Plot of land - Can you still build today without a developer?

Bring a lot of perseverance, drive around asking neighbors, read classifieds in the LVZ and don’t dream of a 100k€ plot or even less... but it can take years, there simply is nothing in Leipzig. In [Leipzier Westen] a large new development area is emerging, where you can apply for the plots.

How far does the commuter belt extend in your opinion, or where are you looking? We live about 25 minutes by car from Leipzig and the city is planning one residential area after another here.

The plots that are available have usually already been secured by developers (like Heinz von Heiden, Kern, Rensch-Haus ... ).

These are not developers, see Nordlys's answer:

The BU acts as if he had land. He has connections (Vitamin B) involved, where someone hooks him up with land when he needs it. He shows gratitude for that. He only mediates it when he has sold a house. Karsten

They mostly advertise their house offers on plots where it is also possible to build.

Forget internet portals

They are not that bad. You just shouldn't set filters too narrowly and need to read the offer properly. See above. In our neighboring village, two semi-detached houses are currently being completed: the village or the municipality was never mentioned in the ad. Hamburg-South for a village that only belongs to the metropolitan area and is 20 km away.... Please discuss everything else with our Leipzig resident

I wanted to hold the reins myself and build with an architect.

Have you already found an architect? How do you choose one? They also currently have long lead times or a well-booked order book... I am also looking for an architect, that's why I'm asking.

Bring a lot of perseverance, drive around asking neighbors, read classifieds in the LVZ and don’t dream of a 100k€ plot or even less... but it can take years, there simply is nothing in Leipzig.
In the western part of Leipzig, a large new development area is emerging, where you can apply for the plots.

By Speckgürtel I mean Markranstädt, Lützen in the west and Groitzsch, Pegau in the south. The tip about the newspaper is good. I’ll have a look there. Thanks.

have you already found an architect? How do you select one? They also currently have long lead times or a well-booked order book... I am also looking for an architect, that's why I ask.

...hm. good point, honestly I hadn't thought about that yet.