What is a townhouse?

The term comes from English and originally referred to the town palace of wealthy families in London or New York. In Germany, the term has become established for a specific building type: narrow (usually 4 to 7 meters wide), three to four stories high, row house character without side spaces. The result is a full-fledged house on a small plot — with vertical instead of horizontal space distribution.

Townhouses are often built on inner-city leftover plots that would be too small for single-family homes with gardens. As a result, they are often found in desirable locations: Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, Hamburg-Altona, or Munich-Schwabing.

Townhouse Prices: How much does a townhouse cost?

The purchase prices for townhouses vary greatly depending on location, year of construction, and equipment:

Most townhouses have between 120 and 200 square meters of living space on a plot of 80 to 180 square meters. Higher prices result from special rooftop terraces, high-quality renovations or exclusive inner-city locations.

Typical floor plan: How is a townhouse laid out?

The vertical layout makes the townhouse particularly distinctive. A typical floor plan across three floors:

• Ground floor: Entrance area, kitchen, dining room, access to garden or courtyard
• First floor: Living room, possibly home office or guest room
• Top floor: bedroom, bathroom, roof terrace

The narrow construction means: Each floor usually has only two to three rooms. This is unusual — but also means that each floor has a clear purpose.

Townhouse vs. row house: What’s the difference?

The terms overlap, but there are clear differences:

• Row house: usually two-storey, row house development on the outskirts of town, larger plot, more affordable price
• Townhouse: three-storey or more, inner-city plot, narrow façade (4 to 7 m), higher price, more urban location

A townhouse is therefore essentially a vertical row house on expensive urban land — with the premium for a central location.

Funding: What buyers need to pay attention to

When purchase prices start at 600,000 euros in Berlin or Hamburg, real estate financing is crucial. Banks generally expect at least 20 percent equity — so 160,000 euros for an 800,000-euro townhouse. Additional costs of 10 to 15 percent (land transfer tax, notary, real estate agent) also apply.

For investors: A townhouse is suitable as an investment due to its location and stable demand — net rental yields vary between 2.5 and 4 percent depending on the city.

Frequently asked questions about townhouses

How much does a townhouse cost in Berlin?

In Berlin, townhouses in sought-after areas like Prenzlauer Berg or Mitte start at around 650,000 euros and can cost over 1.4 million euros. The decisive factors are location, plot size, standard of equipment, and whether there is a rooftop terrace or garden.

How big is a typical townhouse?

Most townhouses offer between 120 and 200 square meters of living space across three to four floors. The plot is relatively small, ranging from 80 to 180 square meters — the area is compensated by the height.

Is a townhouse a good investment?

Yes, in good inner-city locations with stable demand — although the entry prices are high. The net rental yield ranges between 2.5 and 4 percent. Those thinking long-term and factoring in appreciation can achieve solid return with a townhouse.

Buy a townhouse in Berlin-Mitte

The offered townhouses combine timeless architecture with modern living comfort. With more than 500 square meters of living space across five levels, they offer space for the highest demands – ideal for families, representation or art collectors. Spacious window fronts, noble materials and luxurious furnishings create a unique living feeling right in the center of Berlin.

• Now new in Villa & Townhouse Berlin

Luxury on five floors

The townhouses convince with a well-thought-out room layout, light-filled living areas and exclusive details. The master bedroom with a view of greenery, elegant marble bathrooms and generous gallery areas underline the high standards. Here, timeless elegance meets the most modern furnishings.

• More than 500 m² of living space
• Five luxurious floors
• More than 15 rooms

Berlin-Mitte: Living in the Government District

BerlinBerlin-Mitte is one of the most exclusive residential areas in Germany. Surrounding the government district, you’ll find historical buildings, top-class gastronomy, and a cultural offering of world-class standard. The demand for high-quality real estate is particularly high here – and the supply accordingly limited.

Advantages of this location

The combination of a central location, architectural quality, and an urban lifestyle makes townhouses in Berlin-Mitte unique. Owners benefit from high value stability and an internationally sought-after environment. Only a few properties offer comparable privacy while simultaneously providing direct access to the city’s political and cultural center.

• Exclusive location in the government district
• Limited supply, high demand
• High value appreciation and prestige

Your real estate agent for Berlin-Mitte

The purchase of an exclusive property requires experience, market knowledge, and discretion. As real estate consultants, we accompany you personally at every step – from the first conversation to the final handover. Benefit from our expertise in the Berlin premium segment and find the perfect townhouse or the right villa in Berlin-Mitte.

Would you like to know more? Write to us or call:

• Contact us

Buy a villa in Berlin: Tips & Offers

In the world of luxury real estate, discretion is paramount. Exposés of first-class villas (5 million euros and more) are not found on conventional real estate portals. Celebrities, industrialists, and public figures value discretion and therefore rely on real estate experts with an internal buyer circle and filtered communication channels. Grunewald, Dahlem, Wannsee, Nikolassee or also city locations in Charlottenburg or Schöneberg, we start with the tips. Moreover, my villas in Berlin, if you are looking for them, you have the option to discover exclusive gems in Berlin.

