How long did it take you to reach the construction decision?

We have now decided to build a house starting autumn 2019, even though personally I would have preferred to buy 100 times over. On the one hand, I am happy that something is finally coming out of our long-held plans, on the other hand I am currently annoyed that we searched in vain for 5 years – 5 years of rent payments of 600 euros cold per month x 12 months x 5 years = 36,000 euros... which we could have already paid as an annuity.

My parents were finished paying off at 50. According to the repayment plan, I will probably be in my early 60s.

We posted various ads, informed everyone we know, put notes in mailboxes of vacant properties, kept our eyes open all the time... all ultimately in vain. We could have had something in November 2017, but were outbid by 10,000 euros at the last minute. That was not worth it to us because the real estate agent also wanted a cut. That's life...

One real estate agent told us that interesting properties sometimes have to be set to inactive just one hour after publication because otherwise the phone never stops ringing.

95% of our viewings were disasters. Mold, water damage, kilos of pigeon droppings in the attic, unfavorable floor plans, ancient wiring, filthy bathrooms, no mobile phone reception, slow internet, upcoming road and sewer construction lasting 1.5 years with cost allocation, paint shops and gambling dens as neighbors, etc.

Supposedly, half the villages here in northern Hesse are empty and many houses are waiting for buyers. Well, I can’t see any of that apart from some run-down half-timbered wrecks on main roads.

This year we finally ran out of patience, because I also don’t believe anything will change in the next 5 years.

How long did it take you? Or did you not even bother with this "fun" and just built right away? I would be glad to read something about it.

Have a nice weekend!

Very similar for us, living in a rental has always been just a temporary solution.

Nearly 20 houses viewed in 5 years. Often the houses were already sold privately, often there was a serious defect (however, it was concealed in the listing) and all that was left was overpriced.

When we had a plot of land in sight, the decision was made very quickly.

Directly built sounds as if you had an alternative everywhere. We searched for years for a plot of land until, by a fortunate coincidence, we found an existing property that we were able to demolish...

We had actually planned to buy as well and had kept an eye on the offers over the past few years, even though it was clear that we (due to the professional situation, where it was not yet foreseeable where exactly we would ultimately settle) would not buy yet. Here in Mittelhessen, there are almost only very old houses, where a lot needs to be done accordingly, or quite new ones, where the price is of course quite high. So we ultimately came to the conclusion that until everything in the house is as needed/wanted, the purchase costs would hardly be below what a new building would cost. Therefore, we rather looked for plots of land, and when friends of ours said they still had one that they didn’t need and would gladly sell to us, the decision was made. We then already started and chose a construction company, and when the professional situation changed, we signed. Right now we are in the process of obtaining the last things for the building application, and then the construction will start after the winter.

In March 2013 we bought a plot of land. The decision matured to one day build a bungalow there when I’m close to retirement. Land doesn’t spoil, leave it lying. Especially since we bought it in 2013 for 48,- per sqm.....ready for building with utilities. - Pause.- In autumn 2015 the decision matured to start the project now. We first looked at used properties parallel to new builds. But what we wanted wasn’t really there, single-story, or it was too expensive....In January 2016 things picked up. My wife’s cousin wanted to buy our townhouse, and the price was okay. Should we get serious now? Boom and yes and in March to the notary and looking for an apartment to live in temporarily. Found one.- My wife grumbled. She no longer liked the plot. She didn’t want to build there anymore. She wanted a different one. I was not amused, resigned to fate, listed our plot in May on a portal at, as I thought, a proud price, almost 100% profit.....imagine, it was online Friday and sold Monday. Crazy. Now quickly. No townhouse anymore, no plot anymore, endless money and no interest and a fixed-term rental agreement until 9/1/17. We bought my wife’s dream plot in a building area of the Volksbank still in June 16. It was much more expensive than the old one, but due to the healthy profit, which we unfortunately had to pay tax on, still bearably expensive: 115,- per sqm with utilities and lake view.- And now the house. Meanwhile brochures and offers piled up, some very good, in the narrow choice finally only 2: Specht Fehmarn, Team massiv Büdelsdorf. We decided by feeling. Building with Specht meant planning the house without a salesperson, directly with the boss, who conveyed great trust in us. With Team, there was a salesperson involved as well, also not unpleasant, but somehow different, more polished. We are not so much polished types. In September it was definitely Specht. The third meeting with him sealed it. Floor plan and so fixed, price fixed, last fine tuning, last discounts...looking into each other’s eyes, three people sat around a table, coffee in the middle, we got up solemnly, shook hands over the offer, that was the contract....there was never a written one...9/1/17 was handover, 9/11/17 move-in. Perfect timing. Karsten

Where good stock is expensive and rare, plots of land are also rare and expensive. So your situation may not improve.

And thinking further... if building areas are designated, you still have to first get a plot of land, because of the local model or the under-the-table allocation.

I don't want to paint the devil on the wall now, but we had to search for 5 years before buying.