Capital: Potsdam
Brandenburg
Brandenburg surrounds Berlin and offers more affordable property options with good transport links to the capital.
- Last updated:
- Editorially reviewed
- Transfer Tax
- 6.5%
- €19,500 on €300,000
- Asking price/m² (median)
- €4,017
- Cold rent/m² (median)
- €12.00
- Gross rental yield (median)
- 3.6%
- No. 11 of 16 states
Asking prices and rents from online listings for apartments, as of November 3, 2026. Not notarised sale prices.
Brandenburg surrounds Berlin and has about 2.55 million residents (end of 2025). Its housing market depends heavily on the capital: no other state has a higher share of out-commuters, and about 241,700 employees traveled to work in Berlin in 2025. The property transfer tax rate is 6.5 %.
Real Estate Market
Since January 2026 the Mietpreisbremse has applied in Potsdam and 35 commuter-belt municipalities. Check purchase prices, rents and vacancy for each town separately.
- Bernau, Oranienburg and Königs Wusterhausen are on the Berlin S-Bahn network and fall under the Mietpreisbremse
Transfer Tax Details
Brandenburg has charged a property transfer tax of 6.5 % since 1 July 2015. That is the highest rate among the states, shared with North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein. On a 250,000 euro purchase, it comes to 16,250 euros. Berlin charges 6.0 %. Because the tax is based on the purchase price, a cheaper property in Brandenburg can cost less in tax despite the higher rate. Compare the total acquisition costs, including notary and land registry fees of about 1 to 1.5 % of the purchase price.
Investment Cities
Locations range from Potsdam and the municipalities on Berlin's edge to cities such as Cottbus, which are farther away and going through economic restructuring.
- Potsdam: The state capital, whose palaces and parks are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The population grew slightly in 2025 to about 188,300
- Falkensee and Teltow: Falkensee borders Spandau to the west, Teltow borders Steglitz-Zehlendorf to the southwest. The Mietpreisbremse applies in both towns
- Grünheide and Erkner: Erkner has S-Bahn and RE1 stations. Both towns fall under the Mietpreisbremse
- Cottbus: A city in Lusatia whose economy is adapting to the coal phase-out
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property transfer tax in Brandenburg?
Brandenburg's Grunderwerbsteuer is 6.5 % of the purchase price. That is the highest rate in Germany, shared with North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein. It has applied since 1 July 2015; before that it was 5 %.
How has the Tesla Gigafactory affected property prices?
There is no clear evidence either way. Official land values do not show a uniform rise: in the Berlin commuter-belt part of the Oder-Spree district, which includes Erkner, standard land values (Bodenrichtwerte) for residential land fell in 9 zones and rose in 5 as of 1 January 2026. For Erkner, Grünheide and the towns on the RE1 line, check the current land values and comparative rents for the specific town.
Is Potsdam a good investment compared to Berlin?
Potsdam's population grew slightly in 2025, and as in Berlin, the Mietpreisbremse until the end of 2029 and a cap on rent increases of 15 % in three years apply there. The transfer tax, at 6.5 %, is higher than Berlin's 6.0 %. Whether Potsdam is the better choice therefore depends on the purchase price and the permitted rent of the specific property.
Cities with the highest yield in Brandenburg
Gross rental yield of cities with at least 30 listings for sale.
- 01Schönefeld€3,627/m²5.6%
- 02Eberswalde€2,249/m²5.2%
- 03Falkensee€3,800/m²5.1%
- 04Hohen Neuendorf€3,882/m²5.1%
- 05Hennigsdorf€3,455/m²4.9%
Check an apartment in Brandenburg
A city's median says little about a single apartment. Enter the address, price and rent to see cash flow, net yield and taxes.