Property purchase & broker behavior: Is this normal?

Me? Why? I'm not allowed to demolish my monument ...

In threads by you - which ones I don't have on hand right now - it has already been about renovations of individual semi-detached houses several times.

Me? Why? I'm not allowed to tear down my monument anyway...

I would interpret it this way: at least on the street side, the new house must adopt the shape of the still existing semi-detached house. So height, roof pitch, etc. Presumably also approximately the width towards the street. In the garden, I would try to have more freedom of interpretation. But the architect probably has better ideas.

Yes, it's not mine either Ok... yes, well, that's how I would have understood it (so to your first answer) and that's how the surroundings look to me too – like you have to look similar at most towards the front, but most people build quite large towards the back. Although especially the neighboring house implemented that for me in a questionable way . See photo (the circled house is the one we want to purchase)

As far as I know, notary fees only arise if a notarization takes place. The broker will be sufficiently secured against circumvention to be able to tell you who the seller is. The seller has to reveal their identity at the notary anyway. If they still want to remain incognito just before the oath, that would be reason enough for me to call off the hunt.

Be careful, costs also arise for the draft if the appointment falls through after the draft has been created, § 119 Court and Notary Fees Act.

The only question is who bears the costs. It's not the interested party who hires the notary, right?

Attention, costs also arise for the draft if the appointment is cancelled after the draft has been created, § 119 Court and Notary Fees Act.

The only question is who bears the costs. It is not the interested party who commissions the notary, right?

The bad news is that most agents use a very clever wording like "do you agree that I commission the notary for you". That means the buyer gives the order and would have to cover the draft costs. The good news is that many notaries (at least those I know in BY) do not charge fees for a simple real estate purchase contract draft, even though they could. The effort to collect these (because there is definitely a dispute about who pays, who commissioned, often a dunning procedure is required) is higher than the effort for a standard purchase contract. Depending on workload and the economic situation of the office, however, it can also be quite different ...

The good news is that many notaries (at least the ones I know in BY) do not charge fees for a simple real estate purchase contract draft, even though they could.

In BY, however, there are also official notaries; the notary system is very "inconsistent" from state to state.