House purchase from the year of construction 2014 with 118 sqm living area and basement

For orientation: We have just purchased an existing property in the southern Ruhr area in a town that belongs to an urban district. Therefore, all the infrastructure you need is there, and here you can reach another city in any direction within 20 minutes by car at the latest. Accordingly, available plots are very rare, and existing properties often come with a lot of junk or are very expensive. We were lucky that we got along well with the owner and were able to bypass the real estate agent due to direct contact and negotiate a bit. Our house has similar specifications as the one discussed here, just a bit larger but a few years older. We paid 390k.

Considering your offer with a construction year of 2014 and otherwise comparable data, I find your price quite reasonable. If something larger at a similar price or something comparable cheaper comes along in the near future, there will be more interested parties for it. Your chance to succeed will then also be lower. Therefore: If the feeling is right, go for it.

A property of that age is often one of the most expensive things you can buy: house finished, garden finished, little things finished, terrace finished, driveway finished, no construction risk, no additional costs anymore, no renovation needed ...

If it fits, decide for yourself whether it is worth it, and then go for it.

I can completely agree with that: The saved stress and time effort when buying a largely finished and not renovation-requiring existing property is hardly monetarily assessable compared to building a house. I wouldn’t know how I could have managed building a house alongside full-time self-employment and a family with two small boys. Everyone would have suffered more than we do now when buying an existing property. Sure, you make a few compromises compared to a house completely built to your own needs, but there's no faster or less stressful way to get into your own home.

Why does it bother you that you are insecure?

You search for a long time, the price is steep, new construction doesn't get cheaper, rather more expensive even if you go all the way to Karlstadt.

It's crazy what a few kilometers make. I have 70 km to Würzburg city center.

So, if you

- can really manage it financially
- like the location
- can come to terms with the slanted ceilings on the upper floor

then I would do it - especially if the second child is on the way. At some point, you want to settle down, especially with regard to starting school, etc.

No, the house is definitely not a bargain, but the location at least promises future value increases.
The low-maintenance plot has a sought-after size and the basement is nowadays a real rarity in new builds - both a big plus.

Why does it bother you that you are insecure?

You search for a long time, the price is steep, new builds don’t get cheaper, rather more expensive even if you go all the way to Karlstadt.

It’s amazing what a few kilometers make. I have 70 km to Würzburg city center

Actually, we’re only bothered by the slopes. We originally wanted to build a city villa (I know, often not well received here) to have full rooms. The room sizes would be okay, more is always nicer.

Financially, we can manage it, we have equity and also sufficiently high incomes, which will increase in the near future.

The location is perfect for us, we currently live in the neighboring town and had lived there before. His office is 10 km away. However, a new development area is being opened up in Zellingen at the same time. We had speculated on this and are also on the waiting list. Unfortunately, no one knows whether you will get a plot. The costs are also not yet clear; I assume at least €100,000, but the plots are similarly sized and also flat.

However, I suspect the costs will be significantly higher than this house, not to mention the hassle, stress, and uncertainties.

Many thanks for the great input here, the house is certainly not a bargain, but probably not outrageously overpriced either. There is hardly anything comparable here; after numerous viewings of much older houses in worse condition or with poor sunlight, I can say this quite reliably at the moment. There is actually little speaking against it for me; my wife is more skeptical. Is the space sufficient, will it be too warm in the attic in summer (I would retreat to the perfectly finished basement or install air conditioning) or do we speculate on a plot that is uncertain and take on the building adventure?!