Microapartment: What is a microapartment? – Definition & Features

Due to the many variants and the different requirements, there is no uniform definition for the term microapartment. In German-speaking countries, a microapartment is a small, furnished apartment with usually one to two rooms and a size of approximately 19 to 36 square meters.

Read more about the conventional apartment here.

Features of a micro apartment

Micro apartments are in most cases rented furnished and are often equipped with futons or pull-out beds, fold-out tables and small or hidden appliances. In some cases, the cost of electricity or internet is also already included in the lease. There are also often common areas such as fitness rooms, rooftop terraces or sports courts.

• Often furnished
• Space saving device
• Electricity, Internet included in rental contract
• Common areas: Fitness rooms, roof terrace, etc.

Advantages & disadvantages of a microapartment: costs, return & co.

Before you invest in an apartment, you should look at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of apartment. This will help you decide whether this type of apartment is right for you and whether you can accept the disadvantages. Especially in the case of an old building apartment, the construction method is different from that of new buildings. We have compiled a list of the most important aspects for you, so that you can make the right choice.

Advantages: High yield, safe, central

Micro apartments have a very decisive advantage: location and location. This type of property is mostly found in the inner cities and very central. So if you want to live in the city but spend little, a micro apartment is just right.

If you want to invest in a micro apartment, you can be sure of one thing: While your real estate investment will require a manageable amount of capital, the rental yield and rental income will be higher than those of other apartments, such as the old building apartment, the loft or the floor apartment. In addition, they are a safe investment, which is worthwhile for investors with a long time horizon. Precisely because demand exceeds supply, you as a landlord have a high degree of rental security.

• As a real estate investment, microapartments require a manageable capital investment
• Yield and rental income are significantly higher than those of conventional apartments
• Investment is worthwhile for investors with a long time horizon and a pronounced need for security

Disadvantages: Small, furnished

What is an advantage for some may seem a disadvantage for others. Furnished micro apartments exclude the possibility of bringing your own style or furniture into your four walls. In addition, the apartments are very small and offer little living space.

• Narrow, small
• Mostly furnished

Microapartment: Who is it right for? Singles, couples, second home

The target group for small apartments consists mainly of the young, working singles, who are on average younger than 30 years. But microapartments are partly also suitable for couples and shared flats, as well as older re-singles who do not need much space. Microapartments are also often used as second homes.

Singles: Flexible, central

Micro apartments are especially popular with young adults. Often these properties can be found in the middle of the city center and are therefore ideal for students and singles. The proximity to the university and the flexibility that one has as a result is also a great advantage. Most of the time, these types of properties are already fully furnished and therefore ready for immediate occupancy. This is a great advantage for young people who are new to a city.

Seniors: Cheap, modern

Similar to young singles, this type of property is particularly suitable for single seniors who still want to live in the city and centrally, as well as cheaply.

Couples: space for two

Contrary to popular belief, a micro apartment can also be beneficial for young couples. Despite the small square footage, with the right and efficient furnishings and room layout, the apartment can be especially cozy and provide enough space for two people. In addition, you save money with the rent.

Secondary residence: vacation home, commuter

For example, if you live in the country and commute to the city for work, you can buy or rent a micro apartment a second home. This saves time and, depending on the distance, even costs. But microapartments can also be bought without a special purpose and rented as a second home or vacation home.

What you should consider before buying/renting a microapartment

Especially with older buildings, it is very important to get your own idea of the apartment before buying/renting. Inform yourself exactly about the construction and the building to be prepared for everything. We have summarized these for you so that you can clarify everything in advance and no unexpected costs await you later.

What to consider when buying?

First of all, you should find out about the condition of your potential property. Old buildings often require renovation and modernization, which can lead to additional costs. We recommend that you consult a specialist and a realtor who can help you with the purchase decision and give you an insight into the costs involved. It is possible, for example, that the exterior façade is damaged and moisture can get into the apartment, causing mold. It is also not uncommon that the statics of old properties need to be repaired to ensure stability. Repair work is also sometimes necessary. So let a specialist help you so that nothing can go wrong. Whether it’s an existing property or a new build – an expert will not only help you with the property valuation by year of construction, but also with the technical inspection and commercial inspection of the property.

