Berlin’s most desirable neighborhoods to live in

Ah, to live in Berlin. The capital of Germany is a bustling metropolis welcoming any and all who dare to call her home. Known for an open mentality, a top-notch nightlife scene, and home to a thriving start-up atmosphere, Berlin is an enticing choice to settle down in.

One of the key steps in doing so? Finding a place to live. The housing shortage in Berlin combined with the intricacies of German bureaucracy can make house hunting a headache. In an attempt to alleviate some of the stress, GLOBALS Homes features some of the best apartments in the city.

Choosing just where to live in Berlin is an important choice! The charm of Berlin is the different worlds that can be found depending on the neighborhood you happen to be in. Read on as we highlight three of Berlin’s most desirable neighborhoods – and the apartments that will let you call them home!

Lichtenberg

Just East of Mitte lies the quiet district of Lichtenberg. At first glance it can seem far removed from the vibrant and historic center of Berlin but don’t let that fool you!

In just 15 minutes you can arrive at Alexanderplatz. Strolling through this quiet suburb, its free from the broken glass and hipsters that crowd Kreuzberg and Neukölln’s busy streets.

Within 20 minutes from the Lichtenburg S+U station you can travel back in time and visit the historic former Stasi Headquarters, or travel to Vietnam and step inside the Dong Xuan Center, an Asian market with over 150 stalls. You can also visit one of East Berlin’s most famous attractions, Tierpark, a large zoo where animals have free roam and gives residents an amazing green space in the center of the district. Lichtenberg is a trending gem in Berlin, get here fast!

Mitte

Mitte means “center” or “middle” in German and you can bet that if you live in Mitte you can reach anywhere in Berlin’s city limits very easily. Not only are you well connected with transit, but the multiple bars, restaurants and cafes are not just there for the tourists.

Grab a craft beer around Torstrasse, visit the Berlin Wall Memorial or catch a show at Babylon Berlin or the Volksbühne and discover that thriving Mitte is the heartbeat of the city and one of the best districts to live in.

Schöneberg

Discover all the colours of Berlin within one district. Famous since the 1920s for its vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, Schöneberg really has something for everyone.

You can browse the latest trends at the famous KaDeWe (Kaufhaus Des Westens), one of the largest department stores in Europe. For nature lovers there is the protected biological park Schöneberger Südgelände, a nature reclaimed WWII rail yard and just in the district limits is Templehofer Field, the airport-turned-public-park, where you can catch the best sunsets in the city.

GLOBALS Homes and the BIM: A World of Real Estate Opportunities

On 12-13 September, the Berliner Immobilien Messe (BIM) was organized in the renowned Charlottenburg Palace in West Berlin. This fair takes place on a yearly basis and provides real estate market insights to those who are interested in purchasing property or a piece of land as an investment or for private use. 

GLOBALS Homes was there too. Even under strict COVID-19 measures, our team still enjoyed the ambience and shared some nice ideas with the exhibitors and speakers. Mario Paladini, founder and CEO of Club GLOBALS, had the honour of interviewing Dr. Florian Forster, who is the founder and organizer of the Berlin Immobilien Messe. Watch the video interview below made by GLOBALS TV:

Our aim was to get to know the real estate players and the current circumstances in which the real estate market finds itself, notably since the pandemic took its toll. It turns out that, although a multitude of projects in Berlin have already been completed, the outlook for the construction of real estate properties in Berlin’s central locations is getting tighter.
These findings corroborate the viewpoints shared during GLOBALS Homes’ previous event on “The Future of Housing and Living 4th Ed.” which took place in August 2020. However, Berlin remains a hotspot for real estate projects, especially in East Berlin, given the recent announcements Elon Musk gave on the soon-to-come Giga Tesla factory. Check out our blog for more on this topic.

GLOBALS Homes, a platform which provides homes to buy, rent and rent furnished in Berlin and Barcelona, is continuously looking to improve its product offering by seeking out potential partnerships with key actors at events such as BIM. Stay tuned for upcoming real estate fairs!

Make Berlin your Home

Living in Berlin

If you ask Google, how expensive it is to live in Berlin, it will answer that the prices are rising, especially for housing. But if we compare Berlin to other cities in Germany, some things are much cheaper. 

