General

The actual selling prices of properties are currently lower than the asking prices. "The gap between the asking price and the transaction price shows that it pays to negotiate," says Dr. Gesa Crockford, Managing Director of ImmoScout24. An analysis by Sprengnetter and ImmoScout24 shows that prospective buyers of condominiums in particular have room for negotiation, namely from around 8...

The architecture project "Hive Home - Living in the City of the Future" at Koblenz University of Applied Sciences has received funding of 156,000 euros from the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy and Mobility. The project focuses on the realization of an ecological living concept that enables comfortable living in a small space. The Tinyhouse was designed by students...

The increase in CO2 prices from 2027 would mean an additional burden for 18.6 million households in Germany. This would be the case even if a so-called "climate money" were to be introduced. This is the result of a study by the IMK of the Hans Böckler Foundation. Among those affected are middle-income owners who own older properties in rural areas. The reason for this is that...

When contesting business plan resolutions in condominium owners' associations, the grievance of a complaining owner must continue to be determined on the basis of their share in the business plan. This was decided by the Federal Court of Justice (AZ: V ZB 9/23). This also applies following the amendment to the law, which has been in force since December 1, 2020 and stipulates that only advances and reserves may be...

According to the "brigitte.de" portal, 2024 is all about "dopamine decor". Inspired by fashion, vibrant colors such as azure blue, magenta or lively green in the form of decorative items such as cushion covers or metal cabinets bring joy and energy into living spaces. Red accents are also on trend. Shades ranging from cozy carmine red to brownish rust-red, provide...

CBRE-empirica's vacancy index recorded a historic decline in vacant apartments in Germany at the end of 2022. The vacancy rate fell by around 53,000 units compared to 2021 to 554,000, which corresponds to 2.5% of the total stock. This decline is the largest in the 22-year history of the index. In 2022, immigration from Ukraine had a strong influence on the...

The Berufsgenossenschaft der Bauwirtschaft (BG BAU) is introducing new regulations and services in 2024. These include the 4th hazard tariff, which reorganizes the calculation of contributions by assigning hazard classes to the tariff points. This change affects companies in the prefabricated house construction and prefabricated part manufacturing sectors, which are assigned to other branches of industry. A new reporting portal will also be introduced...

KfW offers subsidies for the installation of climate-friendly heating systems in private residential properties. Interested parties can find out about the requirements and details on the KfW website and register in the customer portal from Thursday, February 1, to apply for funding. From the end of February (probably Tuesday, February 27), owners of single-family homes will be able to apply for...

Untrue allegations made by a tenant in a legal dispute with the landlord can justify an ordinary termination in accordance with Section 573 (1), (2) No. 1 BGB. This is the result of a ruling by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) (VIII ZR 147/22). However, this requires a comprehensive case-by-case examination, whereby the relevance and scope of the false statements as well as any previous breaches of contract...

In 2024, luminaires made of various materials such as metal, paper and glass are in vogue. Some of the lights can not only provide light, but also fulfill other functions. For example, there is a table lamp that can charge smartphone batteries. Very eye-catching lights are also in demand. These are available in a spherical shape, sculpture-like or with a...