General

Through the interdisciplinary project "MEnergie - Meine Energiewende" (MEnergy - My Energy Transition), Cologne University of Applied Sciences (TH Köln), in collaboration with partners from the education, energy and technology sectors, aims to create greater acceptance for the energy transition in society. Among other things, social media as well as virtual and augmented reality will be used for this purpose. "The AR and...

An heir does not necessarily have to move into the family home within six months in order to benefit from an inheritance tax exemption. This has now been decided by the Federal Fiscal Court (Bundesfinanzhof, BFH) (II R 6/21). In the case at hand, the sole heir of a two-family house with two apartments and land did not move into one of the two apartments six months later, but around one and a half years later....

Which vacation homes in Germany are the most beautiful? In a picture series, the portal schoener-wohnen.de provides interested parties with numerous suggestions and initial information about a possible destination in spe. In addition to the address and a link to the corresponding Internet page, travel-hungry people also receive initial information about the price. The vacation homes are waiting with various special features...

Purchase prices for condominiums are no longer rising as strongly as they have recently. This is the result of an analysis by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). Purchase prices in Germany's eight largest cities, for example, rose by only 7.5 percent year-on-year, which is only half as much as in the previous year. However, there are differences in terms of cities: While buyers of condominiums...

The portal "bauen.de" provides information about types of tiles for different living areas. In the process, tiles must meet different requirements. For example, tiles in the bathroom are exposed to moisture and should also be slip-resistant. There are even so-called slip resistance classes for this, with R13 offering the greatest possible slip resistance. Private individuals should at least meet the...

In view of rising energy prices, the Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies (GdW) is calling not only for a temporary moratorium on dismissals, but also for support for financially overstretched households in the form of a trust fund. However, the GdW stresses that this support should not be limited solely to recipients with housing entitlement certificates....

If landlords modernize a rented apartment, they must make the costs transparent. However, a breakdown of the individual items is not required, as the Federal Court of Justice recently ruled (VIII ZR 337/21, VIII ZR 339/21 and VIII ZR 361/21). In the cases at hand, modernization measures had been implemented by landlords in Bremen and had resulted in a...

How owners or tenants can use the niche between the kitchen countertop, knows the working group The Modern Kitchen (AMK). There are several design options for the niche, starting with the selection of the niche back panel. For example, glass, glass laminate or real wood can be selected. On the niche back wall can then be so-called railing or...

The German Investment Real Estate Association (DAVE) has observed increasing pressure on the investment market. On the one hand, sellers are asking themselves whether they have missed the right time to sell. On the other hand, portfolio holders are uncertain how the follow-up conditions will develop when extending an existing construction loan. According to DAVE, among other things, rising...

Although the number of apprentices in the main construction trade has increased for the fifth year in succession, the Central Association of the German Construction Industry (ZDB) is calling on young interested parties to apply to a construction company. According to ZDB Managing Director Felix Pakleppa, many apprenticeship positions have not yet been filled, and there is also a shortage of personnel in the German construction industry. In many companies...