favouring the tenant, there is little to drive the domestic market.

Charles Peerless, a director of Winkworth's international department, concurs: “Berlin is exactly what the current housing market needs. With its huge rental market, it is a safe investment. The ‘less risk and less reward' strategy is what most long-term investors are choosing.”

The choice in Berlin ranges from the former East German high-rise blocks near Alexanderplatz and the experimental living communities of Kreuzberg to the Neo-Classical buildings of Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain. The latter are the most popular with foreign investors.
These large apartment blocks, with their elegant stucco façades, were built in the early part of the 20th century and offer spacious, high-ceilinged accommodation that is usually ranged around an enclosed garden square. Most of these properties have been sold off in volume to investment companies that are extensively refurbishing, adding central heating, double glazing and modern kitchens and bathrooms. The buildings have been re-roofed, the communal gardens landscaped and all interiors redecorated, with the aim of increasing rents and, in turn, improving capital values.

Andreas Pichotta is one such developer. As a passionate Berliner and admirer of the city's architecture, he makes his projects as much a labour of love as an investment, although he knows what will make him money. “The most important part of the investment business is getting the right location,” he says. “There is an abundance of very cheap, unrefurbished property in the city but if you buy in the wrong place you are doomed.”

He uses his local knowledge to choose the buildings that he buys and refurbishes with great care. He has made good investments in Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain. Prenzlauer Berg is an area of the city undergoing a renaissance. There is an abundance of restaurants, cafés, bars and eclectic boutiques. Many of Berlin's media, arts and student population live here. It was not bombed in the Second World War so there is a wealth of old-style apartment blocks. Many have been restored to enhance their traditional features, creating picturesque squares where regular farmers' markets attract affluent locals.

The area has the highest birth rate in Germany. It became very fashionable in the late 1990s and those who moved there then are now in their 30s, young professionals with families, looking for larger apartments. The location is perfect for commuting into the city and, accordingly, rents are beginning to rise. Dr Pichotta is refurbishing 6 Schönfliesser Strasse, pictured top right. One-bedroom flats there sell from €58,235 (£45,000). Such an outlay will earn him a monthly rental income of only €230. All his apartments are already pre-let to tenants, so his income is genuine and secure. The rental guarantee provided is for five years and has a yield of just over 4 per cent. The refurbishment of buildings is being undertaken throughout 2008, completing by the end of the year. The flats will be managed by the existing property manager and this is included in the fixed price. Investors are, however, liable for the sinking fund.

Winkworth also has a project in the area and is offering two-bedroom apartments in Thulestrasse. Almost all were snapped up after being released for rent after refurbishment. A two-bedroom flat of 62 square metres can cost as little as £66,584.

Perhaps an even better investment might be the slightly shabbier area of Friedrichshain, in East Berlin, which contrasts with the more gentrified and expensive areas of Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte. After the Berlin Wall came down, Friedrichshain began to develop a reputation as a young district. Its lower rents attracted artists and students; its multitude of empty flats also attracted the attention of West Berlin squatters. It retains its slightly run-down atmosphere - which gives it its character.

source: http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/overseas/article4954556.ece

Donnerstag, 16. Oktober 2008

Germany seen as a stable, long term option for property investors

Germany, which has always been regarded as having a stable but rather boring property market, is emerging as the number one target for cash-rich institutional investors who want to invest in the long term.


Few individual property investors have been tempted into the German property market. Many have been put off by the stringent rules for landlords and Germany has never been popular with holiday home owners.


But those who have bought property in Germany have not done so to make money quickly.

Prices have remained roughly stable in the residential sector over the last year.


Also in contrast to other European countries like the UK and Spain Germany did not experience a major housing boom in the late 1990s, early 2000s. Indeed just 42% of the population own their homes.


But there is strong evidence that companies and funds are already investing heavily in German property and that is about to expand.


Sales of commercial property in Germany surged to record levels last year but slumped in the first half of this year as the credit crunch began to bite and fears about the economic outlook dampened investor appetite.


But according to analysts this has opened the door for cash-rich investors like Sovereign Wealth Funds, banks and institutional funds to jump into the German real estate market.


In particular SWFs from China, Singapore and the Gulf are hovering. 'You have these big state funds considering acquisitions. The Russians may be making strategic investments too as Germany is still considered a stable option,' said Christine Schaefer, an analyst at DZ Bank.


These kinds of funds can be secretive and often buy via specially created holdings. Peter Starke, head of real estate firm Aengevelt's investment division, believes they are already investing in Germany.

'They don't exactly walk around with signs around their necks. But I can think of two players from the Gulf region whom I strongly suspect are backed by wealth funds,' he said.

Some analysts think the SWFs are more likely to buy stakes in property management firms rather than investing directly. Some of these firms are strapped for cash due to the credit crunch and may wish to sell assets.

'I think there will be deals with owner-occupier retailers who are pushing the margins and keen to sell their real estate,' said Iryna Pylypchuk, of CB Richard Ellis.

To understand the nature of property in Germany it is necessary to look at the country's history and try to understand the people, according to Jonty Crossick of Ready2Invest which specialises in spotting emerging markets and believes in analysing the market before recommending it.

'If you look at the history of Germany it was very fragmented before 1862 and even after re-unification it never lost its federal nature. Cities have their own economic power bases. From a property point of view it doesn't have one city dominating like London in the UK,' he said.

This means that prices and rental yields can vary from city to city and also that each city has different attractions. Frankfurt is regarded as the commercial and financial centre of the country whereas Munich is seen as the cultural capital.

'Also the mind set in Germany is less entrepreneurial and more cautious. The Germans are much more averse to risk and borrowing and more anti-inflation than other economies like the UK and the US,' added Crossick.

One result is that Germans tend to rent rather than buy. This has positive and negative outcomes for potential property investors.

The main negative is that rents are set by each municipality and rental contracts are often for indefinate periods. Germans think nothing of staying in the same rental for 10 years or more.
'There are plenty of rules and regulations that limit the potential of returns,' said Mark Bingham, managing director of Owner Invest, which specialises in buy-to-let investments and hotel rooms. 'The amount of rent you are able to charge is strictly enforced and landlords who go over the maximum rental value can face severe penalties. There are also limits to how much and often you can increase the rent.'

But there are plus sides too. 'Tenants are usually expected to pay the utilities bills, property taxes and most other costs associated with running the property and most are rented unfurnished. From an investment point of view yields of around 7% can be achieved,' added Bingham.

The company believes that one way into the German market for individual property investors is through the hotel industry. 'Germany is the largest country in the world when it comes to trade fairs, special events and festivals. It is the ideal place for attracting short term visitor,' said Bingham.

'In the domestic rental market you might be looking at a return of around 7%, with an hotel apartment you would be looking at around 14% based on 50% occupancy,' he added.

There is a healthy market in terms of German nationals buying property according to John Hitchcox, chairman of yoo, a design and investment company with projects in several German cities including Hamburg, Munich and Berlin.

Yoo project in BerlinIn development terms there are good investment opportunities. The company's project in Hamburg sold ahead of construction and it is looking at potential sites in Dusseldorf and another in Berlin for next year.

'Germany does have poor housing stock that needs re-furbishing, especially the stock in what was East Germany,' he said. As a result a number of institutions are buying up whole apartment blocks.

In terms of buying individual apartments it is the Germans themselves who are buying rather than foreign investors. Yoo has found that most buyers are Germans although a Fulham footballer has recently bought in Hamburg.

One thing for sure is that the Germany economy is suffering along with the rest of the developed world. A few days ago Jorg Decressin, chief of the International Monetary Fund's world economics division, said growth in Germany is now predicted at zero.

