How does everyone afford a house?

As mentioned - priorities... especially since the two are alone. We were at the Baltic Sea for 600 € - that was okay... however, there was no sun and the food wasn't that great either

Regarding the question asked...

How do all the other people do it?!

It's always good to think outside the box... but honestly, not every house built in Germany, or anywhere else, is actually paid for in the end!

That's why you have to honestly ask yourself what you want to afford... and then think about whether you can actually afford it.

With your income, you have a good foundation... however, you also have to be aware that expensive vacations or another money-intensive hobby are not possible alongside house building in your price range (also mine and most other forum members').

If you internalize this (even with little equity), then the chances are not bad that the property will someday belong to you and no longer to the bank.

Best regards MCN

Keep a household budget and try to save 1000 euros or more monthly for one or two years. Then building equity will also work, and you can see how much you need to restrict yourself for the next few years.

MCN hits the nail on the head: What is the right thing for you?

Everyone starts with different conditions. One has parents who have saved well, another has parents who maybe barely get by themselves. One started at Daimler/Audi at 16 and brings in good money, another might do a second training and then earn less.

And now, where do you stand? Started earning fully rather late, then lived well, but also saved a little. Then comes the decision: Where do you want to go? If you want to build, save the 1200 euros you have for the installment specifically for the next two years. Then you’ll see if it works and you’ll almost have the money for the additional building costs.

With a combined income of 4000€ without children, saving 1500€ should be possible, right?!
How do you know so precisely that there was no inheritance/gift involved with your acquaintances? Grandparents, childless aunt...
But saving is a matter of personal attitude. I don't want to step on anyone's toes, but there are people for whom it doesn't matter how much they earn. They always manage to spend the money.
Example: our friends, same age, comparable income - difference: we had children much earlier (the first one 7 years earlier, the second one 5 years earlier). They may have about 10k€ emergency savings to this day, we have contributed 1/3 equity (>200sqm in BaWü under construction) ourselves - without inheritance and gifts. We also went on vacation, etc.
There are so many little things where you can save or not. A household budget book might be advisable for you to see where your money is going.

Hello, I was only able to build by means of a gift (received an apartment as a gift). I have been thinking for years about how others manage it and I often notice, for example, that others have far fewer insurances and save in the private area, meaning the area you don’t see. For example, on food or drinks. We currently spend about 1200 euros for everyday household expenses as three people, my acquaintances who are three or four people sometimes only spend half of that, yet they have a bigger house.