Dream of building a house 2025/26 realistic? Currently hardly any equity, but we are fighting!

I would also sell the house immediately once the kids are grown up. 2 people don’t need a house with over 100sqm and a plot that always requires maintenance. I’d rather hang out in the pub or restaurant later and not have to take care of the garden every Saturday and clean 2 floors

I think something like that is very individual from family to family. At our parents’ house, there was always something going on, even long after all the kids were grown up. It somehow always remained the intergenerational meeting place. Even to this day, although my sister has taken over by now.

I would always have children first and then look for/build the house. Our priorities changed a lot with children, and without them we would live very differently.

Children change priorities significantly. Looking for or building a house is a big difference: the more you clearly renovate rather than modernize or completely refurbish, the more house hunting is manageable with children. Building with one foot in the delivery room is stressful, as is having one child in your arms and another clinging to your skirt. It's easier before children or when they are already in daycare. Children are rarely architectural connoisseurs, and even less often will they have buddies who live better in rented accommodations than they do in their own home. Anyone who wants to have children should also consult young parents about their house plans, so under no circumstances should they only educate themselves about building materials or other technical aspects. If you ask what is important for a family (in the sense of a multi-generational household of parents and children up to teenagers), perhaps a fireplace will survive the budget cuts, but corner windows or a hip roof will get a rather pale must-have score. And above all, parents with still fairly little rascals will steer building friends’ attention towards the housekeeping aspects.

Building a house before having children would also be my preferred option. Building a house consumes a lot of time and attention, even if you do hardly any work yourself.

I can agree with that. We have 2 small children and have only just started modernizing our existing property: conclusion - you don't have to do that. Even just appointments at the kitchen studio or tile market were a nightmare (and no, we don't constantly leave our children at the grandparents').

Appointments alone at the kitchen studio or tile market were a horror

As soon as a child is old enough to hold a tablet by themselves, it is absolutely no horror. Alternatively, there are sometimes huge play areas with play kitchens, ball pits, Lego, coloring books, etc. Or a TV with age-appropriate DVDs for different age groups. I am not a fan of parking small children in front of such devices, but in such situations it is extremely practical. The only horror is when the children do not want to leave.

Oh yes, while I was renovating with a lot of personal effort, the third child was born. With a baby sling absolutely stress-free in the tile market.

As soon as a child is old enough to hold a tablet on their own, it’s absolutely no horror. Alternatively, there are sometimes huge play areas with play kitchens, ball pits, Lego, coloring books, etc. Or a TV with child-friendly DVDs for different age groups. I am not a fan of parking small children in front of such devices, but in situations like these, it is extremely practical. Horror only comes when the children don’t want to leave.

Oh yes, while I was renovating with a lot of my own effort, the third child was born. Completely stress-free in the tile store with a baby wrap.

Every child is different, ours rather play with the decorations and just walk/crawl away… you’re basically just watching and staying active. With the first, the baby carrier still worked, the second is more or less constantly on the move. Carrier or something similar (no chance anymore).

This will be tight. But what good does it do you if everyone says yes or no now? You should save as much as you can anyway, then we can still see how/if it is possible.