Build new or buy old??

When I look at my "old" construction area, I cannot confirm that. Individual properties are regularly demolished, renovated, or converted, and within a radius of 300m, larger plots have also been replanned with several multi-family houses. Of course, this also changes the residents and their age structure.

regarding "neighborhood" etc I have just become a bit thoughtful – purely from a technical perspective I (as a construction layman!) am rather of the opinion that I usually get something new and energy-saving with my wishes/requirements cheaper than something old that I then have to remodel expensively – both in terms of heating technology and bathroom modernization, barrier-free access etc – subsidies help me little if I still have to invest heavily (but I am happy to be convinced otherwise). If then, as here, 'just' 30k (that is under 10%) price difference is on the table, the old house really has to fit my wishes very well. For personal reasons, old houses usually do not meet the requirements that are placed on our house (barrier-free access for example, which also includes no entrance stairs!), which makes the decision for an old property even less likely. In addition, old houses tend to require rather/more frequent renovations than new ones, that also must be planned for...

Thank you for your opinions!

Yes, the social environment, I would say, is also an important point for me. Around the old building, there seem to be "tolerant" people living nearby, but in that part of the district definitely many "older generations." In the new development area, around 60 residential units will be created, half of which were directly allocated by the city but with Criterion 1: toddler or child already on the way. So we had no chance there because the first child is planned but so far neither here nor on the way. The other half went to 4 developers and 1 building community. One can assume that the majority here are families about our age with and without or not yet with children. Nearby, a new kindergarten and a school will be built next year.

Barrier-free. That is also important for us because my mother will move in. In the old building, there are half-spiral staircases and at the entrance there are also 4 steps, and at the terrace again 2 (without railing). In the new building, the ground floor would initially be level, to the upper floor there would be a straight I-shaped staircase, and if necessary, later on the ground floor the living/cooking/dining room can be reduced by inserting a wall behind the carport and thus create a room on the ground floor. Although the bathroom is also upstairs, with this staircase a lift would not be a problem in x years.

After I spoke with an ex-colleague who lives almost opposite the old building, we abandoned the idea of having an expert and are now concentrating only on the chance of the new building. She has an almost equally old house and was able to tell us about the previous owners, etc. The costs for renovation and refurbishment have no precise upper limit here, which would be too risky a game for us, among other things.
The building community from the new building has to choose us as "neighbour next door" or reject us by early September... I am nervous.

Hello,

She has a nearly equally old house and was also able to share information about the previous owners, etc. The costs for renovation and refurbishment here have no exact upper limit, which would be too risky a game for us, among other things.

I wouldn’t have relied on the statements of a neighbor; houses are hardly comparable and after all, she is not an expert. On the other hand, Dirk’s statement hits the nail on the head: you should have a romantic relationship with an old building, like Hoeneß – as reported – has an erotic relationship with money. Even after extensive renovation, an old building remains an old building ... in terms of building fabric. No less rarely, it is also true that the renovation costs are comparable to those of a new building.

The construction community of the new building has to choose us as "neighbour next door" or reject us at the beginning of September... I am nervous.

Then I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Rhine greetings

Hello Stephina,

I wouldn’t rule out the option of an old building myself. Bauexperte is completely right; as long as the neighbor is not an expert or otherwise specifically knowledgeable, her statement is not very helpful. We/I have looked at all kinds of buildings (including new builds in shell construction) with an architect, even though I have relevant prior knowledge (appraisal). If you are out of the running for the new build, you will be back to square one and possibly facing an old building again.

If you come to the conclusion to categorically exclude an old building, that is of course completely fine – but if that is not the case or after some time the old building becomes relevant again, it helps tremendously if you have seen a few properties yourself. We seriously checked, iirc, 6 properties without buying any. We definitely looked at twice as many.

The inspections beforehand were a case of “learning by doing,” you simply get a feeling for what is offered, what you want, and what is financially possible.

You should also seriously check/compare the living space between old and new. If I were to newly plan my old building at current prices, some of the technology/condition would of course be state-of-the-art, but the costs would significantly exceed the purchase price including renovation/refurbishment.

Best regards
Dirk Grafe

So we didn't decide against it only because of the statements from the "neighbor". But also because of the bidding process, location, follow-up costs, etc... here there is the deadline of 31.08. and the new construction decision will only be made on 09.09. Therefore. Otherwise, of course, we are looking at all houses in the area and have already been to various developers for new construction information, etc.. You learn something new with every meeting, which is totally important for us as laypeople. Whether new construction or used doesn't matter at first. The layout, the location, and above all the price have to fit.