'Even though Germany has not experienced the same run up in house prices as other advanced economies, it has been an economy that has been flying pretty much on one engine and that engine was exports. With world growth now slowing that engine is now running out of gas,' he said.

Any changes in the Germany property market are likely to be slow and unspectacular. 'The real estate culture in Germany is changing but it will not be radical. The Germans are more likely to have investments in sectors other than housing because they have not had the level of property appreciation that has occurred in the UK or the US,' said Hitchcox.

source: http://www.propertywire.com/news/features/germany-stable-option-property-investors-200810151751.html

Donnerstag, 9. Oktober 2008

German property may soon lure sovereign wealth

By Dave Graham

BERLIN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) from Asia and oil-rich nations may be set to jump in to the German real estate market, helping to support a sector which has been knocked down but not out by the financial crisis.

Sales of commercial property surged to record levels in Europe's biggest economy last year, but they slumped in the first half of this year as bank losses, the credit crunch and fears about the economic outlook dampened investor appetite.

Banks and other institutional investors have scrambled to hoard cash as money markets froze, which should open the door for cash-rich funds from China, Singapore and oil producers in the Gulf region, said DZ Bank analyst Christine Schaefer.

"You have these big state funds considering acquisitions," she said. "And the Russians may be looking to make strategic investments here too. Germany is a stable option."

Peter Starke, head of the investment division at real estate firm Aengevelt, said the publicity-shy funds were probably already buying in Germany via specially created holdings.

"I can think of two players from the Arabian region whom I strongly suspect are backed by wealth funds," he said. "But the thing is, they don't exactly walk around with signs around their necks saying 'sovereign wealth fund ABC from country XY'."

If SWFs invest enough to support or even boost property prices, it should help stabilise investment and domestic consumption, said MM Warburg economist Carsten Klude.

In contrast to countries like Spain, Britain and Ireland, Germany did not experience a major housing boom in past years. As a result, its residential market has held steady in 2008, helping offset a big drop in commercial property transactions.

Marcus Lemli, capital markets chief for property services firm "I can think of two players from the Arabian region whom I strongly suspect are backed by wealth funds," he said. "But the thing is, they don't exactly walk around with signs around their necks saying 'sovereign wealth fund ABC from country XY'."

If SWFs invest enough to support or even boost property prices, it should help stabilise investment and domestic consumption, said MM Warburg economist Carsten Klude.

In contrast to countries like Spain, Britain and Ireland, Germany did not experience a major housing boom in past years. As a result, its residential market has held steady in 2008, helping offset a big drop in commercial property transactions.

Marcus Lemli, capital markets chief for property services firm Jones Lang LaSalle in Germany, says commercial turnover could drop to as little as 20 billion euros ($27.4 billion) in 2008 from a record 55 billion last year.

NO MORE LEVERAGING

The correction has been felt right across the country.

In the first half of 2008, revenue from sales of office, retail and other business premises were down by 75 percent in Berlin, the biggest single market, official data show.

Investment in offices in Cologne fell 82 percent over the same period, and by 68 percent in Munich. In Duesseldorf, spending on all types of real estate was down by half.

The drop in activity reflects the disappearance of highly leveraged foreign financial investors, who bought up big German portfolios before the credit crunch hit.

Even if liquidity returns to credit markets soon, some observers say investment will be tailored to long-term returns of the kind favoured by SWFs and German open-ended funds.

For now, though, investors remain cautious and prices may need to fall further before SWFs part with big sums of money.

"A lot of people also think we're heading for a recession, though we're not actually there yet," said Tobias Just, a property expert at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt. "These new investors will need more certainty about this before they move."

A government source told Reuters on Wednesday that Berlin would soon cut its 2009 growth forecast for Germany to below 0.5 percent from a current estimate of 1.2 percent.

For now, the property market itself is giving little away, said Berlin estate agent Gottfried Kupsch.

"Basically nothing else will be sold this year," he said of the capital. "What we're hearing is that banks have closed their books for the year. It'll probably last till February at least."

INDIRECT STAKES

Germany's housing market, where the majority of homes are rented, is also seen as a safe, if unspectacular bet.

House prices fell in Britain by over 12 percent in August year-on-year, and in Spain by nearly 5 percent, industry figures show. German house prices, by contrast, were broadly flat this summer, according to data from financial services firm Hypoport.

JLL's Lemli said the SWFs which enter Germany are likely to buy stakes in property management firms rather than invest directly -- a strategy that is already underway in Europe.
On Tuesday, the Singapore government's wealth fund said it had raised its stake in U.K. real estate company British Land Co Plc to more than six percent.

SWFs could invest as much as $725 billion in global commercial real estate by end-2015, CBRE forecast last month.

One source of bargains may be asset sales by cash-strapped firms as the credit squeeze reaches the corporate sector.

"I think there will be more deals where owner-occupier retailers are pushing the margins and keen to sell their real estate," said Iryna Pylypchuk, an analyst at property consultancy CB Richard Ellis (CBRE).

"And I think there is going to be more pressure from the banks. So I think market activity will pick up later this year."

(Editing by Patrick Graham)


source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7847453

Sonntag, 5. Oktober 2008

Italian Dolce Vita Meets Bavarian Quality Workmanship

Until a few years ago Giovanna Stefanel-Stoffel was enmeshed in the fashion world as the art director of her father's famous Venice-based Stefanel fashion designer company. After marrying a Bavarian, things have changed.

Today in Berlin, she's caught up in the world of real estate, as the wife and business partner of multi-millionaire Bavarian property developer Ludwig Maximilian Stoffel, 61, who along with his brother Manfred runs the German family's Stoffel Holding company.

"My husband has been active in the property development branch for 30 years," said the vivacious 53-year-old Italian. "When we first met I was deeply involved in the fashion industry. We decided we'd like to do something very special together. We fused our names, married three years ago, and created Stofanel Investment.

"We wanted to develop our own very special kind of art work. Planning started two years ago and now we're developing four big and very different-styled projects in the German capital."

Italy meets Bavaria

Projects, incidentally, that demand a 300-million-euro ($435-million) investment commitment on their part. "Italian Dolce Vita and Bavarian quality workmanship united in Prussia -- Giovanna Stefanel-Stoffel and Ludwig Maximilian Stoffel" -- proclaims a company press handout.

Last week, the cornerstone for the first Stofanel project was laid. Titled Marthashof Urban Village, it is to combine a mix of family-oriented town and garden-style houses, penthouses built around courtyards, as well as flats suitable for singles.

In all, 133 residential units will be built on a 12,380 square-meter (133,000 square-foot) site in Berlin's trendy Prenzlauer Berg district by 2010. "Forty percent of the accommodation has already been sold, which is better than we expected," said Giovanna.

Berlin site was once a women's home

The Marthashof site is a story in itself. In the 1850s a Christian-run hostel for maidservants was founded there after a number of young girls contracted syphilis after being lured to work in Berlin under false pretenses.

The "fallen" girls found refuge in the hostel and were given clean accommodations and medical help. Later, Marthashof became an officially recognized evangelical school for future maidservants, supported from 1903 onwards by wealthy Berliners.

By 1917 it had 450 pupils. But after Hitler rose to power, the school came under Nazi party rule, and ultimately closed. In 1943 it suffered a direct hit during an air raid and was destroyed, killing numerous women workers. Today a memorial remembers the former Marthashof on the city's Schwedter Strasse.

Germans look to Italy for good taste

Ludwig Maximilian Stoffel's eyes twinkle when he compares Italian and German characteristics. "Why do Germans go to Italy, wear Italian clothes, drink Italian wine? Because they're not sure of taste," he said. "The Germans usually don't know what is really trendy, what is fashionable.

