In view of the approaching colder months, heating costs and energy efficiency are noticeably gaining importance for prospective buyers. A study by the estate agent network eXp Germany now highlights the share of residential property listings that achieve at least energy efficiency class C. The market analysis is based on 291,092 sales listings on the portal Immowelt.
The overall nationwide result is modest: only 50,765 of the recorded houses and flats were advertised with an energy efficiency class of C or better. This corresponds to a rate of 17.4 per cent across all federal states. At the same time, the regional breakdown reveals clear discrepancies between individual markets.
The North and Berlin lead the ranking
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern records the highest share. There, 2,236 of 7,097 examined properties show energy efficiency class C or better, corresponding to a rate of 31.5 per cent. Berlin follows in second place with 30.3 per cent; in the federal capital, 3,527 of a total of 11,655 recorded sales listings meet this criterion. The share in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is therefore more than three times higher than in the lowest-ranking federal state.
- —Schleswig-Holstein takes third place with 22.3 per cent.
- —Hamburg and Brandenburg follow with 22.0 and 21.7 per cent respectively.
- —Bavaria is also above the national average at 20.4 per cent.
- —Saarland brings up the rear in the state comparison at 9.9 per cent.
Alongside Saarland, where fewer than one in ten properties meets the examined standard, Rhineland-Pfalz with 10.8 per cent and North Rhine-Westphalia with 11.1 per cent also rank among the lowest positions. However, North Rhine-Westphalia represented the largest sub-portfolio in the analysis by volume, with 53,659 listings. In absolute terms, 5,946 properties there were advertised with energy efficiency class C or better, the highest total number of all federal states.
Holistic view of modernisation expenditure and purchase price
Mark Ritter, Managing Director of eXp Germany, notes that as temperatures drop, the role of energy performance becomes tangible in everyday life for prospective buyers. Alongside the pure purchase price, the question of future running costs and necessary investments gains weight. The energy efficiency class provides an important indicator for this, but it must always be evaluated in the overall context of the building.
According to Ritter, a property with lower efficiency can also represent a sound purchase option, provided the acquisition price and modernisation costs are well balanced. Estate agents assist interested parties in reliably assessing criteria such as year of construction, condition, heating technology and previous refurbishment work. For complex detailed questions, consulting energy advisors or independent experts is also recommended in order to establish viable foundations for decision-making.
