Buy + rent in Brunswick: Melverode, Stöckheim – Broker interview

Real Estate Agent Interview Braunschweig - You want to buy or rent a house or an apartment in Braunschweig? But you are still missing the right how know? Exactly for this reason we spoke with a real estate agent from Braunschweig, who gives you first tips to avoid typical mistakes. Basically, it is first important to find the right type of real estate, whether old building apartment or floor apartment, you must be satisfied in the long term. You can expect exciting topics about additional costs, recommendations and popular districts in Braunschweig. Back to the overview: Real estate agents Braunschweig. Also in Germany in our article: Real Estate Agents Germany.

Rent, buy, live in Braunschweig

Our interview partner specializes in the brokerage, sale and rental of real estate in Braunschweig. We talked to the real estate agent team from Braunschweig in an interview about attractive districts, financing options and the Braunschweig real estate market. Here you can learn everything about buying your first home, different types of houses and apartments.

Brunswick at a glance:

Brunswick from close up:

Rents: Family-friendly neighborhoods

You have decided to rent a house or apartment? Then you should definitely know more about bedroom furnishing and beautiful terrace design. Home is where you feel comfortable!

Buy: Invest and capital investment

Find your new home in attractive districts of Braunschweig such as Bebelhof, Elmaussicht or Gliesmarode and avoid serious mistakes in your purchase! You can find out here which questions you should answer before buying your property! Are you also interested in other cities? We have selected other interesting real estate agents in cities such as Düsseldorf, Aachen and Duisburg.

Interview: Real estate in Braunschweig

In an interview, we got to know a real estate company from Braunschweig better and asked everything about real estate, renting, buying and capital investment. In this article you will also learn which questions you should answer before buying a property.

Real estate agent Adner & Partner: Interview Partner

FIV: Before we talk about Braunschweig and its real estate market and your recommendations for tenants and buyers, we would like to know a little more about your agency Adner & Partner Immobilien. Could you briefly summarize for our readers what your agency does and what you specialize in?

Adner & Partner: Our focus is on the sale and rental of residential real estate. We specialize in condominiums and single-family homes. In addition, we broker investment properties, such as multi-family houses or rented condominiums. In addition, we regularly set up new construction projects, which are realized with a friendly architect and developer.

So far, 5 apartment buildings have been built in Braunschweig and Wolfenbüttel and sold by Adner & Partner Immobilien. The next new building project in Braunschweig is about to start marketing. For our new building projects we are permanently looking for plots and/or dilapidated houses.

Small apartments in the center of Brunswick:

FIV: As a real estate agent in Braunschweig, which properties do you personally prefer to broker?

Adner & Partner: Basically, for me, there is no such thing as a "favorite property." What always feels nice, however, is when people enter new stages of life in their new home. The young couple moving into their first home together or older gentlemen moving in close to their children and grandchildren regularly radiate happiness and contentment. That is always beautiful to witness. That makes me and my small team happy and also a little proud, because we are allowed to accompany people in this process.

Districts that have a future: Stöckheim, Melverode, Ring area

FIV: Neighborhoods for Singles, Families & Co. - For those who don't live in Braunschweig yet and want to move to Braunschweig, which neighborhoods have a future? Where should you move to in Braunschweig if you want to live nicely?

Beautiful corners for families with child

Adner & Partner: Braunschweig has so many beautiful corners to offer. There is something for everyone. The green districts on the outskirts of the city, such as Stöckheim, Melverode, Mascherode or Südstadt, are ideal for families with children. Equally suitable are Lehndorf or Kanzlerfeld in the west of the city. Those who appreciate living in the city are in the right place in the Westliches Ringgebiet and the city center. The Östliche Ringgebiet is traditionally extremely popular and this standing will probably never end.

The proximity to the city and to the university, good shopping opportunities, numerous kindergartens, schools and a friendly atmosphere make the eastern part of the city so desirable. Even more popular are the Walllagen along the Oker River, which is located on the edge of the city center. Here live all those who appreciate a life in the city and can afford to buy a property here. On our website, we have compiled an overview of selected city districts, which provides information on real estate prices and infrastructure.

Melverode: Popular district in Braunschweig

Development of real estate prices: Purchase and rental prices

FIV: Rents are a big topic, all over Germany. How has the real estate market and rental prices in Braunschweig developed in recent years and how will they develop in the future?

Adner & Partner: Overall, the current market is characterized by high demand and scarce supply. This again led to strong price developments for condominiums and houses in 2021. On average, the price of existing apartments in Braunschweig rose by around 13.5 percent. Prices of single-family homes rose by around 16 percent. In the period under review, rents for existing apartments in Braunschweig rose by around 4 percent. The rent brake, the lowered cap of 15 percent and the rent index had a regulating effect here. I currently find it difficult to predict future price trends.

Will real estate prices in Braunschweig continue to rise?

