The southernmost of the major German cities, Freiburg im Breisgau, is also one of the most beautiful settlements in the country. The proximity of the cities of Switzerland and France, wonderful climate, magnificent nature, a beautiful historical center, a powerful tourist flow, the presence of a large university and clinic, a mass of registered companies, excellent infrastructure and transport links - this is why real estate in Freiburg is extremely in demand among investors today, despite the fact that its cost is one of the highest in the country.
Features of the real estate market
Freiburg (Freiburg im Breisgau) is an ancient southern city in Germany, founded in 1120 and recognized as one of the safest settlements in the country. The main distinguishing features of Freiburg are its location on the German border in close proximity to the Swiss city of Basel and the French city of Mulhouse, the special charm of the city center behind the old gates, an abundance of green areas and forests, as well as a large number of students from all over the world. Since the University of Albert Ludwig was founded here in 1457, Freiburg has become one of the classic German university cities, young and vibrant.
Freiburg is currently home to 227,590 people (as of 31 December 2021), making the city the 4th largest city in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, second only in size to Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Mannheim.
Together with the districts of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald and Emmendingen, the city forms the economic region of Freiburg with more than 630,000 inhabitants. It is located in the tri-national metropolitan region of the Upper Rhine with a population of about 6 million.
City appearance, architecture
Freiburg im Breisgau is deservedly considered one of the most beautiful and sunniest cities in Germany. The historic center, with its city gates, invites guests to discover the culture and history of Freiburg, and then linger in one of the many cafes and pubs - the city is so hospitable that it is considered a regional economic center dominated by the service sector. Bächle - streams flowing right in the sidewalks become an additional decoration of the settlement.
A few kilometers from the center there is a local mountain, which is regularly climbed by fans of alpine skiing. In general, almost half of Freiburg's area is occupied by green areas, parks, gardens, lakes and other places for outdoor recreation. The Rhine and Black Forest rivers add extra charm to the city, and outside Freiburg, residents can hike through wooded hills.
Freiburg real estate is characterized by an excellent location, recently renovated or completely new buildings.
Numerous student residences are often housed in modernized old structures that impress with their large space and high ceilings.
The main areas of the city are characterized by numerous historic buildings such as the Freiburger Münster or the Stadttheater geprägt. Richly decorated facades can be seen everywhere, even in simple terraced housing estates.
The new development areas, on the other hand, are characterized by a modern style - residential areas are surrounded by green spaces and public spaces. The settlement structures are more than attractive due to their urbanization and proximity to nature. Freiburg, in the context of urban planning, positions itself as a diverse and environmentally conscious city.
Administrative division
Freiburg includes 28 districts, which, in turn, are strategically divided into a total of 42 municipalities:
| District | Municipalities |
|---|---|
| Mitte (Mitte, center) | Altstadt (Altstadt) |
| Neuburg (Neuburg) | |
| Ost (Ost) | Ebnet |
| Kappel | |
| Littenweiler | |
| Waldsee | |
| West | Betzenhausen (Betzenhausen) |
| Landwasser | |
| Lehen | |
| Mooswald | |
| Mundenhof (Mundenhof) | |
| Stühlinger | |
| Waltershofen (Waltershofen) | |
| Südwest (Südwest) | Haslach |
| Opfingen (Opfingen) | |
| Rieselfeld (Rieselfeld) | |
| St. Georgen (St. Georgen) | |
| Tiengen (Tingen) | |
| Munzingen (Munzingen) | |
| Vauban | |
| Weingarten (Weingarten) | |
| Nord | Brühl |
| Herdern | |
| Hochdorf (Hochdorf) | |
| Zähringen (Zeringen) | |
| Süd (Süd) | Günterstal |
| Oberau (Oberau) | |
| Wiehre |
Infrastructure, cultural and entertainment institutions
Although funding for theater activities in Freiburg is very limited, local theater productions attract many audiences, and Die deutsche Bühne magazine awarded the Freiburg City Theater first place in the fall for “Extraordinary Convincing Theatrical Work from Major Theater Centers” after receiving critical acclaim from various critics. 2007 year.
Freiburg hosts numerous festivals throughout the year. For example, in February, the reporting festival MUNDOlogia, an open-air sports festival, the International Dance Festival are planned. Summer will be the time for the International Music Festival, concerts, theater, exhibitions and other events. Every 2 years in May, the famous festival of ethnographic film takes place at the cinema forum.
