Usable space, living space and floor space: what is the difference?

Let’s start very simply. You will encounter these values in exposés, in advertisements, in every real estate search. That’s why it’s important to know the difference.

3 Surfaces you will often encounter:

1. Footprint
2. Useful area
3. Living space

The order is chosen specially. Because as you can see here, you come from the 1) floor space to the 2) usable space to the final 3) living space.

Tip. At the end of the article you will also find extra infographics, for clarification

Since there is still a simple “formula” for calculation on the Internet, here in quite simply explained.

Simply expressed as a “formula”:

• Floor area = usable area + circulation area (such as staircase) + functional area (such as boiler room)
• Usable area = Usable area (living area – basement – attic – …)
• Living space = living space (living room + bedroom + …)

Calculate step by step

Let’s look at the process again step by step:

Footprint: Step 1 + Definition

That is, the 1) floor area includes the entire usable area, as well as corridors and staircases (circulation area), and garbage or boiler room (functional area).

This includes all floor areas:

• Living space
• Attic, basement, garages and balconies
• Staircase, corridors, … (so-called traffic area)
• Garbage room, boiler room, … (so-called functional area)

This does not include:

• Plot

Calculate:

Floor area = usable area + circulation area (such as staircase) + functional area (such as boiler room)

Infographic:

Example: All built-up areas, covered areas and upper floors.

Usable area: Step 2 + Definition

After the floor area, consider the 2) usable area, that is, what can really be used in the house or apartment building (for condominiums).

These include, for example:

• Attic
• Basement
• Garages
• Storage rooms (outside the living space)
• Balconies

This no longer includes:

• Staircase, corridors, … (so-called traffic area)
• Garbage room, boiler room, … (so-called functional area)

Calculate:

Usable area = Usable area (living space, basement, attic, …)

Infographic:

Example: Staircase is part of the usable space.

Living space: step 3 + definition

Only then you come to the 3) living space. The living space then indicates the actual habitable space of the property.

Typically only includes:

• Living rooms (bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room, etc.)
• Balconies, loggias, terraces and roof gardens are counted at 25%, at most at 50% (§4 WoFlV)

Calculate:

Living space = living space (living room + bedroom + …)

Now you know the difference.

Infographic:

Example: Living room of a condominium.

Summary: Technical terms as infographics

Once again quickly summarized, the areas, simplified summary with infographic.

1. Total area (use + traffic + function)
   1. Traffic area (staircase, corridors in the house)
   2. Functional area (boiler room, garbage room, etc.)
2. Usable area (everything except traffic area / functional area)
3. Living space (usable space that is not occupied, example: cellar)

Total area / floor space in the house

Use + traffic + function give the total area.

Usable area in the house

Everything except traffic area / functional area results in the usable area.

Living space in the house

Usable space that is not occupied, example: basement, is called living space.

Der Beitrag Usable space, living space and floor space: difference? This is how it’s simple erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.

Living space for investors: Small apartments in A and B locations

As an investor, it is not only important to you to achieve a high rental return and avoid vacancies, but also to rent out your property quickly and easily. Therefore, you should select an optimal living space for this purpose.

Most important: High rental yield, no vacancy & fast leasing

Important: When buying a property as an investment, pay attention to the relation between the number of rooms and the living space. Example: A 120 m² apartment with 2 rooms is just as difficult to rent out as a 60 m² apartment with 5 rooms. Instead, apartments between 50 and 80 m² have proven themselves in the past. One-room apartments with a size of 20 to 40 m² in very good A and B locations are also profitable. These properties are particularly popular among singles, young professionals and students. The only disadvantage: a frequent change of tenants.

Here are our tips in summary:

1. Balanced relation between room and living space size
2. Apartments between 50 and 80 m²
3. One room apartments between 20 and 40 m²

Tip: Avoid vacancy with WG division

So apartments that are too large are difficult to rent out. Why? The target group for such apartments is simply smaller. If you already own such a larger apartment or are planning to buy one, then you can get around these difficulties by renting it out as a shared apartment. Although this entails a frequent change of tenants, it allows you to earn a more effective price per square meter.

You can now find more tips on the optimal property size in my guidebook on Immobilien-Erfahrung.de:

• Size of a property: living space (m²) when buying a condominium? (external)

Microapartments also make excellent investment properties:

Living space for owner-occupiers: high feel-good factor

Compared to capital investors, the subjective feel-good factor plays the biggest role for owner-occupants when choosing the right living space. Most owner-occupants tend to have more living space than necessary. However, keep in mind that a larger property also comes with a higher purchase price. Not to mention the high ancillary purchase costs!

Personal preference and goals are paramount!

Conclusion: How big should your property be?

This question depends on your investment strategy as well as on your individual goals. If you are buying a house or apartment as an investment, you should make sure that the number of rooms and the size of the living space match. In addition to 2-3 room apartments between 50 and 80 m², one-bedroom apartments in A and B locations have also proven successful. If you invest in a property as an owner-occupier, your personal well-being comes first.

