Buy land - keep the house.. how to proceed best?

Uhm; no.

Does she do that only as a manager? Or does she also take on the joint risk?

Actually, external management for single-family houses is not worthwhile at all price-wise. Especially when all the paperwork has to be done.

You can; but with one unit the risk is way too high for me. If you inherited it; sure or if the property is paid off, but not otherwise.

She will probably not take on any risk.

I am not a landlord and to be honest, I have no idea about it either.

I am simply trying not to rush the sale and regret it afterward because it could have been rented out.

Very good friends say that they would not sell the house if they were in our situation, and that naturally unsettles you.

And they (3 couples) have their own condominium units that they rent out because they built them and did not sell the apartments.

I thank you very much for your thoughts and input on this matter and we will consider every single point in the decision!!

A different question about the financing of the property.

If we could raise a total of 45k now, would it make sense to take out the remaining 30k at an effective rate of 2.99 for 24 months and, in return, not have a land charge registered.
The 30k would cost me just under 950 euros in 2 years.

With financing through the Sparkasse, I would have to borrow 55k, the interest rate would be 1.4% for a 2-year fixed rate and 2% for the variable rate.

Am I right in thinking that the former would ultimately be cheaper or am I missing something?

Yes, of course, but every house gets older. Larger expenses like heating or roof, or medium expenses like new doors and windows, etc., will eventually come up anyway, and with careless tenants probably sooner than you'd like.

I'm curious what kind of little house it will be!

Yes, of course, you're right! We "rest" mentally on the age of the house, I know!

And that's where we face the next problem :D. My husband prefers a city villa, so no sloping ceilings. But I could also come to terms with a raised knee wall. Somehow sloping ceilings make the house cozier, I feel...

And the (3 couples) themselves have a condominium apartment that they rent out because they built it and did not sell the apartments.

Condominium apartments in multi-family houses are still a little bit "less complicated" and cannot be compared to the management of a single-family house.

For example, a management company from 3 units is actually common and does not cost much. In addition, there are usually caretakers and others like gardeners etc. who at least keep the exterior in good condition and take care of the basic things (if the heating doesn't work) you usually don't have to deal with directly as the owner of a rented condominium apartment.

Also, costly things like the roof, windows, heating are not solely your risk.

And there is usually a certain social control/influence within the property among the residents.

Ah, and take photos in advance for the sale, because

Potential buyers or new tenants are not allowed to take pictures in the tenant's private rooms. If a landlord takes photos of the still rented premises, he violates the tenant’s personal rights (District Court Frankenthal, case no. 2 S 218/09).

You could maybe give the paid-off house to your child later.

And what if the child doesn't want anything used and worn out?

The house is modernly equipped and only about 10 years old. But the tenants... at first everyone is always nice and then you get who knows what in the house...

I’m also for selling... but with all due respect, you persuaders: we all were tenants once. When you read that THEY eventually become "unpleasant" or impossible to get rid of... everything gets worn out and THEY don’t take care of someone else’s property... think about whether all tenants are really that terrible.

But I see no reason to keep the other house. You have to stretch yourselves financially now to be able to cover everything, and for what? To live from 65 on? To later hold or be able to inherit an asset? You live now, and the health you have at this age you won’t have later or be able to enjoy it as much as now.

Yes and no. You can manage a single-family house yourself. Utility billing is easy, garbage, taxes, heating maintenance and so on. While gas, electricity, and water are paid by the tenant themselves. Or by the authorities in the case of Hartz IV tenants. Snow removal and street cleaning are also passed on. Garden, it is stated in the rental agreement that it is the tenant's responsibility. Professional management is not mandatory, as it is not a condominium (WEG). Condominiums (ETWs), meaning this hassle with the owners at the meetings, Mrs. Hübenbrink’s aversions to cats, dogs, and children, Mr. Martens’s hobby of acting as a garbage sheriff monitoring proper waste separation, all that makes condominiums a no-go. If housing developments already attract snobs, then condominiums are their stronghold. Karsten