Freiburg's renowned musician Murat Koshkun regularly organizes the world's most important drum music festival, and in September international jazz stars perform at the jazz festival. Music lovers can attend orchestral music concerts, choir performances, jazz, folk and rock concerts.
The city has a large number of cinemas, nightclubs, shopping centers, bars, cafes, restaurants and other entertainment establishments that are loved by young people and the older generation.
Tourists will be interested in visiting local museums. The largest museum in the city is the Museum of Art and Cultural History on the Upper Rhine - Augustinermuseum, one of the departments of which is the Museum of City History. The Museum of Natural History offers to get acquainted with the local flora, fauna, geology and mineralogy. You can admire the works of modern art at the Museum of New Art on Marienstrasse. The Archaeological Museum and many exhibition halls are also constantly open to visitors.
The city offers ample opportunities for sports. There are 2 football clubs open here, ice hockey, volleyball, handball, women's and men's basketball, rugby trainings are held. American sports are popular - baseball, softball, lacrosse. There is also a shooting club in Freiburg.
Tourism
Freiburg with its attractions, the main of which are the city church Münster and Bächle (streams flowing right into the sidewalks), is popular with tourists - more than 3 million people come here every year. The historic center attracts connoisseurs of culture and history, as well as shoppers, cafes and pubs.
Freiburg im Breisgau is in demand among Europeans as a resort due to its pleasant climate - the city often pleases with sunny and warm weather. It is also an ideal place for mountain tourism, which is so prized by the Germans for the opportunity to improve their health and feel at one with nature.
Freiburg has become a regional economic center in the service sector thanks to the strong tourist flow. The investor should keep in mind that prices for accommodation in local hotels are among the highest in Germany.
This makes it possible to consider the option of opening a less expensive mini-hotel or hostel: if the level of service is acceptable, guests of the city will certainly take the chance to save on room fees.
Economy and industry
As already mentioned, the city's largest employers are the University of Freiburg, the university hospital and public utilities, but there are many other businesses in Freiburg that also employ hundreds of employees:
- TDK-Micronas - semiconductor manufacturer;
- Solvay Acetow is a cigarette filter manufacturer;
- Fritz Dusseldorf GmbH (FDF) - Europe's largest manufacturer of induction strengthening systems;
- Götz + Moriz (building materials dealer);
- Ganter is the largest brewery;
- Schwarzwaldmilch - milk processing company;
- Pfizer is a pharmaceutical company;
- 79 Deutsche Post AG (post center);
- Raimann is a manufacturer of woodworking machines;
- Mez and Madeira Garnfabrik - textile industry;
- Hellige is a manufacturer of scientific and medical electronic devices;
- Herder and Haufe are large publishers;
- Baden (newspaper headquarters);
- Solar-Fabrik AG - manufacturer of solar panels;
- Lexware (the German market leader in “commercial software”);
- United Planet, IDS Scheer Consulting, Paragon Software Group, Jedox AG, Oxid, Kofax Deutschland AG, Inxmail, Jahia Solutions Group SA (IT companies);
- Sparkasse Freiburg-Nördlicher Breisgau, Volksbank Freiburg eG, Bankhaus E. Mayer AG - banks;
- UNIQUE forestry and land use GmbH (forestry consultancy) etc.
Transport connection
Compared to other German cities of similar size, the share of road traffic in the total intracity traffic of Freiburg is small. Cycling, on the other hand, is extremely developed - the total length of bicycle and pedestrian paths is about 200 kilometers.
Freiburg is conveniently located on the main European transport routes Rhine-Saon-Rhône-Mediterranean and Rhine-Gotthard-Italy.
The A5 motorway connects Freiburg in the north with Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, Mannheim and Frankfurt am Main, and in the south with Mulhouse and Basel.
Freiburg has 3 motorway exits - north, center and south. In addition, Freiburg is located on the main B3 road and crosses the B31. The B294 starts in Freiburg and leads through Freudenstadt and Pforzheim to Bretten. Freiburg is also located on the cross-border Green Road.
The residential area of the Vauban area is designed as a residential complex without a lot of cars. Freiburg has a dynamic parking management system that shows the number of available parking spaces in numerous car parks.
Urban public transport is served by 5 tram and 21 bus lines operated by Freiburger Verkehrs AG (VAG). VAG also operates the Schauinslandbahn, with easy access to the heights of Schauinsland, Freiburg's local mountain (1284 m).