If you want to learn even more on the subject of buying a property, whether owner-occupied or capital investment, numerous articles, guides on the subject of rented vs unrented, as well as checklists, all free and 24 hours online available, with us!

Apartment, house, apartment building, everything for real estate beginners!

Now new on Immobilien-Erfahrung.de:

• Buy property: learn – external

Der Beitrag Real estate size: Optimal living space for owner-occupiers and capital investors – Experience & tips erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.

New! Especially for real estate buyers

Buying real estate from A-Z: preparation, search criteria, buying process and all that, free of charge and online, from experts.

Now on real estate-experience.com

Buying an apartment, buying a house, owner-occupation or capital investment, yield or investment property? On my new project Immobilien-Erfahrung.de you will now find everything you need to know for your successful real estate purchase! Learn everything you need to know about setting goals when buying real estate, types of locations(A-, B- and C-locations), types of real estate, their yields and more! All online and free of charge! What you absolutely have to pay attention to before you start looking for an apartment. Now on Immobilien-Erfahrung.de:

• Buy criteria apartment

Checklist: Criteria for your real estate investment

With our 11-point checklist you are well prepared for your real estate purchase:

Real estate as an investment vs. personal use

At the beginning, the question clearly arises: Do you want to live in your property yourself? Or do you want to rent out your apartment as an investment property after the purchase? This is something to think about at the beginning. After all, this not only affects the financing. As an owner-occupier, you will continue to be responsible for the operating costs yourself after purchasing the property. However, if it is a property as an investment, these costs are mainly covered by the tenant and the tax office.

• Self-interest or capital investment? Comparison

Amount of the purchase price: factors

It is equally important that you set a maximum purchase price for yourself. You should take several factors into account here. These include your creditworthiness, the available equity capital and your mortgage lending value.

Learn more about the important factors including tips and tricks here:

• Maximum purchase price

Maximum gross rental return: Formula

What is the minimum rental yield required for the investment to be both profitable and paid off by the tenant? We recommend the following formula for this:

Formula: Annual rent / purchase price * 100

Investors pursue one primary goal, efficient wealth accumulation. Accordingly, the gross rental yield of a yielding property must be high. Learn more here:

• Minimum gross rental return

Buy rented or unrented?

Of course, you can buy an already rented property just as well as an unrented one. However, if you are purchasing the property for your own use, an unrented property would definitely be more advantageous. If you already have tenants in the apartment, you can terminate the lease after purchasing the property for your own use. The same applies to capital investors. On the one hand you save time by the tenants time and do not have to look for new ones, are however at the same time bound to the rents. So should you buy rented or unrented? Find out all the advantages and disadvantages here:

• Rented vs unrented

Location, location, location!

Not only the city is important, but also the neighborhood. Where is the nearest hospital? What is the connection like? Is there a lot of vacancy in the neighborhood? And how safe is the neighborhood? All of this affects not only your on-site living experience, but also the value of the property and the purchase price. So what exactly does A, B and C location mean? How can it be determined and how does it affect the purchase price? Learn more here!

• A, B, C position

The perfect location

Depending on whether you are looking for a property as an investment or for personal use, the demands on the location also differ. So what are good locations for your personal investment goals?

• Find location

New construction or existing property?

Both new construction and existing buildings have their respective advantages and disadvantages. The most important question here is: Are you using your property for your own use? Or as a capital investment? Finally, the use of your property also influences your decision. The differences between existing and new buildings, as well as the respective advantages and disadvantages can be found here:

• Existing or new construction?

Age of the property: advantages & disadvantages

More than 2,650,000 properties currently located in Germany were built before 1919, and 5,000,000 of them were built before 1949. Some of these properties are real bargains on the market, and their subsequent sale price can be significantly increased by value-enhancing measures. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of buying an older property? Here is a direct comparison:

• Defects by year of manufacture

Size of house and apartment

How big should the property be? In addition to the location and age of a property, its size ultimately plays an important role. One-bedroom apartment or villa with several bedrooms? Bungalow with basement or rather maisonette? Here we compare living space for owner-occupancy as well as for capital investment. Especially for capital investors who plan to rent out their purchased property, the room layout and the number of square meters are important.

• Optimal size of a property

Ground lease? Yes or no

Some real estate is subject to a ground lease. But what is a ground lease? Can the costs be tax-deductible or even passed on to the tenant? Learn all about ground leases, how they work and their advantages and disadvantages:

• Ground lease

Social binding? Yes or no

In addition to the ground lease, it may be that you will also stumble on the subject of social binding. Everything about your obligations on low-interest loans to the post-commitment period – Is it worthwhile for you to buy a property with social and post-commitment?

• Yes or no? Social binding

Der Beitrag Buying an apartment: Goals, Criteria & Factors – 11-Point Checklist erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.