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Berlin

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Berlin is located in the centre of Brandenburg in a wide glacial valley, through which the River Spree flows. The city is criss-crossed by canals, forming an extensive network of waterways.

The large lakes in Berlin are a remnant from the Ice Ages and along with the forests in the area are ideal places for rest and relaxation.

Berlin Today has many faces and is once again growing as a whole into a fascinating European Metropolis and excellent place to live comfortably and enjoy the life.

You will have a choice of property ranging from luxury city apartments to comfortable suburban houses to waterside villas. Unique locations and reasonable rental and purchasing prices all characterize the real estate market in the region.

Berlin is an absolutely safe city without riotousness.

Berlin

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Area: 891.69km2

Berlin Population: 3,388,000 (2005 January)

Germany Population: 82,688,000 (2005 January)

Population density: 3797/km2

Elevation: 34 m above sea level

Currency: Euro (€, EUR)

Time Zone: GMT plus one hour

Language: German (The most spoken languages after german are: turkish, english, russian, poland, and spanish)

Berlin has more than 440.000 foreigner inhabitants from more than 180 nations

Berlin City Facts

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Population in details

By age groups in years 0 to 5: 5%

6 to 17: 10,4%

18 to 44: 41,4%

45 to 64: 26,6%

65 and over: 16,6%

By marital status Single:47,7%

Married: 35,9%

Widowed: 6,4%

Divorced: 10,0%

Families – ( 816.800)

Families with children under 18 years: 41,6%,

Of which married couples: 54%

(With 1 child: 51,3%, 2 or more children: 48,7%)

Single person parent: 46%

(with 1 child: 71,1%, 2 or more children: 28,9%)

Pupils – (441,000)

Of which

Primary (years 1-6): 36,8%

Intermediate (years 7-10): 30,0%

Upper (years 11-13): 10%

In vocational schools: 22,8%

Students in Universities – (139,500)

Of which 14,7% foreignSource: Statistisches Landesamt Berlin, 2005

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Germany

Berlin is the largest city in Germany

Berlin is the political centre of decision-making in Germany. This is the seat of government, parliament, regional representation agencies and top associations of trade and industry.

Geographically, the city-state lies in the Land Brandenburg.

38 kilometres long and 45 kilometres wide, covers an area of 890km2

The City lies between oceanic and continental climate

Summer: average 22-23 C, winter: - degrees

Most of the travellers who enter the country do not need visa

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History

Berlin with its less than 800 years is considered a rather young city.

12th century: Berlin as a merchant town

1307: Cölln and Berlin merged

1486: The Hohenzoller’s permanent base

1871: Berlin is the Capital of the German Empire

1920’: golden Age of Berlin, after the First World War

1945: It’s divided to four part by the winner allies

1961 -1989: existing of the Berlin Wall

1990: reunification of Germany

1991: Berlin as a Capital of the Reunified Germany

Berlin is made up of 12 boroughs (23 districts), each with its own unique character

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Berlin’s districts

Frankfurter Allee is located on the border of Friedrichshain and Lichtenberg, but administratively belongs to Friedrichshain

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Boroughs

Boroughs Area (km2) Population

I. Mitte 39 321.000

II. Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

20 258.000

III. Pankow 103 350.000

IV. Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

65 315.000

V. Spandau 92 226.000

VI. Steglitz-Zehlendorf 103 289.000

VII. Tempelhof-Schöneberg 53 334.000

VIII. Neukölln 45 306.000

IX. Treptow-Köpenick 168 235.000

X. Marzahn-Hellersdorf 62 251.000

XI. Lichtenberg 52 257.000

XII. Reinickendorf 89 246.000

total 892 3.388.000

Source: Statistisches Landesamt Berlin, 2005

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The main boroughs of Berlin

Charlottenburg, a lively part of Berlin

Outskirts of Kurfürstendamm, dozens of brand new offices, commercial centres (Zoo)-wilhelmsdorf

Tiergarten, the ancient royal hunter area, after the reunification this site was heavily improved (Reichtag)

Kreuzberg, the place of contrasts, during the 2nd W.W. it was badly damaged (Viktoria Park, Checkpoint Charlie)

Unter der Linden, One of the most beautiful part of Berlin, lots of historical buildings, lively and vivd part of Berlin (PariserPlatz)-Mitte

To the North from the Center, this area became the Jewish quarter, many artists and political activists live there

To the East from the Center, it is the City Centre, the earliest memories of Berlin can be found there. Excellent area for investment as most people coming to the city will want to live here (Tv-Tower: 365m high)

Museumisland, cradle of Berlin’s history, 1950: it was demolished totally (Berliner Dom)

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Numbers of Berlin -1

35% of the City area are forests, parks, lakes, rivers and canals.

