East German village sells for 140,000 euros
Alwine, with a population of 20, sold to anonymous buyer who bid by phone
Berlin
THE only bidder at an unusual auction on Saturday put down 140,000 euros (about S$222,750) and walked away the new owner of a small slice of German history: the village of Alwine, population 20.
Its empty homes and ageing residents mirror the wider fate of the ex-communist east German hinterlands since the country's reunification 27 years ago. The anonymous buyer, who bid by telephone, scooped up the community that real estate auctioneers Karhausen had given a starting price of 125,000 euros. In 2000, the hamlet was sold to private investors for one "symbolic Deutschmark", the pre-euro German currency.
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Property
Airbnb promises to combat sex work in rentals during Paris Olympics
Hong Kong property deals hit three-year high in April
More homes planned in Media Circle to support housing demand
Qatari Sheikh sells London mansion to fellow royal for £39 million
Toronto home sales fall for third month in April; prices rise
Far East Shopping Centre owners in private talks after close of S$928 million en bloc tender