House purchase single-family house built in 77 how to assess?

That seems out of the question. If I understand correctly, the original poster wants to alleviate the concern that a place from 1977 is too much of a compromise in terms of building quality. Because otherwise, pretty much everything fits. I would buy if the financing is sound. You don't have to live there for 30 or 40 years. You can sell if something nicer comes up or, if you come into money, tear it down and rebuild. However, I would not buy without a hazardous materials report and indoor air analysis.

I agree with you that you need to be close to shopping facilities, but walking distance should not be a criterion. Because then the selection of affordable houses is also too small. Better to move to the small village if the nearest supermarket is 2-3 km away. It takes me just as long to get to the commercial area (10 minutes by bike) as those from the new development area in the city, which is on the other end. But I live in the village, which is quieter and cheaper, while having equally quick access to the infrastructure of the nearest city. Of course, it is important that you don’t have to drive 10 km to the next supermarket but have one within 2-3 km. Otherwise, you have to balance the fuel/maintenance costs of the car against the lower land price. In that case, the bigger city probably wins. And about the house: I would never buy a prefab house from that building year if I want to live in it for the next 30-40 years. Huge costs will come your way and with the high energy prices, I don’t even want to know the current gas installment (300€+ per month?). That really kills it all. And the value of such a house will probably go down to zero in 30 years.

The agents did register us, but no agent within a 20 km radius has ever called us... Funny enough, only now has an agent called for the first time and asked if we are still searching. We have been on their list for 2 years.

Nevertheless, we are still completely unsuccessful, the agent "who has us on his list" offered the house twice to someone else

Getting on agents’ lists is not a cure-all for several reasons. First, they don't just call through their lists "in one go," but first and with several days of reflection they call their buddies and old clients. And secondly, through agents you naturally only get the agent's listings. The deep market bypasses the agents.

One more note, I don’t know how it looks in your town, but here in the top locations (south slope with a nice view of the town center) many seniors over 80/90 live, and it’s the same in the neighboring town. It’s only a matter of time until the properties become available. Perhaps here you should get in touch with the neighbors, they often bring groceries or help in the garden and know whether there are children and if they would move back or not...

Exactly, see my Barthel tips regarding the keywords care services, undertakers, and the like.

But generally, I would also increase the search radius from the desired location.

I almost pinned a like to your post, and then you write that :-(
NO! - you don’t shoot at properties with buckshot. If success fails to appear, making the search broader is exactly the wrong way.

Anyone who thinks it’s half as hard can have that opinion. But it is impossible to generalize this view to every town and every region of this country. That is equally presumptuous as impossible.

I also know those places where the locals know by heart who is who, and where on the street you only “belong” and are greeted by name from the fourth generation onward. And even there “something is possible” – at least with a dog ;-)

However, I would not equate increasing the search radius with shooting shotgun pellets, but rather with going from sitting hunting in your own garden to stalking. This can be done equally with a shotgun or a rifle, and the choice of the firearm should depend more on the prey.

Exactly, see my Barthel tips on the keywords nursing services, undertakers and the like.

I also know these places where the natives know by heart who is who, and where you only "belong" on the street from the fourth generation and are greeted by name. And there "something" happens too - at least with a dog ;-)

We do not have a dog (and if we did, he wouldn't speak Swabian like his owners and thus wouldn't provide any added value) and nursing services, undertakers and the like certainly do not give me - unlike club comrades - any information about whom they are currently burying (will bury).

And regarding the house: I would never buy a prefabricated house from that construction year if I want to live in it for the next 30-40 years. Enormous costs will still come your way, and with the high energy prices, I don't even want to think about the current gas advance payment (300€+ per month?). That just takes all the joy away. And the value of such a house will probably drop to nearly 0 euros in 30 years.

I would buy if the financing is clean. You don't have to live there for 30 or 40 years. You can sell if something nicer comes up or, if you have the money, tear it down and build new. But I wouldn't buy without a pollutant report and indoor air analysis.

These are the two opinions we have to decide between. And nothing is harder than that..