Austria and Germany - real estate investments

Austria and Germany are of particular interest among investors from all over the world who want to invest in real estate in order to generate income.

The countries not only border each other but also have a lot in common, including a high standard of living and the stability of the political and economic situation, guaranteeing the security of investments and a good payback. At the same time, Austria and Germany have a number of differences in terms of conditions for investors. We have prepared an article in which we will analyze these factors and find out which sectors of the real estate market in the two countries are the most profitable to invest money in order to maximize profits.

Features of the real estate purchase procedure

In 2020, global GDP decreased by 5.2% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, Germany and Austria were among the few countries that were able to get through this difficult period with minimal losses. Both countries demonstrate high socio-economic indicators and are of great interest for long-term investment.

1. The real estate buying process in Austria is somewhat more difficult from a legal point of view than in Germany, but the real estate market in Austria is more stable.
2. In Germany, the demand for real estate is very high and outweighs the construction of new residential complexes in the country, which is why the inflated cost of residential and commercial property is formed. In Austria, even during the pandemic, the construction of new residential facilities continued. Reconstruction of historical buildings was also carried out with the sale of penthouses and apartments. All this offers the buyer a wider choice of real estate to buy.
3. In Germany, the purchase costs are 10–18% of the real estate value, while in Austria – 8–10%.

Austria

In Austria, there are several restrictions on the purchase of local real estate by foreigners; these apply both to citizens of non-EU countries and to legal entities with foreign capital.
According to the Law on Real Estate Transactions (Grundverkehrsgesetz), expats can purchase residential and commercial properties only if the following conditions are met:

1. Having the status of a resident of Austria (residence permit).
2. Long stay in the country on a student or work visa.
3. Obtaining a purchase permit from the administration of the federal district in which the property of interest to the investor is located. The permit is issued at the level of the administrative authorities of specific lands, based on the socio-economic interests of the region. In regions such as Vienna and Salzburg, foreigners are treated most loyally.
4. Making a purchase on behalf of a company, part of which belongs to a foreign buyer.

Austria consists of 9 federal states, and each has its own peculiarities of working with foreigners:

• Vienna. To purchase real estate in this region, you must have the status of a residence permit or make a purchase/sale transaction through a legal entity.
• Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria and Burgenland. It is possible to buy property here without a residence permit, subject to obtaining permission from the local authorities.
• Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Carinthia. The purchase of local housing in these regions is possible only for legal entities.

At first glance, the procedure for purchasing housing in Austria seems quite complicated, however in practice, all legal and procedural issues are resolved through the involvement of a qualified intermediary. This can be a broker, a lawyer, or a real estate agency. The intermediary undertakes the tasks to submit petitions, draw up a purchase/sale agreement, as well as accompany the buyer during the transfer of ownership.

• Registration of a real estate transaction, with payment of a tax on the right to transfer property, followed by obtaining a certificate authorizing the registration of the transaction in a local court – 3.5% of the transaction value.
• Land registration – 1.1% of the property value.
• Payment for notary or lawyer services – 1.5–2% + 20% VAT on the cost of the property.
• Payment for services to a real estate agent (standard for all agencies, limited by law) – 3.6% (3% + 20% VAT).

On average, the associated costs for the purchase of real estate in Austria range from 8.6% to 10.6%. If it is necessary to obtain a municipal permit, you will need to pay up to EUR 1,100 (USD 1,239) for it.

In addition, when selling real estate, an expat will need to pay capital gains tax (the difference between the proceeds from the sale and the purchase price) to the amount of 30%. The seller is exempt from paying this tax if the owner has been registered without a break for 2 years since the purchase of the property.

Germany

There are no restrictions on the purchase of real estate for foreigners in the country. Expats in Germany can buy any type of property, including land, residential or commercial properties. But as in Austria, you can not do it without the help of a realtor or real estate agent as an intermediary for the purchase of housing.

The use of mortgage lending is widespread in Germany. Therefore, banks in the country are willing to provide loans to foreigners for the purchase of real estate. The bank is able to finance 40–70% of the cost at 1.5–2.0% per annum for up to 15–20 years, depending on the selected lender and the financial condition of the borrower.

