Living in Marienburg: Green quarter near the Rhine

Marienburg is an affluent neighbourhood in Cologne and is located in the south of the megacity. The district is particularly home to large detached houses and villas and is therefore ideal for families and senior citizens. In Marienburg there are numerous green spaces, parks as well as a city-owned golf course. It is an ideal place to live and is also close to the Rhine. Marienburg is considered one of the most exclusive districts in Cologne and is attracting more and more people. The location, close to Cologne city centre, is ideal and especially great for children and commuters.

Welcome to Cologne

Cologne is a city in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia and can be found in the west of the country. The megacity borders directly on the Rhine and is about 1.5 hours away from the Dutch border. Cologne has a lot to offer besides a famous and impressive skyline and is very popular with students, families or seniors. The city has an area of 405 km² and is divided into several districts. Due to the mix of different new and old buildings, this city on the water is so popular.

Here is a map with Cologne:

Marienburg: map and location

Marienburg is a district of Cologne and is located in the south of the city, behind Südstadt. Marienburg borders the Rhine on the eastern city border and the Cologne district of Raderthal to the west. In the south of Marienburg there is a large green area including the Marienburg Golf Club.

Marienburg on the map:

Places of interest: Rhine Promenade, Südpark & Co.

Marienburg is primarily quieter, which is why this area is so popular with families in particular. The neighborhood offers numerous green spaces including its own golf course. There are many ways to spend your day, walking along the Rhine, visiting the fortress museum or the Südpark. In the south of Marienburg is also a rose garden, with a large variety of different plants and roses.

• Marienburg Golf Club
• Rhine Promenade
• Cologne Fortress Museum
• South Park
• KGV-Rosengarten

Sightseeing: A tour of Marienburg

Marienburg is a little quieter than the rest of Cologne, and the properties are all the larger for it. You can find townhouses and villas in Marienburg, and close to the city centre. In addition, the streets and green spaces here invite you to stroll. Wide paths provide space for cars, give children a place to play and add to the flair of the neighborhood. The many well-kept green spaces and gardens also make Marienburg one of the most family-friendly areas of Cologne.

Südpark: Living in the green

Golf course Marienburg: Leisure facilities in Marienburg

Rhine Promenade: Strolling along the waterfront

Real estate and prices per square metre in Marienburg

in Cologne Marienburg real estate is very sought after and popular, which is why the demand for homes is very high. Old apartments, villas and detached houses in particular are usually only on the market for a very short time and some are only sold off market. If you want to buy a house in a new building, you should expect a price per square metre of €3,164, for an existing apartment a price per square metre of €5,308 and for a new apartment €3,762.

• Buy a house (new construction): 3.164€ /sqm
• Buy apartment (existing): 5.308€ /sqm
• Buy an apartment (new building): 3.762€/ sqm

Conclusion: Living in Marienburg

Living and residing in Cologne – that is what many wish for. Marienburg in particular is a residential area where people who want to settle permanently in Cologne are particularly keen to buy a property. The reason for this is that despite its location close to the city, the district offers quiet streets and access to green spaces. Perfect for a relaxing walk after a stressful day at work! Schools, supermarkets and smaller restaurants form other advantages of this luxurious district. In just a few minutes, you can be in the city centre from Marienburg and thus in the middle of the action. Living space in Cologne is in high demand. This is also reflected in the current real estate prices in Cologne. Our tip: Contact the real estate agent you trust! An experienced real estate agent will not only support you during the purchase process, but will also advise you on the topics of taxes and financing.

Cologne: Real estate in the media city on the Rhine

With over 1 million inhabitants, the media metropolis on the Rhine is one of the hubs in NRW, but also in Germany. Located in western Germany, the city borders other metropolitan areas such as Düsseldorf and Bonn. The media city is located directly on the Rhine and can be divided into different parts and districts. Neighbouring cities include Düsseldorf, Bonn and Leverkusen. Cologne stands for media, TV and press like no other city in Germany. That is why the metropolis on the Rhine is constantly growing. Südstadt, Altstadt, Ringe, Ehrenfeld or Sülz, where is the best place to live?

Real estate in Cologne

Hardly any other large city in Germany offers so much “room for improvement”. From the purchase price to the architecture of the existing property. Whether condominium, apartment building or luxurious loft with a view of the Rhine. Cologne has enjoyed steadily growing popularity for years. The most beautiful city on the Rhine really does have something to offer everyone. The stately old buildings in Südstadt and the famous area around Rheinauhafen are particularly impressive.