In addition to bus routes, the city has a sufficient number of railway lines. The main station serves 4 of these lines, which are used by up to 65,000 people a day.
The Mannheim-Basel railway, with connections to Zurich, Bern and Milan, is currently undergoing expansion as it is being converted into a feeder to the New Alpine Railroad Crossing (NEAT) towards the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
Freiburg receives a direct high-speed connection via the Mulhouse TGV station to Paris, Lyon and Marseille and then to Barcelona.
The Höllentalbahn leads from Freiburg via the Black Forest to Donaueschingen, from where you can get to Munich. An S-Bahn connects the surrounding cities and municipalities with Upper Freiburg.
The Freiburg airfield is approved as a landing site for aircraft up to 10 tons. It is located in the west of the city next to the exhibition center. Most of the air traffic is handled by EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg in neighboring Upper Alsace.
There is a bus service to this airport from the Freiburg main train station (travel time 55 minutes). There are also buses to the nearby airports Karlsruhe / Baden-Baden (travel time 1 hour 5 minutes) and Strasbourg (about 1 hour 5 minutes).
By train, you can get direct to Frankfurt Airport (about 2 hours 10 minutes) and before moving in Basel or Zurich to Zurich Airport (2 hours 15 minutes).
Real estate market
The real estate market of Freiburg im Breisgau is divided into 2 parts. On the one hand, it focuses on students, on the other, on the able-bodied population with high incomes.
Over the past ten years, the city has been actively pursuing environmental development projects, such as in Vauban, and projects to modernize existing housing. Many new residential buildings are under construction, for example, Herdern in the aristocratic district of villas, where apartments will be ready for occupancy this year.
In the Gutleutmatten housing estate in Haslachs, it is planned to build approximately 500 housing units. But even these construction projects are not able to satisfy the growing demand for real estate in Freiburg - the problem will not be solved in the near future, and therefore rental and purchase prices will continue to rise.
Currently, work is underway:
- Freiburg city tunnel A 860 is under construction;
- the Youth House is being modernized (technical and fire protection repairs, equipment of a new building for a music school);
- relocation of the Stadtbahn line from Komturstraße to Waldkircher Straße in Waldkircher Straße due to poor structural conditions and inadequate safety and accessibility requirements;
- 60 residential units are being built instead of the existing 6 small semi-detached houses in Freibergen-Stadtbau;
- the Moosacker garden is expanding (90 gardens wider);
- Rheintalbahn is being built and reconstructed (2 new railway tracks are being built);
- the Breisacher Bahn railway is expanding;
- the development of a swing loop in the Fauban area;
- the old Staudinger school is demolished and a new building with a district library and youth club is being built;
- a new city football stadium is under construction;
- the Haslach district in the southeast of the city will be rehabilitated: by 2021, buildings will be renovated, additional living space will be built, the living environment will be improved, a new Belchenstraße 8/10 area will be built, the Belchenstraße 12-34 residential buildings will be modernized and enlarged and the Joseph-Brandel plant will be rebuilt;
- the Anne Frank school is expanding: the primary school is being converted into a day school, childcare facilities and a canteen are being built, the neighboring kindergarten is being expanded to a 6-storey building;
- the new Dietenbach district is being implemented (an independent district with at least 5,500 residential units);
- renovation of the Sulzburger Straße: the structures are adapting to demographic changes, the road space is being modernized, the residence for the elderly and two 8-storey residential buildings are being expanded and reconstructed;
- the Weingarten shopping center is being modernized (safety is improved, an attractive appearance is created);
- the social and mixed urban areas of the Stühlinger area are being finalized;
- construction of a mixed urban area with apartments, offices, hotels, shops and social facilities on the site of the former Freiburger Gütebahnhofs;
- in the Zähringen Nord area, an area with residential buildings, small businesses and retail space is being created;
- additional housing is being created in the Kappler area along Littenweiler;
- a new residential area is being built in the west of Mooswald;
- the new Bismarckallee Freiburg building is under construction (in addition to the bank building, new commercial areas are being built);
- in the north of Zähringen, development is being organized with an area of 250 to 300 residential units;
- the settlement of Knopfhäusle-Siedlung is being reconstructed.
It is worth mentioning that there are more and more environmentally conscious new development areas in Freiburg such as Haslach, Brühl and Rieselfeld. Residents appreciate this and call residential areas zones with easy traffic. Most people prefer to travel to their destination by tram or bicycle.