Germany is considered one of the cheapest countries in the world for grocery shopping. The monthly fee could be anywhere between 100 to 200 euros. But if you’re not much of a cook yourself and prefer eating out, be prepared to spend up to 300 euros.

Transportation and mobile phone fees are also quite cheap if you’re a student, rent prices range from 400 to 800 euros. The cost of rent depends on how big you want your apartment to be, as well as location. Sharing an apartment will cost you at least 400 euros and for bigger flats, the payment would be about 1500 euros. 

Where to rent?

Wondering where to rent in Berlin? We got you covered! Berlin is so diverse that it can make anyone feel at home. Whether you’re a free spirit, hipster, party animal or prefer a quiet life to the party, Berlin can satisfy all your needs. 

If you like to be close to clubs, street food markets, and outdoor cinemas, Friedrichshain is a good choice. It’s also great if you lead a vegan lifestyle and like dining outdoors. Kreuzberg also has good places for eating out, it’s full of affordable street food, coffee shops, and squats. Neukölln too has quite a lot to offer, from cozy, dim-lit bars to independent shops, tattoo studios, and arthouse cinemas. 

If you’d like to find out more about other districts and which one is most suited for you, our housing Advisor Vincent from Berlin and Ignacio from Barcelona would be more than happy to help you. Find out more about them!

You can also visit Wunderflats and choose which furnished apartment to rent based on location, price range, and a number of rooms. More options to find apartments furnished or unfurnished are wg-gesucht.de, immonet.de, immobilienscout24.de, GLOBALS Homes, and eBay Kleinanzeigen. Do not forget to consider some Housing Companies like immobilo.de and Deutsche Wohnen.

Once you choose the location and are ready to move in, it’s time to cozy up the place. For interior design solutions, Houzz is an excellent platform to provide you with the best professionals for interior designs. However, product providers and different kinds of professionals related to finding and making your perfect home. 

When it comes to furniture, you’ll find the most affordable and stylish pieces at Ikea. For sure, you would like to give your house your personal touch in colors, walls, or even make it more friendly and accessible. All that you need you can find it in Aroundhome and hagebau.de.

Electronic supplies are best bought from Mediamarkt, Saturn, Amazon, or Ebay.

Where to buy?

When planning on buying a flat in Berlin, be sure to check out ImmoScout24. They offer different types of real estate properties, from flats and houses to office spaces and garages. 

We would also suggest checking out our GLOBALS Homes. Here you can find a variety of available properties. Also, request or list a property that you’re trying to rent or sell. One of our previous blogs could give you useful information about buying decision: What to consider when buying an apartment in Berlin  

Image by Karl Herl from Pixbay

Housing insurances

Housing insurance is also an important aspect to keep in mind. Generally in Berlin and Germany , every object you have in your apartment is considered a household good. Therefore is covered by house insurance. And, it covers damages from fire, water, storm, burglary, and vandalism. We would like to recommend you Arag.de and Tarifcheck.de  where you can find a variety of insurances not exclusive for the property.

Berlin event

Be sure not to miss out on our Globals event: The Future of Housing and Living on the 20th of August. The panel discussions will cover an introduction to what you need to know about the real estate in Berlin. You’ll learn about the current trends in real estate and innovation in post-corona times. 

 

See you there!

What to consider when buying an apartment in Berlin

Are you considering buying an apartment in Berlin? Maybe you are planning to move to the city or maybe you have already arrived? Are you thinking about ways in which you can best invest your hard-earned money? Or maybe you are looking for ways to lower your tax burden?

 

If you are wondering whether the hype surrounding Berlin is still strong enough to make real estate investments worth it, then this article might be of interest to you. In this GLOBALS Homes series, we will raise and answer many questions regarding purchasing real estate in Berlin. We will walk you through the pros and cons of buying, showing you aspects you might want to consider before making your decision. 

In any case, your decision is an individual one—situations vary, backgrounds differ, and what might be a very expensive apartment to one individual can still be within the means of another. It all depends on the circumstances. The intention of this series is to show you a broad spectrum of factors that may influence your decision when it comes to purchasing your property. But, in the end, it is you—and only you—who makes the final call.

 

“Triple L”

So let’s get started with our first article which is dealing with the most important aspect that every real estate agent will tell you to consider when it comes to purchasing a property—the “Triple L”. No, I am not referring to live…laugh…love, ideally, you will be doing that, once you’ve made your choice. But when selecting your new home you should consider the “Triple L” which is: location, location, and (you guessed it) location.