The Italians are so sure: from clothes to glasses, from decoration to cars -- they made Ferrari.

"However, a Mercedes is also nice because you have no problems with it. If you buy from a reliable German estate company that has experience, that has a name and tradition, you can be sure you have something with quality," he added, noting his family's business in Straubing has "100 years of tradition."

Of her role in the Stofanel Investment company, Giovanna said: "I'm a shareholder and am on the supervisory board. As the art director I'm responsible for everything to do with aesthetics, lifestyle, coordination and integration.


"I watch the development of the undertaking very closely. After meeting my husband I realized I could bring my ideals into the property market business," she told the DPA news agency.
Her husband is impressed with the changes taking place in Berlin, which became reunited Germany's capital in 1990.

Recent change in new capital

"For investors in the 1990s, the biggest risk was the delay in deciding where the nation's capital was going to be -- Bonn or Berlin, but once that was decided things started falling into place.
"Big companies opened offices here, hotels were built, artists arrived, galleries opened and tourists flocked to the city again. But only in the past two years have the changes really become evident," he said.

His wife said she agreed. "What one can have in Berlin, one cannot get elsewhere. In Italy, many people want to buy small apartments in Prenzlauer Berg and other parts of this city because the prices are so reasonable.

"Berlin has sex appeal, offers a lot and is a relatively price worthy city. But the city does need entrepreneurs," she said.

Stoffel Holding has completed a multitude of buildings in various parts of Germany in the past 20 years, in addition to realizing projects at top addresses in Berlin.

Stofanel Investment employs some 25 architects, planners, and finance experts at its Berlin headquarters.

The couple, who have a house in Tyrol they escape to when in need of a break, are renowned for their warmth and generosity in Berlin. For several years now they have been acting as "parents" to 30 Nepalese orphans, paying for their education at an English private school in Katmandu, while offering supportive family environments.

Giovanna Stefanel-Stoffel, who has no children of her own, said she is grateful to her husband for creating the foundation that funds their Nepal activity. "Three times a year we travel to Kathmandu to see the children.

"We'll be going there again in October," she said. "Being with the youngsters, aged between five and 17, has become such an important part of our lives."

Donnerstag, 2. Oktober 2008

Gute Noten für Städte im Osten

Norbert Schwaldt 2. Oktober 2008, 10:19 Uhr

Feri-Rating bescheinigt Leipzig, Dresden und Berlin das größte Potenzial. Experten sorgen sich um die Abwanderung der Bevölkerung aus den ländlichen Gebieten

Leipzig, Dresden und Berlin sind für die Analysten der Rating-Agentur Feri die attraktivsten Märkte für Wohn- und Büroimmobilien in Ostdeutschland. Im gesamtdeutschen Vergleich liegen Leipzig und Dresden sogar unter den 15 besten Städten, wenn es um das Entwicklungspotenzial in den nächsten zehn Jahren geht.

Schlusslichter des Feri-Ratings von 15 ostdeutschen Städten mit mehr als 100 000 Einwohnern sind Chemnitz, Halle/Saale und Schwerin. Bei dem Rating werden wie bei Wertpapierprodukten Noten zwischen „AAA“ bis „E“ vergeben. Die Höchstnote „AAA“ hat in der Untersuchung des Bad Homburger Unternehmens allerdings keine ostdeutsche Großstadt erreicht.
Bei Büroimmobilien sehen die Feri-Experten Leipzig, Jena und Berlin an der Spitze. Die geringsten Erwartungen haben sie wie am Wohnungsmarkt bei Chemnitz, Magdeburg und Halle/Saale. Das Analyse-Haus berücksichtigt bei seiner Benotung unter anderem das Wertentwicklungspotenzial der Immobilien an den Standorten, die Bautätigkeit, das Wirtschaftswachstum, die Einkommen, die Zu- oder Abnahme der Bevölkerung und die Transaktionen mit Gebäuden. Es geht dabei um die künftige Profilierung der Städte, um ihre „ökonomische Schönheit“, wie Feri-Vorstand Knepel sagt.

„Wie in Westdeutschland wird sich der Zuzug in die Großstädte verstärken“, sagt Feri-Vorstand Helmut Knepel. Auch ein Ost-Westoder Nord-Süd-Gefälle werde es im alten wie im neuen Bundesgebiet in absehbarer Zukunft nicht mehr geben. Grund: „Die Menschen ziehen in Ost wie West der Arbeit nach und damit in die Großstädte“, sagt Knepel. „Damit wird die Landflucht bundesweit ein Problem.“ Vor allem die demografische Entwicklung und die wirtschaftliche Stärke einzelner Regionen würden zur Polarisierung beitragen.

Von den Zuzügen profitieren in Ostdeutschland vor allem Berlin, Potsdam, Leipzig und Dresden. Die größere Nachfrage werde sich auch in den Miet- und Kaufpreisen für Wohnimmobilien niederschlagen. Die seien, wie Knepel sagt, in den wichtigsten ostdeutschen Großstädten in den Jahren von 1995 bis 2001 rückläufig gewesen. Bis zum Jahr 2010 würden sie aller Voraussicht nach wieder ansteigen.

„In den Metropolregionen des Ostens werden gegenwärtig zu wenig Wohnungen gebaut, vor allem solche mit gehobener Qualität“, berichtet der Analyst. Dagegen werden in bestimmten Regionen noch auf lange Zeit Wohnungen abgerissen. „In der Folge wird es im Osten künftig nur noch einige überfüllte und prosperierende Städte geben“, sagt Knepel. „Und damit weitgehend entvölkerte Landschaften.“ Berlin wird nach seiner Ansicht aber weiter hinter den anderen europäischen Metropolen zurückbleiben. Daran werde sich auch in den nächsten zehn Jahren nichts ändern. Unter den sich am schlechtesten entwickelnden ostdeutschen Städten hebt Knepel Chemnitz hervor. Auch die bewerteten Standorte in Sachsen-Anhalt und Mecklenburg- Vorpommern bekamen schlechte Noten. Dagegen hält Analyst Knepel sehr viel vom Potenzial der Region Erfurt/Jena.

„Das Interesse für ostdeutsche Wohn- und Gewerbeimmobilien ist bei den Investoren mit Ausnahme gegenwärtig noch gering“, räumt Feri-Vorstand Knepel ein. Angesichts des niedrigen Preisniveaus sei das Desinteresse jedoch nicht zu verstehen. Für die Spitzenstandorte Leipzig, Dresden und Berlin ist der Analyst zuversichtlich. „Die besten ostdeutschen Städte haben gemeinsam, dass sie sich zu Wissenschaftsund Forschungszentren entwickelt haben“, hebt der Analyst hervor. Dadurch seien auch die Grundlagen für ein von Innovationen getriebenes Wachstum gegeben. Die gezielte Ansiedlung von wachstumsstarken Dienstleistern wie in Potsdam sowie von Hochtechnologien in Jena und Dresden gebe der regionalen Wirtschaft Impulse und belebe auch den Büro- und Wohnimmobilienmarkt.

quelle: http://www.welt.de/sonderveroeffentlichung/exporeal2008/article2513256/Gute-Noten-fuer-Staedte-im-Osten.html

Dienstag, 30. September 2008

Baustart für 21 Millionen-Projekt "Living 106" in Berlin-Mitte

Vivacon bietet 54 neuartige Serviced Apartments für Manager unter der Marke "Living Domicil"


Köln/Berlin (ots) - Die Vivacon AG, Köln, hat jetzt in Berlin-Mitte mit den Erdarbeiten den Baustart für ihr Projekt "Living 106" mit einem Volumen von rund 21 Millionen Euro gegeben. In der Chausseestraße entstehen im Alt- und Neubau 54 moderne Serviced Apartments sowie 20 hochwertige Eigentumswohnungen und eine Gewerbeeinheit auf insgesamt 5.300 Quadratmetern Nutzfläche. Die Fertigstellung ist für Mitte 2010 vorgesehen.

