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

I also know some people who have searched for a very long time in the region. Almost all of them eventually bought further away (Grimma or even further) because in LE 1. there is almost nothing available and 2. it has become way too expensive. A relative has also been searching for years, but nothing can be done unless you resort to tricks or happen to have a lot of money. The only ones I currently know who managed to get an undeveloped, somewhat acceptable plot within Leipzig at a somewhat acceptable price got it through their parents' contacts (a farmer on the city outskirts sold a leftover meadow).

I can only advise actively approaching people, neighbors of building gaps, always having sharp ears when it comes to land or house sales. And also deaths, even though it’s macabre. Most things just go under the table. Here mostly within families.

The issue with craftsmen, etc., is the next problem, but when building or renovating you simply need a lot of patience.

Well, half a year of searching in the immediate vicinity of the boomtown Leipzig is not exactly a long time.
You can certainly try ringing the neighbors' doorbells, but you shouldn't expect too much from it. Maybe you do it together for 2 weeks, in the third week only one goes alone, and in the fourth you give up yourself, frustrated. Especially in attractive locations, you are very unlikely to be the first one ringing the bell, and not everyone is happy when strangers suddenly show up at their door. Usually there is a reason why the building gaps are not developed, if you even get any information.

Internet portals are notoriously completely overcrowded on the demand side. It's like throwing a bite into a piranha tank; private providers are already completely stressed after just a few hours because their email inbox is overflowing or the phone doesn’t stop ringing. You can forget about that even more.

Property developers simply have the right contacts. There are people who do almost nothing else all day than acquiring plots. Obviously, very little escapes their notice. As a lone fighter, you either need good connections as well or a very long breath. As I said, half a year is practically nothing.

Very similar to me. Half a year is nothing. We searched for 3 years, being open to either existing property or building land. An old school friend of mine is a real estate agent. But he also has nothing suitable to offer and is mostly doing rentals now. In the end, it has become existing property. We probably wouldn't find a building plot for a long time. People prefer to keep their unused building gaps because they can't invest money as well as these things gain in value.

Alternatively, then buy from the developer

I don't see anything wrong with that

Is not reprehensible either but very expensive... The few things that are always available here are actually unaffordable.

I was somewhat surprised during the conversation with our developer that the consultant not only knew the location and planning status of the not even publicly announced new development area 15 km away quite precisely, but also that he knew the names of the responsible caseworkers at the competent building authority by heart. Of course, they all try to get hold of plots that they can offer their clients. For the lone wolf who wants to build with an architect, at best only the crumbs and C-locations remain. In this respect, I would rather answer the initial question with yes than with no. However, if you go another 10 km further out to the periphery, it can look completely different again.