Depression after notarized contract - experiences

Approximately 6,500 euros + 2-3k due to taxes when closing the stock portfolio

phew first of all.... But on the other hand I totally understand you. I wouldn't have bought the house if I were you. Although not buying and unwinding the deal are two different things. We know your thoughts too. Saved so much for the house for years, my wife studied and invested a lot there. And now it’s only enough for a house half the size of our parents' with a towel garden. We just can’t quite get over that either. And then for almost half a million in debt, which is very hard for both of us. And yes, the equivalent value is there, but my psyche constantly sees the red number. And for you it would be even more extreme. Economically it probably would have been possible and even sensible to go through with it, but humans are not Homo economicus after all. I only hope for you that you won’t regret the house in 1 year when prices are 10% higher again. As frustrated as we are about our tiny plot with tiny house footprint, in the last 3 years there would have only been significantly more expensive/worse things available. In that respect we actually can’t regret our build. What is your alternative?

I have already passed on a plot of land, a developer's house, a planned house, and a used house because I got a bad feeling. In all cases, it was too expensive for the value (plot of land had too many regulations, developer's house was too inflexible, planned house with only 200 sqm of land, used house with too little living space). What I want to say is: it’s not easy, and letting go of a dream hurts because you have to fall in love with the project a little bit in order to even engage with it. Even for me, the thought "last chance" was always in my head. Sometimes I think, just park all the equity in an [ETF World] and continue to live carefree as a renter. But to be honest: with rising construction costs due to climate protection reasons, I don’t expect a downturn in the real estate market any earlier than when the current 70+ generation releases their houses and floods the market. But that won’t be for another 10-15 years. Who wants to wait that long?

And you know what? I feel very very very good.

Then congratulations on that. That can be liberating, and next time you will only do it if your gut feeling really fits. But now take good care of the family!

My alternative is first to change my nature, to regain the inner contentment I always had before and to learn to enjoy the small things and the truly important ones. Not to keep searching desperately, even if prices continue to rise. Not to be so money-hungry anymore, not to think that I am better because of my salary. Yes, that is my alternative for now. And we will also eventually find something that makes us happy, and if in the end it remains the rental apartment, then so be it.

Then heartfelt congratulations on that. Something like that can be liberating, and next time you will only do it if your gut feeling really fits. But now take good care of the family!

Thank you very much, I will do that. I also have a bit to make up for. We're treating ourselves to some new furniture first, which I never wanted to buy before because we’re going to have a new house soon anyway ;-)