Die neuartigen Serviced Apartments unter dem Namen "LivingDomicil" sind komplett eingerichtet und beinhalten Rundum-Services wie Reinigungs-, Sicherheits- und Besorgungsangebote. Zielgruppe sind insbesondere Manager, die berufsbedingt Wochenendpendler sind und eine echte Alternative zum 4 oder 5 Sterne-Hotel suchen. "Der Umzug des BND in die Chausseestraße betrifft zudem rund 4000 Angestellte sowie zahlreiche Dienstleister", sagt Michael Ries, Vorstand der Vivacon AG. "Dies macht die Apartments insbesondere für Kapitalanleger zu einer hochattraktiven Investition", so Ries weiter. Die Einrichtung der Apartments übernimmt die Domicil Möbel GmbH, mit der die Vivacon AG kürzlich eine exklusive Partnerschaft hierzu geschlossen hat.

Domicil wird das Immobilienangebot "Living Domicil" in seinen Einrichtungshäusern, Magazinen sowie anderen Marketingmedien bewerben. Weitere Serviced Apartments bietet die Vivacon AG im Rahmen des Projekts "Luisenstadt" ebenfalls in Berlin.

Zudem werden im "Living 106" auch Eigentumswohnungen mit Wohnflächen von 67 bis zu 211 Quadratmetern entstehen. Die Pläne der Vivacon AG sehen klassische Altbauwohnungen sowie Penthouses vor. "Living 106 richtet sich auch an Eigennutzer, die eine besondere Wohnung in der Stadt suchen. Rückzugsoasen wie Dayspa und Asia Garten sowie modernes Design machen das Wohnen hier zu einem außergewöhnlichen Erlebnis", führt Michael Ries aus.

Die SDAX notierte Vivacon AG ist bundesweit führend bei Revitalisierung und Verkauf denkmalgeschützter Immobilien. Auch vertreibt sie bundesweit exklusiv unter der Marke "yoo Deutschland" von Designer Philippe Starck konzeptionierte Eigentumswohnungen und bietet darüber hinaus Neubau-Eigentumswohnungen in absoluten Top-Lagen deutscher Metropolen an. Zudem ergänzen jetzt auch hochrentable Full-Service-Apartments unter dem Label "LivingDomicil" für Manager und "MyStudio" für Studenten das Produktangebot. Daneben ist die Vivacon AG in marktführender Position als Investment- und Asset Manager für Wohnimmobilienbestände sowie in der Entwicklung und Anwendung innovativer Erbbaurechtskonzepte in wohnwirtschaftlichem, gewerblichem und kommunalem Sektor. Die Curanis Gruppe - eine 80%ige Tochtergesellschaft der Vivacon AG - betreut an über 250 Standorten in Deutschland mehr als 58.000 Wohn- und Gewerbeeinheiten mit einem Marktvolumen von 4,5 Milliarden Euro.

ots Originaltext: Vivacon AGIm Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.ch
Pressekontakt:

Pressekontakt:presse@vivacon.de, Tel. 0221-1305621-783, Fax 0221-1305621-952, www.vivacon.de

HermesMedien, kathrin.ulshoefer@hermesmedien.de, Tel. 0221-130808-555, Fax 0221-130808-640

quelle: http://www.presseportal.ch/de/pm/100002905/100570468/vivacon_ag

Freitag, 26. September 2008

Paradiso immobiliare a Berlino

L’Est della città è diventato un nuovo must. Vi hanno preso casa Brad Pitt e Angiolina Jolie e cerca un’abitazione Lapo Elkann

Sembra essere il nuovo paradiso immobiliare con il suo dinamismo e le sue ambiguità, Berlin Mitte, l’area a Est della città tedesca. Tanto che vi sta cercando casa Lapo Elkann, che segue l’iniziativa di star del cinema come Brad Pitt e Angiolina Jolie.
Questa nuova tendenza, che sta attirando investitori da tutto il mondo, è dovuta alla crescita dell’area e dell’intera città, in pieno fermento culturale, tra gallerie d’arte, moda, ristoranti di tendenza e show room. Numerosi gli esempi architettonici di pregio tra cui un grattacielo progettato da Renzo Piano.

Repubblica.it – Affari e Finanza

fonte: http://www.luxgallery.it/articolo/paradiso-immobiliare-a-berlino/5228/

Freitag, 19. September 2008

VIVICO will für über 300 Mio. Euro Hotels in Berlin bauen

Über 300 Mio. Euro will die Vivico, Frankfurt/Main, in einen neuen Hotelstandort am Berliner Hauptbahnhof pumpen. Im so genannten Lehrter Stadtquartier sind je ein Drei-, Vier- und Fünf-Sterne-Haus mit jeweils rund 20.000 qm Bruttogeschossfläche geplant. Ergänzend baut die zur österreichischen CA Immo gehörende Gesellschaft ein Kongresszentrum auf das Areal mit ca. 3.500 Plätzen. Bis Ende des Jahres sollen die Betreiber für alle vier Vorhaben gefunden sein. Noch 2009 soll mit den Bauarbeiten begonnen werden; auf 2012 ist die Fertigstellung terminiert. Für das einzige Baufeld am künftigen Hotelstandort, das nicht von der Vivico selbst entwickelt wird, ist mit der Meininger Gruppe ein Betreiber für ein Zwei-Sterne-Haus gefunden. Finanzielle Verantwortung übernimmt der Berliner Investor High Gain House Investment Gruppe. Baustart ist noch Ende diesen Jahres.

quelle: http://www.immobilien-zeitung.de/htm/news.php3?id=29725&rubrik=2&pb=1

Donnerstag, 18. September 2008

'Creative Class' Could Fuel Berlin Boom

A new study ranks Berlin at the top for social tolerance, tech development, and talent, suggesting it's poised for a boom driven by the creative class

Every city has its ups and downs, some more extreme than others. Berlin was divided by a war, with the West heavily subsidized for decades after industry fled to other parts of the country and the East artificially propped up by a Communist regime. After the fall of the Wall, the job market collapsed with soaring unemployment rates on both sides of the city. Attracted by dirt cheap prices, though, creative types in recent years have been flocking to the city.
Klaus Wowereit, Berlin's mayor, recently made headlines by describing his city as "poor but sexy."

A new report, though, suggests Berlin may soon be able to shed the poverty label. It turns out that Germany's capital, home to a population of 3.4 million, has the greatest potential for growth amongst all of Germany's 16 states. The conclusions come from a nationwide study, "Talent, Technology, and Tolerance -- Where Germany Has A Future" (also known as the TTT study), undertaken by the Berlin Institute for Population and Development and financed by the non-profit Robert Bosch Stiftung. "Berlin has the best starting conditions in Germany," said Reiner Klingholz, director of the institute. "The only way is up from here."

Berlin came out No. 1 in the study, which ranked German states based on talent, technology and tolerance -- the three criteria co-author Steffen Kröhnert said "generate the conditions necessary for economic growth and employment."

The Rise of the Creative Class

Kröhnert's team based its work on the theory of growth potential developed by American economist Richard Florida of the University of Toronto, author of the 2003 book "The Rise of the Creative Class." Florida observed that the values of the emerging creative class would determine where jobs would be created and where future investments would be directed. The "creative core of this new class," he writes, "includes scientists and engineers, university professors, poets and novelists, artists, entertainers, actors, designers and architects."
A gathering of such minds in one city, the theory goes, is a determining factor of its population's prosperity. "Education and creative talent are the most important capital in highly developed societies today," state the authors of the report. "In a globalized world, a modern society cannot get by without talent, technology and tolerance."