2 Zoos and 1 aquarium

1 chinese, a japenes and 1 balinese garden

About 200km navigable rivers and canals

2338 sport establishments

74 swimming-pools

1667 playground

236 grasslands

5 lakes, 2 rivers

3 big Operas

167 museums

150 theatres

150 stages

8 symphony orchestra Bodemuseum

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Numbers of Berlin – 2

973 industial factories

18.117 handicraft mills

4.170 building trade companies

128 passenger supplier companies

9 metro lines 400 million passengers per year

160 bus services, 28 transportation rail trolley services

3 airports, 212.885 flights and 12.180.783 passengers

7 technological parks

77 researcher centers independant from universities

One of the main cities for holding conferences in Europe

Source: Berlin-Budapest, Information for business partners 2004

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Creativ and Vibrating City

Dynamic and Cosmopolitan City

The city of Berlin is characterised by diverse cultures, mentalities and ways of life.

Berlin with 3 Universities (4 Universities including Freie University), 2 Clinics, 13 Colleges, with more than 139.000 students, 2 Academies, 250 research institutions drives innovation.

Humboldt: (Friedrichstrasse) The building was built in 1753, the University was founded in 1810. I

Freie: (Henry-Ford-Bau Garystrasse 35-39) Theiplatz on the west side. It was founded in 1948.

University of Arts: (Hardenbergstrasse 32-33), was established in 1696.

University of Tecnics: (June17 Strasse 135)

Altogether 139.000 Students live and study in Berlin

In 2010 on the area of Berlin-Adlershof Scientic and Economic site come into existence the most modernised research and technological center in Europe

Berlin’s workforce is highly qualified and internationally competitive

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The 10 most famous sights

Pergamonmuseum

Schloss Charlottenburg

Arts and Crafts Museum

Gemáldegalerie

Saint Mikolaus residental area

Zoo

Tv-Tower

Brandenburg Gate

Reichtag

Temple Memorial

The Brandenburg Gate

The Reichtag

The Tv-Tower

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Berlin’s most beautiful historical buildings

Schloss Charlottenburg

Schloss Belleuve

Reichtag

Brandenburg Gate

Saint Maria Church

Arsenal

Red Mayor’s Office

Berliner Dome

The Theatre on the Gendarmenmarkt (One of Berlin’s most beautiful squares)

The Berliner Dome

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Memories of the Divided City

The Berlin Wall (155 km long)

The Soviet Military Monument (For the Red Army’s prostrated soldiers during the battle of Berlin in 1945)

The Palace of Tears (the last border in the east side for the travellers going to the west side)

Checkpoint Charlie (This border, between the soviet and the american zone was used by the foreigners and diplomats. The arrested spies were handed back also across this checkpoint)

East Side Gallery (The remains of the Berlin Wall became an open-air galery, where 118 artists’ murals are on show)

Monument of the Air-Bridge (For those, who died during the 1948-49 air-bridge in Berlin) Checkpoint Charlie

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Berlin’s most beautiful modern buildings

Bauhaus – Archiv (Cubist building-1978)

Kant – Dreieck (with only right angles in it)

Nors Embassy (Nordische Botschaften 1997-1999)

Building of the Berliner Philharmonie (1961)

Sony Center (ultramodern building for offices and pleasure-grounds)

Gemáldegalerie (1998)

Galeries Lafayette (huge department store with the feeling of Paris)

Quarter Schützenstrasse ( In this quarter of the city Aldo Rossi’s works can be found) Berliner Philharmonie

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Berlin’s most beautiful Parks and Gardens

Berlin is one of Europe’s greenest capital.

