High construction costs with rising building interest rates

To me, your text reads differently than you perceive it.

On the one hand, I worked hard for that, but I am also honest enough to recognize that, beyond that, I had favorable starting conditions. Strangely, nobody admits this here in the forum.

That is a generalizing and moreover arrogant false claim; why do you believe you are the only reflective person in this forum on this matter? I am also suspicious of people who always say they worked particularly hard to distinguish themselves from those who supposedly were given something/everything. The truly hard workers tend to be more modest; I would also be happy if I got it gifted.

By the way, I also pitched in myself,

“Pitching in” is quite far from the concept of “own contribution”; maybe you should take a closer look at that in the discussion with others who have really made a lot of genuine own contributions. After my presentation here, I’ll first pitch in and mow my lawn. Terms and their meanings really need to be clear. I have contributed various types of own work to different housing projects in my life, sometimes a lot and sometimes gladly less, and therefore I know the difference quite well and can also read what some people understand by it.

These saturated people now tell the younger generation, who objectively have it harder according to all statistics, that they shouldn’t complain and that it’s either due to their laziness or the existing stock would also do.

Here as well, your generalizing description doesn’t really help, and “saturated” is by definition no compliment. Of course, there are always such cases; depending on the situation, an existing building can actually be more sensible for someone.
I would like to read those objective statistics proving that the younger generation objectively has it harder today; why do people so often believe to be disadvantaged, although we are riding the wave at the top here? What exactly do you mean by “harder”? Such generalizations only lead to even more dissatisfaction. Certainly, there are difficulties today, no question, but who would think that such difficulties didn’t exist in the past?
I’m in my mid-60s, and for me, every era I experienced had its pros and cons. I don’t complain about today or compare myself; my parents didn’t either, although they were part of the war generation and didn’t even have a car or go on vacation. Why this constant comparing ending in whining about missing opportunities?
We were tracing my father’s steps over the weekend, where he lived as a war returnee. Would you want to trade places with them today or be envious of their supposedly cheap houses? That quickly makes you humble and grateful for today.

There are people sitting in their houses, which they mostly purchased in cheaper times in the last 5-20 years. Partly with hard work, but partly also just because they were at the right place at the right time.

Do I detect envy here? Yes, maybe that’s the case for some, but from the point of view of today’s refugee or the nurse without inheritance, or also from the perspective of today’s retired mason with knee damage and low pension, you yourself would be maximally saturated.

It has become quite quiet here in the forum.

Unfortunately, that’s true, but in my opinion especially also due to refusal to show one’s own and to face criticism. Know-it-alls have taken over and cautious builders are holding back. Many nice people and I myself had shown our entire building process continuously here and worked it out and discussed it with the forum, for which I am still grateful, and I also know some people here personally. Show some of yourself beyond words; contribute something, even your own pictures, something personal and tangible instead of just stating that everything is bad today.

The causes are multifaceted, and mono-causal answers are insufficient, even if that seems confusing to you.

Do you really believe you have to enlighten the forum with this insight as if it was a self-evident truth?

or wouldn’t infrared panels and instantaneous water heaters then be the cheaper, lower-maintenance solution to avoid expensive capital tie-up and unnecessary grey energy?

For example, we have done something similar for various individual reasons in our current new build, and still that is no panacea or might not fit elsewhere. This massive saving gave us financial freedom in other areas.

How likely is it to find a heating installer who properly adjusts the heating if it hasn’t worked so far?

That, for me, was a reason to go for infrared and wood stove, to have a simple system with low follow-up costs.

for the broad middle class, therefore, things are different than before with owning a house, which used to be a matter of course at least in rural areas.

For 30 years I commuted 1.5 hours one-way to work every day, and we cared for our parents and lived with them; what should have been taken for granted about that? That was part of the “price” I paid for our beautiful house in the countryside back then (without complaining). I am so fed up with these boring comparisons to the past, where one always cherry-picks what fits just to pity oneself again afterward. That doesn’t sound truly mature to me and if you want to convey to your children how disadvantaged you were in life.
I have experienced the “past” myself and neither complain about this or that but accept it as it is and make the best of it. This constant comparing with others who have it better or had it is for me a sign of great dissatisfaction and lack of humility.
Question: Where is it better then?

I wish the thread starter to draw the right conclusions from the discussion and that he at least gained some insight and not just stuck with the self-flattery of those who have already made it.

That is downright cynical and mean, so don’t be so bothered by opposing opinions; if you like to poke yourself, you shouldn’t cry “ouch” so quickly yourself.

Do you consider a ventilation system with heat recovery to be financially sensible?

Off topic.
Not financially sensible. Very sensible for the quality of life in a tightly sealed house (whether new build or existing).

But if you start with "financially sensible," you must not question the controlled residential ventilation. Then you have to question a new build altogether. Because it is generally not financially sensible. But most consumer goods are not.

Last but not least, a really serious question: What exactly and very concretely is your advice also to young builders, even in the event that politics and/or society do not move in the directions you have comprehensively outlined? How can the young family and anyone else potentially wanting to build still live positively and contentedly despite everything, because it is precisely this confidence that we must convey to our children when we bring them into the world and not fear-inducing helplessness? If we only convey to them these fears and negative scenarios without showing possible solutions, we must not be surprised if we raise fearful and little resilient children.

Last but not least, a really serious question: What exactly and very concretely is your advice also to young builders, even in the case that politics and/or society do not move in the directions you comprehensively named? How can the young family and anyone else potentially wanting to build still live positively and contentedly despite everything, because especially this confidence we must convey to our children when we have brought them into the world and not fear-inducing helplessness? If we only convey to them all these fears and negative scenarios without showing a possible solution, we must not be surprised if we raise fearful and little resilient children.

Confidence? I thought we are the last generation :D If things keep going downhill in this country, all one can recommend is to emigrate.

Confidence? I thought we are the last generation :D If things continue to go downhill in this country, the only recommendation is to emigrate.

That's exactly what the kids need, Dad has no plan! My very concrete questions about this: Which country do you recommend? What does the family live on there? Health insurance? What do the children do there? How are their educational opportunities? Do you speak the local language? Do you get a work visa? What do you do if a family member doesn’t manage abroad? Just the first questions regarding your advice. I have heard various things and would like to hear about well-founded life plans abroad.

That's exactly what the kids need, Dad has no clue!
My very specific questions about it:

Which country do you recommend for that?
What does the family live on there?
Health insurance?
What do the children do there?
What are their opportunities regarding education?
Do you speak the local language?
Do you get a work visa?
What do you do if one person in the family doesn’t cope abroad?
Just the first questions about your tip. I have heard various times and like to hear about well-founded life plans abroad.

For me, the deal is done, but I want to enable my children to have a choice through the best possible education. In the best Germany of all time, you only get squeezed dry thanks to full coverage mentality and climate madness.