But how do you know if a location is a premium? What defines a good location? Sure, the real estate agent will tell you anything and even make a place on the edge of the city seem premium. Check out also our post on How to avoid real estate scams?

And it might be because every city has its own unique dynamic and where, in one city, the center is the hotspot while, in another, it could be the city boundary beside the lake that everyone is flocking to. And guess what. Berlin has it all! So the “Triple L” in Berlin is complex—in a good way—as it provides many opportunities for prospective buyers to settle.

 

That being said, we must keep in mind that we are talking about buying a property in Berlin; the most populated city in Germany with more than 3,7 Mio inhabitants, thousands of companies offering jobs including a persistently growing startup scene where even fancier jobs are emerging. There are also four public universities where, as you know,  students attend for free. Plus, more than 20 private universities for those who can afford it. 

Additionally, Berlin is the capital of Germany so the city is packed with administrative buildings including the “Bundestag” and various embassies with thousands of politicians, lobbyists, and consultants. It is the place for governmental and non-governmental organizations, TV stations, press dependencies—basically everything you need to manage a country. It is the place to be.

Sure, the city is not what we would call an industrial stronghold, as the area around Cologne and Düsseldorf, or the wealthy south with its manufacturers in Stuttgart and Munich. But Berlin not only found its niche in creativity, culture, and tourism but also, biotech and health care.

So looking for a property in Berlin is per se a good idea, but the city is big and you need to be careful when choosing the area of your future place.

 

So let’s dive deeper into the city and create some understanding around its 12 districts.

Founded in 1237 Berlin has a long history of growth, destruction, separation, and unification. Check Wikipedia if you are looking for Berlin’s history of origins. 

What has most certainly characterized the city which can still be observed today is the physical memories of Berlin’s separation post-World War II. With a wall separating the city between East and West Berlin that stood for nearly 30 years, two very different urban identities formed on each side of the barrier.

Along with this, two city centers arose: Kuh’damm and Alexanderplatz. And, in the years following reunification, the former border areas of the East/West separation that were once desolate experienced a strong construction boom. Potsdamer Platz, for example, is a result of this boom.

In the last 30 years, it has become one of the city’s most active corporate neighborhoods being that it is filled with thousands of office spaces as well as tons of flats, restaurants, and shops. Other new happening neighborhoods include Europa City (located north of the Hauptbahnhof), Friedrichstraße (Mitte), and Hackescher Markt (near Alexanderplatz).

 

Besides these urban centers which are international and one might say, also anonymous you will also find what we call “Kiez”, neighborhoods, each with its own atmosphere which is characterized by its residents and their social backgrounds. Google Bergmannkiez, Helmholtzkiez, or Sprengelkiez, and you will find little towns within the city with historic buildings, shops, restaurants, and parks. 

 

While all these centric areas in Berlin are inhabited by a considerably international population,  you will find yourself more and more surrounded by German neighbors the more you move to the city borders.

The strong population growth of the last few years has even intensified this distribution. Critics of this development say that the old population of Berlin is being pushed out of the city and Berlin is losing its “poor but sexy” image. And that is true if you look on the market.

After the reunification of Berlin in 1989, prices were comparatively low but have been rising ever since, especially the last 10 years. That of course also had an impact on the rental market, so people that used to be able to afford nice flats in central areas were soon forced to move out. One can say that this is the ugly face of capitalism and there are many initiatives by the city government to secure and provide affordable living space for people with a lower income.

On the other hand, it is a given fact, that in big cities like London, Paris, New York, etc. and most liveable ones it is almost impossible to live in a popular neighborhood on a small budget. Berlin is no exception. 

 

The value of your property is essentially defined by its location. So, when analyzing potential properties, have a look at the neighborhood and its image.  Take your time to stroll through different areas and feel the different vibes that each “Kiez” is sending to you.

 

Another determining factor is the infrastructure around your place. The proximity to public transportation, shopping possibilities, schools, and recreation areas are important not only to you but also to future tenants and buyers and make the place more attractive.

Also, have a look at the population structure, average age, social structure, and criminality. Depending on your situation you might prefer a solid Charlottenburg or you want to go wild in Neuköln with its exciting, yet at times chaotic, street life. 

