Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

And after how many years is it paid off? And how high are the reserves by then?

According to the calculator, it will be paid off in 32 years. We calculate with 25 years (special repayments are very feasible with a monthly savings rate of €1,500).

The residual value of the rental apartment after 25 years is then 0. The residual value of the house + land is probably as high as the purchase price, since the land price alone has increased tenfold in our area :)

If it is actually true that renting is cheaper than buying, then sure. But if the net cold rent is just as high as the annuity, I would not assume that. Especially since you still have to get a suitable, oh so cheap rental apartment. It is also true that in rent indexes, etc., existing rents show a huge difference compared to new rentals. So if you look for example in the neighborhood where my condominium is located, the maximum listed is 11.xx EUR per m², which already covers the higher standard. But when I look at offers for comparable new rentals, the prices are rather at 14-15 EUR per m². That’s about what I will ask for my condominium after moving. Fortunately, my condominium is new enough so that the rent control does not apply to me.

The problem is the naive approach. You can get good information about full cost calculations (among other places, here in the forum). This does not need to be elaborated further in this thread. Just a note: Renting is usually cheaper. If it is "clearly different," the calculation is wrong.

Here is a good example:

Usually no one said. I am talking about myself and the current market situation in the area (Potsdam & Berlin).

But: You have to want that. Rethinking entrenched opinions can hurt. However, it can possibly get you further in life than labeling people with different opinions as pedantic prigs.

All good. I enjoy thinking controversially and also try to understand other viewpoints.

Ultimately, it depends on the future scenario. In most scenarios, buying is more worthwhile than renting – except for real estate in the already mentioned metropolitan areas.

In a scenario of continuously rising purchase prices (which, however, also lead to an increase in the buyer’s wealth) and simultaneously rising interest rates, renting is usually more sensible than buying. For this scenario, rents are also not expected to rise as sharply as purchase prices.

Also, saving must start early and a decent average return must be achieved so that in the end, in old age, one can pay the rent from the capital gains earned.

Those who proceed this way can also build wealth as renters in the long term, in some scenarios certainly even more than through buying real estate. In particular, they avoid holding the majority of their wealth in only one single investment. Because if the property’s value declines, for example, because there is no demand for apartments or houses in the residential area in a few decades, the owner is hit especially hard by this development. A property is therefore by no means a risk-free investment.

To what extent such a scenario is realistic in the future, everyone must judge for themselves.

In addition, one must start saving early and achieve a decent average return so that in the end, in old age, the rent can be paid from the capital gains earned.
Anyone who proceeds this way can also build wealth in the long term as a renter, in some scenarios certainly even more than when buying real estate.

And that is exactly what people simply do not do, at least the majority. The compulsion is missing. You only have that with the repayment for the house.

Purchase is better. Or do you think the landlord pays extra for you so that you can live cheaply?