Private retirement provision and free saving alongside financing?

I think you misunderstand Steffen80 there. Whoever has spent money with both hands before, stands with 0€ equity, and then decides they want to build a house in the next 1-2 years will simply find it more difficult to adjust. They then have to learn to save. I also know some experts who have an empty account at the end of each month and if there’s anything left, they quickly buy a few clothes, regardless of whether they need them or not. Adjusting to no longer having a new phone/notebook every year and no longer having the latest collection in the closet is difficult for most. Those whose savings amount automatically remains in their account each month usually start the house building project with equity and have it easier because they don’t have to restrict themselves. In our case, the account balance steadily increased after moving in together and before building the house, despite one-time expenses like the wedding, BAföG repayment, and bigger things like buying a car. We didn’t save directly or set aside a certain amount but simply transferred whatever was left over each month to the savings account. But just having the money lying around in the account or savings was somehow boring for us. We live now just like before. There are no financial restrictions, only those from having a child. But you’d have those even without a house.

I find that anything but weak. I find it honest and think similarly.

If I have built a house and live in it, then for me that is a real value.
However, if I save for 10 or 15 years for it, that certainly shows consistency and perseverance, which is quite commendable, but honestly, it would be too silly for me, probably knowing that I don’t even know if everything will go well and if I can later fulfill my dream.

I wasn’t referring to the question "save or not"... I just find the argument weak to say "when building a house I am forced to show discipline." I would say: Whoever couldn’t manage that "before"... should better not build a house. And we probably agree: Every builder should really have equity, and this equity usually comes together through saving in almost all cases. Conclusion: Everyone has to prove a certain discipline already BEFORE the house building project.

We saved for about 11 years... and that was not the least bit too silly for me. I am proud of the result. Besides, we are in a good position if something should go wrong in the next few years or if we (for whatever reasons) decide to change our place of residence. After a sale and repayment of the loans, a not insignificant amount should remain.

Regards, Steffen

And one more thing: Homebuilders with almost no or little equity certainly make significantly bigger compromises (size, equipment) when building than homebuilders with 30 or 40% equity. Since we only want to build once, I would find that pretty "stupid". I want >200sqm and I want a top location and also corresponding equipment and and and. We have gladly saved for that

Regards, Steffen

May be true, but does not apply to everyone - there are other ways

Offffffff Tooooopic:

I just realized while reading here that I have been a very disciplined person in the last few years and today I want to really go overboard!
Therefore, I pre-ordered the Surface Book with i7, 512 GB, and 16 GB coming out on 18.2.

Extremely happy and starting tomorrow, I will be very frugal again for the next 6 years.

Sylvia

And one more thing: builders with little or nearly no equity surely regularly make significantly bigger compromises (size, equipment) when building than builders with 30 or 40% equity. Since we only want to build once, I would find that pretty "stupid". I want >200sqm and I want a top location and also corresponding equipment and and and. For that, we have gladly saved

Cheers, Steffen

Basically, I agree with you, equity is simply enormously important. However, I can't and don't want to afford everything, despite an equity share of over 40%. Since we are still very young and children are only planned after the build, we definitely don’t want to get carried away with something. I also want to still be able to go on vacations when the kids are here, and since we don't know what kids will cost us, we will only take out as much credit as not to exceed 25% of our net income.
We then only have the option of scaling back our expectations; instead of the desired 220sqm, it will be "only 170-180," instead of a double garage it will be a double carport, and whether I can still fit the bus system in, I also doubt...
But what I do know already is that I probably will never have to worry about whether we can afford it, as long as we don’t come up with completely crazy ideas.
But honestly, even 170sqm is absolutely sufficient—especially for someone like us, who has spent the last few years in Munich in a 60sqm 2-room apartment.