Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

I agree with you that, viewed as a whole, the real estate transfer tax is only a small part of a very large property developer project, but things like the lack of [KFW funding] also cause cooperatives to stop building or to have to rent out much more expensively (2-3 euros more per m2).

From the gut, I would say that the real estate transfer tax can remain but should be reduced. Especially for people who will subsequently occupy the property. Or the tax could be graduated. First property without tax, then progressively increasing. Regarding housing construction, I would also say from the gut that only a state cooperative, which operates merely at cost, can do that. Especially in metropolitan areas, living space will naturally not become cheaper. It can't either, because the scarcity of building land leads to high prices. Likewise, rent is determined by supply and demand. The question is also whether one even wants that. Indeed, there are so many aspects to consider here that it is difficult to predict all the consequences. By the way, I find it funny when someone implicitly claims that they are one of the few who have a full overview of a highly complex market situation with various players.

Uh, someone is quick to get irritated.

Not at all.

Again about my argument regarding the real estate transfer tax: if this is waived, it will be easier for current tenants to take the leap into homeownership...

That is definitely true. Although, to be honest with yourself, if the real estate transfer tax is the problem, you probably shouldn't even think about buying a home.

And exactly this increase in supply is only created when the "bad investors" from your point of view also have an incentive to invest (KfW subsidies, no real estate transfer tax). Then they create more living space (by the way, often with 25% social mandatory promotion in cities),

We are currently talking about at least 40% in larger cities, sometimes even 50%. And when I see that this then means only getting half the rent for social housing, everyone can easily imagine how easy it is to build at current prices...

Just from gut feeling, I would say that the real estate transfer tax can stay, but it should be reduced. Especially for people who will live in the property afterwards.

Let's see if the FDP can push through their demands. This idea is not new, after all.

By the way, there is already a tiered real estate transfer tax. There is already an exemption threshold for cheap purchases. Unfortunately, €2,500 doesn't get you far...

Not at all.

That is definitely true. Although, if you are honest with yourself, if the real estate transfer tax is the problem, you shouldn’t even think about owning a home.

We are currently talking about at least 40% in larger cities, sometimes even 50%. And when I see that this then means only getting half the rent for social housing, anyone can easily imagine how difficult it is to build at current prices...

Let’s see if the FDP can push through their demands. This idea is not new.

By the way, there is already a graduated real estate transfer tax. There is already an exemption threshold for cheap purchases. Unfortunately, €2,500 doesn’t get you very far...

I don’t mean in terms of the purchase price, although that would also be a conceivable option. Here, however, inflation would also have to be taken into account. I rather meant in the sense that: whoever buys several houses in their life pays higher real estate transfer tax with each purchase. Basically, the state subsidizes the first home most through low taxes.

I think it's quite good, but I would find a tiered system based on owned properties even better. So the first purchase is free. But also the second purchase is free if the sale of the first is proven. Only when it comes to the second and third property does it become increasingly expensive. And from my point of view, there should also be an exemption possibility if one demands social rent for 15 years (e.g. >50%<70% of the local average)...

Gut feeling tells me that the real estate transfer tax can stay, but it should be reduced. Especially for people who will live in the property afterwards.

I also think that's something that needs to be addressed somehow.
I always look admiringly at other countries where far fewer people rent. There, buying and selling isn’t such a huge deal. Here, it’s very expensive because of the additional purchase costs, and the bureaucratic process with registrations is tedious. Here, a property is really a "once in a lifetime" thing; in other countries, you just sell your house if you want to move somewhere else or look for something bigger.