Paving the Way for Progress
The primary objective of the IREBS Executive Education is to equip its students with the most up-to-date knowledge in real estate economics using contemporary teaching methodologies. However, scientific progress is ever evolving, and in order to adequately comprehend emerging trends, the IREBS Executive strives to actively contribute to this ongoing development. Through close collaboration with the IREBS Institute at the University of Regensburg, as well as national and international partners from academia and industry, we engage in research endeavours aimed at providing practical solutions to real estate economic challenges faced by both private and public organizations.
Our research findings and assessments of current market and policy developments are effectively disseminated through various channels, including scholarly publications, newspaper articles, our IREBS Standpunkt., and presentations.
Research areas of IREBS Institute
Our Range of Services
We offer a wide range of services for both public and private organisations. We undertake extensive research projects that address various real estate economic issues. Our experts provide scientifically grounded analyses that serve as a basis for well-founded decisions.
We place great emphasis on presenting complex information in a user-friendly manner. Our evaluations and reports are designed to be accessible to a wide audience, enabling both industry professionals and non-specialists to benefit from our insights and recommendations.
Our research topics encompass a diverse range of areas, including real estate market trends, property financing, current developments in the real estate industry, and determinants of property markets. Through our work, we aim to promote a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic real estate sector and offer practical solutions to our clients.
You can rely on us to gain in-depth insights and optimise your decision-making processes. Our expertise and passion for real estate economics are at your disposal, ensuring valuable outcomes for our clients.
- 2018: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schäfers and two IREBS doctoral candidates receive the "Manuscript Prize Award" from the American Real Estate Society (ARES)
- 2017: Two IREBS doctoral candidates receive the "ERES Award for Best PhD Paper" from the European Real Estate Society (ERES)
- 2016: Three IREBS doctoral candidates receive the "ERES Award for Best PhD Paper" from the European Real Estate Society (ERES)
- 2015: One IREBS doctoral candidate receives the "ERES Award for Best PhD Paper" from the European Real Estate Society (ERES), and another IREBS doctoral candidate receives the "Journal of Property Investment and Finance Award for Best Paper in Real Estate Finance"
- 2011: Prof. Dr. Sven Bienert and two IREBS doctoral candidates receive the "RICS Award for the Best Paper on Sustainability"
Detailed information on the commercial real estate financing market in Germany
Since 2013, the “German Debt Project” study by the International Real Estate Business School (IREBS), supported by the Association of German Pfandbrief Banks (vdp) and five leading companies from the property sector, has been providing detailed information on the commercial property finance market in Germany.
IREBS Real Estate Finance Research Day
Every year, we present the results of our “German Debt Project”. The presentation takes place in Frankfurt in person in German and online in English.
The overall economic environment for the property sector is gradually brightening somewhat. Whilst the ECB’s interest rate cuts have so far only led to lower short-term rates – long-term financing rates remain at elevated levels – the signal that the central bank considers inflationary pressure to be manageable in the current year is understandable. At the same time, the new federal government has demonstrated with the cabinet decision on the ‘Bauturbo’ that it is tackling the housing issue – even if the extension of the rent cap acts more as a brake on incentives in this regard. The investment package has a significantly more positive impact, as it could have a beneficial effect on potential growth via infrastructure channels, not just in the short term.
All in all, these measures are likely to improve the situation on the property markets as well – but the recovery will be slower and more asymmetrical than in the years following 2010. We also analysed how this affects property financing in 2025 as part of the IREBS German Debt Project.
The 2025 study was compiled by the two IREBS researchers Simon Wiersma and Prof. Dr Tobias Just. The analysis is based on extensive data evaluations and over 20 interviews with financing banks. The data and analyses presented summarise the portfolio information of these participating banks as well as their assessments.
The study will be presented by Prof. Dr Tobias Just on Wednesday, 16 September 2026.
You can purchase the full German Debt Project study here in our webshop.
Sponsors
These analyses were made possible, as in previous years, through the financial support of our sponsors. We extend our heartfelt thanks to (bulwiengesa, CMS, CREFC, INTREAL, KPMG, MSCI, ZIA) for their generous contributions. The study findings were not influenced by the sponsors in terms of content. We would also like to express our gratitude to the vdp for their continued support, as well as to all participating banking representatives for providing the data and investing their time as interview partners.