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Estate Agents in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

David Riemeier David Riemeier Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: August 2024 WZ L68.31DE

Revenue

€12.8bn

2024

€12.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

76,007

Businesses

28,154

Wages

€X.Xbn

Estate Agents in Germany industry analysis

The property brokerage sector was hardly affected by the coronavirus crisis and the war in Ukraine. Demand for residential property in urban areas is very high, while demand for office and retail space collapsed in 2020. The slump in demand for commercial space was largely absorbed by industry players, as many companies sold their commercial properties and rented them themselves in order to increase their liquidity in the short term. These sale-and-lease-back transactions often required advice from industry players. Due to the weak development on the commercial property market, turnover is expected to fall by 0.9% to 12.8 billion euros in the current year. On average, a decline in turnover of 3.3% per year has been observed over the past five years. The increased regulation of the property market, such as the rent freeze, has also contributed to this. Politicians have also responded to the sometimes low level of qualification of estate agents by making further training certificates a legal requirement.Despite rising property prices, estate agents are still benefiting from a high willingness to invest in property as a capital investment in the current year. One reason for this is the high level of rents. However, the high level of interest rates reduces the incentives to invest in a home if the client is reliant on borrowed capital. The short supply of properties is driving up property prices in many German cities and is a major factor in the high level of brokerage fees that estate agents receive for successful brokerage. In addition, residential property is considered an attractive capital investment, especially for wealthy private individuals and investors, which is considered crisis-proof in times of volatile securities markets and persistent inflation.Over the next five years up to and including 2029, IBISWorld expects industry turnover to increase by an average of 0.2% per year to an estimated 12.9 billion euros. While the number of commercial property sales will fall due to the negative impact of working from home and online retail, industry players will benefit from recovering demand on the residential property market. Demand for residential property will once again benefit from the reputation of residential property as a crisis-proof investment, even if the high level of interest rates will continue to dampen demand somewhat. In order to remain competitive in a highly fragmented market with low barriers to market entry, companies must increasingly focus on high-quality service offerings.

Trends and Insights

  • High quality standards are becoming increasingly important for the success of brokers. As a result of increased transparency through online rating systems, high-quality service is becoming increasingly important in order to survive in competition.
  • Rising interest rates are likely to result in fewer residential property purchases in the future. The low interest rates of recent years have boosted demand for residential property, as financing was cheap. In the future, financing is likely to become more expensive and demand will fall.
  • Property agents often settle in densely populated regions. The most populous cities in Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, have the most industry players.
  • Competition in the estate agent sector is fierce. The barriers to market entry are low, and the number of players active in the sector is correspondingly high.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 3.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €12.8bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Property financing is becoming more expensive due to the rise in interest rates

  • Rising net household incomes, rising rents in urban centres and low interest rates have driven demand for home ownership through the crises of recent years.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Estate Agents in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Biggest companies in the Estate Agents in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Engel & Völkers GmbH
257.6
CBRE GmbH
205.3
Jones Lang LaSalle SE
192.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Estate Agents in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Sale of residential buildings, Sale of condominiums and Sale of commercial property. Sale of residential buildings is the largest segment of the Estate Agents in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Residential buildings are still a highly sought-after capital investment

  • The most important service is the brokerage and sale of residential properties such as detached houses and apartment blocks, which are generally purchased for owner-occupation.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The companies in this sector broker residential and commercial properties, residential and non-residential buildings and flats to third parties. In addition to brokerage, property agencies are also active in the valuation of properties for sale, rent and lease and advise their clients on sales activities. However, this does not include legal advice.

What's included in this industry?

Sale of residential buildingsSale of condominiumsSale of commercial propertyBrokerage of commercial property for rentBrokerage of residential property for rent

Companies

Engel & Völkers GmbHCBRE GmbHJones Lang LaSalle SE

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Related Terms

ORDERING PRINCIPLECOURTAGEMICROLIVINGSALE AND LEASE BACKPROPTECH

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 68.31 - Estate Agents in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

High quality standards are becoming increasingly important for the success of brokers. As a result of increased transparency through online rating systems, high-quality servi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Rising interest rates are likely to result in fewer residential property purchases in the future. The low interest rates of recent years have boosted demand for residential p...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Property agents often settle in densely populated regions. The most populous cities in Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, have the most industry ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition in the estate agent sector is fierce. The barriers to market entry are low, and the number of players active in the sector is correspondingly high.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There are no major players in the property brokerage industry. Most industry players are small companies with just a few employees and only one business, and they only operat...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Engel & Völkers GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of CBRE GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Jones Lang LaSalle SE's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Engel & Völkers GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for CBRE GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Jones Lang LaSalle SE, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

There are hardly any legal requirements to become an estate agent. However, since 2018, the professional licensing regulations for commercial estate agents and residential pr...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The estate agent sector is currently generating a high profit margin. However, increasing competition and the tense situation on the property market due to rising interest ra...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Estate Agents industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Estate Agents industry in Germany is €12.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Estate Agents in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 28,154 businesses in the Estate Agents industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Estate Agents industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Estate Agents industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 3.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Estate Agents industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Estate Agents industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Estate Agents market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Estate Agents market in Germany are Engel & Völkers GmbH, CBRE GmbH and Jones Lang LaSalle SE

What does the Estate Agents in Germany include?

Sale of residential buildings and Sale of condominiums are part of the Estate Agents industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Estate Agents in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Engel & Völkers GmbH.

How competitive is the Estate Agents industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Estate Agents industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.