Until a few years ago, Prenzlauer Berg was considered an insider tip. Today, it is no longer a secret how good it is to live here. The Kollwitzkiez in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg was originally named after the German artist Käthe Kollwitz. The residential buildings stood there over 100 years ago, just as they do today. Nevertheless, it is amazing how much this neighborhood has developed in recent years.
The beautiful, light-flooded old apartments in the stately residential buildings have been extensively renovated and now shine in new splendor with their high ceilings, original wooden floors and stucco-decorated facades. If you are thinking of buying or renting a property in Kollwitzkiez, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the current situation on the property market in advance. We will inform you about rental and purchase prices and bring you a little closer to life in the Kollwitzkiez in the heart of Berlin.
Interesting facts about the Kollwitzkiez
It’s hard to believe that the Kollwitzkiez in Prenzlauer Berg was once one of the most affordable residential areas in Berlin. Around 80 years ago, there was a Jewish ghetto in Kollwitzkiez in the east of Berlin’s city center. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the neighborhood became extremely popular with artists and today it is mainly well-heeled young families and couples who live here.
In GDR times, there was hardly anything left of the district’s original splendor. Many houses stood empty, others fell into disrepair and were not professionally renovated. But that came to an end after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The federal and state governments decided to invest in the Kollwitzkiez. Around 100 million euros were invested in the professional renovation of the historic residential buildings. Today, there is little to suggest that the neighborhood’s history was not always so easy.
The neighborhood stretches between Metzer Straße and Danziger Straße and features idyllic house facades, small markets, enchanted cafés and inviting playgrounds. Young families with children feel particularly at home here. Those who love good food and enjoy trying out different restaurants will be on cloud nine in Kollwitzkiez. In the evening, you can stop off at one of the many cocktail bars and chat with friends over a cold beer. Life in Kollwitzkiez is exactly what Berlin is known for far beyond its city limits – varied and relaxed.
The Kollwitzplatz social conservation area
The real estate market in Berlin has changed so much in recent decades that the city has taken measures to combat social change in central residential areas. Gentrification is progressing at a rapid pace and Kollwitzplatz in Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin is not immune to immense price increases. For this reason, the residential area around Kollwitzplatz was declared a social conservation area with effect from July 1, 2014. The area covered by the milieu protection zone is bordered by Prenzlauer Allee, Torstraße, Schönhauser Allee and Danziger Straße. Apartments and houses located in this area are subject to the legal provisions of Section 172 (1) sentence 1 no. 2 of the BauGB. The Milieuschutzverordnung describes the conditions that property owners must comply with when dealing with a condominium.
What is the current housing and real estate situation in Kollwitzkiez?
The Kollwitzkiez consists of more than 9,000 households, in which a total of around 16,000 people live. The quality of life is high, which is why many new families or well-heeled single people are drawn to the Kollwitzkiez in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg every year.
If you are looking for a suitable condominium or rental apartment, then you know how tight the situation is on the Berlin real estate market. If you have fallen for a property, you have to be quick, because the competition is fierce. In such a central location in the middle of Berlin, there are only a few properties on offer. Rising prices are also having a negative impact on demand. If you are looking for a rental apartment or a condominium in Kollwitzkiez in Prenzlauer Berg, you should compile all the necessary documents in advance. This will ensure that your request is shortlisted by the landlord or seller. You can find out what you need to pay attention to when compiling your documents in a personal consultation with our team of experts. With our help, you too can find the perfect property on Kollwitzplatz in Berlin.
The purchase price trend for real estate in Kollwitzkiez
There is no data available that focuses specifically on the Kollwitzkiez in the analysis. For this reason, data collected for Kollwitzstraße 10 is used here. We will use the information we have on this address as a representative of the Kollwitzkiez residential district.
The price increase in Kollwitzkiez has been steady in recent quarters. However, it must be emphasized that significant growth was observed in 2019 and 2020 in particular. Between the first quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2023, prices rose by 38%. The political situation led to stagnation in 2022. As a result, growth between the first quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023 amounted to just 3.5%.
There are hardly any detached houses in the densely built-up Kollwitzkiez. Most of the houses consist of several condominiums. Thanks to high ceilings, light-flooded rooms and advantageous room layouts, these are attractive condominiums that are sometimes larger than a detached house.
How much does a condominium in Kollwitzkiez cost?
If you are interested in a condominium in Kollwitzkiez in Prenzlauer Berg, then you will of course need to find out about the current prices in this exclusive residential area. In the first quarter of 2023, condominiums around Kollwitzplatz sold for between €5,500/m2 and €6,800/m2. The trend is rising, which is why it is worth buying at the current price. If you buy the apartment as an investment property and rent it out, the high rents can result in good profits in the coming years.
Whether as an apartment for your own use or as an investment property, a property in Kollwitzkiez in Berlin is a good option.
The rental price trend for apartments in Kollwitzkiez
Are you looking for a rental apartment in Kollwitzkiez in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg? Prepare yourself for a challenging journey, at the end of which you will find your dream apartment with the right support. Looking at the situation in Berlin as a whole, the average net rent in the first quarter of 2023 was €11.45/m2. Around Kollwitzplatz in Berlin, apartments will be considerably more expensive at the same time, which is why you should expect an average price of around €15.50/m2.