Berlin has a burgeoning scene of creative professions. "Germany is changing from an industrial society to a creative knowledge society," Klingholz told SPIEGEL ONLINE.

Additionally, the city invests more in research and development than any other state. Nevertheless, R&D money is invested more efficiently in states like Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, which register far more patents and score a technology index rating nearly twice as high as that of Berlin. "Berlin achieves very little, despite considerable effort," Klingholz said. "There's a lot of room for development here."

Yet it's the total index -- all three Ts -- that counts. And as all three factors must be combined for the overall ranking, "Berlin possesses a lot of development potential."

Eastern German States Fare Worst

One thing that sets Berlin apart from many of the other states is that it is a tremendously tolerant city -- far-right parties and sentiment get very little traction there. Meanwhile, a large immigrant community -- including hundreds of thousands of residents of Turkish origin -- also contributes to Berlin's high grade on the tolerance scale.

Germany's second largest city, the northern port city-state of Hamburg, came in second place, followed by Baden-Wurttemberg (home to Stuttgart, where Daimler and Porsche are based).
Finishing at the bottom of the study were the eastern German states of Saxony, Brandenburg, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt -- all states that are experiencing brain drains, with the best and brightest heading to places with high TTT marks.

Economically depressed Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, birthplace of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, came in at the tail end of the study.

Provided by Spiegel Online—Read the latest from Europe's largest newsmagazine

source: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2007/gb20071010_858418.htm?chan=search

Il Boom del Mercato Immobiliare di Berlino

(ANSA) - BERLINO - Non si ferma il boom del mercato immobiliare di Berlino. A conferma del trend, la societa' statale Liegenschaftsfonds Berlin ha venduto una superficie complessiva di un milione di metri quadrati, contro i 700mila del 2006. ''Nei primi sei mesi dell'anno abbiamo realizzato rendimenti piu' alti, concludendo un minor numero di contratti rispetto allo scorso anno'', ha detto l'amministratore delegato Lippmann, spiegando che cio' e' avvenuto perche' sono stati venduti immobili prestigiosi, ma anche perche' i prezzi del mercato immobiliare sono aumentati significativamente. ''Grazie a questi risultati - ha aggiunto Lippmann - siamo in grado di trasferire 157 milioni di euro allo Stato, ossia 87 milioni in piu' rispetto al 2006''. Tra le vendite piu' significative, si segnala quella relativa a tre ex case di riposo in uno dei quartieri centrali di Berlino. Liegenschaftsfonds Berlin e' una societa' fondata nel 2001, con lo scopo di vendere proprieta' statali. Da allora ha concluso circa 3mila contratti di vendita, per un ammontare di 1,2 miliardi di euro e una superficie di 6,8 milioni di metri quadrati.
fonte: http://www.demaniore.it/opencms/opencms/demanioRe/homePageSezione/attualita/dal-mondo/home/DM10-1187022028411.html?breadCrumb=dettaglio

Mittwoch, 17. September 2008

Financial Crisis will not have large impact on Germany and Berlin Real Estate

The financial crisis in the United States continues to dominate the headlines in Germany on Wednesday, with news that the government in Washington would provide a bailout package to insurance giant AIG after its near collapse. Earlier this week, after the US government refused to come to the rescue of investment banking firm Lehman Brothers, many had wondered whether Washington might also take a hands-off approach to AIG.

Although the market meltdown in the US is likely to have some impact on Germany, most editorialists on Wednesday urge calm — with one major paper even stating that the national economy will continue to grow. Most are united in their view that, once the dust settles, financial markets will be a lot more transparent after this fiasco…

The business daily Financial Times Deutschland writes:

“The earthquake on Wall Street may have the walls shaking at some European financial institutions, but there is no acute threat of collapse here. So far, there is no evidence that the finance crisis is having any real impact on the German economy. Credit continues to flow; and the loss of capital has not been extraordinary. Nor have companies and consumers been forced to lower their consumption. So the good news is that Germany and Europe are not having economic trouble because of the finance crisis. The bad news, however, is that they still have an economic problem.”

The center-right Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung uses the German economy as its jumping off point, noting that the latest crisis is likely to fuel calls for the government to create a spending program aimed at boosting growth as Berlin begins debating the federal budget.

“At the start of the federal budget debate, Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück is walking a tightrope — he has to address the growing risks without painting too dark a picture. He has so far rejected a economic stimulus package despite support for one in some corners of his party. In fact, there are no reasons to justify a package. The German economy is in better shape than that of the US, Britain or Spain, which had their roots in the burst real estate bubble. Even if the forecast for next year is now worse than it was a shot time ago, the German economy will still continue to grow. Past experience shows that stimulus packages just create more debt.”

source: http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,578780,00.html.

Montag, 15. September 2008

Bauarbeiten an Luxus-Projekt eingestellt

Erschienen im gedruckten Tagesspiegel vom 07.08.2008

Aus der Traum: Die Finanzkrise hat nun auch Berlin erreicht. Eine Immobilienfirma bricht ihr Projekt in der Fehrbelliner Straße ab, dort sollten Luxusquartiere entstehen. 40 Wohnungen waren bereits verkauft.

Die Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft Orco hat die Bauarbeiten an der Fehrbelliner Straße in Mitte eingestellt. Das bestätigte das börsennotierte Unternehmen am Mittwoch. An der Fehrbelliner Straße sollte aus einem alten Gewerbehof ein Quartier mit teuren Lofts, Stadthäusern und Appartements inklusive Dachgärten, Schwimmbad und Concierge-Service entstehen.

Von den 150 geplanten Wohnungen sind 40 verkauft – zu wenige für das ehrgeizige 80-Millionen-Euro-Projekt. Orco plante dieses Projekt weitgehend mit eigenem Kapital zu stemmen. Aufgrund der Immobilien- und Finanzkrise will sich das Unternehmen auf Gewerbeimmobilien konzentrieren und plant weiterhin mit einem Baubeginn auf dem ehemaligen Wertheim-Gelände am Leipziger Platz für Sommer 2009.

Erschienen im gedruckten Tagesspiegel vom 07.08.2008
Quelle:Tagesspiegel

I Viaggi del Sole: BERLINO „Non Solo di Facciata“


Ristrutturazioni di antichi palazzi, riconversioni di spazi industriali, prezzi al metro quadro molto convenienti. Ecco come la città sta cambiando nel profondo. E perché è (ancora) il momento di acquistare.




Reportage di Stefania Sorrenti
Fotografie di Beppe Calgaro

Da 1500 a 3500 euro al metro quadro. È quanto serve a Berlino per acquistare un appartamento in centro e nelle vicine zone alla moda. Se si pensa che a Londra i prezzi al metro quadro oscillano tra 11 mila e 16 mila euro, a Milano tra 6 mila e 13 mila e anche Praga e Budapest tengono il passo con punte di 5 mila euro, si comprende bene come, nella città che vanta più ponti di Venezia e mille stili diversi, sia giunto il momento di cogliere l´attimo. Carpe diem, dicono gli esperti, perché questa è una realtà che non rimerrà così ancora lungo.

“Il motivo di un mercato immobiliare fino a oggi abbordabile va rintracciato nel passato”, spiega Daniele Martignetti, asset manager di Pirelli RE Agency. “Berlino ha visto alternarsi guerre, distruzioni, ricostruzioni, divisioni. Per i berlinesi la casa non rapresenta un bene rifugio, tendono ad affittarla invece che a comprarla e questo ha inesitabilmente condizionato il mercato: meno domanda vuol dire prezzi più bassi.”