There is rental income tax in Germany. For individuals, this is calculated at a progressive rate from 14.77% to 47.48%, and for legal entities – 15.83%. If the property purchase is for subsequent rental, buying through the creation of a legal entity may be more profitable.The following taxes and fees must be paid to the investor in the process of purchasing real estate in Germany:

• Commission for opening a bank account – 0.25%
• Property audit – 0.51-5%
• Registration fee – 0.8–1.2%
• Notary fee – 1.5–2%
• Purchase tax – 3.5–6.5%
• Real estate agent's commission – 3.57–7.14%

The average amount of related expenses for the purchase of a real estate in Germany is 10.12%–18.59%. When purchasing property through a legal entity, opening a company will cost the investor EUR 2,500 (USD 2,818) and the cost of maintenance will cost from EUR 500 (USD 563) per month. Buyers who take out a mortgage will additionally be required to pay for the drafting of a mortgage agreement (1% of the loan amount) and an independent assessment of the property (EUR 1,000–2,000).

The main trends of the property market

Austrian real estate market

Austria is one of the most highly developed countries and leaders in terms of living standards in Europe and around the world. The state has both a stable economy and political environment. Crystal clear lakes and mountains, as well as world-famous ski resorts are located here.

In the first quarter of 2021, the real estate price index in Austria increased by 12.34% compared with an increase of 3.4% over the same period last year. The cost of housing in Vienna increased by 10.94% and this was the most significant increase in value over the past 8 years.

A slight slowdown in housing construction was observed in 2020. During this period, the total number of residential buildings approved for construction also decreased by 4%, according to Statistics Austria. In 2021, the situation changed as local developers began to actively construct new projects in key regions of the country, which made it possible to expand the housing stock of Austria by 7.5%.

High demand for ski properties, namely cottages and chalets, remains in the Austrian Alps, according to the marketing company Lindforth.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the level of ski real estate transactions has remained stable, as stated by real estate consultant Maisie Delaney Baird. Properties with gardens and terraces were also popular. In conditions of forced self-isolation, many buyers began to prefer residential properties with extensive open space and picturesque views, rather than apartments in large cities. The very structure of demand has changed due to the pandemic.

German real estate market

Germany, like Austria, are among the leaders of the EU. The country's GDP declined by only 5% even after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The unemployment rate here is traditionally at a low level, so the population of the country is solvent and ready to rent housing at high prices. Only 51% of Germans own their own real estate, as a result of which the demand for local real estate is very high. In most cases, wealthy foreigners acquire property here. For example, about 45% of all transactions over the past year were with expats.

According to Europace data, over the past year, the hedonistic price index for German real estate has increased by 11.12% and the cost of local housing increased by 3.23% only during the first quarter of 2021. When considering changes in the value of real estate depending on its type, the following trends can be traced:

• The value of real estate in the primary market increased by 7.51% (by 1.63% on a quarterly basis).
• Housing on the secondary market has become more expensive by 14.73%.

There is a shortage of supply in the residential real estate market in Germany, especially in large cities. Taking into account the population growth and the influx of migrants into the country, there is a shortage of residential property both for sale and for rent in developed cities as well.

The supply crisis is also largely associated with a decrease in the number of completed projects being put into operation. Less and less real estate has been built in the country since the 1990’s: in the period from 1992–1999, 476,000 construction permits were issued, and from 2001–2005 their numbers decreased further to 222,000. This is also due to the increase in VAT from 3% to 19% and the abolition of state subsidies. These measures have made the process of housing construction more costly, and consequently less profitable for developers.

The sharp influx of migrants is another reason for the shortage of real estate. Germany ranks 5th among the countries that have accepted foreign refugees on their territory (about 1.1 million people), according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The real estate market in Germany physically does not keep up with such high demand, which negatively affects the profitability of local housing.
To eliminate the shortage of residential real estate, it is necessary to build at least 400,000 apartments in the country every year. As of 2020, this figure was only 368,400 units.