If you had asked me before the war in Ukraine, I would have predicted a price increase for apartments of 4 percent and for houses of 7 percent. I would have put rent increases at 3-4 percent. Today, I estimate that rents in Braunschweig will continue to rise by about 4 percent per year. Existing real estate, especially apartments, is a crisis-proof form of investment and prices for them will certainly continue to rise. Presumably, 2-digit growth rates will once again establish themselves on the market.

As long as the interest rate landscape does not change significantly, population development in Braunschweig and the surrounding area remains on a growth trajectory, and insufficient construction activity does not pick up speed, no downward movement is expected for the time being. Despite the city of Braunschweig's welcome construction offensive, it will not be possible to meet the demand for housing. The expected wave of refugees from Ukraine further underscores my assumption. In addition, a strong economic and university landscape ensure that Braunschweig's real estate market will continue to be characterized by strong demand.

Living room in a 2-room apartment:

Should you rent or buy at this point?

FIV: In Germany, more people rent than buy. What would you recommend to a young couple or even a single person, renting or buying in Braunschweig?

Adner & Partner: This question is not so easy to answer, because the choice depends very much on individual plans, personality and various factors. Thus, no general statement can be made. Some points should always be considered before making this far-reaching decision. The young couple as well as the single person should be clear about if and when the family should grow or the professional situation could change. Because with property, the spontaneous move is already somewhat limited.

Buying a property: basic security

Once the right property has been found, the fixed interest rate should be designed for the long term so as not to run the risk of being overburdened with the repayment when interest rates rise.
Basically, however, I am of the opinion that buying a property is the better choice, because it offers a certain security against rising rents or a termination of the lease. During our viewings, we hear relatively often about own needs as a reason for the upcoming move. In addition, a property owner pays off his own property and not that of his landlord. Owning your own property therefore represents a solid investment for retirement provision.

Home and condominium: buying in the city

FIV: Anyone who rents in Braunschweig is relatively flexible and can move if necessary. Anyone who buys a property, whether a home or a condominium, is at least tied to the property for the long term by the loan or financing. What are typical first-time buyer mistakes from your experience as a real estate agent and how can you avoid them?

Adner & Partner: In general, if you rarely buy real estate, it's best to get a professional to accompany you, who can save you from high losses. You will quickly notice a damp basement. The unauthorized attic conversion recognizes the real estate professional, with conscientious work. The layman does not. That is why we recommend every prospective buyer to organize an expert for a second inspection and not to spare the costs for it.

Here you can see an example of an old building apartment in Braunschweig:

Declaration of division for owners: Read carefully!

A purchase without checking the real estate documents from the construction file also represents a major risk. The documents that a buyer should definitely read carefully are the declaration of partition including all amendments as well as the allocation of any special rights of use to garden areas or parking spaces. A current excerpt from the land register, the collection of resolutions from the last 5 years and the building file already mentioned help to get a good overview and help to decide whether the property can be purchased or not.

In addition, no property should be purchased without an inspection or time pressure. Buyers should never be pressured into a quick or hasty purchase. In order to develop a feeling for the right price or the living space that is really required, it is advisable to view several properties that come close to the desired object.

Incidental costs and taxes: This is what you should know!

FIV: The purchase price of a property is one thing, but what ancillary costs and taxes must buyers in Braunschweig expect?

Adner & Partner: The so-called ancillary purchase costs for an existing property amount to approx. 11% of the property price. They consist of: Real estate transfer tax in Lower Saxony (5%), brokerage fee (usually 3.57% including tax) and notary and land registry costs (approx. 2%). For modernization or renovation, depending on the condition of the property, an additional amount should be considered. For a basic renovation, roughly between 500 and 700 € per square meter will be incurred. If only individual measures are to be carried out, lower costs will be incurred.

The most important at a glance:

• 11% Incidental costs of the real estate price
• Real estate transfer tax: 5%
• Brokerage fee: 3,57%
• Notary- land registry costs: 2%
• New buildings: Incidental costs further 10%

New buildings: Factor in another 10 percent in utility costs

For new buildings that are offered "turnkey", we recommend our buyers to plan in an additional 10% of the purchase price in addition to the above-mentioned ancillary purchase costs. This can then be used to pay for painting, flooring, additional equipment (larger number of sockets and switches or, for example, a higher-quality bathroom). It will probably also be possible to pay for the fitted kitchen, which has yet to be installed. We always find when selling our new-build apartments that owner-occupants upgrade when it comes to fixtures and fittings, and those who want to rent out tend to make do with the standard fittings. Future landlords will probably be able to get by with less than 10%.

Here is a new construction kitchen from a Brunswick apartment:

Real estate as financial security

FIV: Brunswick neighborhoods for real estate investment - Let's move on to real estate as an investment in Brunswick, for those who want to buy and rent. If our*r Leser*in decides for the purchase, with following letting: Which 2 districts or satellites around Braunschweig would you recommend to a buyer for their capital investment in Braunschweig? In your opinion as an expert, where do the most future opportunities lie?

