The demand for property purchases remains high. Whether new construction, rededication or existing properties: prices have been rising in all areas for years – there seems to be no end in sight. Nevertheless, buying a property harbors risks. The price increase is currently most pronounced for one and two-family houses. The F + B -Wohn-Index According to these prices rose by 8.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter of the previous year. “We are of the opinion that the ongoing corona pandemic with the second lockdown since December has generated a sustained surge in demand here,” says real estate market researcher and F + B managing director Bernd Leutner.
Buying real estate with low mortgage rates
At the same time, building loans are available at historically favorable conditions. The Biallo building money index indicates the effective annual interest rate for a ten-year building loan at an average of 0.76 percent. In 2019 it was 1.22. So buy a property quickly before prices rise even further and interest rates rise again? Recently the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) warned that” the risks of falling prices “are increasing and, as a result, the” indications of regional speculative bubbles “. Since 2015 real estate prices have risen nationwide by around 35 percent. However, the strong increases are less due to speculation. “In addition, a credit boom, which is characteristic of house price bubbles, has not yet been established,” it said.
Continued high demand for real estate expected
The analysts attribute the fact that no unlimited increase in real estate prices can be expected to the expected developments. In economic metropolitan areas, high demand can still be expected. In contrast to previous years, however, significantly lower population growth can be assumed. According to calculations, a decrease is also possible. Therefore, experts speak of indications for regional, speculative price exaggerations. This usually happens “where the increases go well beyond what would be justified by the interest rate cuts and rent increases” and cite cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Munich and Stuttgart as examples. In structurally weak regions, prices could even fall, depending on the regional demand for housing and population development.
Mainly regional risks when buying real estate
We cannot speak of a nationwide real estate bubble at the moment. Everyone who wants to move into their own home and sees it as a private pension is not currently taking any great risks. Even if it should be a little cheaper again in a few years. Nevertheless, many take on the property themselves, as larger properties are incredibly expensive. The ancillary costs also play a significant role here when buying. The purchase and repayment of the loan debt should therefore be well planned. Risks such as unemployment, occupational disability or death should also be insured beforehand. We do not currently see a good investment for generating returns in the real estate market in Germany. We support you in all cases and will be happy to help you make a decision. Together we weigh the various factors with you and compare the offers from up to 230 banks for real estate financing . In this way we optimize your interest expense and enable you to have flexible conditions for loan repayment.