By the way, for For Seller, I am always looking for villas in Berlin for my clients. Contact me Contact us without obligation.

Here you will find tips & Villas in Berlin.

1. Buy a villa: Tips, process up to the handover of keys
2. Villas in Berlin: My offers for you
3. Purchase process, districts & Co.

Buy a villa: Townhouse, town villa or outskirts of Berlin

Are you longing for a luxurious lifestyle with lots of space and privacy? A villa offers exactly that. You can live in a generous estate that offers all the comforts. However, the costs for the purchase and maintenance are often significantly higher than for other types of houses. A villa requires a considerable financial investment and regular care to maintain its shine.

My guides for you:

• Build or buy a villa?
• Buy a villa

Villas in Berlin: Off Market by Lukinski

Tip! Looking for a villa in Berlin? Take a look at my Off Market portfolio:

• Villa in Berlin

3 current examples! Villas and townhouses that might interest you:

• Villa 3.05 Mio. € – Grunewald
• Art Nouveau villa, 9.7 Mio. € – Nikolassee
• Townhouse 12.41 Mio € – City location

A hidden gem in the luxury real estate market is “Off Market” – an exclusive niche where properties are discreetly traded. Here, villas are offered before their official listing. Prices for these exclusive properties have risen significantly in recent years due to increased demand and the low-interest rate period. However, the market for luxury villas remains attractive.

More about our Off Market properties can be found here:

• Off Market Real Estate

Process: Explained Step by Step

Buying a villa is a structured process, similar to a typical house purchase, which includes various steps. More about additional costs of house purchase and how to plan for them. From the initial budget planning through the active property search to the handover of keys – each step is crucial for a successful completion.

Buying a villa – The step-by-step process explained:

Find the right villa: Checklist

When buying a villa, various factors play a decisive role. The location of the property, the size of the plot, the room layout, equipment and extras, as well as security and accessibility aspects are just some of the points to consider.

• Location
• Size of the plot
• Room layout
• Equipment
• Security of the surroundings
• Accessibility of the villa

Purchasing a villa comes with various cost factors that need to be taken into account. In addition to the purchase price, there are also purchase-related costs, including real estate agent commission, notary fees and land transfer tax. A detailed financial plan is essential to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Let’s take a closer look at the individual cost items in the next step.

Purchase price and typical purchase-related costs: Overview

When buying a villa, costs arise that consist of 1) the purchase price of the property and 2) the purchase-related costs. However, be careful: Part of the purchase-related costs is the same in all federal states. The other part varies depending on which federal state you buy your villa in. In addition, if you work with a real estate agent, there is the agent’s commission. In a private sale, this is split between buyer and seller.

But how high are the purchase-related costs in Berlin? Here’s an overview:

• Land transfer tax: 6.0%
• Notary fees: 1.5%
• Land register entry: 1.5-2.5%
• Agent’s commission: 7.14% depending on the purchase price

Where to buy in Berlin? Most exclusive locations

Spacious plots, majestic avenues, and representative estates define the charm of Berlin’s most luxurious neighborhoods. If you’re looking for a villa in Berlin’s most expensive areas, you will find them, among others, in the districts of Grunewald and Dahlem. These neighborhoods offer not only excellent quality of life but also an exclusive living environment characterized by peace and elegance.

Here is a selection of Berlin’s most exclusive neighborhoods:

• Grunewald
• Dahlem
• Wannsee
• Weißensee
• Charlottenburg
• Schöneberg
• …

Berlin has many beautiful areas, but the hotspot is located in Weißensee, Grunewald, Dahlem to Nikolassee.



Townhouse, villa in the southwest, please feel free to contact me: Contact us.

Buy a villa in Berlin: What is important

Buying a villa in Berlin is not only an investment in exclusive living comfort, but also in a representative lifestyle. The city offers a wide range of villas in various locations, so there is something suitable for every taste and requirement. Thorough planning, expert advice, and transparent financing are key factors to successfully realize your dream of owning a villa in Germany’s capital, Berlin.

My Selection: Off Market Luxury Properties

Here you will find an excerpt from my Berlin portfolio:

• Villa in Berlin

Comparison: Owner-occupied property vs capital investment

Quick, clear, the differences between the two forms:

Purpose of the property: Fact #1

What does self-interest mean?

A property is bought and used for your own living requirements. The focus here is on personal living comfort – simply put: you buy your dream home

What does investment mean?