 

Every area has its demands and therefore a price. To give you an indication, you can see the average price per square meter for a newly built 80 square meter/3 room apartment in each area on the picture. 

So, before making your choice, immerse yourself in the city. Feel its different atmospheres, get lost in its beauty and fall in love with your “Kiez”.

Once you have decided on a location, you should consider another aspect – time. Is now a good time to buy? We’ll look into that aspect in our next article.

World’s Most Interesting and Strange Cities

Centralia, Pennsylvania

A fire that began in 1962 never extinguished for 50 years. Many people migrated to other cities and countries in 1980.

Colma, California

The city with the most dead population. There are about 2 million tombs and more than one religious tomb. There are also animals in the cemetery.

Manshiet Nasser, Egypt

This city collects all of Cairo’s garbage. We all know that 6000 people in the city and they earn money from this garbage.

Pompeii, Italy

The destruction of the city of Pompei according to scientists is a natural disaster. Some also think prostitution, gambling, quarrels, rape of children, and various immorality in the city are the cause of the catastrophe.

Procida, Italy

The Italian island of Procida is unique. It is one of the oldest holiday destinations in the world. The main symbol of the miniature islets is the set of beautiful houses of all shades of the rainbow. This view of the island, which can be seen on postcards and souvenirs, unlike the water surface and the fascinating blue sky, the bright houses are marvelous.

Sheffield, Australia

In the 1980s, people wanted to establish a tourist federation in order to ensure the coming of tourists. They did this by drawing pictures on most of the walls in the city. Since 2003, a regular wall painting festival has been organized in the city. Although the population is less than 1000, 200 – 250 thousand tourists come to this festival every year. Art has been given importance in the city.

Slab City, California

In the city of Salton, which is in the southern part of the state of California, there is no law in the city that was established after World War II. If you’re on your way to the city, you’ll understand the huge structure of Salvation Mountain made by the American visual artist Leonardo Knight. Another interesting fact is that there is no clean water network.

Chefchaouen, Morocco

The Indians are very proud of their traditions. In Morocco, at the foot of the Reef Mountains, a magnificent city of Chefchaouen. The walls are traditionally painted in blue colors. People escaped the Spanish Inquisition and set up a small settlement in the mountains. Despite the fact that the first tenants had already abandoned their ancient stone houses, the tradition of painting the walls with blue colors remained.

Seven Giants Cliffs Siberia, Russia

The Northern Urals is located in the middle of Siberia. According to legend, these rockets were the real giant soldiers who froze to death while running away. The height of the rocks is 30-40 meters.

5 Most Liveable Cities

Here are the top 5 most liveable cities in the world in terms of criteria such as health, education, stability, crime rates, and social development according to the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.

1- Vienna (Austria)

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is the most populous city in the country but also the smallest area. Due to its cultural and architectural heritage, it is now one of the most important tourism cities. But in fact, this city is great for not only to visit but also to live. A systematic functioning transportation network, properly planned living spaces, high levels of education and culture, living conditions make Austria one of the most livable cities in the world.

2- Zurich (Switzerland)

Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, is a very touristy city. There are many places to visit in Zurich for a tourist such as museums, historical buildings, and natural beauties. What about life? Living here should be really good. Because Zurich is one of the countries that attracts attention with its security. It is also the most developed city in terms of quality of life of the world. The traffic is flowing regularly, it is almost impossible to hear the horn sound.

3- Auckland (New Zealand)

Auckland, a New Zealand city, always ranks first in the list of the world’s most livable cities. Because there is a life far from stressful conditions in this peaceful city. Although it is located in a larger area, you can go to a great beach in 20 minutes wherever you are in the city. You can also go for a walk in a magnificent forest or enjoy your sail. In this city full of calm people, the time flows quite slowly.

4- Munich (Germany)

Munich is a German city that offers people both city life and magnificent nature. Moreover, it is one of the cities with the highest quality of life. This is a peaceful city full of joyful people, and nature life. What makes Munich beautiful to living is also its glorious history.

5- Vancouver (Canada)

One of the dream cities that maintains its innocence despite all the turmoil in the world is Vancouver. Although it is a big city, you can easily find anywhere you want, thanks to its regular streets and roads, and you can easily reach anywhere you want. With its natural beauties, it gives people the chance to live experiences that you cannot live anywhere in the world. It is well-kept, peaceful, and offers people a wonderful public service …

Which city do you think is the best to live?

