Build new or wait for an affordable house to become available?

Also consider how the situation would be for you if your mother is no longer there (which of course one does not like to think about, but unfortunately that is the nature of things...). I always find it difficult to make a place of residence dependent on people. Life circumstances can change faster than one would like. Otherwise, you’re probably already noticing yourself: ask 5 people, get 12 different opinions. I personally proudly consider myself a country bumpkin. However, my love for the countryside ends where I would be burning my money. In the long run, in my opinion, rural areas will become popular again and more people will seek their way out of the city. Especially because of children. But if I were already aware that I would be burning money on a new build there because it is VERY rural? Everything has to be well considered; a house is too expensive for that!

I don’t understand why building new is recommended here.

Well, life isn’t always just about money. I had the impression that here exists the possibility for a happy coexistence in the neighborhood with mommy. This time cannot be weighed against money. Of course, one has to be sure that they really want to live there. Otherwise, the money for the house is wasted, as the likelihood of finding a buyer in Hinterpupsdorf is probably close to zero. Waiting for the death or frailty of a third party to buy an (old, semi-optimal) property, on the other hand, I consider a waste of time.

I don't understand why building new is recommended here. If the OP already writes that a loss in value due to weak resale is inevitable, you can't recommend building new??? It's not about the construction costs of, for example, €300k, but the total costs including interest payments. If that then amounts to €400k and the house has to be sold for €200k in 30 years as a retirement home, then you've simply made a €200k loss.

And the €200k is putting it nicely. A few weeks ago I saw a documentary that covered exactly this problem. The houses didn't even sell for €60k. They weren't ruins or anything. They were simply areas without a major city within a radius of 30-50 km. I can gladly send you the link on YouTube. Then you won't want to build new anymore.

You write that although you are not very decisive, you are very adaptable.
Does the old lady know that you are interested in her house?
If yes, then perhaps a shared life in the house could be made possible. You buy it, make a small extension, and she has the right to live on notarized designated areas as long as she can manage on her own.
It must be clear that it is then your house.
I can imagine that she might even be happy to have a prospective doctor and a small family nearby and to see the house continue to be inhabited.

However, if the old lady does not want to know anything about the plans, then leave it and buy one of the plots and have a prefab house built on it.

And the 200k€ is still put nicely. A few weeks ago I watched a documentary that covered exactly this problem. The houses there didn't even go for 60k€. They weren't ruins or anything. They were simply areas without a big city within a radius of 30-50km. I can gladly send you the link on YouTube. Then you won't want to build new anymore.

Zaba12 quotes Zaba12... but the link is for the thread starter then?...

And in our area, many things are always spoken badly about... deep East... population decline... etc.

But even in our area, you still have to pay 200,000 to 250,000 euros for a used house. At my parents' village, it's still over 100,000 euros... and those are really old shacks. With surface-mounted sockets, wood stove, and single-glazed wooden windows...

I would normally also advise the original poster to buy a used property - but there is simply nothing to buy. Sure, one can wait for the grandmother's house, but the woman is 90, apparently relatively fit, and the first child is already born. If things go really badly, the child will have their high school diploma before the house becomes available. One should avoid relying on the death of individuals when it comes to single persons. Insurances can do that, as they can exploit statistical effects. And if you want to live in that location, you simply need a house.