Schloss Charlottenburg (palace garden, in french baroc style)

Botanic Garden (was established in1899 -1910, one of the world’s biggest botanic garden)

Park Babelsberg (landscape garden)

Tiergarten (the one-time royal safari park)

Monbijoupark (The park surrounded the damaged Monbijou Palace during the II. World War)

Viktoriapark (the park is on a hill, from which there’s a nice view to Kreutzberg, on the top there is the monument for the Napoleon’ war)

Britzer Garten (landscape garden around the Schloss Britz from the 18th century)

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Berlin’s Event Calendar

January: Running Race of the New Year

February: International Film Festival

March: International Tourism Exhibition

April: Easter Holidays, Festtage – series of concerts and operas

May: German Women’s Tennis Open, Theatre Festival, Carneval of Culture

June: Jazz Festival, Christopher Street Day (Festival for gays and lesbics), International Literature Festival

July: Love Parade

August: German-American mass Festival

September: International Athletic Event, Berlin Marathon, Berlin Festive Weeks

October: Anniversary of the Reunification of Berlin, Octoberfest

November: Jazz Fest Berlin, festival of the Jewish Culture,

December: Christmas Market

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Berlin and Sport

Berlin is not just an artistic and cultural center but also a center of sport activities. There are 1,500 sport facilities spread out across the city. A total of 160 Berlin teams play in the top league.

Annual sports events: Berlin Marathon, ISTAF international track meet, track cycling competition, German International Woman’s Tennis Championship.

On 9 June 2006: start of the FIFA World cup in Germany, the biggest international event held in Germany for years. Billion viewers on all continents will follow the 64 games in the 12 world cup stadiums on television.

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Restaurants, Coffee shops, Bars

As Berlin a Cosmopolitan City it’s obvious to find several kinds of restaurants there. Indians, greek, chinese, thai…

Special Places to Drink

Kneip: beer is offered, but you can eat as well.Typical for Kreuzberg, Moabita, Prenzlauer Berg, but not in the city centres. Dark place with huge counter

Beergarden: Open-air places, it’s open just in the summertime, it’s usually in a park or at the riverside. Grillfood is typical.

Pub: Mediteranean feeling. It’s open from early in the morning to the evening. Italian, spanish and french foods are typicals.

Bar: lots of bars, no food, it’s open from 8 p.m.

Gaybars: (Nollendorfplatz) popular places not just for gays

The area south of Frankfurter Allee has suddenly become the city’s hottest nightlife zone, with new bars and clubs

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Shopping in Berlin

Berlin’s every district has shopping centres with really good quality of products.

The most famous places are:

Kurfürstendamm (Ku’damm)

Friedrich strasse

Potsdamer Platz

Sony Center

And smaller, but nice shops:

Tiergarten

Wedding

Schöneberg

Potsdamer Platz

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Famous Berliners

Bertolt Brecht (opera author)

Robert Koch (Scientist, with Nobel award in 1905)

Marlene Dietrich (Hollywood filmstar started her carrier in Berlin)

Albert Einstein (Director of the Berlin Physical Institute)

Grimm Brothers (They are famous for their tales)

George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (On eof the 19th century’s most significant philosopher)

Theodore Fontane (One of the 19th century’s most significant novelist)

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (author of the wedding-march)

Richard Strauss (composer)

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Tourism in Berlin

Berlin has several faces from the modern architecture to the recent past’s historical places

The museums, castles and gardens attract more than 15 million visitors, the theatres attract more than 3.5 millon visitors per year

In Berlin and Brandenburg there are 500 castles and parks. (the most famouses are: Sanssouci castle in Potsdam, Museumsinsel in Berlin, Kulturforum on the Potsdamer Platz)

There are more than 1400 cultural programs in Berlin every day

Berlin has 133 hotels, 18 pensions, 293 tourist accomodation and 27 layers. Altogether 75,009 spare beds.

In 2003 the number of visitors in Berlin Hotels were: 4.952.798. They arrived for an average 2-3 days.

Almost all of the hotels can receive disabled people

Prices from the near of Frankfurter Allee Apartments for 1person: 44EUR/night

for 2 persons: 59EUR/night for 3 persons: 69EUR/night

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Construction Projects in Berlin

Examples:

Spree-Gateway to the future: Berlin’s future media and services district is been developed along the River Spree.

