Real Estate in Hamburg

We have been brokering property since 2017 under a licence pursuant to Section 34c of the German Trade Regulation Act. We guide and advise sellers, buyers and investors personally on every aspect of the property.

For Sellers

• A realistic valuation based on current comparable prices and standard land values.
• Complete documents before launch: land register, declaration of division, energy certificate, minutes of owners' meetings.
• Targeted marketing instead of mass exposure, discreetly without a public listing if you wish.
• Screened prospects with proof of financing before any viewing.
• Negotiation and notary appointment with fixed deadlines through to handover.

For Buyers and Investors

• A search based on your criteria, including properties that are not publicly listed.
• Property checks before you decide: condition, development potential, planning plausibility and the owners' association reserves.
• Multi-family houses and investment properties assessed for rents, yield and maintenance needs.

Hamburg Market 2026

Hamburg leads the top 7 cities in price growth. Existing houses remain negotiable, and apartment buildings are in demand again.

Source unless stated otherwise: Hamburg Valuation Committee, property market report 2026. More figures in our Germany market data.

Purchase Costs in Hamburg

• Real estate transfer tax: 5.5 % of the price for acquisitions since 1 January 2023 (hamburg.de).
• Notary and land registry: statutory fees depending on the price.
• Agent's commission: for apartments and single-family houses, buyer and seller share the commission equally if both have an agency agreement (Section 656c German Civil Code).

Also see: Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin. More on the market in Germany.

Districts at a Glance

• Elbe suburbs: Blankenese, Nienstedten and Othmarschen with villas and Elbe views, the staircase quarter and parks.
• Around the Alster: Harvestehude, Rotherbaum, Uhlenhorst and Winterhude with Gründerzeit and Art Nouveau apartments.
• Eppendorf and Eimsbüttel: sought-after period districts with shops and good transport links.
• HafenCity: new builds on the water, apartments overlooking the Elbe and the port.
• Walddörfer: Volksdorf, Bergstedt and Wohldorf-Ohlstedt, detached houses in green surroundings.
• Hamburg-Nord and northern Eimsbüttel: Groß Borstel, where our office is, Niendorf and Lokstedt, quiet residential areas with detached and terraced houses.

Selling in Hamburg

Documents

• Land register extract, cadastral map and, for apartments, the declaration of division with the division plan
• Energy performance certificate, to be presented at the viewing at the latest (Section 80 (4) Building Energy Act)
• Minutes of recent owners’ meetings, budget, annual statement and the level of the maintenance reserve
• For houses, the building permit, floor plans and floor area calculation; for let properties, leases and a tenant list

Valuation

We determine market value using the methods of the German Real Estate Valuation Ordinance: comparison value for apartments and houses, income value for let properties, cost value for individual houses (Section 6 ImmoWertV). The basis is purchase prices and standard land values from the expert committee (BORIS Hamburg).

Rents, Conversion and Property Tax

• Rent cap: applies throughout the city until 31 December 2029 (Hamburg Senate).
• Conversion: creating condominiums in a building with more than five flats requires approval throughout the city; additional rules apply in social preservation areas (hamburg.de).
• Property tax: since 2025 Hamburg calculates it from land and floor area and the residential location, not from value; the rate for property tax B is 975 % (Hamburg Finance Authority).

Frequently Asked Questions

Which valuation do I need?

For a sale, a sound market assessment using the methods above is enough. Courts, tax offices or inheritance settlements usually require a report by a certified expert.

Who pays the commission?

For apartments and single-family houses, buyer and seller share the commission if both have an agency agreement (Section 656c German Civil Code).

How long does a sale take?

With complete documents and a market price, it usually takes a few weeks to a few months from the start of marketing to the notary appointment. Having documents complete in advance saves the most time.