Here the World’s Most Interesting and Strange Cities

What is the difference between ‘Kaltmiete-‘ and ‘Warmmiete’? – German Vocabulary

The struggle with German vocab when it comes to relocating.

When you start looking at houses and apartments in Berlin, you might come across some strange vocabulary in the advertisement or in the rental agreement. A particularly confusing one is the difference between ‘Kaltmiete’ and ‘Warmmiete’. Here we explain the reason why you need to know both.

The price difference between Warm and Kaltmiete is Nebenkosten. The average Nebenkosten in Berlin is around €2.48/sqm (source: Berliner Zeitung). In case the landlord is offering something significantly higher or lower than this, it is important to find out why. If the Nebenkosten is set too low per month, you will have to cover the costs at the end of the year, which can end up being a high additional payment. It always pays to make sure you know the difference between these terms before you sign any rental agreements!

’Kaltmiete’ literally translates to cold rent and is the basic rent for the apartment with no additional costs included. Using Kaltmiete, you can calculate the price per sqm to compare the difference in rent in different areas.

’Warmmiete’ is warm rent, and is the Kaltmiete plus additional costs such as water, property tax, gas, electricity, and waste disposal services. These costs can vary depending on how many people live in the apartment, seasonal deviation, or the property market. These “side costs” are called Nebenkosten in German.

Now that you know everything about the Warmmiete- and Kaltmiete, you can seriously start looking for an apartment! Take a look at recent postings at GLOBALS Homes.

When you find an apartment it is important to register for the Burgerarmt in Berlin. If you use AiRelo, they can help you in less than 10 minutes. AiRelo helps you fill in the form and once the process is finished, you will receive the completed form in your mail inbox.

8 Things you should know about the Anmeldung

Moving to Berlin can be stressful when you don’t speak German and need to register your address with the city. Here you will find everything you need to know about the registration, so-called “Anmeldung” in Berlin.

Prices

To find affordable accommodation in Berlin, the first thing you do when looking for a flat is to filter them by price, you have a maximum budget and don’t want to go over it. However, a good tip is to be ready to compromise, sometimes in order to have the flat, you must be ready to pay a little bit more than what was written in the ad. So go for apartments below your maximum so you still have one card up your sleeve when it comes to negotiations. Since the competition is tough, offering a little bit more can change the game. This tactic may not work when applying for a shared flat since some people do not rent their flat for the money but to share a home with other people and to them, you must sell your personality.

Type of apartment

In Germany, shared flats are very common and a great way to meet new people when you’re new in the city. Some flats are of course cleaner than others so you should definitely visit the flat before signing any contract – especially to avoid any online scams. If you are looking for studios or bigger apartments, the price will increase quickly and agencies might be the best option.

The message

The message you send is crucial to get the apartment, it is the first impression that counts. Don’t write a cover letter of 1 page, they won’t read it. The best option is to write a few lines (10 max). You can start with a general presentation; name, profession, languages spoken. Put the date you want to move in and, if any, the date you want to move out. Then you can share your Facebook profile so they know you are “real” and they can learn more about you. At the end write a few lines on why you want the room/ flat. For instance, because it seems clean or the flatmates seem to look for the same thing as you (some small talks occasionally in the shared kitchen or go out together etc.). You should also ask to visit the flat as soon as possible, it will show your motivation. This will also scare away scammers who will ask you to pay first without visiting anything because they are “not in the country at the moment” and then they send you the keys by mail.

Neighbourhoods

Berlin is a huge city with plenty of residential neighbourhoods, some being more lively than others. You should pay attention to the public transportation access in the neighborhood you choose. Some are more accessible than others and it might take you 15 minutes or more to reach the nearest tram/bus/metro station, which is something to bear in mind when working out your commute to work.

Specificities

Regarding the shared flats (WG in German), ads can be really specific; “only girls” or “only vegans” etc. Even if you want the room don’t lie in your email – even if you get the flat it will be a difficult living situation if you don’t agree on certain philosophies. When they ask for specific things (even if it is not fair) they don’t care and will find someone matching the criteria.

Website

Check out our newest platform, GLOBALS Homes where you can find or list apartments to rent, rent furnished or buy.