Berlin buy & rent – The Place To Be for celebrities, politics, business but also actors and many other public figures. As a hotspot, the capital is therefore also subject to the effects of the current real estate market. Condominiums, houses, plots of land, in Berlin everything is in demand and is sought after by investors worldwide. As a real estate agent there is therefore a lot to do! To give you an insight into the city, as a buyer, investor or tenant, we have collected the most important key figures for Berlin here. A detailed overview with figures from the Federal Statistical Office, selected and prepared for you as a tenant or buyer.
Berlin is known worldwide as one of Europe’s mega-cities. It offers everything from fashion, art, finances, startups, and the list goes on. There’s hardly a person that wouldn’t find their passion represented in this 3.75 mil. city. This is also evident in its sprawling size and distinct districts. For this reason it’s often described as being many cities in one. Walking through Berlin-Mitte is totally different from Kreuzberg, and Prenzlauer Berg won’t often be confused with Zehlendorf. It’s arguably the hip city in Germany, and can compete with other metropolises like London, Prague, and Paris.
What does Berlin Offer?
Not only is it attractive for its lively and diverse cityscape, it has great infrastructure. This means that, despite its geographic distance in the relative east of Europe, its massive central station, and modern airport (opened in 2020), BER, it is not difficult to reach. Within the city, a sprawling public transportation network means every part of the city can be reached without much difficulty.
The districts you have to know are Berlin-Mitte, Kreuzberg, and Friedrichshain, where the world-famous nightlife takes place. They also boast cafes, and especially Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, thanks to their relatively inexpensive rent prices are home to artists and students which make these parts very lively. Also important are Prenzlauer Berg, where young families spend their days walking along the long tree-lined promenades and 18th century facades. For professionals, the districts of Treptow-Köpenick and Stelgitz-Zehlendorf are desired for their close proximity to the city without losing greenspaces, and a calmer atmosphere.
Rent or Buy in Germany’s Mega-City?
Berlin is a city where real estate investment is fairly low risk. With the city growing in popularity as heavily as it has in recent times, it is unlikely that prices will cease increasing. At the moment, Commercial investors have slowed their investment within Berlin, with private invetors now increasing their shares. The same reasons whcih drove commerical investors from investing in Berlin are what make purchasing a property here so enticing. It is almost certainly a good investment to buy real estate in Berlin, and with increasing rent prices, as well as political uncertainty surrounding renting, real estate investment is the right choice here.
Rent/m²: €9,50-€28,00
Price/m²: €4.000-€20.000
All the Cities in One
Real estate is a major draw in Berlin. Prices are increasing steadily, especially in the up-and-coming districts like Kreuzberg. Last year, around 20.000 new living units were approved, showing just how much this city is gaining in popularity. Average price of an apartment is around €305.000, which is only the 6th highest in the country, yet it has increased by 13.5% in the past 3 years, taking top spot in Germany. Similarly for single- or double-family residences. These are on average €511.000, 6th highest, but growing by 16,2%, also the most in Germany. On average, rent prices can reach €9,50-28,00 per square meter in good areas. Foreign investment here is common. With the international flair of the city making visitors and expats feel welcomed.
Apartments Price €/m² for different regions
Very Good – €4.000-€20.000 (increasing)
Good – €3.100-€11.500 (increasing)
Mediocre – €2.200-€6.500 (steady)
Simple – €1.800-€5.000 (steady)
Buy in Berlin
First we take a detailed look at current statistics for buyers. Here you will find a lot of information, from the purchase price for a newly built condominium to tips for renting property and ask the big question: Is it worthwhile buying in Berlin?
Purchase price for houses
Luxury houses, share of sales
Let the property
Approval volume (residential construction)
Is it worth the buy?
Buy without a broker
Typical for Berlin: modern meets classic and cult. But Berlin’s yellow underground and suburban trains also characterize the cityscape, as do many modern buildings, especially in Berlin Mitte.
Before we come to prices for real estate, houses and condominiums, here is a look at a typical apartment in Berlin Mitte. Elegant, simple furnishings, since most of the time is often spent on the job.
Purchase price for houses
Purchase price for freestanding homes from the Berlin portfolio from 2005 to 2019 (in 1,000 euros).
How many luxury properties are sold and bought in Germany each year? These statistics show how manageable the market is. Here you can see the number of sales of luxury homes in selected cities in Germany.
Data show for visualization last survey in the 1st half of 2010 and 2011, since then much has happened in the city. Especially Berlin Mitte attracts millions of tourists, but also buyers of land and real estate. The location, around the government district, offers the most advantages.
Here you can also find extremely modern architecture.
Are there enough apartments?
You can live in your own property yourself or you can rent it out. With the current housing shortage, this is a good prerequisite for increasing rental income. Because as always, supply and demand. The chart shows the share of annual building completions in 2016-2018 in the annual demand in the period 2016-2020.
Here you can see, looking back over 18 years, the development of the approval volume for new residential and non-residential buildings in Germany in the years 2000 to 2018 (in billion euros). In 2018, the last measurement, there was another big leap forward. There will be a lot of investment to create living space.
Where is it worth buying a property (house, semi-detached house, condominium, etc.)? In comparison, one sees the potential that lies dormant above all in NRW and Hessen. This chart shows the cost advantages of home ownership compared to rents in German metropolitan areas in 2018.
The chart shows the proportion of condominiums advertised by real estate agents in 2016.
3 out of 4 condominiums (78.6%) are offered by real estate agents
Here you can clearly see that the majority of the market is in the hands of experienced real estate agents. High-quality and good properties are always sold with the help of an estate agent. After all, it is not “only” about the viewing. Buyer acquisition, network, negotiations, credit assessment, purchase contracts, all this belongs to the profession of an estate agent.
78.6% of Berlin’s condominiums through real estate agents
Location is everything! Especially for entrepreneurs and companies. In all major cities the rents for commercial properties are rising, only in Berlin the costs for the monthly rent are getting cheaper, and that in the best location. This chart shows the indexed costs for commercial real estate in the largest cities in Germany (Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin) in comparison. A joint index takes into account shop rents in prime locations, shop rents in secondary centres, office rents in city centres and the prices for commercial properties.
Where are office rents currently highest? Berlin is at the top of the league, with current office rents averaging 39.90 euros / m². Here you can see the top rents for office space in German cities.
Finding the perfect office – How does Berlin compare to other German cities? How many free spaces and practices are there in relation to Hamburg, Munich & Co. This chart shows the proportion of vacant office space as a proportion of total office space in selected German cities in 2018.
Where do most of the inhabitants live? Here you see visualized, the 4 biggest cities in Germany. The graph shows the number of inhabitants in the German megacities on 31 December 2018, at the turn of the year 2018 / 2019.
How is Berlin developing as a city and federal state? Here you can see the number of private households in Germany by federal state in 2018 and forecast for 2030 (in 1,000). This is an optimal situation for landlords as the demand for living space increases.
New construction: Where are new apartments being built? Number of newly constructed residential buildings in Germany by federal state in 2017 and 2018 (in 1,000).
More statistics can be found at Statista
More statistics can be found at Statista
More statistics can be found at Statista
More statistics can be found at Statista
More statistics can be found at Statista
More statistics can be found at Statista
