Is new construction under 400k€ still actually possible?

What I can already hear is that with our ideas we are comfortably moving between €400k and €450k,

Not necessarily. We are also getting underfloor heating, a ventilation system, an air-to-water heat pump, walk-in showers, etc., and as mentioned, we are staying well below that. For that, however, we are initially skipping expensive flooring (not worth it with a small child anyway), having simple things in the bathroom, doing as much as possible ourselves outside, etc.

Where are you building? Prefabricated house? SQM?

Construction is planned in RLP. As described above, in my opinion nothing extraordinary.

- 140sqm-150sqm bungalow without a basement with double garage including house entrance
- electric shutters
- underfloor heating
- network in every room
- hipped roof possibly
- brine heat pump (desired, but it's a cost issue)
- photovoltaic

No "active ventilation," no KFW 40+ or otherwise overly insulated, preferably just 36.5 aerated concrete and plaster, done. Of course only if it complies with Energy Saving Ordinance 16...

The additional construction costs are probably set too low at 20k, I would rather see 40k-50k. But that depends on many factors we don’t know. You can also save with own labor, but can you do that with at least the quality you would minimally expect? In a reasonable amount of time? In part, construction companies do not credit that much for it to get good material.

Your equipment wishes are certainly not standard with many construction companies, that won’t be a 1500EUR per sqm house. At the above 150sqm at 2000 euros, it would already be 300k, garage, additional construction costs and outdoor facilities come extra. Kitchen and furniture anyway...

Where are you building? Prefabricated house? SQM?

In central Hesse. Solid construction about 150sqm + approx. 16sqm usable area

Where are you building? We have similar basic data but are easily 50-70k above that. We don't have a ventilation system and only plastic windows. Regards

In rural Bavaria.

Personally, I often find these large washstands with sinks + cabinet and matching mirror cabinets bulky rather than beautiful....as always

You are currently planning the bathroom: but there is a huge difference between that mentioned model and a washstand set. You can update the 80s model with a period-typical model for a really very small additional cost.
Moreover, there are inset or countertop sinks for “relatively little” extra cost, which mounted on a worktop cost much less than the ready-made sets. Add a mirror from a flea market or Ikea...
Overall, it is also about avoiding dirty corners and creating storage surfaces. The bathroom gains a wellness value when many things are coherent and tactile.
An Alibert cabinet (even more expensive anyway) with a height of 140 and/or a wobbly lower cabinet from the hardware store made of hard plastic is something I would never associate with wellness. Neither would that sink from above.


A bungalow can sometimes also be cleverly downsized. By the way, using an open kitchen with an island is much more space-saving than a closed kitchen. You can save about 5 sqm of living space as well as a wall and some doors, thus at least €10,000.