Germany will draw Hong Kong property investors, IP Global predicts

Germany will be the next hot spot for Hong Kong property investors, property investment firm IP Global predicts.

Although the euro-zone financial crisis continues to impact countries across the continent, Germany is comparatively unaffected, says Tim Murphy, IP Global's founder and CEO.

"Germany has emerged relatively unscathed from the global financial crisis due to its strong export market as well as low unemployment and rising household incomes," he said.

Munich and Berlin are among the areas in Germany that investors could consider betting on, Murphy added.

In Berlin, the residential rental sector is the major focus for institutional investors who are keen to exploit the current employment boom. Only 4,000 units - all in the high-end market - are built each year, says Murphy.

Over in Munich, the housing market is underpinned by a diverse local economy and there are no property ownership restrictions in Germany.

Transaction costs - including real estate transfer duty, notary, registration and brokerage fees - range between 7.23 per cent and 11.27 per cent.

Capital gains tax is levied on property that is sold within 10 years at the standard progressive income tax rates plus solidarity surcharges. But there are some costs that can be deducted from the sale price, Murphy says.