Around half of Germany's private assets are invested in real estate. The business with offices, houses and apartments has an impact on the economy as a whole. The real estate markets are also interesting for investors who are looking for safe investments in times of low interest rates.
About the topic
For many, building or buying their own home is the biggest investment of their lives. The need for information is correspondingly high. Many are asking themselves whether they should rather rent or buy and whether buying real estate in the big cities is still worthwhile. The Institute of the German Economy also closely examines the price development of real estate on the basis of various studies. For example, the IW Real Estate Index, the Home Ownership Report or the Student Housing Report regularly provide a detailed insight into various areas and aspects of the real estate market in Germany.
Housing policy is also analyzed in detail: Can instruments such as the rent brake or the rent cap achieve their intended goals? What are the side effects, and above all, are there better alternatives?
But real estate also plays a significant role in the fight against climate change. Buildings produce more than one-third of carbon dioxide emissions. Because modern houses require only a fraction of the energy of older buildings, energy-efficient renovation would make sense in many cases. But this costs money and only pays off after decades - possibly not in the lifetime of many investors, because more than half of German homeowners are over 60 years old. Politicians have recognized that owners need support.
Christian Oberst / Michael Voigtländer IW-Report No. 21 2. April 2023
Rental price development for commercial real estate
The commercial real estate markets are facing major challenges in view of the economic situation but also in view of structural upheavals. Against this background, this report examines the rental price development for retail and office properties.
Pekka Sagner / Michael Voigtländer in International Journal of Housing Policy External Publication 6. May 2022
Supply side effects of the Berlin rent freeze
On 23 February 2020, the Berlin Senate introduced the Berlin rent freeze (‘Mietendeckel’). The law was repealed on 25 March 2021. The Berlin rent freeze was an unprecedented market intervention in the German housing market.
Pekka Sagner / Michael Voigtländer in International Journal of Housing Policy IW
Michael Voigtländer / Jonas Zdrzalek IW-Trends No. 1 14. April 2022
An Analysis of the Current Risk Levels in Residential Real Estate Financing in Germany
The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) is keeping a watchful eye on the granting of housing mortgages and from 2023 on will require lending banks to increase their equity capital to cover potential risks.
Christian Oberst / Michael Voigtländer IW-Trends No. 4 17. December 2021
A Hedonic Rental Price Index for Retail Properties in Germany
Despite their importance for users, investors and urban development, there is no appropriate monitoring of rent prices for retail properties in Germany. Comparing average rents alone is of limited benefit as the composition of location and quality properties ...
Rental price development for commercial real estate
Christian Oberst / Michael Voigtländer
The commercial real estate markets are facing major challenges in view of the economic situation but also in view of structural upheavals. Against this background, this report examines the rental price development for retail and office properties.
Pekka Sagner / Michael Voigtländer in International Journal of Housing Policy
On 23 February 2020, the Berlin Senate introduced the Berlin rent freeze (‘Mietendeckel’). The law was repealed on 25 March 2021. The Berlin rent freeze was an unprecedented market intervention in the German housing market.
Pekka Sagner / Michael Voigtländer in International Journal of Housing Policy
IW
An Analysis of the Current Risk Levels in Residential Real Estate Financing in Germany
Michael Voigtländer / Jonas Zdrzalek
The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) is keeping a watchful eye on the granting of housing mortgages and from 2023 on will require lending banks to increase their equity capital to cover potential risks.
A Hedonic Rental Price Index for Retail Properties in Germany
Christian Oberst / Michael Voigtländer
Despite their importance for users, investors and urban development, there is no appropriate monitoring of rent prices for retail properties in Germany. Comparing average rents alone is of limited benefit as the composition of location and quality properties of observed retail objects could differ significantly.
How the Berlin Rent Cap Affected Private Landlords
Pekka Sagner / Michael Voigtländer
The effects of the Berlin rent cap on the city’s housing market were wide-reaching, with the supply of rental accommodation falling by more than half while the cap was in force.
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German Economic Institute (IW) 