Ma ora, secondo gli osservatori in Germania, e soprattutto nella capitale che ha il reddito procapite tra i più alti d´Europa, sta per avere inizio un ciclo positivo che vedrà a breve un rialzo nei prezzi delle case, con affitti che garantiranno rendite tra il 4 e il 6 per cento. “ Resta una certa divisione tra Est e Ovest”, sottolinea Andrea Barbato, executive director di Bato Group, compagnia internazionale con sede parti di Potsdamer Platz, specializzata nel fornire l´interna gamma di servizi per l ´acquisizione e la gestioni di immobili (a loro si sono rivolti anche i fratteli Larry e Andre Wachowski, i registi della serie cinematografica Matrix, in cerca di una base per il loro prossimo film top secret). “è altrettanto importante tenere bene a mente le differenze tra i quartieri, capire insomma se si vuole abitare in un ambiente creativo e multietnico, come Kreuzberg, in una zona tranquilla e borghese come Charlottenburg o nel distretto trendy- chic che ruota intorno a Friedrichstrasse.” Per fare un buon affare, comunque, meglio lasciar perdere zone centrali come Friedrichshain e Prenzlauer Berg (qui ha casa la coppia più glamour del pianeta, Brad Pitt e Angelina Jolie): i canoni degli affitti non sono abbastanza alti da giustificare un prezzo di acquisto al metro quadro che si aggira intorno ai 4000 euro. Conviene spostare l´attenzione su nuove realtà, come la parte ovest del quartiere di Kreuzberg, zona neo-chic con strade vivaci e ritmi di vita tranquilli.

Nel verde di Viktoria Park, a soli dieci minuti dal centro, in un palazzo appena ultimato gli appartamenti sono in vendita a 2 mila euro al metro quadro. Per 47 netri quadri immersi nel verde, con una camera da letto e rifiniture di lusso, si spendono 92 mila euro; per 164 metri quadri con quattro camere da letto si arriva a 377 mila euro. Tutte soluzioni che dispongono di terrazzo, balconi o giardino privato.

Attico con vista sul futuro

Dalla caduta del Muro a oggi la città è un cantiere in continuo fermento e tanti quartieri sono rinati dal nulla, come Potsdamer Platz. Qui, per esempio, un uno dei palazzi di vetro dell´avveniristico Sony Center, con servizio portineria e vigilanza 24 ore su 24, sono in vendita due appartamenti: uno al decimo piano, di 135 metri quadri, con tre camere da letto, a 621 mila euro, e uno all`undicesimo piano, di 160 metri quadri, a 704 mila euro. Anche la centralissima PAriser Platz, davanti alla Porta di Brandeburgo, che con il grande viale Unter den Linden e la Friedrichstrasse, rappresenta il Mitte, cuore storico di Berlino, offre alcune opportunit?a interessanti. In Marienstrasse, un lussuoso appartamento di 110 metri quadri, un un palazzo tipico berlinese, molto luminoso anche se a piantercucina a vista e tre camere da letto si può acquistare a 375 mila euro, ovvero circa 3400 euro al metro quadro. Una cifra che, in zone centrali di altre capitali europee, basta a malapena per comprare un monolocale.

Per chi vuole osare in originalità, a soli 5 minuti da Alexanderplatz, direttamente sul fiume Sprea, è in vendita un luminosissimo attico dallo stile futuristico di 334 metri quadri, con soppalco a galleria, grande salone con cucina-isola blue satinato e acciaio affacciati su un giardino pensile con alberi e prato all´inglese. Due camere da letto matrimoniali con bagni im marmo e mosaici Bisazza e una zona dedicata al relax con sauna e vasca idromassaggio. 1.200.000 euro è un prezzo elevato in assoluto, ma in linea con i livelli berlinesi: poco più di 3500 metro al metro quadro.


Affittare, ecco dove


Lo studio in centro o l´appartamento nei quartieri della borghesia. Per sentirsi (per qualche giorno) veri berlinesi

Il modo migliore per sentirsi berlinesi è senza dubbio affittare un appartamento, anche solo per poche notti. Le possibilità nella capitale tedesca sono diverse.

Reichstag in vista

Con il curcuito Miniloftmitte (http://www.miniloft.com/), nel cuore del centro, a soli quindici minuti a piedi dalla Porta di Brandenburgo e dal Reichstag, si possono affittare lussuosi mini loft dai 30 a 45 metri quadri, all`interno di un palazzo riconosciuto pregio, in grado di ospitare fino a cinque persone. Quattro le tipologie di appartamenti diverse per metratura, arredamento e ubicazione. Tutti comunque progettati sfruttando al meglio lo spazio e garantendo il comfort. Rifiniti con pavimenti riscaldati sia il salotto con una spettacolare facciata in vetro lunga 12 metri, sia l´angolo cucina, sia la camera da letto matrimoniale con bagno. Sono disponibili accesso internet ADSL, televisione satellitare e telefono. L´affitto parte da 99 euro a notte con un soggiorno minimo di tre notti.

Schöneberg con wi-fi

Con http://www.all-berlin-apartments.com/ si trovano diverse occasioni. A Kreuzberg Est, a poco distanza dal Checkpoint Charlie, al quarto piano di un antico edificio berlinese con ascensore, è possibile affittare un appartamento di 70 metri quadri, con ampio salone, camera matrimoniale e bagno. Può ospitare fino a quattro persone per un minimo di tre notti a partire da 19 euro al giorno a persona (accesso Internet wi-fi ad alta velocità al costo aggiuntivo di 5 euro al giorno). Ideale per famiglie numerose. L´appartamento di 100mq a Schöneberg (prezzi a partire da 19 euro a persona al giorno). Qui è possibile trovare anche soluzioni su misure per coppie, come l´appartamento di 40 mq che dispone anche di un terrazzino dove fare colazione (a partire da 36 euro al giorno per due persone per un minimo di tre notti). A Prenzlauer Berg, si può affittare invece un elegante appartamento di 110 metri quadri con vista sull´Isola dei Musei. Due camere da letto matrimoniali e un grande bagno con doccia e vasca idromassaggio. Può ospitare fino a 6 persone e costa 27 euro al giorno per persona.

Charlottenburg de luxe

Per soggiorni di diversa durata, da un minimo di pochi giorni a un massimo di qualche mese, My Home in Europe (http://www.myhomeineurope.com/) è un network di proprietari e gestori che affittano bilocali nuovi di 50 metri quadri nelle zone centrali di Alexanderplatz, Potsdamer Platz e nell´elegante Charlottenburg (dove si sono appena conclusi i lavori di ristrutturazione di un raffinato residence). Gli appartamenti hanno cucina attrezzata, ampia sala, camera da letto e bagno, biancheria e asciugamani inclusi nel prezzo, che parte da 75 euro a notte per due persone.

http://www.viaggi24.ilsole24ore.com/

Freitag, 12. September 2008

Berlin property – not just for today, but for your future!

You have a unique opportunity to attend a presentation at the London Chamber of Commerce on 25th September and hear directly from our German partner who can answer all of your questions.

The key to good investment is timing.

The right investment at the right time in the right location

The Berlin property market has recently become one of the most up-and-coming and emerging capital city property destinations, with property prices per m², one of the lowest of all of Europe’s capitals. Only 14% of Berliners own a property in Berlin, therefore presenting first-class opportunities for investors from a potentially huge rental market

It is not only Chase Devonshire that has forseen Berlins potential: the worlds biggest and most influential investment companies are buying thousands of apartments.