The showpiece project: Potsdamer Platz: brand new city district with huge companies, like DaimlerChrysler, Sony, AT&T

Prestigious New Construction at Pariser Platz: Banks, Embassies, and the famous Adlon Hotel

Former Checkpoint Charlie-Border Crossing Point: with modern office and residental buildings

Klingelhöfer Dreieck: (2003) complete city block

Ku’damm Street: (2000) shopping centers, hotels, offices, retails

Beisheim Center: (2003) Hotel and luxury apartments

Lehrter Banhof: (2005) new railway station, the biggest project in Europe

Berlin-Brandenburg Airport: It will be Germany’s new and biggest airport (2011)

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Berlin in the Middle of the Continent

Berlin as a European Transport Hub

Because Berlin’s region geographical location makes it a hub for

Rail routes

Motorways

Waterways

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Transportation

Berlin has 3 airports Tegel Airport, the busiest of all, 8km from the centre, flights from USA and

Europe Schönefeld Airport, mostly Asian and European flights, 12km from the

centre to the south, belonged to NDK. Aerlingus fly in here. Tempelhof Airport, the oldest, the least busy, near to the centre, border of

Kreuzberg and Tempelhof The next big development is to expand the Schönefeld Airport to the Berlin -

Brandenburg International Airport by 2011. Lehrter Bahnhof and Haupbanhof (stations) are just 17 minutes away The plains will take off in 24 hours a day. Capacity: 23-30 million

people. Excellent road and rail connections: The airport has its own motorway

junction, and the AirportExpress, S-Bahn, Interregio, IC and ICE station is directly under the terminal.

Two parallel runways, a centrally situated terminal, air traffic is moved away from the city centre to the outskirts in order to avoid and reduce noise.

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Transportation - 2

Other important Airports in Germany Frankfurt Airport Hamburg Airport Munich Airport

Integrated Freight Transport ConceptWith the growth of Berlin-Brandenburg as an industrial region, freight traffic is

also increasing.Each year 26 million tonnes are transported into the region by road alone. Within

the city limits, another 45 million tonnes are distributed by lorry and small vans. That’s why the goal is an integrated freights transport concept.

To avoid lorries making trips without making use of their full load capacities Three freights transport centres on the periphery of Berlin serving as

logisticcentres between local and long distance transport Transportation of more freights to Berlin by rail or waterway

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Transportation - 3

Reliable railway networks

Berlin is the railway city of the XXI. century. The next project of the City is the Lehrter Bahnhof downtown railway station, which will be the cross-point of the big

European railways. They count with 250.000 passengers and 750 trains per day.

S-Bahn, U-Bahn, is the fastest way of transportationU-Bahn S-BahnKnit network Not so knit networkLots of stations Fewer stationsA train goes every 1-2 minutes A train goes every 10-20 minutes10 lines, altogether 143 km 15 lines, altogether 320km

International coaches, the cheapest way of transportationDoubledeckers, 250 are already in serviceSea-way, 200kmMotorway, in high quality

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Flights to Berlin

Aer Lingus Flights from Dublin arriving at Scöhenfeld Airport

27th March-28th October: Mo, We, Fr, Su

28th May-29th October: Sa

26th july-27th October: Tu, Th

Other flights from Dublin to Berlin, with a stop over in London

Alitalia Airlines

Lufthansa

Air France

Air Baltic

KLM

Ryan Air

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Friedrichsain-Kreuzberg

The Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district has extensive late 19th century period architecture and urban mixed used in apartment buildings, shops, bars,…

There is excellent public transport connections, leisure facilities in Volkspark, and resting facilities in the historic Viktoriapark.

There are the combination of very attractive, renovated buildings and interesting residental blocks from the 1850s to the 1980s.

Berlin’s smallest district, with a poulation around 258,000 from which 22,4% are foreigner. Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is the most densely populated district in Berlin. The average monthly income is around 1,225 EUR.

The Age distribution:

Under 6: 5,8%

6 to 14: 7,4%

15 to 64: 76,9%

65 and above: 9,8%

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Business Developments in Friedrichshain

There are 36 registered hotels, providing 4,960 beds in all.

