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

I also don't quite understand how a single grandmother supposedly compensates for the completely missing infrastructure.

I didn't even dare to ask that.

If that is even the case at all. We're talking about a six-figure sum here. In my opinion, people throw around "hey, you can totally spend that much on quality of life" extremely recklessly.

It should be noted that the security provided by a sellable asset disappears when a job, the ability to work, a divorce, or something else intersects with life planning... then there’s an open loan, and what exactly stands against it?

It is certainly unusual to the point of bizarre, but why not?

You can almost certainly bet against that. How does one come up with something like that? The majority of people want to work, there are fewer children, and the few people who see it differently can’t even form a small town somewhere in the sticks.

A very good argument. I had not thought of that yet. Considering the divorce rate nowadays

: We would also have to invest in this house, that's true, but it has been amazingly well maintained. The heating (oil) was completely redone in 2015, all the windows in the house were replaced in 2012. Insulation was last done in 2005. The roof will have to be done eventually, but it is still okay. The same goes for the electrical system. One bathroom was completely redone in 2015 (and really stylish), that would be enough for us at first. We would do the other two if the kids want their own bathroom.
By the time we move in and could live well for the time being, we would have to invest about 20,000 (expert estimate), but that already includes a new kitchen.
As I said, the house is worth more, I think the owner would give it to us so cheaply because my mom bought land from him by the hectare and he is annoyed that he constantly has to drive there. He lives 200 km away and drives to his mother every weekend because she needs his help, so he is quite burdened by the situation.

and : Yes, we have also thought about a shared apartment, but the old lady definitely does not want that. She didn’t even go to her granddaughter’s wedding because she wants her peace.
I don’t know how high the market price is on average in the surrounding villages, although I somehow believe it can’t be that bad. It takes 50 minutes from here to Bonn, 1h10min to Cologne, 25 minutes to the next medium-sized city, and the next smaller towns can be reached in 15 minutes. So I’m really surprised that people prefer to live cramped in the city.

: Yep, elementary school and daycare are less than ten minutes away on foot, which is important to us as well. You have to take a 20-minute bus ride to get to the secondary schools here, but that would be the same in any village where we could imagine living.

: The house, whichever one, would not be a retirement provision for us. Period. Even if we completely lose the 300k (400k is probably really overestimated, I don’t like big houses and we want only one luxury, a tiled stove), then so be it and we will have lived nicely for 20-50 years. If the other house wasn’t an option, we would definitely build there. I always cautiously calculate only with my salary and even as if I would never get a raise, but my husband is studying computer science. As soon as he’s finished, we shouldn’t have big problems saving for retirement (we are both under 30).

: I completely agree with you and thank you for your opinion. You are right, we can’t just wish something into existence. I want our children to grow up there and maybe I just have to overcome my hesitation for that...
What will soon be available in the village is an about 300 sqm half-timbered house, but no thanks, I’m not putting myself through that.

: Very good point you bring up there. You know the people and they actually want to do a good job. I hadn’t really thought about that yet. Maybe I shouldn’t have watched so many of those horror documentaries.

: Important point. Although my mom is only 55 years young. But we really want to live out in the countryside, here in this area, I’m sure of that. Moving to another village might be practical if there was a good house to buy, but somehow it would be a pity if you then move exactly 5 kilometers away that you still always have to drive by car. Also, the daycare is really great and we actually want to go exactly there.

: The practice I have my eye on is 15 minutes away. I definitely don’t want a shorter commute. All experienced colleagues strongly advised me against building the practice in my own house because then you are considered always available. Sure, everyone can ring my doorbell anytime if they urgently need something, but being rung at 9 p.m. on a Friday evening because of mild back pain on the sofa wouldn’t be exactly great.

: You mention what happens if things get tough. That’s important. So, if for example I got sick before my husband finishes his studies, my husband still has training and work experience as an educator, plus I have disability insurance. According to my calculations, the loan could still be paid off with that, but it would be tough. In case of a divorce (which I don’t even want to think about—I love my husband so much), I could continue paying off the loan.
If in the worst case neither my husband nor I are able to work and the loan is still completely unpaid, well, then I’d have to ask my brother or my father or my mom early for part of the inheritance. That would be unfortunate, but we still wouldn’t be facing ruin. (The total expected inheritance is just under seven figures each for my brother and me, but I prefer my mom to live forever and spend her money herself.)

: We have already spoken with the bank and got a very good offer immediately. So that would really be a done deal, no need to worry.
Completely lacking infrastructure? Daycare and elementary school within walking distance? Workplace 15 minutes away? Next bigger city (110,000 inhabitants) 25 minutes away? What do you think is missing there?
That’s all I want for living. That we want to live in the countryside is clear, that’s not what this thread is about.

I also don't quite understand how a single grandmother can compensate for the obviously completely missing infrastructure.

How can one not understand that? I am appalled that the tram connection can be more important to someone than proximity to a loved one.

As a doctor, she has almost free choice where to settle - everyone welcomes her with open arms. Missing infrastructure probably even increases her demand.

One assumes the relationship is stable with one child and another planned.

We also built in the middle of nowhere. Invested 400 grand. We knew from the start that we would never get the money back here. We are very happy. :P

If that is even the case.

Yes, I also have my doubts. I once worked for an MVZ developer, and I got the impression that a general practitioner in the countryside is on a very downward spiral.

In the long term, in my opinion, rural areas will become popular again and more people will seek to leave the city.

But will those places really become hardcore backwoods? – at most in retirement.

It takes 50 minutes from here to Bonn, 1 hour 10 minutes to Cologne, 25 to the next medium-sized town, and the nearest smaller towns can be reached in 15 minutes.

Sounds like Verbandsgemeinde Brohltal or something similar, i.e. Ahrweiler, Cochem, and Euskirchen as "medium-sized towns." A competent forum member wouldn’t be far away there (wpic, in the "smaller town" Münstereifel).

: Is that the 5-year-old post you mentioned the link to on YouTube?