Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

My parents, just shy of 80, still feel great in their 160 sqm. Dad is in the garden every day, modernizing it. Mom is ill and enjoys her freedom, not only during Corona times. There are still 2 cars in the double garage, which are used every day. They are both happy with the living space. I’m happy for them :)

Almost 80 years old, they both travel to different destinations daily? That must be the secret to a long marriage! ;-)

2 cars in the double garage that are used every day

Those must be electric cars, right? The "Fossil Fuels" generation is surely aware of their responsibility towards (great) grandchildren ;-)

160sqm

That's still under 200 sqm. But at least a plot big enough for a medium-sized multi-family house with an elevator and garden?:p

That is still under 200m² But at least a plot big enough for a medium-sized apartment building with elevator and garden?:p

I always forget that we have the largest population growth worldwide in Germany and therefore the area wastefully used communist-style for single-family houses should be built over with incredibly fancy apartment buildings...

Sorry, I rarely read such nonsense. Why should the plots be assigned a new purpose? Who would benefit from that?

Better to fight vacancy than to tear down single-family houses to plant ugly apartment buildings.

Almost 80 years old and they both drive to different destinations every day? That must be the secret to a long marriage! ;-)

Exactly! Also, having the 160 sqm or the 1500 sqm property can be a reason to want to stay together so long. You young people always think that you have to live conjoined to show happiness.., but that’s of course not the case.

Those are surely electric cars? The "fossil fuels" generation is surely aware of their responsibility for (great)grandchildren ;-

Why should they take responsibility for or towards you? They live their generation: which is characterized by replacing something when it is defective and no longer repairable. My mother has been driving an MX5 for 15 years, my father always the same silver BMW: it’s practically electric since he has to recharge the battery every time ;)
You know: I at some point started down the path of moving into an apartment in the city, as intends to do. But they don’t want to. And they are mature. While others are already counting on inheritance when their parents are my age, I let them do as they please. This freedom is theirs, they have earned it, and nobody has the right to demand that they live their lives differently than they want.

In my main job, I manage apartment buildings. Better to have a garden shed alone than to give away your money for something like that. If 25% of them were, are, and promise to remain nice communities, it's gone well. It's no coincidence that many managers drop out prematurely. So many little kings in one place, you have to like that. Every year I struggle a lot to get the newcomers used to the reduced rights and greater obligations.