Difficulties/Considerations in land search

Thank you for the kind and detailed answers so far (feel free to continue)! I just find that with every opinion, what happens is that as a couple you talk and discuss it. Surely there are pros and cons for everything and every life situation may prefer different places/locations. And that some take what is available, is also true – unfortunately, we are somewhat uncompromising in that regard. Example: An acquaintance of ours bought a plot of land directly next to the railway tracks, which had been undeveloped for years. About every 5-15 minutes a train passes by. Aside from resale etc., that would never be acceptable to me.

We are continuing to think and keep an eye out. I would be happy about further suggestions. At the moment we are childless but want 2 children – if that were not the case, we could certainly do without some infrastructure...

[A QUOTE="Karlstraße, post: 121700, member: 26550"]A friend of ours purchased a property directly by the railway tracks, which had been undeveloped for years. A train passes by approximately every 5-15 minutes. Aside from resale value, etc., that would never be acceptable to me.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn’t take it either! I am sensitive to noise. We have the highway about 500 meters east - roughly as the crow flies. But you only hear it when there is an east wind. Since east wind is relatively rare and usually cold, so you rarely relax in the garden then, it’s not really a negative point. Otherwise, it’s very quiet. However, there are people who look at the dense highway network on Google and would surely talk down the residential area and not even look at it. You have to be willing to compromise: there is no such thing as a perfect all-in-one property! If after 5 years you are still dreaming of your little house, you are doing something wrong – since you can hardly change the infrastructure, you can only change yourself or your perspective. That is my personal opinion!

If the next highway or main road is too far away, that also has other disadvantages

And the most important thing completely forgotten: What many prospective home builders do not consider: you are not only changing your four walls - you are changing your place of residence, including neighbors, view, habits, even hobbies can be influenced by the place of residence. Many only see the negative in all the "change," so the building plot is spoken of negatively. There are people who simply do not move because it is inconvenient.

And the most important thing was completely forgotten: What many prospective builders don’t consider is that you don’t just change your four walls - you change your place of residence, including neighbors, views, habits, even hobbies can be influenced by the place you live. Many people see only the negative in all the “change,” so the building plot is talked down. There are people who simply do not move because it’s too complicated.

I can well believe that. Sometimes we wonder if a new development area might also be suitable for us, but really only because we expect like-minded people around us and it has advantages for the kids. But I ask myself whether that isn’t more wishful thinking, because you usually only really get to know neighbors later and whether you do things with them or want to only becomes clear then. We have nice neighbors here in a four-family house, with whom we sometimes do something a few times a year, but that’s about it.

To what extent has something changed for you due to the new location? By the way, I also think that you have to adapt to the new situation and that something positive will come of it. We both moved here and thus found connections where we live now.

Hello Karlstraße,

maybe I can contribute something since we have a daughter (5 years old) and another child on the way.

We also had to search for a long time. Area Hannover, therefore right in the catchment area of several VW plants, and therefore not much choice of plots available. In the end, after several months, we had the choice between a plot, extremely cool located directly on the Leine, but kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school two villages away, no shops in the village, etc., and a plot in a new development area in a small town with motorway connection, train connection, kindergarten, primary school (within walking distance), secondary school, after-school care, supermarkets, etc. on site. The location wasn’t half as dreamy, but still acceptable.

What I want to say: although the children will eventually move out as well, in the end you have them in tow for 20 years. The infrastructure for the kids definitely has to fit, otherwise you’ll be really annoyed when you constantly, and that’s an understatement, have to drive the children around. It’s also great for the [Klasse] when friends live next door. It makes everyday life so much easier that you really can’t avoid having to make compromises.

For children, based on my experience, I would always prefer the small town because it is the best compromise of all the options. Big city is annoying, even when you teach them to ride a bike or just want to go for a walk. Countryside becomes a disadvantage for the little ones at the latest when the teenage years begin and they want to go out partying. Small town with public transport connections to a big city we find optimal for children. But of course, opinions differ and everyone sees it differently for their offspring.