In general, great attention is paid to ecological infrastructure in all parts of the city. New housing projects are not only green, but also future-oriented - they are equipped with only the most modern technologies. In Vauban, for example, residential buildings are equipped with solar panels.
It has been noticed that over the years the number of individual households is increasing - more and more people seek to retire by buying or building a private house. According to a study by L-Bank, the growth rate by 2021 will be 26%. Moreover, the older the population, the more clearly the tendency of living alone is visible - due to this, the living space allocated for one person grows. For this reason, land in Freiburg is becoming more expensive: there are more and more people who want to build their own house near rivers and forests.
Features of residential and commercial real estate in the districts of Freiburg
Preserved medieval views of the city, beautiful landscapes of the Rhine and Black Forest, high
The standard of living and the warm climate have made Freiburg-Breisgau a haven for wealthy retirees and an attractive holiday destination. And the elite university located here has made the city young and lively thanks to the constant influx of students from various states of Germany and from abroad.
Undoubtedly, an investor should focus primarily on young people, the elderly and vacationers when choosing residential premises for subsequent renting and when buying commercial real estate.
However, as in any other city, representatives of other groups of the population find work and housing in Freiburg. Families with children, childless couples, young entrepreneurs and foreign specialists are also willing to move to Freiburg in Breisgau. In this regard, the composition of the population differs by district of the city, and this should also be taken into account.
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the table below - it will help you get an idea of which municipalities in Freiburg are most often chosen for residence by representatives of certain segments of the population:
| Municipality | Main characteristics | Attractiveness for representatives of certain segments of the population |
|---|---|---|
| Mitte (Mitte, center) | ||
| Altstadt (Altstadt) | Affordable accommodations, central location, many cultural and recreational activities. Hostels, cafes, bars, restaurants in the immediate vicinity. | Lonely people, students |
| Neuburg (Neuburg) | Upscale area. Close proximity to the center, many shops and entertainment centers. Beautifully restored villas, in the west - apartment buildings. University faculties, landscape park, family infrastructure. | Families with children, students, young couples |
| Ost (Ost) | ||
| Ebnet | Residential areas, excellent local supplies, quick access to the center. | Aged people |
| Kappel | The proximity of forests and meadows. The area is quiet with single family houses or apartment buildings. Kindergartens, shops are few. The center is 30 minutes by bus or tram. | Single people, childless couples |
| Littenweiler | The proximity of the center, many recreation areas, excellent infrastructure, places for families with children, kindergartens, pharmacies, dentistry, a shopping center, various schools and colleges, excellent transport links. | Families with children |
| Waldsee | Proximity to the center, excellent local supplies, residential areas available. | Aged people |
| West | ||
| Betzenhausen (Betzenhausen) | 10 minutes from the center. Good infrastructure, many recreational opportunities, many shops, single and multi-family houses, doctors' offices, pharmacies, close proximity to the sea and lake park. | Elderly couples, single people |
| Landwasser | Good local supply, quiet residential areas, family friendly infrastructure. | Families with children, childless couples, retirees |
| Lehen | Rustic character of the settlements. Detached houses with gardens, proximity to meadows and forests. To the center - 15-20 minutes. There are no large supermarkets, the area is quiet. | Families with preschool children, pensioners |
| Mooswald | Close proximity to the forest. Mostly single-family homes. There are few shops, there are several restaurants and takeaway cafes. Countryside, several kindergartens and schools, many green areas, hotel, swimming pool. | Families with children, retirees |
| Mundenhof (Mundenhof) | The center can be reached in 15 minutes, the infrastructure can be called good. | Lonely people |
| Stühlinger | There are hostels, good infrastructure for young people - pubs, cafes, restaurants, clubs. | Students |
| Waltershofen (Waltershofen) | 15 km from the center, the village has a rustic character. Mostly new single-family houses, sometimes old cobblestone buildings. Music and sports clubs, 2 kindergartens, primary school. | Single people, families with small children |
| Südwest (Südwest) | ||
| Haslach | Large and popular area. Excellent infrastructure. Mostly apartment and terraced houses with gardens. Commercial and vocational schools, kindergartens, swimming pool, sports grounds. | Students, working families and immigrants |
| Opfingen (Opfingen) | The northernmost region, famous for its asparagus farmers. Rustic character. There are several shops, restaurants and cafes, a kindergarten, an elementary school. | Families with children, farmers, retirees |
| Rieselfeld (Rieselfeld) | Several residential areas, family infrastructure, proximity to nature, good local supplies. | Families with children |