• Real Estate Cologne

Living in Cologne: Popular districts & residential areas

The media city on the Rhine offers a diverse cityscape, guaranteeing the perfect living solution for everyone. From luxury apartment to villa, there really is everything. With the help of the right real estate agent, you can undoubtedly find your dream property – whether Südstadt, Marienburg or Hahnwald – a property as an investment in Cologne always pays off! One of the largest universities in Germany ensures a young cityscape and gives the ‘Veedeln’ their inimitable freshness. Would you like to invest in a property as a capital investment in charming Cologne? Find out everything you need to know about the city’s most sought-after residential districts, including tips on location, prices per square metre & co! To the overview: Living in Cologne.

• South Town
• Marienburg
• Rooster Forest

House, apartment and land for sale in Cologne

Selling an apartment, an apartment building or your own property. The colourful media metropolis of Cologne has a lot to offer: While Marienburg and Rodenkirchen inspire with their proximity to the Rhine, Neustadt is bustling with big city life. Lindenthal, located to the west, convinces with its quiet atmosphere and those who prefer it exclusive and prominent settle in Hahnwald. You want to sell your property in Cologne? Everything about the selling process, the most important documents and whether you should sell privately or with an estate agent. To the overview: Selling real estate in Cologne.

• Old Town
• Marienburg
• Rodenkirchen
• Lindenthal
• New Town
• Rooster Forest

Share Gift and Company, PS: Tax optimization is legal

Tip! How does it work that you can get a share package almost tax-free? A little further down in the article I explain the methodology, or rather the law behind it.

First of all, a brief overview: Mathias Döpfner, head of the Springer publishing house, is given a large block of shares as a gift. The parcel of shares given to him, from about 15 percent of Axel Springer SE, has an estimated value of a good one billion euros. According to current news, he will hardly have to pay taxes on it. A “billion-euro gift for Döpfner”, according to the Morgenpost. The Tagesschau (both German) summarizes it best:

“Springer boss Döpfner rises to become major shareholder of the Berlin media house. Publisher’s widow Friede Springer sells her confidant around 4.1 percent of the share capital and gives him another 15 percent or so”

Before we look at how such a gift is structured so that no or hardly any tax is due, here is a rough look at the publishing house Axel Springer SE and its development under Döpfner.

Here’s a quick reading tip: Today it flickered through the news tickers of the world. According to the New York Times, US President Trump pays only 750 Euro income tax. It gets even better, according to the New York Times Trump paid no income tax in 10 of 15 years from 2000 onwards. How does he do that?

• If the US president pay only $750 income tax

Axel Springer SE: Development under Döpfner

As already described in the introduction, he needed changes and Friede Springer clearly sees him as her successor.

The rapidly growing online business boosted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to 309 million euros in the first six months. This is the highest operating profit in the history of the Group. The digital business accounts for around a third of the profit – and the trend is rising, so that Handelsblatt.

How does the turnover develop over time? The Federal Statistical Office reports: “In 2019, the turnover of Axel Springer SE was more than 3.1 billion euros […]. There has been a tendency for revenues to increase since 2007, but the highest revenues of almost 3.3 billion euros were generated in 2015.

AxelSpringer SE at a glance:

• CEO is Mathias Döpfner since Jan. 2002
• The major owner is Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (43.54%)
• Revenues in 2019 amounted to EUR 3.1 billion
• 16,120 employees in 2019
• Headquarters is Berlin
• The founder of the publishing house was Axel Springer

Subsidiary of Axel Springer

While print shares were disposed of, Döpfer and Springer invested primarily in digital business models. The Axel Springer SE includes among others:

• AWin (Affiliate Platform)
• Ideal
• Immowelt Holding AG
• StepStone

Of course, the publishing house still includes print products, as well as BILD and TV stations like WELT.

• Bild group (Bild , Bild am Sonntag, bild.de)
• Bild magazines (like Computer Bild, Sport Bild, Auto Bild, Audio Video Foto Bild)
• Welt Group (Welt, Welt Kompakt, Welt am Sonntag, welt.de)
• Welt-TV (World, N24 Documentary)

Axel Springer SE: Share Price (Realtime)

Finally, a look at today’s share price with a review of the year:

• WKN: 550135
• ISIN: DE0005501357
• Symbol: SPR

73 million: First transfer already 2012

The Süddeutsche will report as early as 2012 on the first transfer of shares from Friede Springer to CEO Mathias Döpfner worth around 73 million euros.