Comeniushof – Newly constructed commercial complex

Alte Pianofabrik – modernised 5-storey factory building

EnergieForum

Postreal am Ostbanhof –project to develop a new urban quarter

Spreesinus- architectually interesting buildings

Spreeurban- construction project for an urban quarter with shops, restaurants, offices, hotels, apartments (completion date: 2005)

Victoriaspeicher-project to develop the former granary

MTV has an office around Frankfurter Allee

Alexanderplatz is planned to go through a massive investment and upgrading

Arena Complex

Around 15,000 new apartments by 2010 by foreigner consortium

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Frankfurter Allee

Frankfurter Allee is situated in the New-Center Mitte, which is one of the busiest part of the City. Frankfurter Allee is the continuation of Karl-Marx-Allee. It was built in 1951- 1960. The principal avenue is monumental. The avenue is 90 metres wide, with spacious grassy borders and tree-lined paths, and extends 2,3 km long, bordered by 7-to 9-storey-high housing blocks.

The building was built in 1953, in antic style. Today it is qualified as an art relic building. It contains 399 flats - including 3 penthouse flats - and 32 shops in the groundfloor. The buildings around us are made up from apartments, banks, restaurants, and plenty of them are also for sale on a bargain price. The building will be renovated in its original style. The building is located closed to the city centre and the TV-Tower, it’s just 10 minutes in the metro. The nearest Metro station is 20 meters. You can reach it with S-bahn (S41,S42,S8,S85), Tram (16, M13) and bus also. Alexanderplatz is 5 minutes from there

The proportion of the rented flats is 100%. Berlin is quite a busy city with couple of Universities, foreigners living there and Friedrichshain, is a real key area to rent and buy in Berlin. Our renters in Frankfurter Allee are all there since 1953.

The rental yields on the apartments around: 4-5%

Hotel Adlon with its pleasant and intimate rooms(120) is nearby. You can go for shoppingtour to the close Frankfurter Allee Plaza. Frankfurter Tor, is famous for its tall corner towers is bordering the avenue. Strausberger Platz, one of the most beutiful squares in Berlin is also in the neighbourhood.

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A very special street in the heart of Berlin

„In Berlin there are 13.684 public streets. Karl-Marx-Allee / Frankfurter Allee is definitely one of the most interesting streets of Berlin from many aspects.Its location in the centre of Berlin, the history of its origin, but first of all its urban-building, architectonic appearance make it a significant witness of the city history and architectonic development of the 20th century in our city. It was always in the central interest of the public, much more than Berlin. Even the change of the original name of „Stalinallee” to Karl-Marx-Allee / Frankfurter Allee demonstrates the chequered history of Berlin.

Everything started in 1951 shortly after the foundation of the two German states with a competition to „… establish „Stalinallee” in Berlin from the point of view of urban-building and architectonic. The still open border across Berlin in the middle of the city divided the former capital not only to East and West but it was already a dividing line between the two political systems. The cold war started and in East and West there were already different ideas about the rebuilding of the ruined city Berlin.

About Frankfurter Allee

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In Western sectors of the city solutions of modern ideas and concepts were preferred. Within the frame of the international building exhibition the „Hansa quarter” was erected in this way in the style of strict functionalism, almost simultaneously with the Stalinallee in the Eastern part. After hesitation at the beginning the architects of East Berlin orientated more or less on basis of the direct influence of the political line to the examples of the Soviet Union, which preferred the architecture drawing on the history. Kurt Liebknecht, president of the „Building Academy of GDR” at that time spoke about the creation of an „architecture of national tradition”. This should have been the model of the new character of the „socialist cities”, the new „Stalinallee” became its first and most magnificent example.

However, at first the result of the competition was not satisfactory. That is why subsequently the five prizewinners and the architect Herrmann Henselmann originally not participating in the competition developed an urban-building plan after many protections, which complied with the ideas of the political leaders. Despite these serious labour-pains the ensemble of the street from urban-building aspect was established in the next years. The participating six architects planned here buildings, which developed their special character by „borrowing” the style elements of historic architectural epochs.

