Financing framework for new construction on own land, 3 children, civil servant A13, Hamburg

I see a house with a gable roof as ideal for you. But it doesn't have to be two full floors + attic. A generous "1.5-story house" with an attic as storage space is just as good.

Thanks, we will think further about this.

Topic vacation. For €2,400 for five people (and then during the holidays), the only option left is vacation in the garden. That doesn't really fit with family time.

It does. Even without connections (Vitamin B). But of course, it’s not luxury. And surely it won’t be possible in a few years, especially not when the children get older. I take that as a suggestion.

Modesty aside, a utility/housekeeping room of 8 sqm is already tight for 2 people; for 5 people, the utility room and storage space can’t be enough.
Also, stairs take up space, and depending on the design of the house itself, it may be that you cannot manage with only what is theoretically planned.

I understand, so if I understand correctly, a five-person family “needs” more square meters according to this opinion.

I think so. Anyone who doesn’t have inspection costs for their vehicle and thinks they can buy a new replacement vehicle with a savings installment of €50 should take a closer look and do the math.
Also, I’m not in favor of being overinsured, but a little coverage wouldn’t hurt.

I can understand that as a factual comment. As a civil servant, certain insurances just aren’t necessary, but of course, some coverage/insurance is still helpful.
And mobility was mentioned by several people, so there’s probably a little problem there, because although the car is not that important to us (still, a higher savings rate would presumably be advisable), of course, costs for bike repairs must also be covered somewhere. By the way, the Germany ticket is free for students in Hamburg.

I prefer not to quote the other remarks from literally. In terms of content, the conclusion could well be: If certain things are important to you, then the money for the house is tighter or even too tight. But in my perception, there is much more behind that. I like to work very much, both as a civil servant because of duty, with my children as a father, and also as an employee in the group to which we donate "a lot." I have sometimes used a day off during the week to be able to work significantly more in other areas. And the fact that my wife spends a lot of time with our children and other children is probably a better investment in society than many hours of paid work in a company. That has NOTHING, absolutely nothing to do with comfort. But with priorities. Of course, priorities can change, and with building a house, something naturally shifts. And you can also see the house as an investment according to the priorities. But that is something quite different.

However, I do agree on one thing:

I notice that these factors should really be appreciated: gift of a plot of land, A13 civil servant, housewife, connections (Vitamin B) rent,

Exactly! I am not aware that we don’t appreciate that. And now back to the concern:

[QUOTE="guub_baut, post: 696504, member: 75839"]
Of course, a house costs money, but as said, you don’t have to work yourself to death to finance it

Weigh up, drink tea, and maybe don’t build after all? Because a house with a garden also requires work even when it is finished.
[/QUOTE]
Renting is not much cheaper in Hamburg with three children. Sure, you can rent a smaller apartment. But then you can also build smaller. And that’s exactly what I mean. We don’t have to acquire a luxury villa by working ourselves to death, if we can build a house with a workload that is manageable for us, which is better than renting. And with the factors that we

really appreciate [...]: gift of a plot of land, A13 civil servant

we should actually be able to do that.

General on the topic: The following idea also took quite a while to come into my head. With a financing, one has (apart from a certain interest rate risk) a fixed monthly chunk. You no longer deal with antics like rent increases. And, if you build energy-efficiently, no drastic additional cost increases either. However, the salary increases over time. This means the installment "shrinks" in relation to income. Which rent, depending on the rental situation, does not necessarily do. It can increase significantly. So over time, one will probably become "freer" again.

For the specific situation: I keep hearing the question of priority setting between the lines. Donate 600€ or put it into the installment? Partner’s collaboration (even if only a mini-job) or not? Part-time or not?

The financial situation is not so relaxed that the project becomes possible without initially placing a certain priority on the house. Over time, this may relax. It sounds feasible to me at first if the house project receives a certain priority. Otherwise not.

The financial situation is not relaxed enough for the project to be possible without initially placing a certain priority on the house. Over time, this may ease. It sounds feasible to me at first if the house project receives a certain priority. Otherwise, not.

I would say that is the crucial point. No pain no gain.

Regarding building smaller and the comparison with a rental apartment. In a rental apartment, you don't have the building services in your apartment and usually an additional basement room, sometimes also an extra laundry room. You have to take this space into account in the house as well. That is why you cannot compare a 120 sqm rental apartment with a 120 sqm single-family house. Under about 150 sqm, it won't work for 5 people.

one additional laundry room

Not to forget the popular bicycle basement..

Alternatively, you could consider the following. A shared play-/common-/community room for the children and next to it a wall closet with 3 sleep pods stacked on top of each other... , Don’t be mad at me, but if you seriously allocate 33m² for 3 children's rooms, so 11m² each, but 25m² for your own bedroom and 15m² for the office... please don’t build that... the priorities are already wrong from the start... You might see it this way with small children because a 90 cm toddler simply disappears in a 10m² room. But the girls will eventually be 1.60-1.70 m tall, the boys 1.75-1.90 m tall... in 11m²... A prison cell for solitary confinement is at least 9m². Whether a loan with a 2,600 EUR installment can be solidly financed if you have 3 children and earn "only" around 6,000 EUR net. I doubt it... Calculate that. In addition to the installment, there are additional costs of 500-600 EUR. Water, sewage for 5 people, heating, electricity, garbage, insurance. Reserves... the 50 EUR/month reserves for a new vehicle... with that, after 10 years you can buy a new car for 6,000 EUR. For that, in 10 years, you will probably just get an electric cargo bike... Now some people might come along again who manage with 8 people on 1,500 EUR/month for daily needs... The standard rate for 2 adults and 3 children (2x6-13, 1x0-5 years) is currently 2,149 EUR. This is considered a subsistence minimum. Now calculate your installment for the house, 2,600 EUR, plus additional costs around 500 EUR, plus the subsistence minimum for living. Then you are already close to your household net income... the subsistence minimum does not include a car, no vacation, no expensive clothes, no garden, no outdoor facilities... nothing.

However, the salary increases over time. Meaning the rate "shrinks" in relation to income.

I have been living in my house since 2019. I am still waiting in vain for this effect or a subsequent relief. The official inflation since 2022 was 19% (the personal shopping basket felt even more affected), the salary has increased by a generous 12% (TVL). I don't believe we will ever close this gap again. The state is always strapped for cash.

Otherwise, I also noticed the attitude that the woman would prefer to be a "housewife" forever (plus voluntary work). That is a huge luxury that you have to be able to afford. Whether you rent or buy. For me as an "Ossi woman", and also educated (STEM), this is a rather strange attitude anyway, of course you are free to see it very differently. I found the calculation shocking that this essentially moves you from the standard of living towards the subsistence minimum. That would not be for me, and even a mini-job would significantly ease your financial situation. How old are the children?

In this respect, it at least fits that you want to build rather modestly. But you will have to do that.

Keep in mind that you also have to build reserves for the house. What happens when obviously the majority of people neglect this, you could nicely see two years ago in the discussion about the "heating hammer."