Current situation regarding stoppage times / delivery times?

Thank you for your answers!

I consider it a conceptual error to already calculate the money as available at the time of ordering.

What do you hope to achieve by taking out a loan already now?

Regarding the loan, we have thought the following: 1. We just bought the plot of land and financed most of it with equity. We did have to finance a small portion (variable interest rate - 2.5%). Luckily, it is a very manageable installment since, as I said, we could cover the majority ourselves. Overall, the installment would still be cheaper than the commitment interest. But... 2. [Main reason] The interest rates are currently, as everyone knows, very low. Considering the current inflation rate, we assume that the ECB will soon take measures and raise the key interest rate during 20222 (similar to the announcements from the USA). If the interest rate rises by even 0.5%, it would be more expensive over a 30-year term than one year of commitment interest at 3% per year.

That was already absolutely uncommon when we built (6 years ago). One year lead time was the rule, and the market has not exactly developed to the buyer’s advantage since then. How does the salesperson intend to guarantee that?

Yes, unfortunately I fear that too... Who did you build with and whom did you contact back then? So far, Streif Haus, Okal Haus, and Elk have cited delivery times of >12 months. But as stated: They often have such “from building permit” formulations, and I think they just use other levers to delay the permit (basement builder, architectural plans...).

The offers we obtained last August were already for - the regional solid construction builder with starting construction 14 months after contract conclusion plus 10 months construction time. But as I recently heard, it is now longer - a timber prefab house manufacturer active in southern Germany with setup 56 weeks after building permit issuance (we had to wait 12 months alone for that...) plus finishing time

What exactly do you mean by that? The timber prefab house manufacturer does not issue the permit, but they prepare the plans with which YOU obtain the permit from the building authority, or do I misunderstand you?

2. [Main reason] The interest rates are currently very favorable, as everyone knows. However, given the current inflation rate, we assume that the ECB will soon take measures and raise the key interest rate during 20222 (analogous to the announcements from the USA). Even if the interest rate rises by just 0.5%, it will be more expensive over a 30-year term than one year of commitment interest at 3% per year.

Quite a lot of crystal ball reading, isn't it? I consider it very unlikely that the ECB will raise interest rates so quickly in such a short time just because of global supply bottlenecks that will probably be resolved next year. Besides, you compare it to one year of commitment interest. Who guarantees that this will be the time? By the time you have spent the last euro, much more time will have passed... I would never take out a loan now for this bet. Even if interest rates rise slightly, we still have historically low interest rates. But everyone has to decide that for themselves.

What exactly do you mean by that? The prefabricated wooden house manufacturer does not issue the permit, but rather creates the plans with which YOU obtain the permit from the building authority, or am I misunderstanding you?

Yes, you are misunderstanding. This house manufacturer waits to include the house in their production planning until the building permit from the district office is available. With quick processing by the authority or exemptions, that may be only a few weeks. In our district, 1 year is already considered fast. Only then does the lead time for production of 56 weeks begin. That was also a reason why this offer was not an option for us.

Yes, you misunderstand. This house manufacturer waits to include the house in their production planning until the building permit from the district office is available. With quick processing by the authority or exemptions, that might only be a few weeks. In our district, 1 year is already considered fast.

Only then does the lead time of 56 weeks for production begin.

That was also one reason why this offer was not an option for us

Ok, those are extreme processing times at your authority! Hopefully, with the BayBo 2021, the approval time here will be limited to 3 months.

Ok, those are extreme processing times at your authority! With the BayBo 2021, the approval time will hopefully be limited to 3 months for us.

I can only wish that for you. We are also in Bavaria, and our architect said that he does not believe in faster processing in our district due to the new regulation. Due to staff shortages in the district office and a flood of applications, the strategy of the last 2 years has also been to ask (unnecessary) questions 6 months after the application, i.e. at the end of the previous deadline, which restarts the deadline. This is unlikely to change in the near future.

So far, Streif Haus Haus, Okal Haus, and Elk have quoted delivery times of >12 months.

Interestingly, our contract with Streif Haus Haus (from February this year) states that Streif Haus Haus will begin providing the service on site within three months after the building owner's delivery prerequisites have been met. The next sentence states that the handover of a turnkey (meaning, in the case of Streif Haus Haus, move-in ready including floors, etc.) house takes place within four months of the start of construction. I don't see how Streif Haus Haus would want to delay this any further. Their website also mentions sufficient material stock (especially wood), so there should be no delays.