There was a rent cap until mid-2020, but this was subsequently repealed. As a result, rents in the Kollwitzkiez district of Berlin rose significantly. A price increase of 25.5% was observed between the third quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2023. Unlike property purchase prices, rental prices have not been affected by the political situation in Eastern Europe and the rise in interest rates.
The infrastructure in the Kollwitzkiez
We have already indicated that the Kollwitzkiez has an outstanding infrastructure. But what exactly does that mean? Are there enough doctors’ surgeries? Which schools do the children of the families who live around Kollwitzplatz attend? Where is the nearest train station and what is the composition of the Kollwitzkiez population?
Transport links
Kollwitzkiez is located in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg in the eastern center of the German capital. The neighborhood is easy to reach by public transport. Both the M2 and M10 lines run in the immediate vicinity of the neighborhood. The subway station on Senefelder Straße is used by residents of Kollwitzkiez mainly to get to work. The Kollwitzkiez is also easy to get around by bike thanks to its cycle paths. This option is particularly popular in the summer months when the temperatures are pleasantly mild.
Parking lot situation
Anyone familiar with Berlin knows that the parking situation is tense throughout the city. The Kollwitzkiez is located in parking management zone 42, which means that residents do not have to pay parking fees if they make the necessary bureaucratic effort. Tourists and other visitors, on the other hand, are obliged to pay a fee for their parking space.
Demographic situation
There are no statistics that deal explicitly with the Kollwitzkiez. A total of around 16,000 people live in the neighborhood around Kollwitzplatz. They are divided into just over 9,000 households. The housing deficit is slightly under 300.
Around a quarter of residents originally come from another country and have moved here in the course of their lives. Just under 13 percent have a migrant background but grew up in Germany.
Over 70 percent of the people in Kollwitzkiez are between 18 and 65 years old. Less than 20 percent are children, most of whom are of a young age, indicating that the Kollwitzkiez is inhabited by young couples and families. Less than 10 percent of the neighborhood’s residents are 65 or older.
Party shares
There is no data available that explicitly refers to the Kollwitzkiez. For this reason, information describing the district of Prenzlauer Berg and the district of Pankow in general is used here.
In the 2021 federal election, the Greens came first, while the SPD came second and DIE LINKE came third. Anyone interested in the political orientation of the residents of Kollwitzkiez will find the information on the election results for constituencies 076 and 083 very interesting.
Schools, daycare centers and playgrounds
The Los Treinta Lobitos kindergarten is located in Kollwitzstraße. It is an initiative of German and Spanish-speaking parents. The children are educated bilingually. There is also the Sonnenblume daycare center and the Am Wasserturm kindergarten.
Kollwitzkiez is a family-friendly neighborhood. As soon as the residents’ children start school, they can choose between one of the elementary school. Popular schools include the Grundschule an der Marie, the Schule am Senefelderplatz, the Grundschule am Kollwitzplatz and the Grundschule im Hofgarten.
If you go to grammar school after elementary school, you can choose between the Gymnasium am Europasportpark, the Heinrich-Schliemann-Oberschule or the Käthe-Kollwitz-Gymnasium. The Lessing-Gymnasium is also located directly in the Kollwitzkiez in Schöningstraße.
Doctors and medical care
Who hasn’t experienced those afternoons when you want to squeeze in a doctor’s appointment for your child between the end of the working day at the office and the parents’ evening at elementary school? When you finally get through the appointment, you have to drive all the way back to your apartment to drop your child off at home before the next appointment. And if there’s an emergency, you have to travel long distances to get to your GP.
If you live in Kollwitzkiez, you have all the doctors’ surgeries right on your doorstep. For example, a gynecologist’s practice and a family doctor’s practice are located directly on Kollwitzplatz. But other specialists are also represented in this popular residential area. This means that you have all the doctors right on your doorstep and don’t have to travel long distances to be properly examined or treated.
Shopping facilities
If you choose to live in the middle of a metropolis, you want to be able to get everywhere on foot or by bike. After all, nobody wants to have to move their car from the parking lot they’ve been looking for just because they have to do their weekly shopping. From EDEKA and REWE to Lidl, all the relevant supermarkets are within walking distance. But that’s not all, because twice a week there is a market right on Kollwitzplatz. While on Thursdays you can buy mainly regional products from the current season at the organic market, the weekly market offers exquisite meat products and fresh vegetables as well as exotic spices.
The streets of Kollwitzkiez are lined with small stores selling handicrafts, high-quality fashion and all kinds of other things.
Conclusion
The Kollwitzkiez in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg is the symbol of a relaxed life in the middle of Berlin’s diverse neighborhood. During the day, residents and tourists stroll through the streets, stop off at cafés and restaurants or take a look at the beautifully designed windows of the small stores. At the weekend, they head to the weekly market, where you can find fresh coffee and a pretzel pastry as well as regional fruit or hot spices.
Real estate is expensive and in high demand. You should therefore compile all documents in a folder in advance. This will ensure that you can provide the landlord or seller of your dream property with all the necessary information about you. With the help of a professional estate agent, you will find what you are looking for even more quickly and can present yourself in the best possible light in your application.
