PropertyInvesting.net: Property Investment Special Reports

214: Germany for property investors

PropertyInvesting.net team

The objective of this Special Report is to give you an overview of the German property investment market and give some pointers to future trends and direction with regard to how asset prices might increase or decrease.

The market is not an easy one to read because of the complex inter-relation between business, demographic patterns, employment prospects and public sector spending.

Germany can be split into to three broad regions:

1. Eastern Germany (excluding the immediate area of Berlin)

2. Berlin (and areas with commuting distance)

3. Northern Germany

4. Southern Germany

1. Eastern Germany (excluding the immediate area of Berlin) – this region has high unemployment and a declining population. Property prices are very low and yields are relatively high. Tenant demand is moderate to low. The heavy industry decline of 1985 onwards makes many of the towns and cities rather desolate. Many people have left the region for employment in other regions. The areas has been hit by many factory closures – a shifting of manufacturing to Poland, Czech Rep and other parts of Germany. Wages compared with Poland are high and massive public sector infusions have failed to improve the unemployment situation in many rural parts. Rostock is a historic port on the northern-eastern Germany coast, a Baltic port that has had been regenerated – interesting place to visit. But the lack of new and high-tech businesses hindered the economic development and with it property price rises. If you want a big low prices house for very low cost, this is the place to purchase. But as far as making money on asset price increases, its risky If you pick up a genuine bargain, you may succeed, but property and sales taxes are high, so it’s not easy. Dresden further south has much regeneration and although it’s proximity to southern and western Germany helps this city, its proximity to the Czech Republic probably hinders it – much of it’s business has been transferred to this lower cost neighbour. It’s fascinating how this city has been rebuilt after the war – most of it’s new, but it looks 100s of year old. One striking statistic is that, before the Berlin Wall came down, the birth rate per couple was only one child. So there is a massive decline in the population, with aging population on top. On top of this, many of the best educated young locals have left the region for high pay in Munich and other Germany cities, so the region lacks vibrancy. This is not likely to change any time soon. If your strategy is to manage low prices rental accommodation, your yields will indeed be high, but regulation, regulated rents and issues surrounding renting to unemployed or elderly people would need to be managed – best to be a local German for this type of business. If you want a big farm with a lot of land and forest as a second home, this could be the place for you. But otherwise, despite what looks like massive bargain, it’s probably worth moving on to more prosperous German areas.

2. Berlin (and areas with commuting distance): When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, the German’s took a massive leap of faith and named Berlin as the capital again (it has been Bonn). Eastern Berlin boomed, and western Berlin was fairly stable. The massive infusions of billions of Euro to boost the local economy and install public sector government offices for the re-unified state benefited eastern Germany the most. Germany is still recovering from the spending spree, albeit the economy picked up in 2006 with a new government installed, some labour reforms and general confidence increasing. This has benefited Berlin – prices have risen for central Berlin property but rises have recently tailed off. The real bargain are probably behind us now. Many large real estate companies invested in Berlin property, but some of these have recently sold up – a telling sign. Housing regulations are severe, tenants rights are extreme – if you are an expert at the regulation and good at managing properties, buy-to-let could still be a reasonable investment. Student lets is an example. But it’s all hard work, you need to know the German language or have a good local helper. Not an easy business. But of you want a low priced trendy central Berlin apartment close to nightlife and culture for summer visits, it has its attractions. Investor have made millions from Berlin property particularly in the period 2004 to 2007, but the easy money is now behind us. The demographics are better than other parts of eastern Germany, but again, the population is in decline. All those massive houses in Berlin suburbs look low prices and attractive on paper, but of new businesses do not move to Berlin, government spending declines and more people leave the city as birth rates remain low, it might well be the price of these lovely large houses might decline. The countryside in the region is nice, Berlin is a special place in the summer with it’s long evenings, nice weather and culture-nightlife. But it’s probably not going to be an easy place to make money in the next 5-10 years.      

