21% of Germans would move if working from home were to continue to be an option beyond the pandemic, according to German news and information platform Handelskontor. The site reported that there is much to suggest that the changes brought about by the pandemic will have a lasting impact on the world of work and that rural property owners in Germany are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of this as flats and houses in rural areas become increasingly sought-after.

As many as 35% of 16 to 24-year-olds are considering a move due to the remote working trend. The site reported: ‘The older the person, the less willing they are to relocate, in keeping with the maxim: older trees, deeper roots. Before the pandemic, just 3% of professionals worked exclusively from home. However, property prices in rural regions already rose disproportionately last year. Real estate in more populous rural areas was 8.9% more expensive in the second quarter of 2020 than in the same period of the previous year. The price increase in metropolitan areas was only 6.5%. However, this could be just the beginning.”