The past years have seen an impressive run on the German real estate market by foreign investors. These market players from many different countries are frequently not familiar with the local real estate situation. The demand for retail objects is increasing, from new discounters to large shopping centers, as well as DIY and furniture superstores, fast-food-outlets and many other branches of business. The investors, their banks, their real estate consultants and chartered surveyors, they all need an accurate market knowledge concerning the comparative situation and the customer potentials. Special companies collect systematically data from store. The data is integrated in the new GIS software and its connected database which permits a very professional competition analysis. Specific tools have been especially developed for the market analysis of retail objects and other chains. The presentation will show the easy way to integrate market data from different sources in a GIS, and how the user can obtain comparable results in the market by one click. Even the simulation of the turn-over for any location is possible due to the market data combined with these new software-tools. The example are based on the best practice experiences in cooperation with chartered surveyors and retail chains. The result of these location analysis and valuations provide new market insights and trends to international investors and their financing institutions.