Property offer

That's pretty bold. If you really want the property, ask the Chamber of Architects whether this architect is a member, get advice there. Then ... you could ask the architect: how he reconciles this with his professional role and whether he is or will be involved in brokerage deals when it comes to other properties. ;-)

That is more than dubious. What kind of dealings are these! I would ask if there is also a [Paten]!

I followed Bausepp's advice and informed myself. The whole thing is apparently called a "Koppelgeschäft" and is legally impermissible. That would be a great architect's fee: collecting €17,000, doing no work, for 12 properties! €204,000 for nothing!

I kind of expected that!
And, what are you doing now? Just curious, feel free to reply as a pm. ;-)

exactly the same case happened to me as well!!!
with us it was even so severe that the architect openly told us that we would only get the plot with him as the architect. when I replied that this was highly illegal, suddenly it was his wife who owned the plot and he was only doing the architecture. a very clever guy!!!
because we had totally fallen in love with the plot, we idiots had to sign the architect contract even before the notary appointment.
we built with the architect, but apart from collecting his huge fee (55,000 euros as a lump sum contract), the jerk hardly did anything else. even his tenders were not tailored to our house, but only sent out as standard versions.
a buddy who is a real estate agent was also our architect's contact. he also wanted to bring him on board and get a cut from us. when he then appeared with him at the notary to include the broker's fee in the notary contract, I "showed them the door."
despite all this in advance, we built with the ZERO. however, I personally negotiated, awarded, and also accepted all contracts. our architect does not do inspections, "because otherwise the warranty period starts at inspection, otherwise at the final invoice," was his comment.

I could tell you stories about us....
four weeks ago we moved in anyway, and so far no "visible" defects, except a small leak in the roof which the roofer will fix next week. but that was not the architect's fault, it was because I am relatively flexible and stood on the construction site 1-2 times daily and not only answered questions but also documented everything in writing and with pictures.

if we were to build again, then only with "Sepp" :D:D:D
slime

regards

Now have a more detailed insight: So: The landowner is a buddy of the architect The local Volksbank brokers the plots, offer "with house". Contracts are like this: first architect contract/then land+commission, then individual orders to craftsmen (also fixed, no tender), again commission on top of that !!! If you don't want the architect, you don't get the land, unless you pay €17,000 compensation.... This whole thing is a huge rip-off!! Then it is also promised that property transfer tax only applies to the land share without development costs. Inquiry at the tax office: If the economic connection is as described in the brochure, we first calculate only on the land share (because nothing more is stated in the contract), the rest when the documents about the construction within the framework of EHz are submitted and it is visible to us that all houses are built by the same architect/contractor!