Semi-detached house/cheaper than a single-family house/how does this work?

Good evening,

recently we discussed here whether it is possible to build a single-family house for €210,000. The result was that it is not possible. So now the question is, can you build a semi-detached house for this amount? Is it really cheaper? The building plot here with us costs only half (half the area), OK, but the house? How does it work if I buy such a plot? According to the development plan, only semi-detached houses are allowed on certain plots. Do I now have to find a building partner, or can I simply build my half and not care about the rest? Unfortunately, no further information was available from the town hall. Has anyone here ever built a semi-detached house?

Good evening,

So now to the question, can you build a semi-detached house for this amount? Is it really cheaper?

As an example, I take your data from the following thread:

https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/reicht-mein-budget-210-teur-fuer-efh.9005/

No – you don’t save significantly, so you also don’t come out significantly cheaper, because you only save the costs of the party wall (wall adjoining the semi-detached house partner) compared to an exterior wall of a detached single-family house.

The building plot costs only half here with us (half the area), OK, but the house? How does that work if I buy such a plot? According to the development plan, only semi-detached houses are allowed on certain plots.

So you can afford a semi-detached house because the plot share is smaller and thus cheaper to purchase?

Do I now have to find a building partner, or do I just build my half and don’t care about the rest? Unfortunately, no further information was available from the town hall.

Well, I would assume that there are one or two specifications in the development plan or the textual stipulations. Otherwise, you can find a partner of your choice and plan the construction with him. If one half of the semi-detached house already exists or its building application has been submitted, your preferred builder must talk to the neighbor or their builder/architect. If you are the first, you usually have the upper hand.

Rhenish regards

If you find a reliable neighbor who is building at the same time, you can save a little... shared [DIXI], construction electricity, etc... but these are rather small amounts.

You can also buy and develop the plot without a neighbor/house partner. However, when developing such a plot, you must pay attention to the requirements of the development plan. Ideally, the future neighbor should already be determined so that the roof pitch, eaves height, and ridge height can be coordinated together.

Regarding your first question: Whether you can build a semi-detached house for the amount of €210,000 depends on the house size and the level of finish as well as the condition of the plot. It might be possible with a living area of less than 110 sqm as a shell construction and without a basement.

What is really cheaper (as already mentioned) for a semi-detached house is usually only the plot (since it can be smaller). Otherwise, costs for the external plaster, roof overhang, and windows are saved in the area of boundary development, but these are often offset by additional construction measures regarding fire and sound insulation, roof windows, or dormers.