DAVE, the German Investment Real Estate Association, can look back on a successful year 2025: With a property turnover of around 670 million euros – i.e. well over half a billion euros – the nationwide network confirms its strong market position and the performance of its partner companies.
René Husfeldt, DAVE Managing Director: “This result and the high level of satisfaction within our partner network shows that our approach works, both in the A locations and in B and C locations. A significant part of the turnover was generated outside the top 7 cities. This underlines that functioning markets are also, but by no means only, limited to the classic metropolises.”
This development is also confirmed by DAVE partner Arcadis, a leading provider of consulting, project management and engineering services: “We analyze portfolios from a technical point of view and find that investments in secondary locations are becoming significantly more important,” explains Thomas Portmann, Head of Transactional Services at Arcadis. At the same time, the joint business within DAVE is to be further expanded. In the area of real estate transactions and life cycle planning, DAVE cooperates with Arcadis.
Close cooperation across national borders is also an important growth driver. “Cross-border business in particular is developing very dynamically,” says DAVE partner Daniel Trefferer. “From an Austrian point of view, we benefit greatly from the fact that many German customers are already working with us. Conversely, we are seeing a growing interest of German investors in the Austrian market, especially in Vienna.”
DAVE is specifically relying on the strength of its regionally anchored network: Customers can count on having a partner in the entire DAVE team who combines local expertise with nationwide and Austrian reach.
DAVE will also remain present at industry events: The network will once again be represented with its own stand at Expo Real, where it will present its market activities and new cooperation approaches.
Political framework: More market, less government
With a view to the current housing policy discussion, DAVE takes a clear position. The background to this is recent proposals by Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who has, among other things, brought into play the establishment of a state housing association to boost housing construction.
DAVE partner Sven Keussen: “We take a critical view of such approaches and instead advocate market-based solutions.” “Instead of a new foundation, the already existing Federal Institute for Real Estate (BImA) could also take over this task. In addition, the municipal housing associations already have the necessary expertise and market knowledge in the respective municipalities,” says DAVE partner Wieland Münch. DAVE partner Corvin Tolle adds: “It is crucial to facilitate private investment, lower regulatory hurdles and sustainably reduce construction costs. This is the only way to create urgently needed living space quickly and efficiently.”
Result
With strong sales growth and clear customer benefits through supra-regional cooperation with investors from all over Germany and Austria, DAVE sees itself well positioned for the coming years. The network wants to further expand its position: regionally, nationally and cross-border.