Adner & Partner: In principle, the districts adjacent to the city center are certainly a good recommendation. For example, the western and eastern ring areas. Purchase prices in the Westl. Ringgebiet are below those in the Östl. Ringgebiet. In addition, there are currently more apartments for sale in the West Ring area than in the East Ring area. Anyone who buys and rents here is not making a mistake.

Market participants should be flexible nowadays

However, the shortage of properties for sale requires a certain flexibility on the part of market participants. The willingness to buy and rent in other parts of the city cannot hurt. An example to illustrate this: For every property on offer in the eastern ring area, around 108 people are willing to buy (with 17 offers). In the western part 79 seekers come to an offer (with 22 offers). So anyone who wanted to buy exclusively in the eastern part may have to switch to the western part. It becomes even clearer, for example, in a comparison between Nordstadt and the Westl. ring area.

In March 2022, the northern city has 43 offers for sale on Immobilienscout. In contrast, there are 1644 seekers. This means that there are only around 38 potential buyers for every offer. The chance of a purchase is therefore much higher here and renting is no less feasible in Nordstadt than in other parts of the city.
For investors or owner-occupiers, the following applies: The search profile should not be too narrow and there should be an openness to several locations.

Development potential: falling prices between city districts

Future opportunities or development potential always exist where there is a price differential between the districts. However, this has become smaller and smaller in the last 5 years and even in the traditionally unpopular districts, such as Braunschweig's Weststadt, property prices have risen sharply. In this context it should be said that the Weststadt has an absolutely intact infrastructure and the district is much better than its image. By the way, on our homepage we have published a district report with currently 13 districts incl. market report for Braunschweig.

Districts with development potential:

• Veltenhof
• Turn over
• Watenbüttel

Investors could take a closer look at these districts.

Investing in different types of real estate: what is worthwhile?

FIV: In your opinion, what type of real estate has a future in Braunschweig, what should one invest in? Small, large, existing, new construction?

Adner & Partner: According to our current market research, 3-4 room apartments are most frequently sought in Braunschweig. Close behind are apartments with 2-2.5 rooms.
Apartments between 76-95 m² are extremely sought after. Followed by 56-75 m², which are sought almost as often as apartments between 96- 110 m². In summary, it can be deduced that the 3-4 room apartment with a living space between 76 and 95 m² is the ideal rental property.

Frequently searched in Brunswick:

• 2 - 2,5 room apartment
• 76-95 m² apartment
• 96- 110 m² apartment

However, the evaluation also shows that it can make sense from an investor's point of view to use 2.5 room apartments. It is important that there is space for a small home office. Furthermore, in our experience, an apartment that is to be rented quickly and well should have a balcony. It will be perfect if the bathroom is equipped with a window. Whether it is a new building or an existing one is decided by the investor's wallet. My personal preference is the new construction apartment.

Typical mistakes when buying real estate: checklist

FIV: Finally, one more question: You had mentioned the typical mistakes buying a property. Many buy, but some also want to sell. As an experienced real estate agent in Braunschweig, what tips can you give to those who are selling a property for the first time? What are the first steps and how do you successfully sell a property in Braunschweig?

Adner & Partner: Selling a property is a complex process in which many decisions have to be made and all the individual steps have to be carefully planned and worked through in sequence. Thoughtful preparation and planning - these are the most important secrets to success when selling a property. This is true for sellers who want to sell without an agent as well as for real estate agents. The success of a real estate transaction lies in the preparation. This includes the selection of the real estate agent.

My recommendation is to choose a broker from the region.

This is where the regional real estate agent plays his advantages, because he knows his area of activity. A real estate agent from the region knows from his daily work how the local real estate market works and what peculiarities prevail. The so-called hybrid brokers, which we all know from TV commercials, usually can't keep up.

Here once again the office of the Adner & Partner agency:

The essential questions a salesperson should answer:

• By when must the property be sold?
• When should the tenants or myself move out?
• Which sales strategy do I want to use?
• What price do I want to achieve and is it realistic?
• Which advertising media (newspaper, Internet) should be used?
• How much do you have to invest during the sales process?
• How do I ensure my accessibility?
• What information do I give on the phone?
• How do I ensure that the buyer is solvent?
• If these questions are clarified, then nothing stands in the way of a successful real estate sale.

Rent, buy, live in Braunschweig

The real estate market in Braunschweig is large and for this reason it is important to find the best real estate agent for you. In our overview you will find the 10 best real estate agents from Braunschweig, who can make your dream of your property possible.

• Broker Brunswick

First apartment? Step by step to capital investment

Buy your own apartment - As soon as you move into your first own apartment, for most people it's rent, rent, rent. Every month you go to work many hours, to spend the largest part ultimately for the next rent due at the beginning of the month. It's no wonder that many young people are considering buying a condominium as soon as possible.

• Buy first apartment