A property is acquired in order to generate income. This can be done by renting it out or selling it later. The focus is on financial returns – simply put: you are buying a money-making machine

Extra tip – The two can also be combined to a certain extent. You buy a house or buy an apartment, live in it for 3 years and can then sell it tax-free(speculation period). Let’s say you buy in an A-location in Berlin, then property prices usually rise by ~8% per year. Calculate 3 years and you will see that this profit alone is considerable.

The differences get bigger step by step:

Financing: Equity & credit

Owner-occupation: Financing is usually provided via a real estate loan or the buyer’s equity.

Capital investment: Financing is often provided by borrowed capital, such as mortgages. The aim here is also to leverage borrowed capital. Proper financing needs to be planned, read more about financial planning before buying here.

Extra tip – In principle, both forms are the same, the only differences are state subsidies and taxes, more on this in a moment. In the case of personal use, however, banks may see a greater risk in the credit check. Why? Let’s say you have 2 incomes and 1 house. Someone falls ill, loses their job, the loan installment defaults.

Why do investors like to borrow?

The explanation would be long, in a nutshell: there are many aspects. Firstly, you don’t want to spend your equity on a property. With the leverage effect of financing (20% equity [or less] + 80% debt), you can “afford much more”. A loan is now taken out, including the loan installment, i.e. the monthly repayment. Inflation ensures that money becomes worth less. The loan installment therefore becomes “cheaper” and “cheaper”. Learn more here:

• Real estate as a capital investment

Useful life: For the sake of completeness

Owner-occupation: Owners plan for the long term and intend to live in the property themselves.

Capital investment: The focus is on short or long-term income, whether through rental income or sale. Also important for you: the speculation period. Want to quickly calculate whether you can already sell tax-free? Use our speculation period calculator.

Now we come to one of the main differences.

Tax aspects: Tax advantages for landlords

Owner-occupation: Under certain conditions, tax benefits such as homeowner’s allowance or tax exemption on sale (after owner-occupation) can be claimed.

Capital investment: Rental income is taxable, but tax benefits such as depreciation and income-related expenses can also be claimed.

What tax benefits do owner-occupiers / investors enjoy?

Extra tip – Quickly explained, only 2 examples each:

Owner-occupiers receive homeowner’s allowance: Under certain conditions, owner-occupiers can receive homeowner’s allowance for the construction or purchase of owner-occupied property in order to facilitate their financing. This brings us back to the speculation period, which is of course also important for owner-occupiers when selling.

Tax exemption on sale: If you sell your owner-occupied property after a certain holding period, the profits made may be tax-free under certain conditions. However, this does not apply if you sell your home within ten years of buying it.

Capital investors can claim depreciation: Capital investors can claim depreciation on their rented property. This means that they can deduct certain costs such as building depreciation and financing costs, which reduces their tax burden.

Income-related expenses: All expenses incurred by renting, such as repairs, management costs and insurance, can be deducted as income-related expenses to reduce taxable income.

More about taxes & real estate:

• Tax advantages for investors

Maintenance and administration

Owner-occupation: The owner is responsible for the maintenance and management of the property.

Capital investment: Management and maintenance can be transferred to third parties, such as property management companies.

Extra tip – What should you expect? I recommend 2% of the purchase price per year. I also have a small calculator for the maintenance reserve here. PS: Of course you can pass on operating costs to tenants.

Expected return: earn money, don’t spend it

Owner-occupation: The main motivation is the personal quality of living, the return on investment is secondary.

Capital investment: The focus is on returns, and investors expect to generate income from their property. Again, because it is very important for investors:

“The focus is on returns, and investors expect to generate income from their property.”

The choice between owner-occupation and investment depends on your individual financial goals, circumstances and preferences. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages, and the decision should be made carefully.

Learning from real estate experts?

Short and sweet, my recommendation:

• Real estate coaching

Why the move?

We have decided to move our Real Estate Newsletter to immobilien-erfahrung.de in order to offer you an even better service and more exclusive content. We have heard your feedback and your wishes and want to make sure that you always receive the best information and advice for your real estate journey.

The same quality, now on real estate-experience.de

Rest assured, the quality you are used to from our newsletter remains unchanged. Our experts are still here to support you with valuable advice and insider tips. Our focus is on helping you make the best decisions in the world of real estate.

• Subscribe for free now!

Exclusive content, only for newsletter subscribers

The real estate market is constantly evolving, and you must always stay up to date. This is why we enhance our newsletter with exclusive content for our subscribers. You gain access to insider knowledge and expert opinions that give you a clear advantage in your real estate search.

Free and non-committal – Sign up today!

Our Real Estate newsletter is still free and non-committal. We cordially invite you to sign up and benefit from the exclusive content and information we offer. Your real estate journey begins here.

Sign up now and benefit from exclusive content!

Don’t miss the opportunity to expand your knowledge and possibilities in the field of real estate. Sign up now and stay up to date!

• Real Estate Newsletter

Topics! Learn in the newsletter