Regardless of whether you are looking for your dream property or want to sell your condominium, you should never do without an estate agent in a real estate transaction in Berlin. Because what many people don’t know is that the estate agent becomes a loyal companion during a real estate transaction. They take on important tasks relating to the marketing of a property, present it professionally and help in the search for the right buyer. But that’s not all, because not only owners of a condominium should definitely look for a good estate agent. If you are looking for your dream property, your trusted real estate agent will be at your side every step of the way.
However, many people ask themselves how high the costs for the estate agent are and how to calculate the estate agent’s commission in Berlin. The legal basis has changed repeatedly in recent years.
What has changed as a result of the broker commission reform?
Until the end of 2020, each real estate transaction was individually regulated as to who had to pay the broker’s commission. As a rule, this was the buyer of a property, but personal agreements could also be made. The reform of the estate agent commission was implemented in 2020 and has made it easier to calculate the estate agent commission in Berlin and other German cities. The reform was published in the Federal Law Gazette on June 23, 2020 and finally came into force on December 23, 2020 after a six-month transition period. It applies to real estate transactions if the buyer is a natural person and the estate agent acts as an entrepreneur.
The reform of estate agent commission introduced a standardized system. The estate agent is an important contact for both the buyer and the seller during the real estate transaction. It is therefore fair for both parties to each pay half of the commission. You can read all the details about the reform of estate agent commission in our detailed article on this topic.
How can the estate agent's commission in Berlin be calculated?
It is up to each estate agent to determine the amount of their commission. However, it can be observed that most real estate agents are guided by the standard market regulations of their federal state. The agent’s commission also differs depending on whether the property to be brokered is a rental apartment or a condominium.
When letting a property, the estate agent may charge a maximum brokerage fee of two net cold rents. There is no such regulation when buying or selling a property.
In the federal states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg and Berlin, the standard market commission rate is 7.14 percent. If buyers or sellers want to calculate the estate agent’s commission in Berlin, they must halve this amount. Each party to the real estate transaction would pay 3.57 percent. The costs are part of the ancillary costs of the real estate transaction.
Simply ask your real estate agent how much their commission actually is. In individual cases, it is also possible to negotiate the commission.
