2019

Energy self-sufficient house generates all energy needs itself

Those who live in an energy-autonomous house obtain all the energy they need for electricity, hot water and heating in an environmentally friendly way via solar thermal and photovoltaic systems and can supply themselves completely free of emissions. According to the EU Building Directive, all new buildings in Germany are to be built as "near-zero energy houses" from 2021, and by 2050 even the entire building stock...

Burglary protection measures are a community matter

In the area of burglary protection, the law also requires apartment owners and members of a condominium owners' association (WEG) to coordinate all planned measures with the community. This applies to the installation of window grilles, the installation of an alarm system or the installation of burglar-proof doors: Burglary protection is a community matter. Which measures are considered...

Tip: Which fence gate suits you?

If you are looking for a suitable fence gate for your house and yard driveway, you can choose between classic single or double-leaf swing door gates, sliding gates or automated fence gates. In addition to an attractive appearance, a gate should also meet functional and technical requirements and be weather resistant. Above all, hot-dip galvanized fence gates last - thanks to...

Study: More and more investors are taking over agricultural land

According to figures from the German Federal Statistical Office, prices for agricultural land have risen by an average of 2.3 times across Germany over the past ten years. One of the main reasons for this development is that more and more investors see large-volume agricultural land as good financial investments for real estate. Especially in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as well as in Saxony, agricultural...

Tip: paint walls correctly

Painting walls in the apartment or house is one of the most popular and most often carried out renovation work. But who paints his walls, should inform not only about the choice of color, but also about the substrate. After all, the wall paint should always be matched with the texture of the wall, so that it lasts and shines powerfully in the long term. Many households...

Replacement and promotion of an obsolete heating system

To increase the energy balance in his house or apartment and save costs, owners should review their heating systems. If the heating systems are outdated, they should be replaced with a modern and environmentally friendly heating system. Government subsidies, such as those from the Kreditbank für Wiederaufbau (KfW subsidy) or the Federal Office for Export Control...

Ruling and draft law on the calculation of the tax on second homes

The Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht, BVerfG) has recently examined a number of constitutional complaints by owners of second homes who complain about the previous assessment of their second home tax. For example, in the Bavarian municipalities of Sonthofen and Oberstdorf (AZ 1 BvR 807/12 and 1 BvR 2917/13) and in the municipalities of Friedrichskoog and Timmendorfer Strand in Schleswig-Holstein (AZ 2 LB...

Tip: Avoid tax traps when inheriting real estate

The 2009 inheritance tax reform aims to allow property owners to bequeath their family home to their partner or children tax-free. However, as this is not always possible due to strict conditions, the tax experts at Stiftung Warentest advise property owners on how to avoid tax traps. Above all, the experts advise homeowners and...

Study: Trend toward corporate investments in commercial real estate on the rise

The quarterly investment market overview published by the consulting and investment management company JLL reports on current developments in the commercial real estate sector in Germany. According to JLL, the third quarter of 2019 was the strongest ever. This is because large-volume commercial real estate is particularly popular with investors with high liquidity reserves. Thus, JLL recorded by the end of...

Building tip: Ecological insulation materials for home insulation

Whether for new buildings or in the course of renovating existing properties, the right insulation for the house is a complex issue. This is because, in addition to the widely used insulating materials Styropor and mineral wool, there are also a number of ecological alternatives made from renewable raw materials, such as cotton or cork, to choose from. But beware - not every natural insulating material is actually...

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