Property, house buying experiences, opinions?

Basically, I don't understand this sentence. Is that the decisive criterion? Please calculate the additional investment versus the subsidy and interest rate. And whether you really save/use as much energy as is calculated on paper? We built a KfW55 and it is almost a zero-sum game. I recently wrote a bit about our house here. Maybe it will at least help you to make the cost side more transparent?

It is probably not about the absolute numbers, but rather about the significantly lower monthly payment of the 300 loan due to the lower interest rate and possibly the 5 years of repayment-free start-up period... Of course, everything shifts backward then, but this construct exists especially for young families who are currently having a hard time – in 5 years it could look very different.

This is a troll post. Whoever posts on Wednesday and then does not respond in any way until Saturday evening has no interest in the answers and comments.

That is a troll post. Anyone who posts on Wednesday and then does not react at all until Saturday evening has no interest in the answers and comments.

I see it differently when you look at questions and answers.
On the one hand, it turns out to be more expensive than expected, on the other hand, the criticism of the too low savings amount affects some people more, making them prefer to hide rather than write a nice thank-you three-liner. It could be that they want to keep bringing unpleasant facts to the table. The ostrich behavior is easier.

I’m not going to write for an hour, and then the amount from the OP gets deleted,..

Here again is my post from 2 hours ago.

Not possible, can’t read it, what’s supposed to be written there?

If we had had THE dream of the house from the beginning, then maybe it would have been different.

Yes, poor or missing advance planning comes back to haunt you eventually. For many, it becomes a stumbling block not to have already set aside some things for “retirement provisions” in advance. Someone who starts family planning at 40 doesn’t necessarily have disadvantages, but basically can no longer do it.

Unless you inherit and finish your studies around 30, which is the usual case, nobody in our age group has 100K lying around.

The problem is also that someone who never learned to "save" might later have problems with repayments, obligations, and consumption.

That means we can already mostly take all the purchased items into our own house and don’t have to worry about sitting in the room with only a construction site light.

Outdoor lighting, older models of lamps and bathroom fixtures are very expensive and can’t just be taken along.

Kitchen: We have already included the rate for it in our future monthly planning and will finance it with a 0% financing. So it’s not part of this.

Are you sure that you will get this consumer loan when you already have a large house financing in your name?

With KFW 124, without KFW 300, which would mean another rate of about 2.7K.

On what? So much is missing…

Regarding the construction performance description, I haven’t said anything yet – what is (typically) not included?

Ventilation system, algae-free plaster, sufficient sockets, two-way switches, CAT/LAN, SAT, tiles, floor coverings, larger tub, bathroom pedestals, walk-in shower, window sizes or variety, front door, stairs, risers, basically any equipment that doesn’t necessarily make a house a livable house but a quality house, is meant here, because it’s not included in the construction performance description.

What would the "desired and necessary special equipment" be in your eyes?

It’s always in the eye of the beholder. Electrical work is a must, tile quality is optional. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years now and there is no one who wants more.

Building permit/electricity/water/insurance are 3-4K.

No, construction electricity and water are 3-4 thousand…

What is meant by "rainwater"?

The house needs to be connected to rainwater/sewage. That includes a cistern, sewage permit, and so on. Small stuff then in the three-digit range. But with 5-6 thousand you can already be in the ballpark. We paid 6,000€ 10 years ago.

Demolition and excavation are not "real" incidental construction costs?

Excavation yes, demolition no.

Crystal ball or does anyone here have a different opinion?

My crystal ball tells me you should first reckon with a potential building plot. And then with realistic numbers. Much of this is made into a topic here and can be read up on.

First of all, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who responded. There were some constructive posts after all.

Now to the point – topic equity: Sure, an important point and yes, in part I agree with you. Our savings rate was there, but not as high as it could have been. If we had had THE dream of a house from the beginning, it might have been different. On the other hand, we are currently living in a rented house with 5 rooms, which means that most of the items we bought for it we can mostly take with us to our own house and we don’t have to worry about sitting in the room with just a construction light. Furthermore, another point: If you are not inheriting and finish your studies around the age of 30, which is the norm, you do not have 100K lying around at our age. Also, I have the subjective impression that it is assumed here that you have been working for at least 30 years with a net income of at least 3.5K.

Part-time/parental leave: Here I expressed myself poorly. I meant parental leave in part-time, which simply means part-time, sorry about that. But yes, for the last 5 years, my partner was either on maternity leave, parental leave, or part-time, and for each child I also had a short parental leave.

Kitchen: We have included the installment for this in our future monthly budget and we will finance it via a 0% financing. So that’s not an issue here.

You have to clarify that for yourselves @TE. If the balance is only theoretically there but was always consumed in practice, the calculation simply doesn’t add up. Honestly, I don’t see the financing working for you. Although very good salaries, there is virtually no equity, that’s the problem and it will break your neck in the current interest rate environment. I would say: save save for 3 years and then build/buy the house with 150k equity.

Although the amount was somewhat lower, talks with Interhyp three months ago resulted in an interest rate of 3.75%. With KFW 124, without KFW 300, which still meant a rate of about 2.7K.

We don’t want to wait 3 years, since, as I said, we want to take advantage of KFW 300. Due to our parental leaves, we meet the necessary conditions for this next year.

For a 160sqm KfW40 house?

I’m actually missing the desired and partly necessary special equipment, for example in the electrics, where the standard is usually really poor.

Also, there are quite a few things that are not included in the construction service description. The necessary kitchen etc. has already been mentioned additionally.

I am missing the real auxiliary construction costs of 30-50k for rainwater, building application/permit and all the extra stuff, also construction electricity/water etc.

What would be the “desired and necessary special equipment” in your eyes? Regarding the construction service description, I haven’t said anything yet – what is typically not included?

Building permit/electricity/water/insurance are 3-4K. Yes, that’s a point. What is meant by “rainwater”? Demolition and excavation are not “real” auxiliary construction costs?

...
That sounds to me like “you still have a lot to learn”. Prefab houses are only as much more finished as lemon folders fold lemons, and another myth often attributed to them (the more precise final price prediction) is a joke with a long beard. At least the third myth (less valuable cardboard box) is also a lie or no longer valid. EH40 is often easier to achieve for timber frame builders, but the masons are catching up. By the way, the non-regional providers among the timber framers are regularly the ones with the more mature products; the regional idea is more recommended for the masons (and especially for wall-panel masons).

What can I say, there is a very good regional prefab house provider here. Internet sources or talking to people who have already built with the provider are only positive.

Although it’s a hot topic, I’ll try it anyway: How do you see the potential development of the key interest rate? We are considering, with regard to the ECB decision(s) in summer, first financing the plot alone with a variable rate and then, if the ECB really lowers the interest rates, only then locking in the “real” financing. Crystal ball or does someone here have a different opinion?

Perhaps one point of differing understanding lies in the fact that the OP assumes that graduating at 30 is the norm. However, the average age after a Bachelor's degree is 23 and after a Master's 26 according to the [Statistisches Bundesamt].