House Building Forum - Would you buy or build a house again?

That is very interesting to read here, thank you very much for that.

We are not quite there yet, have only done calculations so far (will only start construction in the spring) and they look as follows.
Equity: approx. 20%
Monthly rate from net income, targeted by me: 30.1% - targeted by the lady: 24.1%.
We still need to come to an agreement on that.

We are 33 and 30 and I have never paid rent in my life and do not intend to anymore. That does not mean that I still live in my parents' house, I "escaped" from there 8 years ago - that's where we got creative, as avoiding rent has always been at the top of my list.

Much more important to me is your unrealistic view that everyone can build with 30% of their income. That may apply to Velbert, Osnabrück, Neubrandenburg—or whatever—I don't know. (Even there, of course, NOT everyone.) For the middle Neckar region or the greater Munich area and many other regions in (southern) Germany, it definitely does not apply!

A small—but not insignificant—point, however, is also not correct here. The somewhat higher price for the construction itself is certainly not the problem. The crucial problem is the land prices, which then make the total sum for the construction (which you probably meant by that) not feasible even with 30% for most higher earners—except, of course, if sufficient equity is available. Congratulations to those who inherit a plot of land!

A small - but not insignificant - point is also not correct here. The slightly higher price for the construction itself is certainly not the problem. The crucial problem is the land prices, which then make the total amount for the build (which you probably also meant) not feasible for most high earners even with 30% - except of course if there is sufficient equity available. Congratulations to anyone who inherits a plot of land!

I do not disagree with you. I did not mean the slightly higher construction costs either, but the incredibly much higher land prices. When I sometimes read prices of €50/sqm here... In Stuttgart, you won’t even get a garden plot for that.

Yes, let alone do you get a plot of land in Stuttgart... the market is empty. But one question to yourself: how can you live rent-free for 8 years without living with your mom or being a rent nomad?!

Admittedly, this was a special situation and, if taken badly, could also be seen as a bit of rent nomadism.

During my school and training period, I lived at my parents' house (which nowadays is no longer a given). I then wanted to study, move out, and be independent at the same time. Luck had it that a one-room apartment (32 sqm) was being auctioned off by forced sale very centrally at the university location, which my father purchased for 11,000 EUR. Since I did not receive BAföG, his support consisted of letting me live there rent-free during my studies. The monthly rent including utilities would have been 230 EUR. So that was the monthly support (not much compared to most fellow students, but just right in my case – there were many who, besides a car and apartment, also received more pocket money than the aforementioned rent including utilities – but that is off-topic). I covered everything else (phone, internet, mobile, food, drinks, clothes, hobbies) through side jobs. That way, I was able to live completely independently throughout my entire studies.

After the good experience, I then auctioned off a condominium myself 3.5 years ago, which will be fully paid off by this spring. We are simply not in (as mentioned for example more often) Stuttgart, clearly – that would not have worked in such areas.

But since I am now as far along as I am, I do not want to start paying rent anymore.

I am currently paying 40% of my salary (which is not exceptionally high), but I was able to invest at least 60% equity into the [BV]. My wife is on parental leave, now for the second child, and has stretched it over 2 years. I have not taken child benefit/parental allowance into account in the %, so the % will decrease when my wife eventually goes back to work.
As a reserve, I could lower the repayment rate (but it fits at the moment), and this year I was able to make a full special repayment. I didn’t really have a proper vacation for it – but that was also due to the pregnancy and then the baby. Instead, I built the outdoor facilities, especially the climbing frame, etc. (which made the free days go by quickly enough).