Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

Interesting. Here, 30-50 km north of Frankfurt, prices are actually slowly changing. There are now repeatedly properties that would certainly have been more expensive six months ago. But there are also those for which I think, who pays that much for something in this location. And these are apparently actually being sold.

The interest rates have only really risen for 3 months, so there will still be some changes.
I was at my bank yesterday regarding an inquiry for photovoltaic financing about 40kwp for our last hall roof.
Yeah, 3.28% for 10 years. I'd rather save a bit more and invest my account balance there sensibly.
We have already bought modules.
Thanks to the Easter package and 12.4 cents remuneration, photovoltaic feeding into the grid is profitable again.
But you have to stay under 1000€/kwp, meaning self-assembly and 2 weekends of work.

We also have significantly more offers. However, the prices are still high by local standards, especially because most of them really still need major renovations. I also think it is because the local buyers can hardly compete anymore. You simply don’t earn that well here. Just read an offer today.... two-family house, 185 sqm. Rented for €637 cold rent... purchase price €189,000. Sounds cheap at first, but I wouldn’t want to know what else needs to be invested in it.

Or the demands have to be scaled down again. You can also live well with 1 to 2 kids on 110 sqm without controlled residential ventilation and KNX. Or even with 80 to 90 and an extension reserve in the roof.
Maybe you just have to contribute a bit more of your own work again.

Even though I basically agree with you, building a house today without ventilation with heat recovery is utter nonsense. Even an EH70 has a great building envelope, and then we open the windows and let the valuable heat out. Not to mention that most people ventilate far too little anyway.
Also, reducing square meters doesn’t bring much anymore in a 1.5- or 2-story house after a while. You still have the walking distances, stairs, technical room. Whether you now have 130 or 110 sqm. Somewhere around ~120 sqm I no longer see a reasonable ratio if you build smaller.

PS: cheap construction still seems to be in demand. This week I talked to a neighbor who is currently doing the earthworks himself with a mini excavator (!). They ordered a Danwood. The building application was submitted to the municipal council in mid-November (2021), planned move-in date is calendar weeks 7-9 in 2023...

We also have significantly more offers here. However, the prices are still high for local standards, especially because most of them really still require major renovations. I also think that this is because the local buyers can hardly compete anymore. You just don't earn that well here. Just read an offer today.... Two-family house, 185 sqm. Rented for €637 cold rent... Purchase price €189,000. Sounds cheap at first, but I don't want to know what still needs to be invested in it.

Yes, such houses exist here too. We looked at one a few weeks ago that is listed for €189,000. It is large and you can certainly make something very nice out of it, including the outdoor area, but you have to put in at least another €150-200k before you could move in... Since the plots here are cheap, the difference to building new is quite small again.

Even though I agree with your general tone, building a house today without a ventilation system with heat recovery is complete nonsense. Even an EH70 has a great building envelope, and then we open the windows and let the valuable heat out. Not to mention that most people ventilate far too little anyway. Reducing square meters also stops making much sense in a 1.5- or 2-story house at some point. You still have the walking paths, stairs, technical room. Whether you have 130 or 110 sqm. Around ~120 sqm I no longer see a reasonable ratio if you build smaller.

PS: cheap building still seems to be in demand. This week I talked to a neighbor who is currently doing the earthworks himself with a mini excavator (!). They ordered a Danwood. The building application was in the municipal council in mid-November (2021), planned installation date is calendar weeks 7-9 in 2023...

We also build KfW70 without a ventilation system. We were simply one day too late with KfW55ee.

Currently, we are renting a house insulated with WVDS. No ventilation system there either and we ventilate daily. So far no mold.

With the current prices, I am glad to have saved 12k.