Living space for owner-occupiers: criteria

Here, the focus is clearly on one’s own well-being. Also, one should have a view on the future, personal development, such as offspring. In no case should you think too “big”, because the larger the area, the higher the purchase price. Another point; The equipment you can always expand, the living space itself only in rare cases.

Here is a brief summary of the criteria for owner-occupants:

• Well-being has priority
• Plan sufficient living space for the future, e.g. family planning
• Area not too oversized > Purchase price, ancillary costs
• Equipment can be improved later

Living space for capital investors: criteria

When you buy a property as an investment, your main goal is to rent it out in order to generate sufficient cash flow. This is achieved by setting three goals. Firstly, a high rental yield, good rentability and low vacancy.

Here is an overview of the three goals:

1. High rental yield
2. Good rentability
3. Few vacancies

4 Tips for Investors: Exclusive Insiders

Here we have for you four exclusive tips for buying your condo.

Tip 1: Relation of size and number of rooms

At the beginning, the relation of size and number of rooms is very important. Example: A 120 m² apartment with 2 rooms is just as difficult to rent as a 60 m² apartment with 5 rooms.

Tip 2: Division of an apartment

Large apartments are more difficult to rent than small and medium-sized apartments, which is why their vacancy rate is also lower. In the long run, you can earn a good return on these apartments. So if you are offered a larger property in an A-location, you should think about renting it out as a shared apartment. Here, too, a high return can be expected.

With a four-room apartment that you rent to a family, the return is lower, but the tenant turnover is not as high.

Tip 3: Number of rooms and square meters

In the long term, typical apartments around 50 to 80 m² with 2 to 3 rooms have proven themselves.

Tip 4: Go for one-bedroom apartments

If you buy in a good A or B location, you should rather go for 20 to 40 m² one-bedroom apartments, because there are more and more singles on the market. With a smaller living space you achieve a higher rent per square meter.

The next step: ground lease

When dealing with the topic of ground leases for the first time, many questions arise. What is a ground lease and does it make sense? Also one wants to know whether one can deduct the costs of the ground lease, the ground rent from the tax? All your questions will be answered here. Learn in this article the advantages and disadvantages on the subject of ground lease for personal use and capital investment.

Existing or new building: advantages and disadvantages

When buying a home, in addition to the question of owner-occupancy or capital investment and return or investment property, one wonders whether to invest in existing or new construction. Both forms have their advantages and disadvantages. In this article, you will learn what they are.

• Existing or new construction

Villa M Berlin: Design highlight in Grunewald

Villa M is one of the few private residential buildings that the renowned architectural firm Graft from Berlin has realized. The client is a private individual, and commissioned the architects with this residential project. Villa M was built as a new building between 2015 and 2017, and forms an architectural highlight in Berlin Grunewald between rather “classic villas” in the neighborhood. Modern aesthetics and formal language are the focus here, and leave the classical architecture far behind. Unique architectural language, special lines of sight and an idiosyncratic facade make this property an absolute eye-catcher. What makes the Villa M in Berlin, and what it looks like, you can find out in the following.

© Tobias Hein

Location in Berlin Grunewald: Villas as far as the eye can see

Villa M is located in Berlin, Grunewald. The district is very popular and is home to some large, high-quality houses and villas. The proximity to the Grunewald forest, as well as to the banks of the Havel river, make this area particularly attractive. Secluded on the outskirts of the city with forests and lakes, yet very centrally located: that is the attraction of Grunewald. Those who live here once often never want to leave.

Here you can see the villa again in a view from the garden. The Villa M is a highlight from all angles! Similar to a good sculpture, Villa M opens up a new tension for the eye from all sides. The building leaves room for interpretation, and this is also intended by the architects. Find out for yourself what associations Villa M evokes in you personally!

© Tobias Hein

Special Features: Individual design language, ceramic facade and window frontage

What makes Villa M so special? On the one hand, it is the unique language of form, which is intended to be reminiscent of an erratic block located in a glacial landscape. This is intended to express both the proximity to nature and the desire for expressive, creative power. The trapezoidal and sculptural form gives Villa M enormous recognition value, and makes it stand out strongly from neighbouring properties.

What is special about it is that the building’s visual axes are aligned with the green spaces of the neighbourhood, creating the greatest possible privacy. Another highlight: The four-storey building is encased in a spatially folded façade made of ceramic panels. Room-high glass surfaces complete the modern, idiosyncratic look of Villa M.

© Frank Herfort

Technical data: location, construction period, living space and more

Villa M is a unique project and an absolute collector’s item. We have summarized the peripheral facts and most important information for you. Location, as well as builder, living space and much more. Get to know Villa M here via technical data:

• Location: Berlin-Grunewald
• Project: New construction of a villa with granny annexe
• Client: Private
• Period: 2015 – 2017
• Living space: 530 m²
• Facade: Ceramic tiles
• 4 floors

© Tobias Hein

Architects Graft: Founder interview about real estate, projects and e-filling stations

The architecture firm Graft was founded by 3 Germans and is a nationally and internationally successful company. They now have offices in Berlin, Los Angeles and Beijing, and the team is very large with 150 architects. You can find out what Graft is all about, what makes the firm tick and what other projects they have in their portfolio in our in-depth post: Graft Architecture Firm. We also conducted an extensive interview with the founders. What the architects think about their projects and their work, and what makes them tick, you can read here in the interview, which was divided into 3 topics:

1. Architect’s office
2. Residential & Mixed Use
3. Future: E-car charging station & Co.

More pictures & impressions: Villa M inside and outside

You haven’t seen enough of Villa M yet? Here you will find more pictures and impressions of the very special architecture of this property. No matter from which angle you look at Villa M, you will always discover something new, and it develops new charms through every angle – just like the perfect sculpture. In addition to the facade, discover the fireplace in the interior and the illuminated facade in the twilight.

© Frank Herfort

© Tobias Hein

© Tobias Hein