Build new or buy an old house?

Hello everyone,

we have decided to invest in our own four walls. Now we are facing the question of whether we should build a new solid house or buy an existing solid house.

1. New build with Town & Country house
- Turnkey excluding floor and wall coverings
- Calculated price: €410,000 (including land €70,000)
- Living space: 154 m²

+ Low energy efficiency class
> low additional costs, thus higher repayment possible
+ initially no high maintenance costs
+ underfloor heating and photovoltaic system
+ electric shutters

- Outdoor area still needs to be completely landscaped
- Interiors need to be made habitable (floor and wall coverings)
- New kitchen needs to be purchased
- Finding land in preferred area very difficult and relatively expensive

2. Buy old house
- Asking price: €369,000
- Living space: 175 m²

+ Outdoor area landscaped
+ Parking spaces available
+ All rooms habitable without major renovation
+ Basement/attic finished
+ Built-in kitchen
+ Fireplace

- Oil central heating (no photovoltaic system)
- Would need to be newly insulated from outside due to efficiency class F
> higher additional costs
> What is a realistic value regarding additional costs for two adults without children?
> What costs can be calculated if we insulate anew? How do we proceed?
- Possibly high/unexpected maintenance costs
- Windows and shutters would have to be modernized gradually
> But experts/company available within the family circle, making it inexpensive

For the next appointment, we would like to take an expert with us.
Where is the best place to get one? And what costs should we expect?

After the expert's opinion, we assume we can negotiate the above-mentioned price and reduce the incurred modernization costs. Is this scope for negotiation realistic?

3. Conclusion
- To design the new build like house 2, we still need to invest quite a bit additionally (time + money)
- Costs to modernize house 2 are comparatively cheaper and provide greater added value

What do you think about this?

Best regards and thanks in advance for your ideas/advice
Luka and Tatjana

In this particular case, I have to say, this is really a tip-top home-staged property. From my superficial impression, even the heating should be okay (this is a problem point: a change of ownership triggers retrofit obligations if the technology is too old). Aside from the fact that you should still make sure about this point, I clearly see the existing property here as having the advantage. Based on his website, I trust the agent to also be able to refer a reputable energy consultant.

Thank you for the first feedback. Since we are not allowed to load links, are we then allowed to publish the images from the ad here? Because without this ad, it's quite difficult to imagine anything about property two ..:/ ?

If the situation is really good, then inventory, as it is also much cheaper.

I would also look at the location of the [Bestand]. Here you see what you get. With the new house, you have chosen a cheap provider. Therefore, further costs are not excluded.

... You could describe the content of the link so that it can be found with Google or, if in a portal, then simply the search number from the portal.