Seller

A house with pool

Many people dream of having a house with a pool. But what kind of pool is most suitable? An outdoor pool in your own garden for the summer is appealing because of the low acquisition costs. An indoor pool that can be used all year round, perhaps even extending into an outdoor pool, costs a lot more, as does a heated and covered outdoor pool. Is this investment worthwhile? How much does it cost to set up and maintain your own wellness area? Does every pool increase the value of the property?

Building on someone else's land: 7 frequently asked questions about hereditary building rights

Are you planning to build a property? Then building on someone else's land is an option available to you as a builder. Ownership, finances and rights of use are regulated by the so-called heritable building right. In this article, we answer 7 questions on the subject that you may frequently encounter.

The operating cost bill - what to look out for?

As a rule, every tenant receives an operating cost bill once a year. According to the German Tenants' Protection Association, this always leads to a large number of enquiries and requests for advice. Since this is a complex issue based on many different laws and contractual agreements, incorrect or unfounded billing can occur time and again.

House viewing tips

The house viewing is certainly one of the most important phases when buying and selling a house. For prospective buyers, it provides the opportunity to get an accurate impression of the property, while giving the owner the opportunity to find the right buyer. It is therefore all the more important that this part of the property sale is carefully prepared and carried out. In the following we therefore explain the most important aspects of a house viewing and what buyers and sellers need to be aware of.

Real estate speculation tax: Deadlines, rates & tax-optimization

Selling a property can be a significant financial milestone, yet the tax implications often catch sellers off guard. In Germany, the speculation tax on real estate (Spekulationssteuer) is a critical factor for any private seller. If you divest a property within the statutory speculation period and realize a profit, that gain may be subject to taxation.

The graduated and index-linked rental agreement - what must be contractually fixed

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!

Selling a house on an annuity basis

The annuity-based house sale is an alternative to the traditional house sale, which usually ends with the buyer paying the seller the negotiated sum for the property and being registered as the new owner in the land register. With an annuity-based sale, on the other hand, the sale price is not paid in one go, but in instalments. The advantages and disadvantages of this type of property sale are explained below.

Property valuation: These factors determine the price of your property

Determining the price of a property is one of the most important steps in selling or part-selling a house - and one of the most complex. Objective criteria such as location, condition or type of property are often at odds with the subjective assessment of the property owner, for whom emotional value also plays a decisive role. To help you understand the market value of your property, we explain below important factors that can influence the value of your home.

Engel & Völkers brokers “Bonanza Ranch” for 38 million US dollars

Four cowboys gallop on their horses through the untouched landscape, the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe visible in the background. This is the opening scene of the legendary western series “Bonanza”.Engel & Völkers Lake Tahoe has now brokered the ranch with a 125,000 square metre land plot on which this iconic television scene was shot. Between 1959 and 1973, “Bonanza” became one of television’s most popular series and continues to be broadcast in syndication around the globe.

Selling a plot of land in Germany: Strategy, market value, and tax optimization

From legal status to discreet marketing: Your guide to the successful sale of sophisticated properties

Calculating assessed value: Definition, formula, and significance

How the assessed value for real estate and land was determined and what role it still plays after the 2025 property tax reform