In times of growing uncertainty and the rising cost of living, the topic of retirement planning is becoming increasingly important. A property can play a decisive role in this – not only as a home, but also as a secure component of your retirement assets. But how can you use your property strategically to ensure…
The residential property market in Germany can look back on a year 2024 that was characterized by stabilization trends and regional differences. Following the sharp price declines of the previous year, prices in many areas of the market appear to have settled at a new level. However, the momentum remained varied depending on the region,…
After years of flexibility in everyday working life, more and more companies are increasingly returning to the office. The pandemic has established the home office as an integral part of the working world, but there are now signs of a clear change: many companies are once again increasing the mandatory presence in their offices. This…
The Focus Group regularly provides information on topics relating to housing – and saving energy is a particularly important issue for both tenants and owners. In view of rising energy costs and the need to reduce CO₂ emissions, the conscious use of energy is more important than ever. With simple measures, you can reduce your…
Mold in the home is not only annoying, but can also affect health and damage the fabric of the building. One of the main causes of mold growth is incorrect ventilation. However, mold can be effectively prevented with a few simple measures. In this article, you will learn how to ventilate properly and thus create…
Sustainability starts within your own four walls. If you want to live in a more environmentally friendly way, small changes can make a big difference – for the environment and your own quality of life. Here are some practical tips for making your home sustainable and conserving resources. 1. use energy-efficient appliances Outdated electrical appliances…
Solar systems are becoming increasingly popular, not only for private homes, but also for apartment buildings. They offer a sustainable way to reduce energy costs and contribute to climate protection at the same time. There are many ways for apartment buildings to benefit from this technology – for both owners and tenants. Solar systems –…
The German government has launched a groundbreaking law for the building sector: the cabinet approved the new building type E, which will be established as the standard for climate-friendly construction. This decision marks an important step towards greater sustainability and energy efficiency in the construction sector and is intended to pave the way for Germany’s…
Fortis Gebäudeservice Leipzig GmbH is entering a new era: with its full integration into the FOCUS Group, the company will in future operate under the name FOCUS Gebäudeservice GmbH. In addition to the name change and the affiliation to the FOCUS Group, there is another important change: Mr. Benjamin Bannas takes over the management of…
The dream of owning a home is an important life goal for many, but financing it is often a challenge. How much you have to earn gross to be able to afford a property depends on several factors: the property price, the amount of equity, the financing costs (such as interest rate and repayment) and…
In Germany, housing is becoming more expensive for many people, and this is by no means only due to rising rents. A major cost factor for tenants are the so-called ancillary costs or “second rent”, which are rising continuously and now have a significant impact on the monthly burden for many households. But why are…
The business community is concerned about GDPR 2.0 and the NIS 2 Directive because both regulations bring additional requirements and challenges that may lead to significant adjustments. These new regulations aim to strengthen data protection and cybersecurity, but they create new responsibilities, costs and risks for companies. In detail: 1 GDPR 2.0 The GDPR (General…
With the passing of the Bureaucracy Relief Act IV (BEG IV) in the Bundestag, far-reaching changes are imminent for commercial leases. These reforms relate in particular to the formal requirements for rental agreements and aim to relieve companies of unnecessary bureaucracy. The decisive innovation: in future, text form will be sufficient for commercial leases –…
From 2025, new regulations on the depreciation of real estate are expected to come into force, affecting both property owners and investors. Depreciation for wear and tear (AfA) plays a central role in real estate taxation, as it enables the gradual deduction of the acquisition and production costs of a property over its useful life….
Yes, tenants can deduct household-related services for tax purposes, even if they do not own the apartment. This applies to certain services that are related to the home or building and are provided by third parties. Here are the most important points: 1 What are household-related services? Household-related services are work that could normally be…