Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

We are not among the countries with the highest life expectancy in Europe.

Topic education: "Germany is one of the six EU countries with the highest proportion of young adults with a low level of qualification."
And it doesn’t seem to be getting better. "While the rate improved overall in the EU, the proportion of early school leavers in Germany has increased."

And since you, as I assume, are a woman. Regarding sexual assaults, "the figures in Germany differ significantly from those of its European partners: they are 60 percent above the average."

Personally, I think we live here in Germany the way the majority of voters want; I then just want appropriately low taxes, contributions, fees, etc. ;-)

That is, of course, just thrown into the room a statement. The background, however, is that in Germany a) very little "violence" is accepted and b) the threshold for filing a complaint is lower. We accept less violence than, for example, Spain and Italy.

Who has a functioning crystal ball and can say something about interest rates/material prices 2024/2025?

Me, me. Ok, the battery of the ball is charged. The ball predicts:

2024: Interest rates 3-3.5%; material prices remain at the 2022 level
2025: Interest rates slightly decrease to 3%; material prices remain at the 2022 level.

The prerequisite for this is that Germany still has the euro and not the ruble, and there are enough skilled workers after monkeypox 3.0 and coronavirus 56.8.

I personally think we live here in Germany the way the voting majority wants; so I also only want appropriately low taxes, levies, fees, etc. ;-)

@all: I know it’s worse elsewhere in the world. What matters to me is that the claim that we are "rich" has a sedating effect, under which we forget child poverty, old-age poverty, homelessness, pensioners collecting bottles, a two-tier medical system, overly expensive public transport, no therapeutic support for people in need (whose absence may possibly lead to rash reactions), and much more. It also becomes harder to draw attention to grievances when we are supposedly so rich and doing so well. I am of the opinion that for the amount of money "we" pump into this system, simply better results should be delivered and grievances addressed. But I am happy for and about everyone who has the impression that we are "rich" and can cultivate this feeling day by day. :)

Can you please provide a source for this? According to the official figures on European countries from the Federal Statistical Office, Germany is pretty much at the European average. Therefore, I do not want to just leave this statement as is.

I admit I only googled quickly because I had an appointment. The source was the magazine Spiegel, which I normally do not read or cite. I apologize, as mentioned, time conflict. The EU statistics are more credible. The value for the EU (without GB) is 31.73 for men and women; for Germany the value is 40.68. As mentioned, it only concerns sexual offenses. @all: I am not going to address every single argument now, as it leads too far off the topic and presumably convincing arguments can be found for every point of view. I am happy to try to adopt the perspective that we are rich and join the majority opinion. Being rich is (however, not only for myself) preferable to me as well. :)

Yeah? Strangely, with asparagus and strawberries, it looks different. Could demand perhaps have an influence after all?

Yeah. I don’t see a single-family house as a seasonal product. :rolleyes: Whether you pay 50€ or 100€ and then 75€ again for the strawberries over the year doesn’t really matter.
“Normal” items are always getting more expensive… and permanently!

Yeah. I don't see a single-family house as seasonal goods. :rolleyes: Whether you pay 50€ or 100€ during the year and then 75€ again the next one for strawberries doesn’t really matter.
“Normal” items are always getting more expensive… and permanently!

Like TVs, computers, or cell phones? They have never dropped in price in the past. Or freight rates.. ;)

But also currently – wood and steel. It’s all a question of time – and supply & demand. And if that ratio reverses, the market tips in another direction. It takes time, but it happens. A few months ago, the Bundesbank’s warnings about the 40% fallback potential were still dutifully ignored or laughed at – and yesterday Bild headlines and today Spiegel..

According to Spiegel, "currently almost a third of financings fall through just before signing because the banks can no longer reflect the runaway property prices in their valuation systems and insist on more equity" additionally potential buyers drop out due to the interest rate hikes. I think that’s really a lot