Depression after notarized contract - experiences

only for understanding. So how much money was spent now for nothing?

The money was spent on an experience. From my point of view, that is reasonable.

Those who do not plan decisions, but only deal with them when the decision must be made, act too late.
- Confucius

My like refers to Confucius. :) Thanks for the inspiration to read something about him again.

Others assume 2025 solely for demographic reasons – from then on, the last of the baby boomers will retire from working life, and the population will begin to decline. That would be a horizon of 3-5 years. The "releasing" part will also become considerably larger quite quickly.

Not empirical, purely subjective: I can confirm from my environment that more people are giving up their houses and moving into apartments than the other way around. Many move closer to their children/grandchildren, but not back into houses, rather into apartments. Although this development is disadvantageous for my husband and me in terms of the resale value of our house, I am very happy for the young families.
(I still feel a bit upset that no family wanted to buy our house, but "only" an older couple like us did, even though we wanted to sell the house to a family for considerably less. I have not yet found an answer to that.)

From this point on, the total population and especially the working population decrease. In the upper part of the pyramid, increasingly larger cohorts gradually drop out. This automatically makes more and more properties available. At the same time, fewer people come in at the bottom or are already accommodated – or have simply become too old to still be able and willing to finance a home due to 10 years of scarcity and high prices. This will first be reflected in rents, which will no longer increase significantly...

The change in population is correct. But also keep in mind that the occupied living space (m²) per inhabitant continues to increase. Statistically, this leaves nothing left in the end.

What would then be the best way to preserve one's capital? Sell real estate at the highest possible price by 2025 if the loan is paid off by then?

It should at least be clear that buying a property at peak prices, enabled by low interest rates, thus highly leveraged, is somehow a risk. For private consumption with secured fixed interest rates & high repayment somehow still feasible, but as an investment or "store of value"?

Conversely, it is ultimately the same thing - prices will reach a maximum; every cycle ends. That demand and supply can turn is indisputable. Therefore, there is a point from which it is better to have sold. Nobody knows it – and that is where game theory comes into the market. Who moves first? And when does the stampede start?

And it is completely clear that we have currently entered a new phase in the market – the boom is over, the large supply has disappeared, the portals are empty. The brokers are fighting over the few properties that are going to be put on the market because they have simply become too many & they lack commissions. Prices are becoming completely utopian, the transactions are characterized by FOMO, i.e. panic buying. At the same time, construction continues in the multi-family house sector, and rents are rising little or not at all. Mobile work enables geographically distributed working, expanding the search areas.

Change is in the air, and the one who wanted to "steadfastly" oppose the wind of change noticed recently that change hardly cares about that.. ;)

The change in population is correct. But also consider that the occupied living space (m²) per inhabitant continues to increase. Statistically, this leaves nothing left in the end.

I consider the figure unimportant. No wonder politicians use it. In my opinion, it is purely an effect of demographic change, combined with the homeownership rate depending on the age cohort. In other words - the highest homeownership rates are in retirement age - there are no longer any children in the large houses from the 1970s & 1980s. The (rental) apartments with old contracts are also extremely spacious. This does not apply to the lower part of the tree - the apartments for families are small. Even ownership, whether apartment or house, is significantly more moderate - otherwise it would simply be too expensive.

My alternative is first to change my nature, to regain the inner contentment I used to always have and to learn to enjoy the small things and what really matters.
Not to search desperately anymore, even if prices will continue to rise.
Not to be so greedy for money anymore, not to think that I am better because of my salary.

Yes, that is my alternative.
And we will also find something someday that makes us happy, and if in the end it remains the rental apartment, then so be it.

Even though personally I probably would have chosen the house, I think it is very, very good that you have made a conscious decision for yourself and your family, that you now feel significantly better and want to look more inwardly in the future instead of outwardly. I am sure that will pay off a lot for you and that a bit of distance from the whole house-building topic will do you and your family very good. You will find your way, and often you only realize in hindsight why an option simply wasn’t meant to be, maybe something completely different is waiting for you, and until then I wish you to first come to rest in your apartment now, enjoy the beautiful autumn and the upcoming Christmas season, and then just let it come to you how things will proceed regarding your family planning and living situation.