Price negotiation single-family house

the question is more about how to conduct a price negotiation when buying a house? Does no one negotiate the house price here and always pay what is asked? It would be interesting to simply gather the experience of people who have already bought a house and negotiated.

My experiences of the last 5 years:
Yes, I actually negotiated my own home down by 10k five years ago. But only because it was distant relatives of my wife, so an emotional component played a role.
I bought two apartments last year.
I got one at the actual price but also took two garage spaces that the seller wanted to get rid of. It was binding; I sent the financing approval directly with the inquiry and asked in writing 3 hours after the ad went online and immediately followed up by phone. It was tight, but in the end I probably convinced them.
I got the other apartment because I offered 3k more than the seller wanted and promised the broker that he could rent the apartment out to me if I got it. So he also had something to gain if I got the contract and apparently steered it in my direction.
Actually, I am currently buying an apartment where I was able to negotiate 10k down. I was again very fast, very binding, and was able to point out some defects that the seller/broker were also aware of. For me, they are no problem; I can fix them quickly. Nonetheless, I was also fast here and was probably lucky.
I wanted to buy about 20 houses and apartments last year and this year. I was always very fast, binding, sent financing commitments, etc. I always offered the purchase price or a few thousand more. I was outbid every time. Sometimes narrowly, sometimes quite clearly. Then Munich buyers came, who without batting an eye offered 150k instead of the 120k called for a small apartment 70 km from Munich...

Well, that's what the real estate market looks like right now.
You can still negotiate. Sometimes even downwards, but only if there are reasons for it. If location and property are top, it is generally negotiated upwards.

That's why my question about the area, year of construction, size, and asking price.

We have a middle residential area, so not a well-known big city, it is a medium-sized town with about 150,000 inhabitants, the house is located in the neighboring village 10 km away, with 8,000 inhabitants. For comparison, you can completely build such a small house new including land for around 400,000 in our area. Two large new development areas are also being opened up in other nearby villages. However, he wants almost 500,000 for a 20-year-old house on the small plot. For that price, there are comparably larger houses with large plots and garages. There just aren't that many offers in exactly our village where we would like to stay. We want to negotiate the price down to 470k, which would be a really good price for our area.

There just aren't that many offers in exactly our village

And exactly that is one of the reasons why the price is so high. It doesn't help you either if a new building costs less, but you can't get any building land ;)

As you describe it, the house is not yet on the market and you are early. Somehow it also sounds like you have a connection and you fit the seller's ideal ("nice family that fits in"). So good conditions to look for a solution together. I would therefore play with open cards: "We really like it, we also want to stay in the village, but we expected less and the financing is already challenging for us as a young family. What do you think, how can we come to an agreement?" All of this openly and sympathetically, and above all, don't slam any doors. Putting pressure on won't help. However, it would be good if you seriously consider alternatives for yourselves... that helps tremendously not to lose your nerve. Good luck!

Speaking badly causes the opposite effect.
I would try to come across as very likeable, possibly also playing with open cards. Say that it is perfect, you find the house charming, but unfortunately the price is too high.
You probably won't get anything factual out of it.

I have the same opinion. If you are still just as sure after sleeping on it 1-2 times, I would quickly (!) arrange a follow-up appointment. ("We have thought more about the viewing and would like to meet with you again. Also short notice is fine. Do you have an hour for us over the weekend?")
Otherwise, do what says. Maybe leave out the "very" in "very likeable" so you don’t come off as too sycophantic.
My plan would be to meet in person, preferably on site, list a few points why you fell in love with the house, say you would like to stay in the area, and in the end name your (actual) limit and ask what options he has so that you can come to an agreement. He has set himself a bottom line (or none at all) anyway.

We have a middle-class residential area, so not a well-known big city, it is a mid-sized town with about 150,000 inhabitants, the house is located in the neighboring village 10 km away, with 8,000 inhabitants. For comparison, for around 400,000 you can completely build such a small house new here including the plot. Two large new development areas are also being developed in other nearby villages. But he wants almost 500,000 for a 20-year-old house on the small plot. For that price, there are comparably larger houses with large plots and garages. There just aren’t as many offers in exactly our village where we would like to stay.
We want to negotiate the price down to 470,000, which would be a really good price for our area.

So I would never risk anything over 30k, that is a ridiculous amount if it is a great house.