Straight from the heart: We wish to arrive. To be for ourselves, to do our thing. Space to be outside, for crafting hobbies, for plants and gardening. Free space. Sociability when we want it, but no constant consideration for neighbors. Just to be undisturbed somehow. If I want to play music at 5 a.m., or my boyfriend wants to tinker until late at night, we don’t want to disturb any neighbors.
As a Berliner who has been following the market in this region for several years among others, the above quote is simply the crux. For your desired or "possibility sum," there is no property on the market in the
region East/Northeast of Berlin/surrounding area that will meet these requirements.
From my point of view, the following options remain:
A) move out to the hinterland
B) ownership in the ETW/RH sector
C) keep the rental apartment and purchase a weekend plot (building land), use it as you please, and possibly build later
Regarding A) this was not an option for us until now; we both commute by bike, especially during Corona times it was/is worth gold not to have to use public transport. Rising mobility costs add to this calculation.
Regarding B) we did that. In 2013, we bought a terraced house in a good Berlin location, but at that time with the wish for a later upgrade. This idea has already been mentioned here several times, but I consider it nonsense given the current situation in the region. The additional purchase costs alone on properties over 500k do not make a short-term purchase-project any more economical than going straight for the top. We are now stuck, probably until the kids move out, and will probably proceed with A) afterwards. Of course, this is a luxury problem due to the increase in value, but the initial situation has rather worsened than improved.
Regarding C) don’t you feel any pressure in the apartment? Then do it that way. I have two cases like this in my immediate surroundings, and I somewhat regret not having solved it that way ourselves. In 2013, we also looked at building plots with usable weekend houses, for example in Panketal. The price at the time was 70k, which combined with a nice rental apartment at that time in Pankow for 4 rooms also available for 1200,- warm, would have been the perfect deal from today's perspective.
Especially if no children are planned and income is more about experience than result, this seems an option for you to enjoy beautiful spring, summer, and autumn outdoors with family & friends and at the same time keep commuting and costs at a normal level without later being completely deprived of the building option due to excessive hesitation.