In 2024, the German residential real estate market faced a number of challenges, including falling prices, slowing construction and rising borrowing costs. Here are the key trends and forecasts for 2025, focusing on the country’s largest cities.
Decline in housing prices
In the first half of 2024, the average asking prices for new and existing apartments decreased by about 3.6% compared to the same period in 2023. This decline is less pronounced than in previous periods, when the drop reached 7.3% and 7.4%, respectively. The largest annual decline was recorded in Frankfurt am Main – by 6.5%, while in Hamburg the decline was only 0.6%.
The situation in major cities
Munich: The most expensive city in Germany with an average price of about 11,000 euros per square meter. In 2024, there was a 5.2% decline in prices for new buildings.
Berlin: The average housing price was around 7,920 euros per square meter.
Hamburg: A 5% decline in new construction prices, which is one of the smallest declines among major cities.
Frankfurt am Main: The largest year-on-year price decline of 6.5%.
Düsseldorf and Leipzig: On the contrary, these cities recorded an increase in prices for new buildings by 4.1% and 8.7%, respectively.
Housing shortage and construction activity
According to a study by the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR), Germany needs to build 320,000 new apartments every year until 2030 to meet growing demand, boosted by the influx of immigrants from Ukraine and Syria. However, in 2024, only 216,000 apartments were authorized, the lowest number since 2010 and reflecting the real estate crisis.
Financial performance and investments
Germany’s largest real estate group, Vonovia, reported its third consecutive annual loss in 2024, amounting to EUR 962.3 million, due to significant write-downs in property values. Nevertheless, CEO Rolf Buch predicts a return to profitability in 2025, provided that real estate prices stabilize.
Forecast for 2025
German house prices are expected to grow by 3.5% in 2025, although there is a significant risk of weaker growth. The market continues to face difficulties due to high borrowing and construction costs. Rental growth is expected to exceed house price growth, making it difficult for potential buyers to save a down payment.
In general, the German residential real estate market in 2024 was characterized by declining prices and slowing construction activity. Forecasts for 2025 suggest a moderate increase in prices, but the market remains sensitive to economic and political factors.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/analysis-of-residential-real-estate-market-in-germany/
In 2024 , the Latvian residential real estate market showed moderate growth and stability despite global economic challenges.
In Riga, apartment prices increased by 5-7% year-on-year, while in other major cities, such as Daugavpils and Liepaja, the growth was around 3-4%.
Most transactions with new apartments in the capital were concluded in the price range of EUR 100,000 to 150,000, indicating a steady demand for mid-market housing.
In 2024, there was an increased interest in suburban real estate due to the changing preferences of buyers seeking more spacious and environmentally friendly housing.
However, the segment of new buildings saw a one-third decline in sales, while sales in the secondary market and in prefabricated buildings increased.
The rise in mortgage interest rates due to the increase in the Euribor rate led to a decline in real estate activity. Many buyers have taken a wait-and-see attitude, waiting for lending conditions to stabilize.
Experts expect the real estate market to revive in 2025. Lower interest rates and stabilization of the economic situation may stimulate demand for housing. The market is expected to become more dynamic, and buyers will be willing to invest in green architecture and energy-efficient housing.
However, the issue of prices will remain relevant, and buyers will have to choose between more spacious housing outside the city or smaller apartments in the center. All in all, 2025 promises to be a favorable year for the Latvian real estate market, with the possibility of increased activity and price stabilization.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/analiz-rynku-zhytlovoi-nerukhomosti-la/
The Council of Europe Development Bank will provide Ukraine with an additional EUR100 million loan for the HOME project, which will help the government solve the housing problems of the most vulnerable groups who have lost their homes due to the war, and another EUR50 million loan to finance soft housing loans through the State Fund for Youth Housing (Derzhmolodzhytlo).
According to the bank’s website, this decision was made by its Administrative Board on May 31.
It is noted that the initial loan of the HOME project, which was approved in 2024 and also amounted to EUR 100 million, allowed the restoration of the housing rights of 3 thousand families whose homes were destroyed.
As for the loan to the State Agency for Youth and Housing, this initiative aims to overcome critical socio-economic vulnerability by prioritizing internally displaced persons (IDPs) who do not have alternative housing solutions, the CEB said. According to him, the loan will allow approximately 1.1 thousand families to purchase housing.
In a telegram on Saturday, Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister of Community and Territorial Development, added that the project “HOME: Compensation for Destroyed Housing” is part of the ‘eRecovery’ program. According to him, more than 250 thousand real estate objects are currently registered in the State Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property.
“Thanks to additional funding from HOME, more than 3,000 families who have already received housing certificates for destroyed housing will be able to get new homes. This component of eRestoration allows certificate holders to purchase new homes to replace those destroyed by Russian aggression. Participants in hostilities, defenders, people with disabilities and large families have a priority right to compensation under the program,” Kuleba emphasized.
According to him, thanks to the project of preferential lending for IDPs, 1.46 thousand Ukrainian families will be provided with their own housing on the most affordable terms by 2025.
The value of residential real estate in the euro area in the third quarter of 2024 increased by 2.6% compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the European Union Statistical Office (Eurostat).
In EU countries, the figure increased by 3.8%.
Only four countries recorded a decline in prices in annual terms, with the strongest declines in France (by 3.5%) and Finland (by 2.8%). The most significant increases were recorded in Bulgaria (by 16.5%), Poland (by 14.4%), and Hungary (by 13.4%).
In July-September, housing prices rose by 1.4% in both the euro area and the European Union compared to the previous three months. In the quarterly comparison, prices fell only in Finland (by 0.6%) and Estonia (by 0.5%), while the most significant price increases were recorded in Bulgaria (by 3.9%), Portugal (by 3.7%) and the Netherlands (by 3.6%).
For comparison, in the second quarter, housing prices in the euro area rose by 1.4% year-on-year, and in the European Union by 3%. Compared to the first quarter, prices rose by 1.9% in both regions.
Zezman Holding (Odesa) completed the construction of 15.2 thousand square meters of housing in 2024 and will continue to implement the previously announced residential estates in Uzhhorod and Odesa next year.
“This year, we have taken a bold and strategically important step by expanding our presence from the southern region to the west of Ukraine. We presented two large-scale projects: Lizrome in Uzhhorod, the first residential community in the region that meets the principles of sustainable development, and Gross Liebental cottage community in Odesa agglomeration, designed with a focus on energy autonomy, security and flexibility of housing solutions,” Boris Goldenstein, founder and CEO of Zezman Holding, toldInterfax-Ukraine.
By the end of 2024, the developer completed the construction of two buildings with 357 apartments in the Artville residential complex in Odesa, with a total area of 15.2 thousand square meters. The construction of nine buildings for 1 thousand apartments with a total area of 43.5 thousand square meters is also underway.
According to the company, about 40% of sales are made under the eOselya program, which indicates a high demand for mortgage programs.
“At the same time, we are seeing an increase in demand for ready-made housing, in particular, for renovated apartments that meet the principles of ready to use. This reflects the changing priorities of consumers who are looking for comfort and convenience without spending time and money on repairs,” Zezman Holding said.
Founded in 2013, Zezman Holding has commissioned 13 houses, with another 28 residential buildings at various stages of construction.
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