• Structural condition
• Statics
• Repair work

If you want to learn even more about buying a property, you can find useful tips on the subject in the article Buying an apartment.

Viewing appointment: What to consider & checklist

You invest in real estate and this decision should not be taken lightly. Investments are always a good idea, but especially with old buildings you have to pay attention to some things, so that no unexpected costs reach you. We have compiled a checklist with the most important aspects that you should consider during an inspection to buy or rent.

You want to live in the big cities of Germany and have an apartment in the most expensive streets? Here you can find the most expensive streets in Berlin and Hamburg!

What to consider? – Condition, floor plan and location

Look at the condition of the apartment. Depending on the year of construction, every property has its defects. What is the floor plan of the apartment and does it meet your expectations? Often you have to adapt it to the property. Note the location and infrastructure of the apartment, this could increase or decrease the price at which you would sell the apartment. Are the kitchen and bathroom built in and what are the ancillary purchase costs and operating costs? Is the micro apartment rented or unrented? These are just a few aspects to consider. We have put together a checklist for you in the following.

Checklist: For your viewing appointment

Here you will find a checklist with the most important factors that you should definitely take a closer look at when visiting an apartment.

• Location
• Establishment
• Service charges
• Internet supply
• Sunlight
• Parking
• Pets
• Condition (in need of renovation)
• Floor plan
• Neighbors
• Kitchen/ Bathroom
• Additional rooms
• Heating, water, electrics
• Noise

Broker: safe investment with top – broker – costs, process & co.

Condominiums, such as micro apartments are ideal as an investment and are a very safe investment. Especially if you do not have much experience with the purchase of real estate, we recommend that you consult a real estate agent. He or she will advise you on important issues, find properties for you and visit the apartments with you. Real estate investments are not designed for a short-term increase of money, but rather for a good retirement provision. Therefore, you should approach the matter very carefully and get good advice.

Procedure of real estate purchase

First of all, you will consult with the real estate agent and you will have the opportunity to express your wishes. The real estate agent will now tell you what is possible and he will start with the first research.

Then begins the organizational management. Documents and records are obtained, which are important for a purchase of a property. Then the broker starts to find out potential sellers and condominiums for you. Viewing appointments are organized and carried out.

Last but not least, the negotiations begin. Negotiations are held with the seller and the purchase agreement is drawn up. Afterwards, the broker is present at the handover of the keys and ensures that everything runs smoothly. Even after the contract is signed, the broker will be a contact person for you.

You are looking for a professional broker and want to learn more about the benefits? Take a look!

Financing a condominium: loan or equity?

Do you want to fulfill your dream of owning a condominium or invest in an apartment in an old building and then rent it out? Then you should inform yourself in detail about the financing of such a property. You have to decide on the right real estate loan and should obtain and compare many different offers in this course. The choice of loan ultimately determines how high the total cost of your real estate loan. So it’s best to get advice and make the right decision.

Real estate loans and financing: tips, checklist and more

Financing a property can be done in many ways. Here you will find some of the financing options listed with brief summaries. In addition, you will find a link that will take you to more comprehensive articles.

Real estate loan

• Real estate loan adapted to personal needs
• Flexibility should be ensured
• Proper planning is important
• Loan

Financing of an apartment

• No house but only apartment to finance
• Comparison of different housing financings recommended
• Consultation
• Real estate financing

Factors influencing the price of real estate – How can you save money when buying real estate?

Are you simply unable to find a suitable property that meets your price expectations? Then you should consider which of the influencing factors has the least importance for you. Can you find a compromise with yourself or your family by agreeing not to live so centrally, or to do without a terrace or balcony? These compromises can bring the price of the property closer to your expectations.

The location – Where should the property be located?

One of the most important factors influencing the price of a property is its location. How far is it to the city centre, to the nearest supermarket or to important doctors? This distance plays an important role for everyone. Nevertheless, a central location of the property is not the first priority for everyone. Many property buyers prefer to live in a quiet area to escape the stress of everyday life. Nevertheless, the most important shops or doctors should not be too far away. If it doesn’t have to be a big city or central location, it makes sense to compromise here and save money in this respect.

