# Brandenburg > Brandenburg surrounds Berlin and offers more affordable property options with good transport links to the capital. Canonical: https://www.investbud.de/en/states/brandenburg Last updated: 2026-10-28 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 %. - Transfer Tax: 6.5% - Capital: Potsdam - Population: 2,6 million - Area: 29.654 km² - Closely tied to Berlin: about 241,700 employees commuted to the capital in 2025 - S-Bahn connections to Berlin from towns such as Bernau, Oranienburg and Königs Wusterhausen - Mietpreisbremse (rent brake) in Potsdam and 35 other municipalities until the end of 2029 - About 2.55 million residents at the end of 2025 ## 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 ## Practical Tips - Pay attention to commuting time to Berlin. About 241,700 employees commuted there from Brandenburg in 2025, and for them a nearby S-Bahn or RE station matters - Follow plans for new rail lines. A new connection can bring an area within commuting range for the first time. How much that shows up in prices varies from place to place ## 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.