Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

I am not as pessimistic as you. At our company, home office was practically non-existent for a long time because the company founder couldn’t do anything with it. Just how long it took until our sales team was no longer located only in the southernmost corner of Germany... Then there was a change in the management and shortly after that came Corona. A larger portion will certainly not primarily return to the office anymore.

I had thought until now that renovations of old buildings would soon be very generously subsidized and that these houses would thus be more popular than new buildings. Especially since old buildings often come with a large plot of land and magnificent, old trees. Am I wrong to think so?

You’re certainly not wrong about the plot of land and definitely right about the tree stock. Although many people don’t come up with anything better to do with the plot than making golf greens. But even with subsidies, renovation is simply expensive. You have to tear it back to the shell and do everything new. If everyone renovates (has to) at the same time, material and labor costs will explode further. And even if you pay for it, in the end you have a renovated old house. Many small rooms, small windows. This kind of floor plan is currently rather not modern. But who knows, maybe it will come back ;)

I believe the municipalities should have more authority.

What would those be?

Called our general contractor yesterday. Price increase of 10% in two steps since we signed in February. In connection with the increase in interest rates from 1.04% to 2.3% for 20 years at our bank, the house would have cost us €1650 instead of €1130 per payment today, each with 3% repayment. Quite intense for 2.5 months since signing….

Spoke with our general contractor yesterday. Price increase of 10% in two steps since we signed in February. Combined with the rise in interest rates from 1.04% to 2.3% for 20 years at our bank, the house would have cost us €1650 instead of €1130 in monthly payments today, each with 3% repayment. Pretty intense for 2.5 months since signing….

If you calculate correctly, you have to reduce the repayment with higher interest rates to keep the same total term.
Nonetheless, I roughly estimate the monthly additional burden at about +€300 per month. (2.5% repayment at 2.3% interest)

For €300/month, you can definitely afford a few more conveniences over the next 20 years, like restaurant visits and family outings.
Be happy, you basically caught one of the last moments of absurdly low interest rates (during inflation that started a year ago), that’s something to be proud of!

Which ones would those be?

It has to be 30 characters

Good question. If the municipality buys them up, prices will explode. There are no leverage tools like a penalty for vacancy.

On one side, buildings stand empty, while on the other side potential owners may have to move away.

And even if you put the money in, in the end you have a renovated old house. Many small rooms, small windows. This type of floor plan is currently rather not modern. But who knows, maybe it will come back again ;)

My father-in-law also says that anything under X5 is not a car. :rolleyes:
I'd rather have a "small" house with 150 sqm and oh woe oh horror small windows (with windowsills and space for a desk or a bed or a sofa underneath) than no house. Or one of those 200 sqm monsters with a 30 sqm garden and neighbors with equally glass fronts 6 m away on every side. :D