Sprung in die zweite Reihe? Zu den lokalen Bedingungen rent gap-getriebener immobilienwirtschaftlicher Aufwertung in Brandenburgs Mittelstädten

Currently, not only German metropolises are affected by increasing real estate prices and rents, but also housing markets in the metropolitan hinterlands. In light of these trends, the question occurs whether the housing question is expanding on medium-sized towns, too. This paper pursues this question by drawing on rent gap theory. That theory conceptualizes developments on real estate markets not as an abstract automatism of the spatial expansion of real estate-driven upgrading. Instead, rent gap theory highlights the continuous social production of rent gaps under diverse historical-geographic conditions. Hence, the paper discusses the concrete local constellations of supply- and demand-side developments as well as interventions of municipal politics which enable increasing ground rents. Empirical references are the case studies Fürstenwalde (Spree) and Neuruppin in Brandenburg’s second row. Whereas both medium-sized towns are characterized by a similar population development, they differ regarding their transport connection to Berlin city center. The results indicate that in Fürstenwalde (Spree) no rent gap is opening despite its more advantageous connection to Berlin, while in the spatially more distant town of Neuruppin, a rent gap is occurring. These results contrast abstract theories of the spatial expansion of real estate investments and make clear, that the specific historical-geographic and local constellations matter in order to comprehend the emergence of rent gaps. Therefore, economic and urban geography should bring these rent gap constellations in smaller towns in greater focus.