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Single-family house or terraced house – Which costs more?

What property is it? If it is a terraced house, you have directly adjacent neighbours. For this reason, the value of this property is lower than that of a detached house. In a detached house you have less noise from neighbours and you have more control over your own noise level. With a detached house you usually benefit from the advantage of having a larger green area at your disposal, whereas many people feel a little cramped in terraced houses. With a terraced house it is therefore advantageous if you know the neighbours beforehand and know that you would get along with them.

Check modernisation status – What measures have been carried out recently?

If a property appeals to you in many ways, it is still important to pay attention to the age of the property. If you don’t, you run the risk of having to deal with new costs very soon. What’s more annoying than having to worry about repairs or energy-saving measures to a newly purchased property? If damage to the property has not only been repaired immediately, but has also been combined with modernisation, this is considered to increase the value of the property. Recent measures such as improved thermal insulation or fire protection can be of enormous benefit to you.

Room layout – Every room needs meaning and purpose

The room layout in an apartment or house can also be of great importance. If a property is to be used as a shared flat, it is important that there are no through rooms. If a property is awkwardly cut, or even the room layout is not ideal, this will bring down the price of a property. Is the bedroom a suitable size for the furniture intended? Will a dining table fit in the kitchen or is there even an extra dining room? Many prospective buyers think very carefully beforehand about which room will serve which purpose. If a room should serve as a children’s room in the first years, then it is often already planned in advance what it could serve when the children have moved out.

Energy efficiency: saving energy and money

The energy efficiency should be checked carefully before buying a property. How old is the heating system? Are the roof and exterior walls adequately insulated? Are the windows double-glazed? These are the questions you should ask yourself before buying a property. But why is this the most important point that everyone should consider? If your purchased property satisfactorily fulfils these measures, you can save an enormous amount of money. If you are not able to check this information sufficiently yourself, it may be worthwhile to talk to an energy consultant. They will be able to tell you which renovation measures you should expect and how much you will have to pay in this respect.

Purchase prices for condominiums

This statistic compares the cities with the highest condo purchase prices from 2014 and 2018.

• Munich – Increase: 1,605
• Frankfurt am Main – Increase: 1,687
• Stuttgart – Increase: 1,181
• Potsdam – Increase: 1,835
• Berlin – Increase: 1,377

You can find more infographics at Statista Our Berlin guide: real estate Berlin.

Terrace or balcony – superfluous luxury or compulsory?

Many people who don’t benefit from the luxury of having their own garden wish they had a balcony or terrace instead. Who wouldn’t like to have breakfast outside when the weather is nice, or simply switch off without having to go to a public place? But unfortunately, this advantage is not available with every property. For this reason, it has a value-increasing effect on the property price.

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Demand influences the price

Having what everyone wants triggers a sense of achievement in many people. However, the higher the demand of a property is, the higher the property price will be in the end. Since the previously mentioned factors also influence the demand, this is closely related. If you opt for a more remote property, the demand also goes down and so does the price. If you own a slightly more remote property for which demand increases over time, you will benefit from an increase in value which can bring you a huge profit on resale. Additionally, if the property has been regularly refurbished or even modernised, you could make a big profit.

Residential rent index in Germany from 1995 to 2017

Not only do property prices depend heavily on the various influencing factors, but property rental prices also depend on these factors. These statistics show the development of rents in Germany.

• Residential rent index 2017 at 109.7 (increase 1.7)
• Residential rent index 2016 at 108 (increase 2.6)
• Housing rent index 2015 at 105.4 (increase 1.6)
• Housing rent index 2014 at 103.8 (increase 2.5)
• Housing rent index 2013 at 101.3 (increase 1.3)

You can find more statistics at Statista

Prefabricated house or solid house

If you decide not to buy a used house, but to build your own home, you will inevitably have to deal with the question of whether you want to build a prefabricated house or a solid house. A prefabricated house is usually cheaper than a solid house. But what are the advantages of which construction method? A big advantage of building a prefabricated house is that it is particularly fast and can be carried out in all weather conditions. The construction of a solid house takes longer. A solid house brings the advantage of a good indoor climate. In summer it does not get too hot and in winter it does not get too cold. The modern prefabricated houses also have good insulation.

