Land Reference Values in Germany – The BORIS System Explained
Aktualisiert: 2026-06-09
Germany's Most Reliable Land Price Source
Germany maintains one of Europe's most transparent systems for land valuation. The Bodenrichtwert (BRW) – literally "land reference value" – is an officially determined average price per square metre of building land within a defined zone. It is published regularly by local appraisal committees (Gutachterausschüsse) and made available nationally through the BORIS-D portal.
How Bodenrichtwerte Are Calculated
Appraisal committees collect all notarised property transactions in their jurisdiction. They then group comparable plots into Bodenrichtwertzone (BRW zones) and calculate the average price per m² for each zone. The result is updated regularly – annually or every two years depending on the federal state.
The key point: a Bodenrichtwert always refers to a standardised, undeveloped building plot within that zone. Actual sale prices of developed properties are recalculated to the bare land equivalent for inclusion.
What BORIS-D Contains
BORIS-D (Bodenrichtwert-Informationssystem Deutschland) aggregates BRW data from all 16 federal states into a single, freely accessible portal. Coverage across Groundcheck:
| Federal state | Coverage |
|---|---|
| NRW, Hesse, Brandenburg, Berlin, Hamburg, Lower Saxony | ✓ Live |
| Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Thuringia | ✓ Live (BORIS-D) |
| Bavaria | ✗ Requires licence (LDBV) |
| Remaining states | ✓ Via BORIS-D |
Bodenrichtwert vs. Purchase Price
The Bodenrichtwert is a zone average – a starting point, not a binding valuation:
- Shape and access: a narrow or landlocked plot is worth less than a corner plot with road frontage.
- Development state: baureifes Land (fully developable) is worth more than Rohbauland (raw land).
- Floor area ratio (GFZ/GRZ): higher permitted density generally means a higher land value.
For a binding valuation, a certified appraiser (Sachverständiger) is required.
Using the Groundcheck for German Land Values
When you click on a location in Germany, Groundcheck queries the PostGIS database that contains all publicly available BRW zones. The result shows:
- The land reference value (€/m²)
- The applicable zone attributes (usage type, development state, permitted storeys)
- The reference year
- A direct link to the appraisal committee's PDF conversion table where available
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bodenrichtwert the price I'll pay?
No. It is the average for the zone, adjusted to a standardised plot. Real purchase prices vary based on individual plot characteristics, demand, and negotiation.
How often is the data updated?
Most federal states publish annually; some every two years. Groundcheck reflects the most recent published update for each zone.
Why is Bavaria missing?
The Bavarian Land Survey Office (LDBV) provides its BRW data under a commercial licence. We have filed a data request and will include Bavaria as soon as open access becomes available.