At average price of approx.160 000€ per apartment it can be a good deal if financed with debt. Market value for those apartments is likely much higher and city-owned property firms can borrow very cheap. The only question is, whether this debt should be used to fix a short term problem with increasing rents or to invest in building more city-owned apartments. Besides, this deal may discourage investors, which may see property market in Berlin as low margin due to artificially limited returns.