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Calculating living space - the right way!

If you are looking for a new property or even want to sell your property yourself, you will often come across terms such as living space or floor area. But what exactly do these terms mean and what is the difference? In this article we would like to clarify the topic of living space and show you how it is calculated.

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Real estate commission – Everything you need to know about brokerage fees 2026

The real estate commission—also known as the brokerage fee or agent’s fee—is the compensation for the intermediary or proof-of-opportunity services provided by a real estate agent. Anyone looking to buy or sell property will quickly face these core questions: Who pays the agent when selling a house? How high are the fees when buying? And when is the payment due—after the notary appointment or earlier?

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Luxury flat: Buying tips & information

In view of the increasing urbanisation, luxury flats are becoming more and more interesting for investors and owners. Luxury flats not only serve as a comfortable retreat, but often represent a lucrative investment. In the following, we will show you all the things you need to consider when buying or renting a luxury flat.

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How to handle buying and selling a home at the same time

Buying and selling a house at the same time can be a challenging prospect, but sometimes the market presents an opportunity that is simply too good to ignore. If you’re considering a significant offer with limited time or you’re keen to secure a prestige property before it’s snapped up, you may find that buying and selling houses or apartments at the same time is the only answer. In such cases, this is what you need to know.

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Sustainability & ESG in real estate: What is behind the trend?

The awareness surrounding environmentally friendly construction and social responsibility in the real estate sector is growing steadily. Sustainability is playing an increasingly vital role in property markets, heavily influencing private owners, investors, developers, and real estate brokerages alike. The driving factors behind this shift are clear: rising energy costs, statutory climate protection goals, and evolving expectations from buyers, tenants, and investors. Consequently, the industry is increasingly aligning itself with ESG criteria (Environmental, Social, and Governance) to ensure properties are eco-friendly, socially responsible, and economically resilient.

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Acting correctly as real estate buyers and sellers in times of the interest rate turnaround

After years of low interest rate policy, virtually nationwide rising property prices and excess demand, the property market in Germany is experiencing a number of clear counter-trends for the first time. The European Central Bank has raised the key interest rate to 0.5% in July 2022 - in the practice of real estate financing, interest rate increases of around 180% have been recorded compared to the previous year. The associated effects are already being felt in the industry and are affecting the behaviour of owners and prospective buyers in various ways. In this article, real estate agent Engel & Völkers would like to provide you with an overview of the current situation and clarify which maxims you can use to make the right decisions even after the interest rate turnaround on the real estate market.

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Improving Your Prowess as a Private Property Investor

Real estate has always been a significant avenue to building wealth. Investing in either residential or commercial property can yield stable cash flow,potential for growing your capital, and diversification, all of which are attractive to large portfolios. In addition, directly investing in real estate gives greater control of the risk profile, ownership structure, and business model. Furthermore, a property is something you can touch and experience, meaning that it is often a more emotional pursuit than stocks or bonds.

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Calculate your Hamburg property tax in a few easy steps

Hamburg has used its own property tax model since 2025. Here we explain what this means for you and how high your tax burden is likely to be, including the formula and a practical example.

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Standard land value Lübeck

The standard land value in Lübeck provides information on the average land price per square meter within certain standard land value zones. The expert committees in Schleswig-Holstein publish the current figures every other year. The standard land value for Lübeck allows property sellers as well as prospective buyers to get an first impression of the land values in the various locations of the Hanseatic city. But what exactly does the standard land value say? Is it helpful in determining property prices for sale in Lübeck?

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Engel & Völkers Germany

Vancouverstraße 2a

20457 Hamburg, Germany

Tel: +49 40 361310