Goldman Sachs and Cerberus Capital Management alone have bought over 60,000 apartments in the city.

These companies don’t just forsee growth, they create it!

One of Europe’s fastest changing and most constantly evolving countries, Germany is attracting a wealth of investors in search of great priced properties in Berlin before prices dramatically rise as one would expect from a capital city. Record levels of investment into the city are changing the face of Berlin in order to welcome another record growth year for this dynamic and attractive destination.

Contact us now to reserve your place.

Tel: 020 7064 9723 Email: denis@chasedevonshire.com

source: http://chasedevonshireblog.com/2008/index/investment-in-berlin-presentation-25th-september-2008.html

Dienstag, 9. September 2008

WHO BUYS IN BERLIN - The New York Times International Real Estate

By LISA KEYS

WHO BUYS IN BERLIN

Relatively low housing prices, combined with high-profile arts and culture, have attracted waves of foreigners to Berlin. Though the majority of international owners are West European, there is a strong contingent of buyers from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia, as well as interest from Americans, Japanese and South Africans, according to Michael Gilfoyle, managing director of Frontline Berlin, a real estate consulting firm.

MARKET OVERVIEW

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, investors and developers flooded the market, expecting droves of new arrivals. Instead, thousands of residents fled Berlin, seeking opportunities in the former West Germany. The result was a glut of homes on the market — a situation that persists today. There are around 150,000 vacant apartments in Berlin, according to Heinz Krueger, manager at Nordstadt, a real estate agency.

Still, in the past couple of years, as Berlin’s cultural buzz has grown, foreigners have buoyed the real estate market. There are many cheap rentals — approximately 88 percent of the city’s residents are renters, according to Mr. Gilfoyle — but home prices have risen in popular, centrally located districts like Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte.

Confidence in the market is growing; many residential construction and renovation projects are under way. Though the market has rebounded since bottoming out at the turn of the millennium (when government subsidies for construction ceased), prices remain far below those in the rest of Europe. “You really have to look hard to find something more than 8,000 euros a square meter ($1,068 a square foot),” said Mr. Krueger. “And that’s rare like a diamond.” He cited the “normal high price” as being is around 4,000 euros a square meter ($534 a square foot), while approximately 2,000 euros a square meter ($267 a square foot) will buy a high-quality, centrally located apartment.

BUYING BASICS

There are no restrictions for foreigners wishing to purchase real estate in Berlin, though all documents are written in German, and buyers (and sellers) must be present for a reading of the contract by a notary.

Most buyers should anticipate an additional 13.2 percent in “purchase-side costs,” said Boris Paterok, a lawyer who specializes in real estate. That figure includes a 4.5 percent property-purchase tax, a 6 percent commission, value-added tax, and notary and land registration fees.

Up to 100 percent financing is available for European Union residents; non-European buyers should plan on at least a 40 percent down payment, said Mr. Paterok. Buyers who need financing should estimate an additional 1 percent in purchasing costs for related fees.

USEFUL WEB SITES

www.berlin.de
www.berlinfo.com

LANGUAGES AND CURRENCY

German; Euro (1 euro = $1.40)


source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/greathomesanddestinations/10gh-sale.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Donnerstag, 4. September 2008

Mieten steigen besonders stark in der Innenstadt und im Südwesten Berlins

von Ulrich Paul


Wer in Berlin eine neue Wohnung anmietet, muss immer mehr bezahlen. Im Vergleich zum zweiten Halbjahr 2007 stiegen die Preise der angebotenen Wohnungen in den ersten sechs Monaten dieses Jahres von durchschnittlich 5,90 auf 6,05 Euro Kaltmiete pro Monat je Quadratmeter. Das geht aus einer Untersuchung der Immobilienberatungsfirma Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) hervor, die gestern präsentiert wurde.

Besonders teuer sind Wohnungen in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, in Steglitz-Zehlendorf und in Mitte. Dort verlangen die Vermieter in vielen Gebieten Quadratmeter-Mieten über sieben Euro. Stark gestiegen seien die Preise der Wohnungen vor allem in Mitte, sagte JLL-Experte Roman Heidrich. Im Vergleich zum zweiten Halbjahr 2007 zogen sie durchschnittlich um 60 Cent je Quadratmeter an. Deutlich verteuert haben sich die Mieten aber auch in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf und in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, wo sie um je 35 Cent je Quadratmeter nach oben gingen.

In Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg sei eine Entwicklung zu beobachten, die vor Jahren der Prenzlauer Berg durchlebt habe, sagte Heidrich. Die kulturelle Szene habe viele Investoren aufmerksam gemacht, die ihr Geld in die Sanierung von Altbauten gesteckt hätten und nun höhere Mieten verlangten. Dies führe dazu, dass einige Bewohner in preisgünstigere Nachbarbezirke abwandern. In Neukölln, Lichtenberg und Tempelhof-Schöneberg werden gleichbleibende Mieten oder sogar niedrigere Preise verlangt. Am geringsten sind die Mieten in Marzahn-Hellersdorf. Dort kosten freie Wohnungen im Schnitt 4,80 Euro je Quadratmeter.In den kommenden Monaten wird sich nach Einschätzung der Experten das Tempo der Mietsteigerungen generell etwas verringern. Weil Wohnungen in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf und in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg besonders begehrt sind, sei dort zwar noch mit einem "beschleunigten Mietpreiswachstum" zu rechnen. I

In Mitte und Pankow sei aber nach den starken Preissteigerungen eher ein "verlangsamtes Mietpreiswachstum" zu erwarten. Der Trend zur kleinen Wohnung hält in Berlin weiter an, weil die Zahl der Single-Haushalte wachse, sagte Heidrich.

Von den 1,9 Millionen Haushalten in Berlin ist derzeit mehr als jeder zweite ein Single-Haushalt (50,7 Prozent). Die große Nachfrage nach kleinen Wohnungen führt dazu, dass diese besonders teuer sind.

Für eine Wohnung unter 45 Quadratmetern verlangen die Vermieter im Schnitt eine Miete von 6,65 Euro je Quadratmeter. Mittelgroße Wohnungen von 45 bis zu 90 Quadratmeter werden für 5,90 Euro je Quadratmeter angeboten, größere für 6,25 Euro. Jones Lang LaSalle trägt Informationen über Wohn-Immobilien zusammen, um damit seine Kunden, unter anderem Banken und Großinvestoren, zu beliefern. Will jemand wissen, welche Mieten in der Nachbarschaft einer seiner Wohnungen verlangt werden, kann er dies von JLL erfahren.Der Hauptgeschäftsführer des Berliner Mietervereins, Hartmann Vetter, erklärte gestern: Der sogenannte Mietermarkt, bei dem die Wohnungssuchenden angesichts vieler leerstehender Wohnungen, den Mietpreis mitbestimmen könnten, sei "offenkundig eine Illusion". Und Vetter warnte: Mieter seien an die mit dem Vermieter ausgehandelte Miete gebunden - auch wenn diese über den Werten des Mietspiegels liege. Die Mieter könnten nicht hinterher eine Preissenkung fordern.


Berliner Zeitung, 03.09.2008

quelle: http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/berlin/108333/index.php


Mittwoch, 3. September 2008

Investment ranking: Berlin above London!

The German capital is in favour with investors and occupies a position among Europe's top group - only a year ago it was trailing far behind.

Berlin - The global financial crisis holds Europe's property markets in a stranglehold - with one exception: Berlin.

While in London, Paris and Madrid the prices of office blocks, shopping centres, condominiums and penthouses are plummeting, the market in the German capital has remained surprisingly stable. Berlin's appeal on major international real-estate corporations becomes evident in a recent survey carried out by financial consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the renowned research institute Urban Land (ULI) among some 500 international real-estate experts.

