Harburg as an investment location for real estate
District with growing population, university and strong southern axis
Harburg has around 167,671 inhabitants as at 31.12.2024, making it a large Hamburg district with continuous growth since 2017; at district level, the official time series shows an increase from 165,889 (2017) to 178,341 (2024), although the change of area in 2008 (transfer of Wilhelmsburg to Hamburg-Mitte) limits historical comparisons. The Harburg district close to the city center (core) has 29,237 inhabitants (31.12.2024), 7,250 inhabitants/km² (2023) and an average age of 36.5 years - indicators of dense, urban demand profiles and high re-rentability in central locations. As the southern hub of the metropolis, university/technology, administration, trade and inland port are concentrated here, supported by S/RE connections via the Harburg-Hauptbahnhof corridor and bus network expansions, including the new construction of the Harburg bus system from 2024 to increase capacity and improve quality.
Accessibility: S/RE corridors and inland port bridges as demand levers
The regional express line RE5 connects Hamburg Hbf, Harburg and the Lower Elbe to Cuxhaven every hour; timetables 12/2024-06/2025 and operational information 2025 show regular stops and 60-minute intervals with HVV integration-relevant for commuters and tenants from the surrounding area of Lower Saxony. Metronom connections (RE3/RE4/RB31/RB41) link Harburg to Bremen/Lüneburg; despite temporary service cuts in the past, the axis remains structurally strong and has been stabilized by measures taken by the public transport authorities. At the same time, the district is driving forward the quality of the nodes on the short route: the new construction of the Harburg bus facility is modernizing transfers and capacity in the public transport system - a plus for micro-locations in the city with low fluctuation.
Micro-locations, inland port development and strategies from core to value-add
A mixed-use, climate-resilient development strip is being created between Harburg city centre and the inland port: the draft framework plan for the eastern inland port/parts of the city centre aims for urban density, new housing and jobs, improved pathways, more open spaces on the waterfront and better connections to the train station; the city has acquired the Freudenberger site and the former Karstadt in 2024, among others, with finalization of the plan in 2025 and a decision expected in autumn 2025. Short-term measures such as the redesign of Kanalplatz (start of construction in April 2025) will increase the quality of stay and visibility on the waterfront - a tailwind for ground floor uses, mixed-use and residential concepts. Investment theses: Core in refurbished properties close to the railroad station, the inner city and the waterfront for stable cash flows; value-add through energy-efficient modernization, floor plan optimization and ground floor repositioning along the development axes of the inner city and inland port, supported by demographic growth and strengthening of public transport nodes.
Standard land values for Harburg
The standard land values for Harburg can be found in the standard land values for Hamburg here.