berlin

Amidst uncertainties concerning their economies, middle class investors from across Europe – Italian and Greek in particular – are arriving in droves to Berlin. Their objective: making a secure investment during a volatile time in the capital of Europe’s strongest economy. This Reuters article explores the impact of the debt crisis on the booming housing market in Berlin. To read the whole article click here: //uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/19/uk-italy-berlin-property-idUKTRE80I1B920120119

Top European and BRIC managers put Germany in sixth place in the world among countries with the best growth prospects, after the BRIC states and the US. It is the number one investment location in continental Europe, says international law firm Allen & Overy. A recent survey by Allan & Overy found that 21% of European and 12% of BRIC top managers thought Germany has the best growth potential. Germans are also most confident about their own business prospects, with 48% looking toward a “very positive” and 50% to a “fairly positive” future, despite the euro and debt crises. At the same time, one quarter of BRIC and US investors believe that Europe’s economic importance is waning. “Germany’s current competitive edge is mainly due to its companies’ scope for innovation and flexibility in a changing economic environment, and to personnel costs that are rising far more slowly than the European

By Arsalan Mohammad New plans for high speed rail connections between Berlin, London and other major European cities could bring budget airline companies down to earth. The era of budget airline travel is not without its downsides. In fact the compromises for saving cash seem to be ever-burgeoning, from the old chestnuts of limited leg room and overpriced in-flight menus to more recent “post 9/11” concerns such as tedious security checks, burgeoning queues and, most recently, not even being able to go to the toilet when you need to. Yet Berlin’s days of cheap flight misery might be coming to an end as the mode of transport that air travel literally overtook – the humble old train – is preparing for a renaissance, thanks to a new Deutsche Bahn schedule of direct high-speed rail services connecting Berlin to Frankfurt, Cologne, Amsterdam and London. Unconfirmed reports currently estimate that the network will

An interview the founder of Skype explores the evolving hi-tech scene in Berlin, which is fast turning, together with London into Europe’s hi-tech hub. A developer’s dream, the city draws together an international work force, lured also by the cultural richness of the city, and the relatively low cost of living. But it’s not only a sporadic movement, large multi national companies and educational research institution such as Berlin’s Technical University are acting as green houses, nourishing the development of cutting edge start-ups. //www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,798240,00.html    

The continual demand for housing units in Berlin is lowering the stock of vacant apartments in the capital. High rates of positive migration to the city, combined with a low number of new apartments being built is forecasted to lead to a shortage in the near future. Only 3100 housing units are being built per year while a demand for 18,000 units exists. To read the complete article click here: //www.pie-mag.com/articles/2142/berlin-housing-vacancy-seen-falling-to-4-by-2015/

Despite a downturn in the European economy, German companies and consumers are optimistic about the future prospects, shows a survey by a greman research institute. German workers were expecting higher incomes the coming year, which in turn is expected to incrase goods production. To read the whole article – //www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,804859,00.html

Written by: Property Wire Claiming the biggest share of the European residential market, the risk-ratio return of German real estate continues to compare favorably to other investment options. Keep in mind, though, demand for new construction in urban centers is outpacing lack-luster interest in older properties. Housing prices and values have yet to fully stabilize, however, often leading buyers to insist on special conditions for sales. See the following article from Property Wire, for more on this. Hamburg, Germany Newer property in top German locations such as Hamburg, Munich or Frankfurt represents a good real estate investment, according to a new report. Although there is some turmoil and instability in the market in terms of transactions and prices and banks are still reluctant to lend, overall Germany has an exceptionally attractive chance-risk profile, says the report from Jones Lang LaSalle. Low levels of liquidity in the real estate market and transaction levels