| St. Georgen (St. Georgen) | An area at the foot of a mountain with a beautiful landscape. Mainly single-family homes and multi-storey buildings. Good transport links, various schools, numerous shopping facilities, wine festival, sports opportunities. | Families with children, retirees, young couples, winery workers |
| Tiengen (Tingen) | A village offering life in a wonderful setting, about 10 km from the center. Agriculture, vegetable growing, fruit growing, viticulture. Good connection to the motorway. There is an elementary school and a secondary school, and there are few shops. | Families with children |
| Munzingen (Munzingen) | Village at the foot of the mountain. Mostly mansions with gardens. Asparagus cultivation and viticulture. Convenient to get to the center. Kindergarten, primary and secondary school. There are very few shops. Golf course, tennis courts. | Families with children, retirees |
| Vauban | Ecological area with limited car traffic. There are houses with solar panels. Easy access to the center, good infrastructure. | Families with children, retirees, young couples |
| Weingarten (Weingarten) | Excellent local supply, closeness to nature, family infrastructure, schools and kindergartens, the possibility of buying and renting apartments in residential areas. | Families with children |
| Nord | ||
| Brühl | Good transport links, proximity to the center, affordable rental housing. | Lonely people, students |
| Herdern | Affordable accommodation, central location, many cultural and recreational activities, good transport links to the center. | Single people, childless couples |
| Hochdorf (Hochdorf) | Suburb. Close proximity to the industrial area and ponds. Good transport links, numerous clubs. | Enterprise workers, lonely people |
| Zähringen (Zeringen) | The oldest part of the city, well connected with public transport. Here are the ruins of the castle, restaurants, a playground, kindergartens, communities of the elderly, doctors' offices, banks, a church, public institutions, shops. | Retirees, young couples, entrepreneurs |
| Süd (Süd) | ||
| Günterstal | Small community located at the foot of the mountain. Stunning landscapes. Often there is a detached house or a luxury villa. Excellent transport links and infrastructure. Kindergartens, schools, church associations. | Wealthy single people and families, important entrepreneurs, successful scientists |
| Oberau (Oberau) | Upscale residential properties, recreation areas, good access to the city center, lots of cheap dorm rooms. | Childless couples, students |
| Wiehre | Excellent access to the center, many recreation areas, high quality accommodation. | Childless couples, lonely people |
Features of commercial real estate
If an investor is going to invest in the acquisition of commercial real estate in Freiburg in Breisgau, there are two ways to go:
- Focus on the general tendencies towards the settlement of Freiburg, according to which a significant part of the population is formed from students and the elderly.
- Consider each area of the city separately and look closely to the needs of the local population and its composition.
In the first case, regardless of the area of the city, you need to buy real estate, focusing on the needs of tourists, students and pensioners. For example, you can buy out premises suitable for opening:
- a hotel (comfortable to keep up with competitors, of which there are many in the city, and inexpensive to tilt the choice of tourists in their favor);
- a hostel (there are few such establishments in the city, mostly expensive hotels prevail);
- a cafe with tables on the street (the weather here is favorable for lunch in the open air);
- a student hostel (inexpensive housing will always come in handy to accommodate more than 25,000 students);
- coffee shops (students and tourists alike love to relax with a cup of coffee);
- nursing homes or boarding houses (Freiburg is especially good for retirees, but not all of them are wealthy).
In the second case, the table presented above will help to understand, which contains information about the preferences of representatives of all segments of the population in relation to the area for residence. If, for example, real estate is bought in Weingarten or Rieselfeld, it is better to adapt it for a family cafe, a kids' hobby club or a shopping center, since it is mainly home to families with children.
It is now possible to buy land in Freiburg im Breisgau in those areas of the city where local authorities are not going to build to expand the territory of the settlement and increase the number of residential buildings. It makes sense to focus on plots near which the construction of a new settlement will soon take place - the cost of such land will rise sharply after communications are carried out. The Freiburg administration publishes news on planned construction projects on the city's official website.
Average cost of residential and commercial property
Since the real estate market in Freiburg in Breisgau is almost entirely focused on the prestigious segment, the prices for houses and condominiums here are really high and acceptable only for wealthy buyers.
Housing in the new quarters of Vauban, a completely new district of Rieselfeld, built to the west of the center of Freiburg, majestic private villas in a wooded area, mansions in the southeast - the high cost of local buildings is absolutely justified, since each district of the city is distinguished by its independence, developed infrastructure, convenient transport links and the proximity of recreation areas.
