Property purchased 05/22, can we withdraw from the purchase?

Let someone "take a look" who knows about financing. From my perception, uncertainties and fears about the future are increasing even more strongly than prices and interest rates – so you need to have the rational and the emotional professionally separated. The fundamental circumstances regarding the principal decision "stay a tenant or become an owner" hardly change significantly.

It is less about "staying a tenant or becoming an owner," but about whether it really has to be exactly this property now, or if a) perhaps a "better" property with fewer compromises can still be found, or we completely avoid the stress of building by buying an existing property.

I'm glad to hear that. Don't hesitate to use the non-binding contact options (especially the comment function is still used very cautiously), I will gladly send the others by email. I also have a financing aunt "on hand," as they say in Cologne. Tell me, which topics have you had the tabs open for forever? :)

We have not been sure from the start of planning whether we want an architect who only does phases 1-3 and then goes to the general contractor, whether we commission an architect for all phases, whether we go directly to the general contractor, etc. And if we already have such a hard time with such a fundamental question, how is it supposed to go on when it gets into the details? How much can we trust the experts and how much/where do we need to inform ourselves to make the right decisions? Do we just write to an architect and hope he does the right thing? That’s where it starts :D

I may be wrong, but I believe there is no general right to rescind a legally binding purchase contract in that sense. (?) I wouldn't know why the seller should be forced to go along with something like that. But if the property is developed by a developer, is there then no obligation to also build with them?

or we save ourselves all the building stress completely by buying an existing property..

I think that comes with different kinds of stress. I am a convinced general contractor client and actually don't find building that stressful. You have to make decisions, but we keep it pragmatic. If I had bought an existing property, there would also be "something" wrong with it. That's why I'm not spending weeks pondering the right tile for the utility room now. We went there, picked something, and that was it.

It's less about "staying renters or becoming owners," but rather whether it has to be exactly this plot now, or if a) maybe we could still find a "better" plot with fewer compromises

So it’s more FOMO than lack of courage after all. The bettererer is the enemy of the betterer ;-)

or if we can save ourselves the building stress entirely by buying an existing property..

Maximally ROTFL, you realize that yourself (?)

The plot was sold by a private developer, not the municipality. He bought the whole area and is taking care of the infrastructure.

Really only as the infrastructure provider, without obligation to also sign a building contract with him? – then the chances of luck aren’t so limited after all!

From the very start of planning, we aren’t sure whether we want an architect who only does phases 1-3 and then go to the general contractor, whether we want an architect for all phases, whether to go directly to the general contractor, etc.

Now I really wonder what kind of construction forum posts you must have read if the "headline article" house-building roadmap wasn’t among them (?)

And if we’re already struggling so much with such a fundamental question, how is it supposed to go on when it gets into the details? How much can we trust the experts and how much/where do we have to inform ourselves to make the right decisions? Do we just write to an architect and hope they do the right thing? That’s where it already starts

Just pretend I’m Jim Rockford (just one call away) :)

I may be wrong, but I believe there is no general right to unwind a legally concluded purchase contract in that sense. (?) I don't see why the seller should be forced to go along with something like that. But if the property is developed by a developer, then is there no obligation to also build with them?

No, no obligation to build with them, only the requirement from the city to do so within 3 years after development. So without the consent of the developer, who will most likely refuse, there is no favorable option. Then the option is basically off the table.

Now I really wonder what kind of BJ articles you must have read if the "lead article" house building schedule wasn’t included (?)

Just pretend I'm Jim Rockford (just call) :)

Exactly, it’s precisely because of your articles and comments here in the forum that I started to reconsider; before, the option with an architect and general contractor was actually the clear favorite ;)

No legal advice, just my personal opinion: As far as I know, a reversal would only be possible if the item you bought is defective and this was concealed from you. Otherwise, I don’t see how it could work without the seller’s consent. Even if a buyer’s financing falls through, they can’t just back out of the contract. In the worst case, one can even be obliged to pay damages if the seller withdraws after a reminder.

Yes, precisely because of your articles and comments here in the forum, I started to reconsider, before the option with architect and general contractor was actually the clear favorite ;)

Many roads lead to Rome, and none is wrong, just different.

And if we already struggle so much with such a basic question,

how is it supposed to continue when it gets to the details?

How much can we trust the experts and how much/where do we need to inform ourselves in order to make the right decisions?

You don’t have to make a philosophy or a field of study “builder” out of this now. Others have managed it too. There are construction supervisors.

However, I would probably see the cause more with you than with the circumstances and the north orientation, that basically you have less trust, also not in your own decisions. Just check that for yourselves. However, it might be time in life to trust your decisions. Otherwise, 10 years will pass and nothing will have happened.

By the way, very few plots of land are optimal… there is always something. You just must not make the mistake of thinking standard and building that way too. My neighbors opposite all have north orientation and beautiful houses with nice west-facing gardens. North orientation is always a nice challenge, at least it results in a more interesting room layout than those standard things :)