Engel & VölkersEngel & Völkers

Seller

A female real estate agent in a black blazer showing floor plans on a tablet to two clients - a woman in a light coat with a patterned scarf and a man wearing glasses - in a bright, window-lit office setting.

What does a real estate agent do?

The broker’s fee is one of the biggest cost factors arising from property sales for owners and buyers. But what does a real estate agent do for the brokers fee you pay and why does it pay off?

  • 7 min read
Visit What does a real estate agent do?
Hand silhouetted against a bright sky holding up a paragraph symbol with sun shining through, creating a backlit effect

Broker commission: Reform 2020

In May 2020, the Federal Cabinet finally discussed the reform of estate agent commission - since then, sellers and buyers have shared the costs of the estate agent when buying a property. This law rejects the so-called ordering principle. In particular, the law makes the division of the estate agent's commission between the buyer and seller of a property, which has not been uniformly regulated in Germany to date, fairer. In the following, we explain exactly what changes the reform to commission entails and why it now pays off more than ever to commission a real estate agent.

  • 6 min read
Visit Broker commission: Reform 2020
House with energy efficiency classes from A to G, person working at a desk, symbolizing sustainable real estate

Agreement on the Building Energy Act: What will be important for Hamburg property owners

As one of the most polarising topics in the political discourse, the amendment to the Building Energy Act energy law is also occupying the owners of houses, flats and other properties in Hamburg Obligation to retrofit for older heating systems in favour of the heating transition in Germany was debated in the media and in public, and it took a long time for the coalition parties to reach a consensus. In mid-June 2023, an internal government Agreement has now been reached, which is considered a promising basis for adoption in the Bundestag. In this article, your estate agent for the north-east of Hamburg, Engel & Völkers Alstertal, would like to summarise for you the changes that the so-called "Heating Act" will bring for owners of houses and flats and why this is particularly important in Hamburg can be expected to be implemented more quickly than at federal level. Find out more now!

  • 3 min read
Visit Agreement on the Building Energy Act: What will be important for Hamburg property owners
Aerial view of Dingelsdorf near Constance with homes by Lake Constance in a green and tranquil setting

Dingelsdorf property: Fantastic houses and flats on Lake Constance

To the north of Constance, the district of Dingelsdorf is picturesquely situated on a slight hillside and meanders along the shores of Lake Überlingen. Here you will find marvellous Constance condominiums with lake views. Or would you like to buy a house in Constance for the whole family at attractive prices? In the quiet residential area of the town with its approx. 2200 inhabitants, you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the green region on Lake Constance between Dettlingen and Litzelstetten. Relax in your leisure time at the lidos or in the Dingelsdorfer Ried nature reserve. The ferry takes you to Überlingen on the other side of the lake in ten minutes. You can reach Allensbach and the B 33, on which you can cross the whole of Baden-Württemberg, just as quickly by car. Even Constance's old town is only around a quarter of an hour away. By the way, with Engel & Völkers you will also find Properties in the district of Constance as well as in other districts and towns.

  • 2 min read
Visit Dingelsdorf property: Fantastic houses and flats on Lake Constance
Panoramic view of Kiel with a cruise ship docked, historic buildings, and a green-roofed church spire under a clear blue sky.

Standard land value in Kiel

If you want to find out about land prices in the various locations in the city, the standard land value for Kiel is a good guide. The digital standard land value map shows the different standard land value zones can be viewed. This gives property sellers and prospective buyers an initial impression of the different land prices with the help of the standard land value in Kiel. As the standard land value always refers to a reference property of a certain size, the stated standard land value for another property must be converted accordingly.

  • 3 min read
Visit Standard land value in Kiel
Bird's-eye view of a city with many buildings. On the left, you can see water with a stretch of beach and a row of green trees.

What is the local comparable rent based on?

The local comparative rent is formed from the usual rents of the municipality (or a comparable municipality). The living space must be comparable in terms of type, size, equipment, quality and location. The period under consideration for the local comparable rent is four years. Increases due to increases in operating costs are not taken into account.

  • 5 min read
Visit What is the local comparable rent based on?
Two real estate professionals in business attire reviewing content on a laptop in a bright office space. A man wearing glasses and a dark blazer points at the screen while a woman in a black dress looks on attentively. City buildings are visible through the window in the background.

Your real estate portfolio - how should it ideally be structured financially?

One of the clear Advantages of real estate as a capital investment compared to other investment opportunities, such as gold as an investment, is the possibility of lending through banks. It is important to note that the banks evaluate the personal income situation in addition to the property when financing the first property.

  • 3 min read
Visit Your real estate portfolio - how should it ideally be structured financially?
Person in blue blouse reviewing and signing papers at wooden desk with keys and crystal glass visible, photographed in a warm, natural setting

The declaration of division of a property in Hamburg: structure, content and function

If more than one owner is to be registered for a house, a condominium or a plot of land in Hamburg, a so-called declaration of division is required: This clearly defines the ownership structure between several people who together form the community of owners. If you are planning to buy a property in Hamburg and name more than one owner, you can use this article from your real estate agent Engel & Völkers Hamburg Elbe to find out what the contents of the declaration of partition are and what functions it performs for the community of owners.

  • 2 min read
Visit The declaration of division of a property in Hamburg: structure, content and function

Contact

Contact your personal advisor

Professional in a gray suit and white shirt smiling confidently while holding a smartphone, standing in front of classical white buildings with arched windows and elegant architectural details.
Professional woman in a beige business suit and white blouse walking confidently in an urban environment, with wind-swept hair and carrying a leather portfolio, against a blurred city background.

Engel & Völkers Germany

Vancouverstraße 2a

20457 Hamburg, Germany

Tel: +49 40 361310