Search for commission-free private real estate in Hamburg

Real estate in the beautiful Hanseatic city of Hamburg is expensive and sought-after

"Hamburg, my pearl", goes one song. And this is precisely an expression of the popularity of the Hanseatic city. The inhabitants have a special connection to their city. Some have lived here forever and never want to leave, others have moved here and love living here. Hardly anyone actually wants to leave, at least that's how it seems.

This has a noticeable effect on the real estate market. This is because purchase prices and rents have risen sharply in the past, while supply remains scarce. This is especially true for private, commission-free properties. As of December 2023, 1.9 million people live here, with a steady slight increase.

Real estate: Hamburg attracts people from all over the world thanks to its international focus

The population is a colorful mix. There is a very unique, international mix with people from all over the world. What's more, the typical dock workers are just as much at home here as the success-oriented managers. The fun-loving, trendy people live close to the well-heeled aristocracy known for its Hanseatic restraint and understatement. Slouch hats and pinstripes form a unity in the image of the city on the Elbe, Alster and Bille rivers.

The gateway to the world attracts different groups. This special mix and the international orientation of the port city, as well as the quality of life, which is considered to be particularly good, are not least the starting point for population growth and a tight real estate market. Prices for condominiums and houses in Hamburg are considered particularly high, and rents have risen sharply in recent years (as of 2024). As many apartments and houses are sold through estate agents and commission-free properties are rare, both sales partners also have to pay the estate agent's commission. Nevertheless, there is a brisk real estate trade. According to the Hanseatic city, over 12 billion euros were generated by apartments, land and houses within the city limits in the years up to 2020.

Expensive properties, but high incomes

In Germany's second-largest city, however, it is not only real estate and living space that are expensive. Average incomes in the Hanseatic city are also considered high. Alongside Frankfurt and Munich, Hanseatics are considered to be the people who earn the most. This is partly due to the city's outstanding business location, which benefits from the port, good transport connections via road, rail, air and other waterways as well as many local companies. Prices should be seen in relation to this.

However, when it comes to income and real estate, large sums on average do not necessarily mean that everything is the same. In the case of apartments and houses, this is reflected in a very heterogeneous distribution. While properties in the city center and on the northern banks of the Elbe are very expensive, the south and east of Hamburg in particular offer districts with moderate prices.

Green spaces and water meet international cultural attractions

The Hanseatic city exudes a unique flair. This is also reflected in the residential areas. Villas on the banks of the Elbe, simple detached houses in the middle of the city and apartment buildings close to parks - all this can be found in Hamburg. The banks of the Elbe, Alster and Bille rivers offer local recreation, as do Hagenbeck Zoo, Planten un Blomen, the city park and Ohlsdorf cemetery. Hafencity, the Reeperbahn and the Landungsbrücken also entice visitors.

Last but not least, Hamburg is also a city of culture. There is a wide range of concerts, museums, theaters and sights. Fans of classical music and live music will get their money's worth here, as will families planning a day trip. This makes Hamburg a great place to live and offers enormous residential value, which is also "priced in" on the real estate market.

Real estate prices: Apartments and houses are no bargain in Hamburg

Hamburg is one of the A-locations on the real estate market. This also means that apartments and houses are comparatively expensive here and prices per square meter are high. Rental prices have also risen noticeably in recent years. According to data from ohne-makler.net, average prices in 2024 (May) will be

• for condominiums at 6,409 euros/m²,
• 5,419 euros/m² for houses,
• 15.68 euros/m² for rented apartments,
• 16.62 euros/m² for rented houses.

Living space with many square meters in particular is more expensive than average compared to other locations, while small apartments remain comparatively affordable despite high prices. However, as always, an average does not mean that prices are the same in all districts. On the contrary. Prices in Hamburg fluctuate considerably.

The Hanseatic city thrives on its contrasts and the atmospheric differences are clearly noticeable, for example between Hafenstrasse and Harburg, Elbchaussee and Eidelstedt, Millerntorstadion and Mönckebergstrasse, Landungsbrücken and Langenhorn as well as Reeperbahn and Rathausmarkt or Jungfernstieg and Jenfeld. At the same time, this mixture creates a special attitude to life and runs through all seven districts:

• Hamburg-Mitte,
• Altona,
• Eimsbüttel,
• Hamburg-Nord,
• Wandsbeck,
• Bergedorf,
• Harburg.

Expensive and popular areas in Hamburg

Particularly expensive areas of the city are the districts in the city center, especially around the Alster and in Hafencity. These include the districts of Rotherbaum, Uhlenhorst, Hohenfelde, St. Georg and Harvestehude.