From Waltershofen to Munzingen, the districts are self-sufficient and have little real estate supply. Most of the objects for sale are concentrated in the central and southern regions of the southeast of Freiburg - here the apartments are not so expensive in the center and in the periphery. At the same time, the luxury market segment and the most prestigious locations are located in the Kappel and Günterstal districts.
Those interested will find in Freiburg a relatively small offer for large family apartments, but there are a large number of rooms in student apartments and dormitories.
The home and condominium market is characterized by a high-quality supply that attracts primarily wealthy buyers.
Real estate in the green Günthersthal area is highly valued, with many spacious residential properties, but due to the proximity of the Black Forest nature, housing here is extremely expensive. Even a three-room apartment on the ground floor with an area of about 100 m2 will cost from 430,000 to 480,000 euros. A luxurious semi-detached house with six rooms and an area of about 260 m2 will cost the buyer 1,200,000 euros.
In the center of Nuremberg's Old Town, you can find accommodation at more affordable prices. A spacious three-room apartment with an area of about 70 m2 will cost approximately 260,000 euros.
The table below shows the change in demand for residential real estate by districts of Freiburg im Breisgau in comparison with the previous year:
| Municipality | Real estate demand dynamics (%) |
|---|---|
| Mitte (Mitte, center) | |
| Altstadt (Altstadt) | -2.3 |
| Neuburg (Neuburg) | -7.9 |
| Ost (Ost) | |
| Ebnet | 27 |
| Kappel | -2.2 |
| Littenweiler | -1.9 |
| Waldsee | -10.9 |
| West | |
| Betzenhausen (Betzenhausen) | -0.9 |
| Landwasser | 0 |
| Lehen | 9.1 |
| Mooswald | -0.9 |
| Mundenhof (Mundenhof) | 0 |
| Stühlinger | -1.4 |
| Waltershofen (Waltershofen) | 4.1 |
| Südwest | |
| Haslach | 9 |
| Opfingen (Opfingen) | 6.3 |
| Rieselfeld (Rieselfeld) | 1.9 |
| St. Georgen (St. Georgen) | 7.6 |
| Tiengen (Tingen) | 10.4 |
| Munzingen (Munzingen) | -2.4 |
| Vauban | 0 |
| Weingarten (Weingarten) | 3.9 |
| Nord | |
| Brühl | 0 |
| Herdern | 11.6 |
| Hochdorf (Hochdorf) | 14.5 |
| Zähringen (Zeringen) | 25 |
| Süd (Süd) | |
| Günterstal | 0 |
| Oberau (Oberau) | 3 |
| Wiehre | -0.9 |
When planning the purchase of commercial real estate in Freiburg, it is also necessary to take into account the fact that its value is increased by the land plot on which it is located, and additional payments: broker's commission, purchase tax, payment of notary services to certify the purchase and sale transaction.
In general, real estate in the commercial sector of the Freiburg market is characterized by high prices when compared with the average cost of similar properties in other cities in Germany.
