Build a semi-detached house or a detached house? Which is cheaper?

Hello everyone,

we (married, 2 small children, wanting more children (2-3)) are planning to purchase a plot of land in Pulheim in the new development area. The plots are being sold by the city. Since we plan to build 170sqm of living space plus a basement and garage, we are looking at the costs.

According to the current estimate, the solid semi-detached house with the plot would cost about €470,000. An amount that would require us to take out a loan of €320,000, which we would have paid back in 25 years according to preliminary calculations.

The disadvantage of the semi-detached house is coordinating with the neighbor, as well as the fact that if you build a garage on the plot (the plot is 10m wide, house dimensions 7m x 12m), then the living room and part of the kitchen would have no windows.

The disadvantage of the detached house is the higher plot price; we would have to expect an additional €40,000 for the plot.

Would building a detached house with the above-mentioned specifications also be more expensive than the semi-detached house? Then our costs would increase again....

Please give me your assessment / advice

You have already recognized one factor. The larger plot.

A detached single-family house does not have to be more expensive, but it can be, depending on how everything is planned. Usually, builders save on the partition wall between the two houses. Our provider always builds a full-fledged house, with complete insulation, etc., whether it is a semi-detached house or a detached house. That is why the effort is the same here. The only thing that needs to be changed is the fire protection. Depending on the planning, a detached house can become more expensive because more window area may be required.

For us, a semi-detached house was out of the question, because then you have exactly the same problems as in a rental apartment. You hear the neighbors, or their music, or TV. In addition, there is the small garden.
And with a semi-detached house, you really have to like each other; for example, if the neighbors are people who don’t like children, it can become stressful.

Regarding the problem with the neighbors - I think these are factors that need to be explored before the construction. The same thing can happen to you in the new development even with a detached single-family house. We first have to see whether the others would go along with our project if we were awarded the contract for the plot.

For us, a semi-detached house was out of the question because then you have exactly the same problems as in the rental apartment. You can hear the neighbors, or rather their music or television.

I have already lived with my parents in a mid-terrace house, a semi-detached house (although it was the same house model), and most recently again in a mid-terrace house; you could only hear the neighbors if they drilled a hole in the wall. I guess it depends on the construction!