3. Northern Germany: The coast cities and town suffered from heavy industry and decline of ports but many are regenerating and the quayside and ports are generally on the up. The history of these now make them attractions in a similar way to Liverpool, Rotterdam and Antwerp. Hamburg is the best example. Big business is doing well in this city, many new jobs being created and the city has a vibrancy that sits well with being a stable place for property investing. In the central parts of Saxony, many of the cities like Hanover are beautiful and property prices can be expected to be fairly stable or rising at a slow pace. The demographics are not good, but not as bad as eastern Germany. Probably the best investment for residential market are in the regenerating central cities – close to jobs in improving areas – Hamburg and Hanover spring to mind. Further south is the industrial Ruhr valley area – much of this area has suffered with the closing of coal and iron smelters in the period 1980 – 2000. But again, many areas are regenerating and bargains can be had in places like Duitsburg and Cologne. Not lovely cities by any means, rather like industrial Sheffield – but prices are low, rental yields are high and employment prospects are moderate. One risk is that more car and other manufacturing will move abroad. But profits will be repatriated back to Germany albeit they are more likely to end up in southern Germany or Frankfurt than anywhere else (see below).  

4. Southern Germany: If you take the autobahn from Duitsburg via Mannheim to Heidelberg you will be struck by how much Germany changes as you travel south. Southern Germany is by far the most prosperous part of the country. Property prices are also far higher, particularly in Munich. Indeed, the city of Munich acts like a massive focus of business and wealth. New high tech business have been springing up for years. Banks have also set up shop, albeit Frankfurt remains the key financial centre further north. The Alps are on the doorstep. The surrounding countryside is beautiful – rolling hills, pleasant climate. This region attracts wealthy retiring German baby-boomers. The ski resorts in the far south have high property prices. The demographics better than in northern Germany and far better than eastern Germany. Prices are likely to go higher in years to come., but rental yields are far lower than in eastern Germany. If you like re-developing prime property, this is the region to focus on. City centre Munich (corporate lets and trendy central apartments) is one option, or Stuttgart. Re-development of suburban homes near the city centre is another option. Regulations are strict and labour costs are very high, so it’s not without it’s risks. But demand is also high and land in short supply. Heidelberg is another beautiful history city which is a focus for many wealthy people. Again prices are already very high and demand is also high. Much of the Germany industrial and export wealth ends up in the southern part of the country and Frankfurt. Stuttgart is and has always been a very wealthy city – home of Porsche who are doing rather well at the moment.  If you can locate a low priced property in a good (or up and coming area) which is either central to Munich or a nice holiday home with some land, it might be a good investment. You can upgrade and renovate and either let or sell onwards. If you are a UK investor, you’d have to ask yourself why would you choose Munich instead of London or Manchester? Munich will remain wealthy in years to come, but as interest rates rise in Euroland, the property market is likely to stay subdued for some time. Most Germans prefer to rent property from corporations and housing associations – you’d have to convince yourself you can do a better job than them. If you have connections to Germany, can speak the language and do not mind battling with regulations, high labour costs and taxes, it could be a good place to invest – particularly if you have ideas around how the taxes, regulation and labour costs could be reduced for you compared with the competition.

Costs: Transaction costs are fairly high. Real Estate Transfer Tax for the purchaser is 3.5% of purchase price. Overall, a purchaser can expect to pay 6% to 9% of the purchase price in tax and costs. A seller also pays 1.8% to 3.6% of the selling price (combined total 7.8% to 12.6% tax/cost). This is one reason why prices are low. Rental income over 52,151 Euros is taxed at a high 42%. Capital gains tax are also paid on sale, unless the property is held for over 10 years, in which no CGT is paid. The effective tax rate for monthly rental income of Euro 1,500 is 15.8% - with 17.6% for Euro 12,000. Church taxes and other taxes can also be due. Not easy to make serious money.

Prices: The tabulation below gives the average house price increase since 1975 for the top 10 cities in Germany. Compared with most of Europe they have lagged far behind.