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Now that you know which influencing factors determine the price of a property, it is worthwhile to use this knowledge to start looking for a suitable property again. Think about which influencing factors have priority for you and you will find a suitable property.

A tidy children’s room – less stress, more order and fun for the family

Of course children should be able to play and make messes, however it is an important part of parenting to show them that you need to clean up the mess as well. To save you a lot of stress, a well-structured nursery will help keep things tidy and create a great feel-good zone for your kids. To find out how they can make the rest of the house look great, click here: ‘Interior design for your dream property‘.

Tip 1 – Take your time and don’t set everything up during pregnancy

Of course, pregnancy is an exciting experience and some expectant mothers are said to have a so-called “nest building instinct”. Of course, you already want to buy everything for their child and well organized welcome the new family member in your family, however, such early furnished nursery often lead to bad purchases. You should always approach the situation slowly. Being well organized and getting the most important things before the baby arrives is more than sensible. A cot for the parental bed, a changing area, some clothes, nappies or the first cuddly toy are sensible investments, apart from a good night’s sleep for the parents-to-be. However, things like a wardrobe, a crib or a play blanket and/or bow are premature purchases. It’s better to take your time and wait until you can assess what your family’s needs really are. Every baby is different and needs different things. You will only find out what is right for your child when you get to know him or her. So wait and be patient. Everything comes with time.

Tip 2 – Set up a child-friendly filing system

If you expect your child to keep their room tidy, you need to make it possible for them to do so. Storage space should not be out of the child’s reach, drawers or doors should be easy to move so that the child can easily keep order. One box for Playmobiles, one for Legos, one for craft supplies and pencils. These boxes are best very easy to stow away on a shelf at the child’s height. So your child always knows directly where what belongs and can easily keep order. Arguments about tidying up the room are avoided. Make it as easy as possible for your child, then it will playfully learn how simple order can be.

Tip 3 – Adjust the colors

A common misconception that prevails is that brightly colored wall colors are appropriate for children. Every child develops his own preferences to colors and patterns with the time whether now pink, blue, green or red. But just because of this, you should not directly wrap the whole children’s room in this color. This is not only overloaded but also oppressive and brings your child no fun. It is best to look for a colour together with your child and to give the room its own charm with colour accents and accessories. There is nothing wrong with a white wall. Paint the wall together with your child, it makes them proud and they learn something at the same time.

Tip 4 – Use furniture that grows with you

For each developmental step of the children to buy a completely new furniture and banish them after a few months in the basement would be not only a waste of money but also unnecessary waste of storage space. Fortunately there is a solution for this problem. Whether it’s the well-known ‘Tripp Trapp’ chair, which is even suitable for babies with various attachments and can be used up to school age, or children’s beds, which can later be used as a desk or bench. Even the changing table can be easily converted. After the little ones have successfuly completed toilet training, the top can be removed and the changing table transforms into a normal chest of drawers with plenty of storage space. Other beds come with a conversion kit that turns a cot into a bed for children up to 6 years old. So great techniques allow multiple use of the furniture, which is not only sustainable, but also saves your wallet.

Tip 5 – Don’t get hung up on trends

Even if your children have a great role model or are a fan of heroes such as the Ice Queen, Cars, Captain Sharky, Fireman Sam or Bibi & Tina, this does not mean that the entire children’s room must be immediately flooded with them. After all, these heroes only have a limited survival period and so toys, wallpaper, pieces of furniture, bed linen or other fan articles quickly become disposable. So that parents do not have to redesign the entire children’s room again every par months, agree with your child on products such as dolls, books or printed pillows of the heroes, but not as a wall or furniture surface.

