Building cheaply - this is how it can be done too!

I see it the same way - it's beyond me how someone comes to the conclusion that you live in another house at 70 - most people build once in their life - in my area I almost only have retirees who have passed 70

I feel the same way - it’s beyond me how someone comes to the conclusion that you live in a different house at 70 - most people build once in their life - around me, I mostly have retirees who are over 70

You can’t generalize across generations.
Birth cohorts that perhaps even experienced the war built their house, and they stay there until they’re carried out. The generation (always roughly) that is now over 70 stays as long as possible and either downsizes to an apartment or buys into a residence.
Those who are now roughly 50/60 might build again on one level, renovate their old house, or buy a condominium.

You can’t infer the now over 70s from the over 70s of ten years ago, just as little as the current ones who will eventually turn 70.
We live today in a time where people tend to change if life becomes more pleasant as a result.
Earlier generations tended more to cling to what was, i.e., continuity.

Additionally, seniors today are more vigorous and have gained a very different perspective through the working world than seniors 20 years ago (the current 80s or 90s), who were shaped by other factors (economic crises). Large families hardly exist anymore either.
Today, newly retired people embrace a new phase of life, whether in a new property or a rented apartment, or with a motorhome that is in the price range of a small bungalow [emoji4]
Finding a new partner over 60 and thus radically changing living conditions is by no means unusual compared to 2-3 previous generations.

P.s. I too can imagine better things than an empty house where I can reach the one room upstairs by elevator.
In my dreams, I play bridge with peers - maybe in a seniors’ shared flat with a hired caregiver [emoji51]

Therefore my advice is to do the same. This saves you from building a second house.

Oh nonsense. What you have learned from the first house should definitely still be applied. And besides ...

They would rather move into a suitable apartment, if possible near children and grandchildren.

... when building the first house, you have no idea where the children will end up later. When you are retired and can move closer to the grandchildren: shouldn’t you do it then, just so it wasn’t in vain to have already thought about the stairlift in your younger years?

I also see that many plan for eternity, but hardly anyone actually lives in the house that long. As soon as it becomes unsuitable, they just move. Therefore, I find it somewhat pointless to "plan" my house in such a way that it is still livable at 90. What am I supposed to do with the empty rooms upstairs? Will ghosts live there then? Maybe I'll be gone by 60, then I've spent my life in a compromise. Terrible thought.

I think it is smart to plan and build your house in such a way that, after the children have moved out, for example, the upper floor can easily be converted into an independent apartment and thus rented out. I would do it that way anytime.

We also briefly considered it at the beginning, but then the house would have had to be significantly larger and it would have been much more expensive. In addition to the higher loan, the equity share would have been lower, which means an interest rate increase.
Better to build the house for now and have it paid off in 15 years, and then build a small bungalow for yourself at your desired location in 20-25 years.

Free according to the motto:
You build the first house for your enemy, the second house for a friend, and the third house for yourself.