Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

And that is actually wrong. The ratios of income, construction costs, and interest rates were (most years) indeed better in the 80s than they are today. But in addition, not just to be able to build at all, housing allowance was introduced to maintain the "high" standard of living. The more often you repeat it, the more you believe it. But it’s not true. It was really easier to become a property owner in the past, in the 80s/90s.

hmm, property yes, but what kind? Hint: Most of the property from the 80s/90s is still largely on the market – but it is no longer really snatched out of your hands. Regardless of any governments and heating regulations, it is simply no longer really en vogue that the attic is uninhabitable in summer, the basement is at best suitable for mushroom cultivation, and you could heat a multi-family house for a year with the fuel consumption. Yes, calculated over the entire repayment period, there were certainly fluctuations regarding how much working time one had to invest for a square meter of living space over the entire term. There were also always fluctuations in what quality you actually got for it—the house I grew up in was a 1950s post-war budget build, they used what they had and could afford—but the problem is: you never know beforehand. Once the house is paid off, you can look back more or less safely and ask yourself: Was that a good deal? But: Even if you were honest about it, what does it get you? I often stay at my in-laws’ in an 80s/90s terraced house, financed at 8% back then, yes, so what does the comparison bring me now?

Houses are refurbishable; technically, it is not a problem to create a habitable attic. Roof insulation with wood fiber, plus a photovoltaic system to capture the sun a bit earlier. Our attic is outside the thermal envelope but has been very comfortable temperature-wise so far. The roof sheathing is made of 35mm wood fiber, followed by the battens. The problem is that such houses are much too expensive when taking the renovation needs into account.

what good is the comparison to me now?

It is not about a comparison of qualities or anything like that. It is about the fact that it is easier today to afford living space than it was back then. Only one's own (excessive) wishes and ideas or the lack of understanding for any kind of sacrifice make today's would-be builders despair at creating homeownership. It is not the interest rates nor the construction costs, it is the minds of the people.

It is not about a comparison of qualities or anything like that. It is about the fact that today it is easier to afford living space than it was back then. Only one’s own (excessive) wishes and ideas or the lack of understanding for any kind of sacrifice make today's wannabe homebuilders despair at creating homeownership. It is not the interest rates nor the construction costs, it is the minds of the people.

Well, conditionally. In the past, you could simply build without insulation, many regulations either did not exist or were much more lenient than today. You are not allowed to build extremely simply anymore today. Which is a good thing.

I find it too cheap to completely shift the problem onto the excessive demands of the builders. Even at the cheaper end, one leaves tutto completto 500k on the table. That is a lot of money for an average earner. And that doesn't even include a double garage or a basement. Of course, the standard is higher today, but honestly... how much would it actually save if you installed radiators instead of underfloor heating in a new build? A heat pump is a political requirement anyway. Photovoltaics here in BW as well.

Well, conditionally. In the past, you could simply build without insulation, many regulations did not exist or were much more lenient than today. You aren't allowed to build extremely simply anymore today. Which is a good thing.

Of course, building methods were different back then. But that’s not the point. The single-family house standard in 2023 is financially easier to achieve today on 27.06.2023 than the 1986 standard was on 27.06.1986. Back then, you had to sacrifice more of your income - relatively speaking - than today. That’s all I am concerned about.

I find it too cheap to completely blame the issue on the excessive demands of the builders. Even on the cheaper end, you lose 500k tutto completto. That is a lot of money for an average earner.

No, you are thinking too narrowly. If in 1986 I managed to buy a house for DM 200,000 with a net household income of DM 2,000, but today with €7,000 I can no longer afford a house for €500,000, it is not due to the "expensive" prices, but rather the fact that today you spend more money (also relatively, not just absolutely) on frills and consumption than back then. Houses today are cheaper relative to income and the general price structure than they were back then.