About Frankfurter Allee

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Spectacular, ground floor covered by rubble, decorating elements, window frames shaped like attached columns and façade proportions in all determine the appearance of the buildings, which have to remind of the classical building tradition of Berlin. The result was intensively criticized in the West, the word „flashy architecture” became an expression, despite the fact that the modern solution proposals of urban-building were disputed. The „Stalinallee” polarized already at that time, as well. Despite all critics of the spirit of the age, the buildings of the „Stalinallee” are indisputably particular houses. Consequently the impressive building ensemble was put under preservation order already some years ago. The houses show even today an individual charm and win the admirer by their special qualities. Entrances and staircases are e.g. dimensioned so generously and expensively that even compared to the residential buildings of today they offer much „more” quality for stay. In consideration that the buildings in the „Stalinallee” were always demonstration objects, the apartments are in those buildings remarkably larger than the usual standard in East and West at that time. Solutions of ground plans have such a high quality that they perfectly comply with the more exquisitely housing requirements of nowadays.

About Frankfurter Allee

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The aesthetic quality of the former „Stalinallee” is still discussed intensely and controversially. One thing remains indisputable: A more concise witness of the urban-planning and architectural discussions of that time - featured by ideological disputes and political influence - is hardly conceivable. One of the most significant architects of the second half of the 20th century, the American Philip Johnson wrote at the beginning of the 90s: the Stallinalle – „a magnificent Champs Elysées. It was a big task, to give this place such proud character, to address people in the deep of their heart. In my opinion the Stalinallee is still such a street, which awards a city, a place by which a city remains in the remembrance of its visitors.” ”

by: Kay WielandDipl.-Ing. ArchitektBerlin, 30.08.2005

About Frankfurter Allee

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Berlin Strategically

Belin is a by-pass element between Eastern and Western Europe

Berlin is located on the east-west axle between Moscow and London and on the north-south axle between Stockholm and Rome

Berlin is the political and economic center of Germany

For the middle and eastern European entrepreneurs, Berlin is the gateway to the western market

More and more international and German firms and banks have opened subsidiaries in Berlin in order to reach the central - and eastern markets

Many Eastern - and Central European companies have choosen Berlin for its location

More than 400 exhibitions and trade shows are held yearly

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Berlin Strategically - 2

On the turn of the millenium more than 200 leading economic confederacies were present and operated in the City.

278 companies moved to Berlin between 2001 and 2004. (this resulted 11,000 new jobs and invest in 700 million Euros)

The sudden rise in growth is favoured by:

A unique environment of science and research

Efficient communication network

Competence in information and communication technology

Affordable industry and office space

Direct access to markets in central and eastern Europe

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Economic Conditions in Germany

Germany alone produces nearly a quarter of the entire GDP in Europe

Largest population in Europe (around 83 million people)

Key financial Empire

Germany has the most advanced telecommunications system in the world

European leader in High-Tec

Largest e-commerce market in Europe (over 27%!)

Highly developed transportation

One of the wealthiest countries in the world

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Economic Conditions in Germany - 2

Germany's economy is the world's third-biggest and one of its most advanced.

As the economic heart of Europe, its performance has far-reaching effects outside Germany, particularly in other EU countries and in Central and Eastern Europe.

The service sector dominates Berlin’s economic landscape. Together with finance and rent, it accounts for almost 66% of the total value added in Berlin.

Sctructural Change in the Economy

At present, more than 80% in every Euro are contributed by service entreprises.

The real estate, rental and corporate services markets have boomed, increasing their shares of Berlin’s overall gross value added by 5,3% in a decade

The finance, rental and corporate services generate more than a third (35,7%) of Berlin’s total economic output.

New jobs have primarily been created in real estate, rental and corporate services, pointing these sectors’ growing importance

Source: http://www.blc.berlin.de

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GDP

Gross domestic product and gross value added in Berlin (by sector) (Numbers in Million EUR)

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Gross Domestic Product 76.566 76.673 76.992 76.823 77.858

Gross value production in all economic sectors 71.109 71.151 71.619 71.429 72.640

Agriculture; fisheries 126 120 108 90 92

Production industries excluding building trades 10.542 10.083 10.141 10.132 10.387

BuPreliminary ResultsVorläufige Ergebnisse des Arbeitskreises "Volkswirtschaftliche Gesamtrechnungen der Länder"ilding trades 3.549 2.992 2.845 2.434 2.258

Service sectors 56.892 2.992 2.845 2.434 59.904

Trade; hospitality industry; traffic and transport 10.819 11.174 11.208 11.342 11.667

Financing, leasing and commercial services 24.310 24.723 24.820 25.278 25.236

Other public and private services 21.764 22.059 22.479 22.153 22.001

Source: http://www.blc.berlin.de

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Real Estate Market in Germany

The German housing market has started seeing some movement again in recent years, with foreign investors showing interest in big German residental portfolios. The boom started at the end of 2000.