Tip 6 – Furnish in a way that is suitable for children and not too grown up

The mistake: Everything is so beautifuly puristic here! Plus a rug in non-colors and nicely arranged stuffed animals made of off-white crochet yarn on a tasteful bedspread. The solution: Everyone knows about Instagram kids’ rooms. Rooms in which things are so tasteful that you can already doubt your own “living style education” at home when you look at the plastic-colored chaos of children. But: portals like Instagram and Pinterest don’t depict reality, but nicely arranged living utopias. You can emulate them, but you shouldn’t take them too seriously. What’s more, children should also be allowed the freedom to develop their own taste in interior design. If, in the end, a compromise is found between the wishes of the child and those of the adults, both sides will have come a great deal closer to family peace.

Tip 7 – Do not forget the shutters

Of course, everyone wants a light-flooded children’s room for the children, so that a lot of daylight comes into the room, the sun also shines in once and the children are not only illuminated with lamps. However, there is a problem here that should definitely be taken into account. Because anyone who has ever wanted to get a baby or toddler to take a nap in a room flooded with light knows what it’s all about. For as important as daylight may be in every corner of the room, it is imperative to take care of proper and, above all, effective blackout. If the room does not have built-in shutters ready, you should install opaque curtains, folding shutters or blinds. This will not only ensure the well-being of your child, but also a good night’s sleep for you.

Tip 8 – Set up cuddle corners and retreats

A child’s room should consist of more than just a bed, a shelf, a painting table or desk and a cupboard. Because children also need their retreats and a place to cuddle up to simply play with toys in peace, flip through a book or dream. A small corner in the children’s room in which your child can retreat can be, for example, a small indoor tent, a pile of pillows with a canopy or a small sofa. Here your children can also play with others, hide and simply feel comfortable.

Tip 9 – Modern carpets do not belong in the children’s room

The topic of flooring in the children’s room is not so simple. An opulent flokati is not exactly suitable, but also a large colorful children’s carpet is not necessarily the best choice. Here, you should think in practical terms, because a cup of juice can easily fall over, felt tip pens can be left lying around or dirty shoes can mess up the carpet. So less is definitely more here and especially easy to clean. You won’t go wrong with a short-pile carpet in subtle colours. Avoid bright colours and make sure it is easy to clean. This will save you headaches and expensive bills from cleaning.

Tip 10 – A desk is a must

Not only school children should have a desk in their room, but younger children can also make good use of a workstation. They not only learn to work at a desk, but can also paint, do handicrafts or play there in peace. But a desk should be available at the latest when children start school, because they need to be able to do their homework at home, work and learn in peace. The dining table will not be able to serve as a substitute forever, as you will also need it for guests or appointments from time to time and it is important that your child learns to work in a structured way at its own place.

Tip 11 – The right bed for the right age

As mentioned in tip 4, there are great beds that grow with your child. However, even these alternatives only help for a certain time and sooner or later your child will need a new bed. Often the question of loft bed or normal bed arises here and you should also think through this decision well. On the one hand, loft beds have the advantage of being enormously space-saving and also offer space for two siblings in smaller rooms in the bunk bed variant. However, you should correctly assess the abilities of your children and a loft bed is not without. Being able to safely climb in and out of bed is a challenge for some. Some children are not able to climb the loft bed without danger until they are five years old. So to avoid injury, make sure your child is up to the bed and perhaps help with a net or grid to prevent nighttime falls.

Tip 12 – Cosy light for the feel-good atmosphere

Of course, a ceiling light is necessary, but it should not be the only light source in the room. It looks alone namely quickly sterile and not very cozy. In the other rooms of the apartment you also observe this principle, so why not in the children’s room. Several small light sources in addition to the ceiling lamp give the room depth and coziness and you get a great atmosphere. A desk light so that your child can draw, craft, write or do a puzzle in perfect light. A night light that makes monsters disappear under the bed but also a wall lamp has its own charm and saves space.

Tip 13 – Use mobile organizers

All the toys, crafting tools and co are always in the living room, although they actually have their place in the children’s room? This may sound familiar to some, but there is a great solution to avoid the daily wandering of Lego set and attachment. Portable organizers, can be worth their weight in gold for you. This can be a nice fabric box, a basket or a pretty box. After playing, everything can be quickly collected in there and in no time at all everything is back in place until the game starts all over again the next day. Little tricks that can help you and your child make playing even more fun!