We report on a new approach to MOCVD growth of GaN, i.e. hot-wall MOCVD, and its application to homoepitaxy on GaN substrates. The quality of the epilayers is examined by photoluminescence (PL). Homoepitaxially hot-wall MOCVD grown GaN layers show (1) intense PL free-exciton emissions relative to the intensity of the principal bound-exciton emission and (2) homogeneous cathodoluminescence emission within the terraces developed during the step-flow growth. Impurity concentrations in the material are measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). (c) 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.