FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) – According to real estate experts, the trend towards home office can relieve the pressure on the housing markets in large cities and be an opportunity for the surrounding area. “Working from home could make a larger area around the metropolises attractive,” said Michael Voigtländer, real estate expert at the Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft (IW). If you only have to come to the office twice a week, you can also take other commutes into account.
The home office is therefore also an opportunity for rural regions. But the people there need a good infrastructure with schools, daycare centers, fast internet and some cultural offerings. “The housing markets are already very focused on the metropolises,” said Vogtländer. He does not expect a rush to the surrounding area. The metropolitan areas would remain attractive, as service jobs would arise in the cities and attract highly qualified people. “The catchment area of the metropolises could expand.”
A long-term increase in the home office would change the demand for housing, the real estate specialist JLL recently analyzed. With a high housing cost burden in the city and a high price differential to the surrounding area, neighboring regions could become more attractive. “This could outweigh the costs of increased commuting time,” said JLL expert Helge Scheunemann. Especially since the Corona crisis is likely to change your living requirements: For example, the need for a study, garden or balcony and generally more space.
According to the JLL study, where the demand for housing expands to include cities also depends on the structure of the industry: Office jobs, for example, can easily be done in the home office, while presence is required in production. The experts see a lot of expansion potential for Munich, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Darmstadt./als/DP/zb
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