Is the construction project affordable? 570 k€ loan with a 5300 € salary

What relevance should the answer have with constantly changing legislation?

However: Why two years of parental leave WITHOUT income? Either 1 year at home and 1,800€ or 2 years at home and 900€?

That’s why: without income in the second year... I wrote that ;-)

I think tightening the belt with children is more due to reduced income when one partner or both reduce their working hours. 2000€ net gives about 1300€ parental allowance, or rather a bit less, stretched over 24 months... 650€ per month instead of 2000€ salary, to stick with the OP's numbers. That's roughly 1350€ missing every month. That really hurts here. And if a second child comes along, with parental allowance then calculated at best based on part-time work... it gets even tighter. One year of parental leave and then working at least 50% would be more feasible financially. But many families don’t want that. In this case, one can only advise keeping a reserve to "bridge" these periods. Better to take out a little more credit now.

I was just thinking about that too: how much is the monthly salary now, ?

how does it look here now?

I think tightening the belt with children is more due to reduced income when one partner or both reduce their working hours. 2000€ net results in about 1300€ parental allowance, or rather a bit less, stretched over 24 months... 650€ per month instead of 2000€ salary, to keep with the numbers of the OP. That means a comfortable 1350€ missing every month. That really hurts here. And if a second child comes, and the parental allowance is then at best calculated based on part-time work... it gets even tighter. One year of parental leave and then at least 50% work would be more financially feasible. But many families do not want that. In this case, one can only advise to keep a reserve to "cushion" these periods. Better to take out a bit more credit now.

A very good post. Which nicely relativizes the rosy calculations with the old 2 full-time incomes, the wife always goes back to work after 1 year parental leave, etc. If a 2nd child is planned, and that is usually the plan otherwise many wouldn’t plan 2 children’s rooms, the household income is on a low simmer for at least about 5 years and unfortunately beyond that, because daycare and co. come as additional expenses. If the OP has internalized that and still doesn’t get cold feet with a 570k€ loan, then buy the house and pay it off. The tip about saving up the income gap is by the way awesome! Great idea.

I was just thinking about that too: how much salary is it now monthly, ?

@Xaver123 how does it look here now?

The monthly net income without any special payments is 5000 €.

I think tightening the belt with children rather comes from the reduced income when one partner or both reduce their working hours. 2000€ net yields about 1300€ parental allowance, or rather a bit less, stretched over 24 months... 650€ per month instead of 2000€ salary, to stick with the OP’s numbers. That means a shortfall of about 1350€ every month. That really hurts here. And if a second child comes, and then the parental allowance is at best calculated based on part-time work... it gets even tighter. One year of parental leave and then working at least 50% would be more feasible financially. But many families don’t want that. In that case, one can only advise keeping a reserve to “bridge” these periods. Better to take out a bit more credit now.

Exactly this period I also see as the biggest “problem.” It can only work if my wife returns to about 70% working hours after parental leave. But whether that will work, we only know when the time comes. Many uncertainties come together there. Do we want to send the child to daycare after one year? Will we even get a daycare spot for the required care time? And you’re right, with a second child it then becomes even more difficult or impossible. And then I ask myself, do we want to restrict ourselves so much regarding family planning for a second child because of finances? Regarding the daycare costs, I have checked. For full care including meals, that would be 500 € per month. In Bavaria, you get family allowance of 250 € per month in the child’s 2nd and 3rd year of life. That leaves 250 € monthly costs. From kindergarten onwards it becomes cheaper. The costs are then 180 € per month. For this time, there is a kindergarten subsidy from the state of 100 € monthly. Means 80 € monthly costs. The tip about taking a higher loan to compensate for the income gap is a good tip. Then I’ll sharpen the pencil and dig out the calculator. ;) Many thanks again for your constructive contributions.

A very good post.

Thank you very much, I'm actually blushing. I personally went back to work after a year, at 75%, and with the second child at 50%. But that was due to my employer's wish; I could have done three-quarters again. I had no problem with that, as an "Ossi". Are you seriously saying no one has ever thought of setting aside a reserve for the lean time? That is actually obvious.