On the Sunny Side: Real Estate Management in Baden
Interview with Thomas Ganter Managing Partner of Hurrle Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG
The real estate market is tense, the construction industry has come to a halt. Material shortages and energy price increases, jumps in interest rates and inflation, in short: crises everywhere you look. Even under these signs, it is possible for some players to stay in the game and navigate their business model through the headwinds. With decades of experience, networking, and entrepreneurial foresight, Hurrle Immobilien from Germany's southwest manages this particularly well.
Thomas Ganter exudes calmness and at the same time conveys a level of commitment that seems to say: You can do business with this man. In these times, such a managing director is worth his weight in gold. And as someone who has been familiar with the Hurrle company for 20 years, he is also a perfect fit for the integrated business approach of the investment company, which specializes in the construction and development of properties to then manage them in their portfolio.
A broad portfolio for the
Right from the start, the company focused on healthy growth and diversification. "We started 50 years ago with the intention of primarily developing everything ourselves, under founder Karl-Heinz Hurrle, holding onto our assets. We have thus been able to gradually direct our offering portfolio here in the southwest in various directions and establish ourselves broadly," explains Thomas Ganter.
Initially starting with integrated health properties, Hurrle was soon able to expand into classic office and partly residential properties, and eventually also attract the hotel industry. Commercial properties still make up the bulk of the portfolio today – almost 90%.
Long-term rental creates reliability
The business model is sustainable, even in difficult times. And there is another key ingredient for the success story: Long-term rental. "Long-term rental of our properties creates reliability, whether in private or commercial," emphasizes Thomas Ganter. "Along the Rhine corridor from Mannheim to Freiburg, we have become the trusted partner in the sector, focusing on quality in the job, in construction as well as being the manager of the buildings towards our tenants."
In the hospitality sector, this consistent approach has brought partners such as Mercure and B&B Hotels. But even in urban development, the good reputation has prevailed, for example in Offenburg, where the company has played a key role in the revitalization of old Burda buildings – including a listed printing house, which is now integrated into a complex of medical center, hotel, and gastronomy as well as a parking garage.
After all: Complex projects are the strength of Hurrle Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG. This is also due to the ability to put oneself well into the perspective of potential tenants and at the same time to check whether the desired long-term nature of the partnership is given. "We definitely look at whether a business model can last for 30 or even 40 years," explains Thomas Ganter.
In an industry that is sometimes driven by rather short-term investments, this is precisely a ticket to the future and thus almost automatically also brings the public sector on board, which has a vital interest in long-term vibrant quarters in their cities.
Sustainability as an Integral Part of Business Activities
Ultimately, Hurrle also secures its ticket to the future through sustainability as an integral part of business activities – and this with a high degree of innovation, where the most modern technology is widely used. For example, building control technology is now part of efficient real estate management at Hurrle, just like photovoltaics in the newer buildings.
The idea of Mobility Hubs in the company's parking garages then almost sounds like a pet project. "Here, we are true pioneers in the industry, focusing on development with car sharing, e-bike and e-scooter stations, as well as digital payment and identification systems," explains Thomas Ganter. Even the much-discussed package deliveries and the traffic disruptions they cause are considered by the managing director in the overall concept, envisioning redirecting the packages via e-bikes after an interim stop at the parking garage for delivery.
Such consistent sustainability concepts not only make cities more climate-friendly and reduce pollutants but also enhance them overall, which is again part of the corporate philosophy of Hurrle Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG. After all, it aims to onboard all stakeholders and has always felt committed to the Southwest and its people.
"We continue to focus on the local and regional, concentrating on Baden to be close to the properties, close to the needs here. This too is part of our success. Here, locally, we want to maintain our current 60 existing properties and respond to the signs of the times with measure, purpose, and intelligence, including climate change."