Commission-free real estate directly from the owner in Schleswig-Holstein

The far north between the two seas: All that water comes at a price

From no point in Germany's northernmost state are either the North Sea or the Baltic Sea more than an hour's drive away, but for the most part you can get to one of the countless sandy beaches along the nearly 1,000 kilometers of coastline of both seas even faster. Such dual maritime and geographically blessed, the with 15,800 km² second smallest German state Schleswig-Holstein has naturally long ago secured a firm place in the heart of all water sports enthusiasts in this country. Those who like fishing, bathing, sailing, surfing, swimming or diving are probably better off between Flensburg and Fehmarn, Kiel and Kellenhusen, Lübeck and Lauenburg, Heide and Husum as well as Sylt and Segeberg than anywhere else in the rest of Germany. But by far not only friends of maritime physical exercise are attracted to the typical gentle to rustic hilly, geest and mudflat landscapes at the very top of the north, the special stimulating climate of the sea with its air rich in minerals and fresh wind can also work wonders for many ailments of a physical and mental nature. These and other natural advantages of the region naturally also have a lasting effect on real estate prices, especially on and near the coasts. By far the most expensive place is the "island of the rich and beautiful" Sylt, where real estate prices have risen between 2011 and 2013 on average between 17 and 40 percent, and depending on the exact location, you can get rid of between 5,000 and 27,000 euros per square meter when buying a home. Real estate on the neighboring North Frisian Islands or in the well-known vacation resorts such as St. Peter Ording, Husum, Niebüll on the North Sea coast is somewhat cheaper, but even there prices in better locations rose by 5 to 10 percent last year alone.Thetown of Wyk on Föhr is particularly sought-after, with an increase of more than 30 percent. The neighboring island of Amrum is also in high demand, with an increase of almost 7 percent and prices between 4,000 and 5,000 euros/m².

The southern and northern Baltic Sea coasts still differ in price so far

On the Baltic coast, the picture is similar, albeit with a tendency to differentiate. Here, prices in the very popular Lübeck Bay around the traditional seaside resorts of Travemünde (from 1,800 euros/m²) and Timmendorfer Strand (3,000 to 6,000 euros/m²) have risen by between 20 and over 40 percent at the peak. Even in Scharbeutz, further north, prices have risen by more than 16 percent in just one year, with just under 3,000 euros now having to be invested here for a square meter of new construction in a good location. While also the remainder of the southern Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein including the regions Wagrien, the peninsula Fehmarn and Holstein Switzerland is determined by a comparably high price level, there are partially still more favorable real estate offers in the direction of the north on both sides of the arm of the sea Schlei. With exception of good water situations in the state capital Kiel, which are traded meanwhile also already for 3,000 to 4,000 euro/m ² and where in the last years generally price increases between scarcely 9 and 12 per cent were registered, can be found in the two bordernear regions Angeln and Schwansen between the cities Flensburg, Schleswig, Kappeln and Eckernförde quite still good opportunities for the house and housing purchase. For example, in Schleswig or in Rendsburg , as well as in the surrounding district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, used condominiums in good locations that are free of occupancy are available from approx. 1,200 to 1,500 euros/m². In the town of Kappeln in the Schleswig-Flensburg district, the price per square meter of just over 1,300 euros/m² for detached or semi-detached houses and around 1,500 euros/m² for condominiums is also still quite affordable. In Germany's northernmost city of Flensburg, on the other hand, which most regional real estate experts predict will have a fairly rosy future, prices have been rising slightly for several years, with purchase prices for condominiums in good locations near the water already ranging from around 1,800 to 2,100 euros/m², while in very good to exclusive locations, lavish prices of 5,000 euros/m² are sometimes demanded.

The coasts are moving closer, Hamburg is setting the prices, the surrounding area is becoming more expensive

Although the general rule in Schleswig-Holstein has been that the price per square meter falls with increasing distance from the coast, this calculation no longer seems to apply in the foreseeable future, at least as far as the more densely populated southern part of the state is concerned. For example, in the districts of Duchy of Lauenburg, Segeberg, Steinburg, Stormarn, Pinneberg and Dithmarschen in Schleswig-Holstein, which have so far been rather favorably priced, appreciable increases in the value of residential property can be expected in the medium to long term, since these areas, as parts of the Hamburg metropolitan region, are already benefiting from their proximity to the economically strong Hanseatic city. The immensely sharp rise in property purchase and rental prices in Hamburg in recent years - new condominiums with very good residential value already cost an average of 4,300 euros/m² there - has already led to a slight urban exodus in search of affordable living space. In addition, the unbroken high purchasing power in Germany's largest port city is also causing demand for quickly accessible and high-quality vacation properties in the nearby northern hinterland to increase significantly in the future. Prices are already rising in cities such as Norderstedt and Neumünster, for example, where, at 2,100 euros/m², conditions are different from just a few years ago. A similar situation can be expected in the long term for the more distant Amt Mittelholstein with its 30 municipalities between the cities of Rendsburg, Kiel, Neumünster and Itzehoe . With regard to the distance to the respective coast, which was decisive in the past, most market observers believe that those places in Schleswig-Holstein with a distance of up to 30 minutes from the water will also become more attractive and thus more expensive in terms of real estate acquisition.Thefirst developments in this direction can be seen, for example, in the municipality of Hattstedt near Husum in the Nordfriesland district, where average prices are currently still buyer-friendly at 1,100 euros/m².

Short facts Real estate market in Schleswig-Holstein:

- Schleswig-Holstein is a not quite cheap purchase area, because known vacation area
- The front runner is Sylt with astronomical prices of up to 27.000 euros/m²
- The North Frisian Islands and the North Sea coast are also steadily rising in price
- The Baltic Sea coast is largely expensive in the south and cheaper in the north
- In well-known seaside resorts on the Baltic Sea there is little choice and high demand
- The regions of Angeln and Schwansen still have a favorable price structure
- Due to rising prices on the coasts, the inland is moving into focus
- The metropolitan region of Hamburg is making its mark and influencingprices