The districts on the northern bank of the Elbe, such as Blankenese, Othmarschen and parts of Altona, St. Pauli and Sternschanze, are also expensive and extremely popular as residential areas. Prices are also quite high in Brabandstrasse, Alter Güterbahnhof, Eppendorf and Winterhude.

Condominiums are very expensive, especially in the city center. Prices here occasionally reach 15,000 euros/m². On the north bank of the Elbe in upmarket areas such as Blankenese, prices are already significantly lower, but are still up to 10,000 euros/m².

Prices per square meter for houses are generally somewhat lower, but in some cases even higher in these areas in particular. In Rothenbaum/Harvestehude, for example, they quickly reach well over 20,000 euros. Buyers on the northern bank of the Elbe must also expect prices of around 13,000 euros/m² for a city villa or an exclusive bungalow.

Real estate: mid-price regions in Hamburg

• Winterhude,
• Ottensen,
• Iserbrook,
• Niendorf (southern parts),
• Poppenbüttel,
• Wellingsbüttel,
• Barmbeck-Süd,
• Lokstedt (southern part),
• Stellingen,
• Hoheluft,
• Hamburg Neustadt.

Affordable residential areas in Hamburg

If you are looking for affordable apartments or houses, you should look for commission-free properties from private owners in the southern and eastern suburbs. Attractive price points include

• Vierlande
• Marschlande,
• Fünfhausen,
• Zollenspieker,
• Bergedorf (parts)
• Netteldorf (parts).
• Kirchdorf,
• Harburg,
• Eissendorf,
• Heimfeld,
• Neugraben-Fischbek,
• Finkenwerder,
• Wilhelmsburg,
• Lurup (parts).

Apartments and houses are available here for prices of well under 4,000 euros/m² in some cases. At around 4,500 to 6,000 euros/m², real estate offers in districts such as Barmbek-Nord, Jenfeld, Billstedt, Bramfeld, Langenhorn, Eidelstedt and Schnelsen are somewhat more expensive, but still affordable in relation to prices in Hamburg. Buyers can also save money with commission-free offers without an estate agent. Private real estate has the advantage that the ancillary purchase costs are significantly lower, so that the total expenditure can be reduced somewhat.

Rental apartments generally relatively expensive

Offers for rental apartments are certainly available. However, prices have also risen sharply here in recent years. However, in outlying areas such as Poppenbüttel, Langenhorn, Duvenstedt, Finkenwerder, Harburg and even Volksdorf, apartments can be found for prices ranging from 10 euros/m² to 13 euros/m². However, the closer rental properties are to the city center or on the northern bank of the Elbe, the more expensive they become. Rents of over 20 euros/m² are the order of the day there. In some cases, rents there reach well over 25 euros per square meter.

Commission-free private real estate as an alternative

If you are looking for affordable living space in Hamburg, you should keep an eye out for commission-free apartments and houses. Private landlords, cooperatives and some housing associations offer comparatively inexpensive small or larger apartments. Depending on the standard and furnishings of the property, buyers and tenants can save a lot here.

New houses and apartments: Construction projects in Hamburg

The city of Hamburg is countering the growing population with a housing construction project. Unlike in cities such as Berlin or Munich, however, many new properties are being built in the middle of existing buildings rather than entire new districts. Gaps between buildings are being developed and built-up areas are being extended on the edges. The current status and completed projects can be tracked on interactive maps:

• Map of planned construction projects,
• Map of completed construction projects.

Apart from this, there are larger projects that will provide many people with new living space. For example, new properties were created in the early to mid-2020s through projects such as Stadtgärten Lokstedt, Suttnerpark Altona, Alter Güterbahnhof Bergedorf, Schleusengraben Bergedorf and Katharinen-Quartier Altstadt. Hafen-City is also being expanded.

Find commission-free private real estate in Hamburg

With our range of commission-free apartments and houses, we offer you the chance to find your dream apartment or house in the Hanseatic city. The listings are private and therefore without an estate agent. This saves you commission. Simply search for a small one-bedroom apartment or two-bedroom apartment, a large condominium, a penthouse, a stately villa, an exclusive single-family home or high-yield apartment buildings. The choice between bungalows and small houses is huge and the selection is as diverse as the city of Hamburg.

Price comparison for rents and real estate in Hamburg

With our database, we provide an insight into the actual market development in Hamburg as a real estate location. We have summarized the latest figures here:

• Real estate prices Hamburg
• Rent index Hamburg