Buying a house on Lake Starnberg — family homes, country houses and lakeside properties in the Five Lakes Region

Berg am Ostufer is characterised by its castle complex and its history as a royal summer residence. Detached houses set on park-like plots dominate the landscape, and there is hardly any through traffic. Properties are rarely advertised publicly; many sales are arranged through personal contacts. As a result, the local amenities remain on a manageable scale: shops, doctors’ surgeries and secondary schools are located in neighbouring villages.

Tutzing, on the western shore, has the liveliest town centre of all the lakeside towns and the widest variety of architectural styles, ranging from Gründerzeit villas to more recent country houses. The S6 S-Bahn line runs all the way to Munich city centre, whilst schools, doctors’ surgeries and shops are all within the town itself. For families who commute, this is the most practical location on the lake for everyday life.

The municipality of Pöcking stretches from the western shore well into the hinterland and is well connected via the B2. The development is less dense than in the district town, and the plots are larger on average. Houses with direct access to the lake are situated in the districts of Possenhofen and Niederpöcking, whilst the rest of the municipal area is predominantly rural.

Feldafing is characterised by the extensive landscape park on the riverbank and the nearby Roseninsel. Houses here are often situated on plots with mature trees, many of them set back a second row behind the park. The golf course, the S-Bahn station and the spacious layout of the former summer residences create an environment in which the garden is often just as important as the house itself.

Seefeld lies to the west of Lake Starnberg, on Lake Pilsensee, and is therefore somewhat removed from the lakeside villages. The area is rural in character, with no promenade. Peace and quiet and the size of the plots are more important here than a view of the lake, and despite its outlying location, the journey time to Munich is no longer than from the southern lakeside towns.

The region’s infrastructure is concentrated in the district town: a direct S-Bahn link to Munich (line S6), secondary schools, healthcare facilities and retail outlets are all situated close together. As a result, houses in Starnberg are more often found within the established town fabric than standing alone in the countryside. Quiet hillside locations above the lake offer some distance from the centre, whilst lakeside plots within the town limits rarely become available. Anyone wishing to buy a house here can find the full range of properties on offer in the district town under ‘Properties in Starnberg’.

Possenhofen is known for its castle and its links to the Bavarian royal family. The neighbourhood is situated right by the water, away from the main roads, and has its own S-Bahn station. Houses here are often built on plots that have developed over time, whilst shops and schools can be found in Pöcking or Starnberg.

Niederpöcking, the second riverside district of Pöcking, is small and exceptionally quiet. There are no shops or schools; the area is purely residential. Plots with direct access to the water only become available occasionally, and anyone keen to secure one will need patience.

Söcking, a district of Starnberg situated on a hillside, was mainly developed in the post-war decades. Starnberg railway station, with its connection to the S6 line, can be reached in a few minutes, as can the town centre. Whilst the location does not offer lake views, it does provide short journeys in both directions, making the district an attractive option for commuter families.