Prefabricated house or solid house companies - budget

Cary, I would find it nice and also very exciting if you - despite the inevitable headwind - report on your house construction here. Also as a counterexample that it is possible to succeed with your own effort and by rolling up your sleeves. And also quite as a deterrent for those who think they can just put in 100,000 euros of own work over the weekend. Because there is simply a lot of work behind it.

If you write that you get by with a minimum of money, vacations, new cars, etc. are not important, then take the step. Surely no one here wants anything bad for you, but here in the forum there are always house-building dreamers who think that if they calculate everything nicely then it will work out. But who do not want to give up the annual flight trip, shy away from paving work, and whose so-called "simplest equipment" already includes smart home, expensive flooring, wood-aluminum windows, dormers and projections.

As you have already been advised here: Go to a local, rather small solid builder and see what he offers. Get quotes for what the earthworks or equipment rentals cost. See what materials you will need and how much they cost. Sum up the working hours necessary for building the carport, garden landscaping, terrace construction, fence, etc. - with some leeway - and then see if that is feasible with your own people. Look strictly at what own work can be done on the interior construction and whether that might conflict with the schedule.

Inventory in rural areas away from booming regions is difficult. I guess it is similar with the OP there. Land is worthless, prices are being asked for dilapidated shacks that make you wonder if there is an oil well or gold vein under the house. Everything that is still reasonably renovateable is sold privately.

A new build makes more sense. Buying and demolishing yourself is no alternative. I think the OP wrote something about 16,000 for their plot.
Purchase price + demolition - land value = big loss

Maybe a shell house would be an alternative. But even there, I would look regionally.

I think the key to the possibility of building a house is really reducing it to the essentials. 120 square meters is manageable. And then building a solid foundation - but without any frills. Most of those can be added later on over the years with some craftsmanship or you can simply leave them out. For example, you can retrofit a fireplace for a wood stove yourself if you have the money later and want to have such a stove. You don’t need a carport right away either. Even the terrace doesn’t have to be perfect when you move in. Instead of the super fancy luxury kitchen, the existing one or even a used one will do. A fence can also be erected in the following years.

The important thing is just that you don’t stretch the financing to the limit but can put aside a good basic amount of money over time. Especially with construction work around the house, a few thousand can quickly change hands – building a simple shed? Renting an excavator. Concrete. Sand. Cement. Joist hangers. Beams. Boards. Screws. Roofing. Wood stain. Boom, account empty.

You have a degree and dream of building a new house, but the salary is not enough. Isn't it obvious then to look for a better-paying job? With 1-2 years of professional experience after graduation, a 50k annual salary should be achievable. Then you would have at least 500€ net more per month, and the situation looks better. And no, 500€ is not needed for commuting. If your time is worth more to you, that is completely legitimate, but then you just have to give up on building. What I also find incomprehensible is why you studied if you are not working in a corresponding job? During your studies you could have already earned good money and saved something aside.

Be sure to also calculate costs for material and own labor up to the point of usability; the rest is for appearance. For example, a carport is not necessary. Gravel for the parking space and house entrance is not a luxury. Paving can wait. However, a savings volume must be available for "can be done later" and the endurance for own labor. In almost every new development area, there is at least one house where one of these is missing. Nothing happens there. For years. In most cases, you can see that the builders work square meter by square meter. Very few have everything done by the landscaping gardener in one go.

If your time is more valuable to you, that is completely legitimate, but then you just have to forego building.

I find the statement too harsh at first glance. They do not have to forego building - moreover, a longer commute also costs time, which may then be missing for the expansion. If they do not have high demands, they should talk to a solid construction builder. Given the low land prices, they could also be in an "affordable" region where they might come out at just under 2,000 euros/m². And a vague probing costs nothing. Then they can still calculate the matter and think it over.