The housing market is faltering.
Prices and rents are high after years of boom.
Building is becoming more and more expensive due to a lack of materials and labor.
And there is no relief in sight, on the contrary: the alarmingly declining vacancy rates in the big cities indicate that the housing shortage in the metropolises and urban centers will intensify.
Another indication of this is the decline in new construction.
The federal government is officially aiming for 400,000 completed apartments per year.
But politicians in Berlin know very well that this goal will be missed in 2022.
Experts expect only 200,000 to 250,000 new buildings - for a long time.
This is not only due to the high construction costs.
Important requirements such as the identification of building land or less bureaucracy in the authorities have been missing for a long time.
The ambitious target for new construction shows the government's understanding that the best way to combat high prices and rents is to have more supply.
From today's perspective, however, that will not happen for the time being.