At the present there are around 39,4 million housing units in Germany, which is the largest residental property market in Europe. More than half of this is rented property. In Germany currently standing at 43%. In France around 57%, in the UK around 66%, in Norway and Spain fully 85%.

The housing stock in Germany is comparatively new. More than 70% of the units were built after World War II., 15% of all the units before 1918 (pre-Weimar Republic) and the rest was built between 1918-1945.

According to the architecture of the City, there are 3 major sections:

The Old West: the share of old blocks at around 25% (Charlottenburg Castle, Tiergarten, Kultuforum)

New Centre-Mitte: the share of old blocks at around 25% (Tv-Tower, Karl-Marx Allee - Frankfurter Allee, Checkpoint Charlie)

The Government District: (Diplomatic Missions, Embassies, Headquarters)

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Annex

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Real Estate Market in Germany - 2

The low level of home ownership in Germany is partly the result of the situation after the World War II.. Social housing concentrated on the construction of rented property.

There are more apartment blocks and relatively few one- and two-family homes in Germany.

In the past few decades rents for new and old apartments differed all the time. In the 80s, 90s rents for new and old apartments differed by around 1/3. The factors driving this were:

The quality of existing property has been upgraded

Holders of housing stock have improved their tenant management

Competition for tenants has depressed newbuild rents

Nowadays the rents for new apartments are barely higher than for existing properties.

Average rents for newbuillds (in 2004) from 5Eur/m2-11,2Eur/m2

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Why to Invest in Real Estate?

Huge population. 80 Million people in Germany with 3,4 million in Berlin.

Germany is the most powerful member of the EU, Germany has international reputation for innovation, high productivity

Analysts believe that the economy is on its way up

The political system gives reliable conditions and long term security for investment projects

Socially-minded state (nursuring, old-age care, financial assistance for parents), Political and economic centre of Germany

Tax policy will encourage investment and increase Germany’s competitive strength in a global economy

Our building on the Frankfurter Allee listed of the 100 most important buildings in Berlin

The supply increased on the market of cheap residental, industrial and office buildings

Attractive subdivisions and favourable prices than anywhere in Europe

There are lots of students and foreigners living in the City without own flats

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Why Germany’s housing portfolios are interesting?

Stable property markets – most other European markets have already peaked or are close to their zenith. The German market is fluctuating very little

The number of newbuilds is close to a historic low

A shortage of apartments is expected

Demand forecast to exceed supply in Berlin over the next few years

Which can resulting in both rising rents and prices

Interest rates are still very low

Exchange rate trend (further depreciaton of the US dollar)

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Buying property in Berlin

Costs accompanying buying property

A lawyer/solicitor or notary is required to carry out the legal work and checking that no liabilities exist. A public notary has to be used for the conveyance all real estates contracts.

In Germany the buyer has to carry the following costs:

1) Purchase Tax: 3,5% of the buying price. Due about four weeks after the notary deed has been signed by buyer and seller

2) Notary fees: 1,2-1,5%, of the buying price

3) Agent fee: In most federal countries it is 5% plus the VAT

4) Registration fee: it’s add up to about 0,8-1,2%

German Real Estate financing can be done either with mortgage banks or with any usual bank or financing institute (Sparkasse, Volksbank, Insurance Company, Bausparkasse).

Financing usually is done for 60-70% of the buying price by mortgage loan.Anything above that up to 100% of the buying price needs to be secured either by additional securities like insurance or other financial securities that have to be depositied at the financial bank.

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Money going to Berlin

George Soros Recently Bidding on 2 billion EUR worth of Berlin Property.

Goldman Sachs’ Whitehall Funds 2.1 billion EUR purchase of 65,000 properties sold by the City of

Berlin in May 2005. Terra Firma

Recently paid 7 billion EUR for Viterra, a portfolio of 150,000 homes in Germany.

Fortress Recently Paid 3.5 billon EUR for Gagfah, a state owned housing

portfolio. Also Investing Heavily in Berlin Property

New York's Cerberus Group Blackstone Group Morgan Stanley Babcock & Brown