According to this survey, the German capital has gone up in the ranking of European cities from position 25 to rank nine within a year. The PwC experts see Berlin's potential particularly in residential real estate. Excerpts from "Berliner Morgenpost" (13 March 2008) and from a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Urban Land (UL)In spite of international crisis: new major investments in Berlin real estateMorgan Stanley buys the "Sony Center" - Swedish banking group SEB takes over the "Daimler City" complex on Potsdamer Platz: over € 2 bn. invested for two of Berlin's prestigious realties.

On Berlin's prestigious Potsdamer Platz another building complex is changing hands. The huge Sony Center, which opened in June 2000, will be sold to a group of investment funds led by Morgan Stanley and including Corpus Sireo and John Buck, announced the Japanese electronics giant. The property's yield lies around 5 percent - the exact sale price was however not disclosed. Insiders believe it to be around the 600 million euro mark, yet this was not confirmed by the investors.

Last December, Sweden's SEB bank bought the complex of 19 buildings on Potsdamer Platz belonging to the Daimler Group for 1.4 billion euros, as both companies announced. Daimler will continue to use half of the office areas on the complex. The sale of the prestigious property is part of the Daimler's strategy to part with operationally unnecessary properties.

Excerpts from "Berliner Morgenpost" (1 March 2008) and Spiegel online (2 March 2008)

Berlin rents up by 2.8% on average - and by up to 50% in top locations!

The demand for housing in Berlin is increasing, and the rents are now going up too - with rises of up to 50% for new lettings. Rents in Berlin are on the rise, according to Berlin's rental index for 2007 and the BBU (the Berlin-Brandenburg Housing Association) report on the housing market. The calculations of Berlin's rental index show that the average rent has increased to 4.75 euros per square metre for 2007, 5.9 percent above the 2005 prices. This increase becomes more noticeable when one compares the average rent in Berlin with the actual rent one has to pay today for a new letting. The current average rent for re-rentals lies exactly at 5.90 €/m2 - 24.2% higher than the average rent as calculated in the rental index.

This is the conclusion of the report on Berlin's housing market based on a study carried out by the consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle on behalf of GSW. The report, for the purposes of which more than 85,000 housing offers were evaluated, focused on new lettings in the German capital. Price increases for new lettings of up to 50% were ascertained in four out of Berlin's twelve districts. The Jones Lange LaSalle analysts believe that this trend will continue in the following years, as they expect an increasing demand and a further decline in new construction.

Source: Berlin rental index 2007; Housing market report Berlin 2007 and 2006Rising prices for Berlin's housing: demand six times higher than supply The fast-increasing number of households on the one hand and a totally inadequate supply of new completed residences on the other put Berlin's housing market under pressure. Housing prices and rents will exhibit a sustained increase. This is the conclusion of the recent "Housing market report Berlin", compiled by the consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle and annually commissioned by GSW.

According to the report, the growing population (+20,000 in 2007) as well as higher incomes and declining unemployment figures push the demand for housing in Berlin.The biggest catalyst for the increasing demand for housing is however to be found in Berlin's demographic development: on the one hand the birth rates in Berlin are the highest in Germany (again 5% higher than last year), and on the other there exists a continuing trend for single households. Demographers calculate that the average number of persons per household in Berlin will drop from 1.8 occupants today to 1.6 by 2015. These results alone will create a demand for 235,000 additional apartments over the next seven years. In stark contrast to the strong demand, the construction of new housing units in Berlin is declining due to the high costs involved - a mere 1,609 units were completed between January and June 2007, 26% less than over the same period in the year before.The enormous gap between rising demand and declining supply will lead to further increases on housing prices and rents in the following years. Excerpts from the housing market report Berlin 2007, a study by Jones Lang LaSalle on behalf of GSW, which surveyed 85,000 apartments for rent and 1,785 offers for sale between January and June 2007.

Denis Gorce-BourgeBusiness Developement Manager Chase Devonshire Ltddenis@chasedevonshire.comwww.chasedevonshire.com

Sonntag, 31. August 2008

Berlin: Winters & Hirsch vermittelt Anlageobjekt in Kreuzberg an Oxford University

Das Investmentteam „Capital Markets“ des Berliner Immobiliendienstleisters Winters & Hirsch hat im Auftrag der Wertprojekt Unternehmensgruppe aus Berlin ein Büro- und Geschäftshaus in Berlin-Kreuzberg erfolgreich vermittelt. Käufer des Objektes auf dem Mehringdamm 40 / Ecke Yorkstrasse ist der Pensionsfonds eines in Oxford ansässigen College.

Mit der Vermarktung und Aufarbeitung dieses historischen Gebäudes wurde Winters & Hirsch vom Verkäufer exklusiv beauftragt und hat die Transaktion für den Käufer beratend begleitet und vermittelt. Über Größe und Umfang und der Transaktion wurde Stillschweigen vereinbart.

quelle: http://www.gewerbeimmobilien24.de/gi24-news/newsletter-archiv/newsletter-donnerstag-31-juli-2008/

Montag, 25. August 2008

Buy Berlin—With Strong Rental Yields and Prices Set to Rise

Read more about investing in overseas real estate in International Living Postcards—your daily escape

Dear International Living Reader,

I have been following the property market in Berlin for almost two years, and recently I went on a scouting trip to take a more serious look.

While property prices across Europe and the rest of the world roared ahead in the past decade, the market in Berlin stagnated. In fact, prices slipped by 40% in real terms through the '90s and first part of this decade.

Germany today is seeing strong growth in economic output. With a population of 3.4 million, Berlin is the third biggest tourism city in Europe. The city’s industries include media, IT, music, advertising, design, life sciences, and microtechnologies. (Multinationals such as eBay, Sony, and Daimler Chrysler are choosing Berlin for their European headquarters.) Berlin is strategically positioned at the geographic and infrastructure heart of Europe and is Germany’s administrative center.

With Germany’s top universities, Berlin produces a huge pool of highly skilled workers every year. Employment growth will continue to come from services and tourism and its labor force has increased in the past decade. The city is also attracting highly skilled emigrants. These workers will fuel demand for real estate. That can only mean one thing: Property prices will go up.

In a leafy area in central Berlin, I viewed a 40-square-meter unit…on the market for $63,580. A studio like this would rent for $400 per month.

In one of Berlin’s most desirable addresses, I saw a 66-square-meter, two-bedroom apartment with an asking price of $116,000. This would rent for $675 per month. Both apartments gross you a rental yield in the region of 7%.

Figure on a net yield of 5.5% after expenses...almost double what you would expect in other European capital cities like London or Paris. Furthermore, I expect prices to grow by more than 10% each year in desirable areas like this for the next three years.

A 32-square-meter studio is for sale near the largest park in Berlin comes furnished and has a fitted kitchen and cellar. Price: $59,278. Expected rental income: 9%.

The rental market is strong and stable—85% of Berliners rent. This is set to change, however. When prices were falling there was no incentive to buy; now that prices are on the rise, Berliners are starting to buy property here.

I like anomalies in a market. They tell you a lot. In many parts of Berlin, construction costs (excluding site acquisition) at $2,400 per meter are higher than the price of resale units. This tells me that prices have scope to rise before a new inventory comes on stream.

Ronan McMahon

Editor’s Note: Ronan writes a more in-depth article about buying in Berlin in this month’s issue of International Living magazine. Subscribers can learn exactly where to find these undervalued properties that will bring in high rental yields here. If you are not a subscriber, sign up today to access the August issue.

source: http://www.internationalliving.com/publications/free_e_letters/il_postcards/08_23_08_berlin