“The generosity has a “purely private background”

The Pressehaus said:

In order to fend off overly curious journalists, Springer agreed on this language regulation. It also has an impact on how much tax Döpfner has to pay on the gift, so on in Southern Germany.

“If the tax office were to come to the conclusion that the reason for the share transfer was Döpfner’s employment relationship, he would have to pay millions in wage tax on the gift. With the solidarity surcharge, around EUR 36 million in taxes would be due. If, on the other hand, Döpfner succeeds in convincing the office that Friede Springer gave him the shares out of pure affection, he could save a lot of money. Under certain circumstances he would then even have to pay only around 2.5 million Euro to the tax office.”

Why Largely Tax-Free? Explanation

First of all there is a tax-free amount for all donations. The regulations are laid down in the Act on Inheritance and Gift Tax.

Free Amount in Case of Gift (Capital): Outside the Family

In general, the following rates from the Inheritance Tax and Gift Tax Act (ErbStG) § 16 allowances for inheritance and gift apply.

(1) In cases of unlimited tax liability (§ 2 paragraph 1 number 1) the acquisition remains tax-free:

1. Of the spouse and the life partner in the amount of 500 000 euros;
2. Of children within the meaning of tax class I No. 2 and children of deceased children within the meaning of tax class I No. 2 in the amount of 400 000 Euro;
3. Of the children of the children within the meaning of tax class I No. 2 in the amount of 200 000 Euro;
4. Other persons in tax class I in the amount of 100 000 Euro;
5. Of persons in tax class II in the amount of 20 000 euros;
6. (omitted)
7. Other persons in tax class III in the amount of 20 000 Euro.

The Morgenpost reports accordingly:

Actually, the publisher’s widow’s gift to her top manager would not be such a generous one. For gifts outside the family, 50 percent gift tax is due above the allowance of 20,000 euros. In this case, this means almost half a billion euros. But there are exceptions, for example for business assets.”

Free amount for donation: Within the family (excursus)

Within the family you have a higher allowance:

• Spouses and registered partners: 500.000 Euro
• Donation to children: 400.000 Euro
• Gift to grandchildren: 200.000 Euro

If there is little or no degree of kinship, the tax-free amount is, as described, only 20,000 euros.

Share Package Almost Tax-Free: Method Explained

Why is a large part of the share package now largely tax-free?

The package has a volume of 15%. During the transfer, a law was exploited to prevent the possible insolvency of companies. Due to the high volume, Axel Springer SE could get into financial difficulties. As a reminder, the gift tax outside the immediate family is 50%, the tax-free amount is only 20,000 euros.

Gift tax: 50%

Exempt amount: 20.000 Euro

Tax-free: Possible financial threat to Axel Springer SE

The possible financial threat to Axel Springer SE is therefore the legal sticking point, which is why a large part of the tax (according to current news [03.10.2020]) is waived.

Gift, Capital Gains, Real Estate – Almost Tax-Free ?

We have answered the question from the headline: “Largely tax-free? Now we come to the second part: “Can I do that too?” Short answer: Yes. The way: Coaching from a professional, learn, understand, actively apply. The important thing is that taxes are a matter for experts.

You want to Save Taxes like a Pro?

You want to save taxes like the professionals? I don’t write any names because I don’t want to make a big advertisement, but there are great tax coaching services just a google search away.

I have been following several self-made real estate investors for a long time. Anyone who has made it from zero to a millionaire with legal methods can only be a good role model for me.

The best thing about tax optimization, it is absolutely legal!

US President Pays only 750 Dollars Income Tax

As I have reported here in the article about the American President’s meager 750$ reported taxes, tax optimization is common practice. Everyone who submits a tax return and for example deducts travel expenses is actively minimizing taxes.

Financial optimization is especially about understanding and knowledge: Knowing that your tax advisor does not have and will never have. If he or she did, he or she would be an investor himself.

In other words: If you know the legal methods and ways of tax optimization, you can instruct your tax consultant to do the right things. The tax consultant should then take care of the operational work. Everything strategic, methodical, you should master.

Understand and Convert Taxes & Build up Assets

Tax optimization, tax-free, the most popular buzzwords when it comes to wealth accumulation. But how do you actually convert private wealth into taxes? My tip, as before, is to learn from professionals who have all been through it.

Always remember: taxes are a matter for experts.

• Convert taxes into private assets