The following table will help you to get acquainted with the current prices for the most popular commercial buildings:
| Property object | Year built | Area, m2) | Profitability (%) | Absolute Income (EUR) | Cost (EUR) | Add. expenses (notary, purchase tax, broker's commission) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarket in the suburbs | 2003 | 998 | 5.5 | 244.359 | 4,440,000 | 0.02 0.05 0.036 |
| Office building | 2016 | 8.500 | 4.5 | 450.00 | 18,000,000 | 0.015 0.05 0.036 |
| Hotel | 2016 | 5.700 | 5.5 | 825.00 | 15,000,000 | 0.015 0.05 0.048 |
| Supermarket within the city | 2015 | 1.700 | 5.5 | 275.00 | 5,000,000 | 0.015 0.05 0.048 |
Prices for apartments of various sizes
Below are two tables - in the first you will find information on the average prices per 1 m2 of apartment area in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg and Germany, and in the second - data on the change in the cost of apartments from 2021 to 2021 (the image below shows dynamics):
The table below provides information on the average cost of apartments in some areas of Freiburg im Breisgau:
Prices for individual residential buildings of various sizes
Information on house prices in Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg and Germany in 2021 is presented in the first of the tables you see below. In the second table, you will find data on price changes for private houses from 2021 to 2021. The image below the tables shows the dynamics of the cost of houses for the specified period of time:
The indicators of the actual for 2021 the average cost of 1 m2 of the area of a private house in some districts of Freiburg im Breisgau are presented in the table below:
Here is a list of average prices for individual residential buildings in various districts of Freiburg im Breisgau:
| Municipality | House prices (euro) |
|---|---|
| Mitte (Mitte, center) | |
| Altstadt (Altstadt) | 556,000 |
| Neuburg (Neuburg) | 1,798,000 |
| Ost (Ost) | |
| Ebnet | 658,000 |
| Kappel | 695,000 |
| Littenweiler | 787,000 |
| West | |
| Betzenhausen (Betzenhausen) | 522,000 |
| Mooswald | 727,000 |
| Waltershofen (Waltershofen) | 389,000 |
| Südwest | |
| Haslach | 432,000 |
| Opfingen (Opfingen) | 470,000 |
| St. Georgen (St. Georgen) | 441,000 |
| Tiengen (Tingen) | 309,000 |
| Munzingen (Munzingen) | 466,000 |
| Weingarten (Weingarten) | 264,000 |
| Nord | |
| Herdern | 923,000 |
| Hochdorf (Hochdorf) | 453,000 |
| Zähringen (Zeringen) | 783,000 |
| Süd (Süd) | |
| Günterstal | 736,000 |
| Wiehre | 1,296,000 |
Below you will see a list of the average prices for 1 m2 of condominium area in those areas of Freiburg im Breisgau, where you can buy such residential buildings today:
| Municipality | Condominium prices (EUR / m2) |
|---|---|
| Mitte (Mitte, center) | |
| Altstadt (Altstadt) | 4,000 |
| Neuburg (Neuburg) | 3.750 |
| Ost (Ost) | |
| Ebnet | 3,000 |
| Kappel | 3.400 |
| Littenweiler | 3.350 |
| Waldsee | 3.150 |
| West | |
| Betzenhausen (Betzenhausen) | 3.050 |
| Landwasser | 1.900 |
| Mooswald | 3.700 |
| Stühlinger | 3,000 |
| Waltershofen (Waltershofen) | 2.100 |
| Südwest | |
| Haslach | 3.450 |
| Opfingen (Opfingen) | 2.400 |
| Rieselfeld (Rieselfeld) | 2.900 |
| St. Georgen (St. Georgen) | 3.200 |
| Tiengen (Tingen) | 1.950 |
| Munzingen (Munzingen) | 2.350 |
| Weingarten (Weingarten) | 1.650 |
| Nord | |
| Herdern | 5.450 |
| Hochdorf (Hochdorf) | 3.100 |
| Zähringen (Zeringen) | 3.700 |
| Süd (Süd) | |
| Günterstal | 3.800 |
| Oberau (Oberau) | 3.950 |
| Wiehre | 3.800 |
Rental prices for residential and commercial real estate by district
For a city with a population of more than 220,000, rental prices in Freiburg in Breisgau are at a fairly high level. Nevertheless, the cost of renting housing here is lower than in the university city of Heidelberg when compared with German cities, which are home to many students. There are 2 reasons for this.
First, Freiburg does not play a significant role in the German economy (the largest employers here are the university clinic, the university itself, and public utilities).
Secondly, despite the many properties under construction in recent years, in the coming years in Freiburg there will still be a lack of supply on the market.
However, the cost of renting is high when compared with prices in Baden-Württemberg and in Germany as a whole. This is due to the extremely high demand for apartments of various sizes and private houses - mainly the demand is created by students and employees of enterprises.
Those investors who want to invest in real estate in Freiburg, but do not have enough capital to simultaneously acquire apartment buildings, apartment buildings and local luxury villas, are advised to look at the possibility of subletting real estate.
This applies equally to residential and commercial real estate - both in Freiburg in price.
If you manage to rent several apartments, you can wait for a sharp jump in demand for housing, which occurs in the summer (before the start of the school year and during the influx of tourists), and make good money by setting the object at a higher cost.It is noteworthy that the area of the apartment does not play a special role: students are ready to rent both small apartments for 1-2 people, and multi-room apartments in a pool.
Rental prices for equipped and empty commercial buildings are also slightly higher than the national average, again due to the strong flow of tourists. Local cafes, hotels, shops and souvenir shops generate high incomes, especially in the summer, when Europeans and Germans from other cities of the country flock to Freiburg during their holidays.
