Germans Give Up Savings Accounts, Invest Into Real Property

Low interest rates are driving Germans to rethink their investments and put their money into real property or future retirement funds.

A new survey revealed that Germans viewed savings accounts as less attractive to increase capital and preferred to invest their money into private houses or future pensions, according to the German “Der Spiegel” magazine.

Only 10% percent of respondents considered savings accounts attractive in comparison to 24% in 2011. 70% of Germans found saving-bank books unattractive, while a half of them completely opposed this way of investment.

The respondents also showed a tendency to put money into riskier forms of investment, such as shares and funds.

However, the survey revealed that Germans are far from becoming speculators. 15 percent of respondents prefer to keep their money at home, with majority of respondents willing to invest into real property and pensions.

Germans are not alone in their desire to invest into real assets. Most of 6000 respondents from France, Spain, the UK and the US prefer such type of investment to any others and put their money into private houses and flats.

It is no surprise either, Central Banks in Europe have destroyed any incentive for savers. Zero interest rates provide no capital accumulation, forcing investors into riskier assets.