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Don't you get the feeling that very few are willing to commit to an existing property when buying or planning? Many have the notion that buying an existing property is inferior. The passion for owning a home isn't that big if you can't match it 1:1 with a new build. Individuality is a challenge for many, just like asymmetry.
I bet, even though this is a house-building forum, that there should actually be many prospective buyers here. But there aren't, because for many it is simply not an option.
Yes and no. At first, we also preferred to buy a used house. The plots are usually larger there as well. After a few viewings, however, it became clear to us that in our price range and with the needed size, only "ruins" would come into question. We would have had to invest at least another 100-200k euros just to be able to live there safely and reasonably. This is certainly due to our region, but we are bound to it professionally. Financially, it would have been more of a risk for us, as we are definitely not craftsmen.
In the end, we decided on a new build. Although it is a conversion of an old barn into terraced houses. The garden is tiny, but if needed, you can still buy a small piece of land in the village. Financially, we are now significantly better off than if we had bought an existing property including renovation. Yes, the plot is of course much smaller now, but we have black thumbs anyway.
I believe the willingness to buy an existing property is there for many, but you simply don't know what’s lurking behind the walls and not everyone has craftsmen in the family or among friends. Not everyone dares to take that on.
