Berlin, Germany (CNN)For decades, eastern Berlin was a low-cost haven for creatives like freelance filmmaker Katrin Rothe.
"I first lived here for free," Rothe said. "You didn't have to think about lifestyle and making money then."
That free-spirited vibe remains very much part of the attraction for the 40,000 or so new residents who move into the city each year.
Most of the new arrivals are millennials, attracted to the city's social energy and burgeoning start-up scene.
It's a buzz that's filtered into the real-estate market, according to property consultant Nadja Ivazovic.
"Ten years ago you could sell flats, but it wasn't like this great big hype on the city," Ivazovic said.