The following table will help you to get an idea of the current rental prices of the demanded types of commercial real estate:
| Commercial property | Area, m2) | Cost for 1 m2 (euro) | Total cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office building | 940 | 10 | 9.400 |
| Office | 20 | 40 | 800 |
| Workshop without equipment | 633 | 4.74 | 3,000 |
| Warehouse space | 370 | 6.63 | 2.450 |
| Shop on the first floor of a residential building | 67 | 16 | 1.072 |
| Retail space on the ground floor | 140 | 12 | 1.680 |
| Cafe with tables on the street | 420 | 26.2 | 11,000 |
| Cafe with tables indoors | 98.2 | 18 | 1.768 |
| Free-use open area | 313 | 1.5 | 470 |
Prices for renting apartments of various sizes
Freiburg's residential rental market segment is characterized mainly by its numerous student apartments at affordable prices. Rented housing costs students between 300 and 500 euros per month for a room ranging from 10 to 25 m2.
Freiburg im Breisgau in Freiburg im Breisgau takes an average of only 6 days from publishing an apartment rental ad to signing an agreement with a tenant, while in most other German cities it takes 15-18 days. This indicates an extremely high demand for rental housing, which is not decreasing even due to the high cost of rent.
In Freiburg, residents spend an average of 29.4% of their monthly income on apartment rent, excluding utilities and other living expenses. For electricity, heating, air conditioning, hot and cold water and disposal of household waste, residents spend another 258 euros per month.
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the average cost of renting an apartment in Freiburg and compare prices with the average for Baden-Württemberg and Germany. In the second table, you will find information on how the cost of rental housing has changed from 2021 to 2021:
The table below provides information on the average cost of renting apartments in some areas of Freiburg im Breisgau:
Private house rental prices
The average rental prices for individual houses of 100 m2, 150 m2 and 200 m2 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg and Germany are shown in the first table below. The second table shows the dynamics of prices for renting private houses for the period from 2021 to 2021:
Conclusion
Let us summarize our analysis of the investment attractiveness of residential and commercial real estate in the city of Freiburg in Breisgau. The main points that show that buying local properties will be a profitable investment are:
- The growing population of the city. The population of Germany has practically not changed over the past 20 years, and even decreased over the previous 2 years. However, in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg over the same period of time, the number of inhabitants increased by 6%. The upward trend is expected to continue. So, according to the forecast of the Berteismann Foundation, the number of residents by 2021 should increase by 5.7%, and by 2030 - by 6.8%. On the other hand, across the country, the number of inhabitants is expected to decrease by about 2%.
- The attractiveness of Freiburg for several segments of the population at once. Every year, many tourists, European vacationers, students from all over the world, patients of clinics, start-up entrepreneurs and experienced businessmen come to the city. Freiburg is chosen for living by wealthy pensioners and families with children.
- Developed infrastructure of the city. Due to the presence of a large number of entertainment and cultural institutions, as well as shops and places for outdoor recreation, locals do not think about moving to other cities in Germany.
- High quality of life. Citizens from other cities in Germany who want to find a more comfortable place to live permanently find what they were looking for in Freiburg.
- Low unemployment rate. The city has several large employers at once: a university, a university clinic and a public utility service that provides a stable and constantly growing salary for its employees.
- Solvency of the population. Due to the fact that the level of salaries in the city is higher than the national average, residents of Freiburg can afford buying or renting expensive real estate.
- Developed transport links. Freiburg residents have the opportunity to quickly reach the peripheral areas, neighboring cities, airports and several localities in Switzerland and France.
- Balanced structure of the economy. Although Freiburg does not play a huge economic role for Germany, local employers are enough to talk about stability for the urban population in terms of the availability of a source of income. Plus, new firms are annually registered here, ready to hire university graduates. The economy is underpinned by growing tourism revenues and is not dependent on any one industry or service sector.
- Rising prices for the purchase and rental of housing. Despite the fact that the Freiburg administration is actively implementing new construction projects, there will still be a shortage of housing in the near future. This means that the value of residential premises will continue to grow steadily.
Let us recall the main indicators that investors are guided by when studying the city's real estate market:
| Average rental price | 10.14 euro / m2 |
| Average home value | 623,000 euros |
| Average cost of a condominium | 3,700 euro / m2 |
| Average cost of 1 m2 of housing | 3314 euro |
| Average rental yield | 0.037 |
| Dynamics of real estate prices in comparison with 2017 | 0.022 |
