Single-family house new construction - How do we come to a decision now?

At the end of last year, we were offered a very nice plot of land by a lucky coincidence. It was a return from the last new development area. The previous owners missed the three-year deadline to build. Everyone else ahead of us on the waiting list no longer wanted the plot, and now we just took the opportunity. In the last few weeks, we have informed ourselves at various model houses and factory tours of prefabricated house manufacturers and are currently a bit overwhelmed about how best to come to a decision. I can't just sign a contract anywhere now and see what kind of house ends up being built and how expensive it will be. And I also can't commission plans from several manufacturers for X thousand euros just to compare what the fun will finally cost me. But somehow, I have to plan the right house for us on this exact plot. How did you go about making your decision?

We would like to build ecologically and sustainably, and I was shocked at the prices we have been confronted with so far. Frammelsberger Holzhaus and Stommel Haus estimate about 3500 EUR per square meter, without the base slab and garage, but at least for EH40. We also visited the architect who built with our neighbors, and he estimates the same amount, but at least including the base slab and carport, although only EH55, and with an architect-designed house, I definitely have to plan a considerable buffer. I don't even want to think about the NH class. Have prefabricated houses or timber frame constructions really become that expensive? Who is supposed to pay for that anymore?

Well, the only solution is to lower expectations. Of course, many would love a passive house designed by a star architect with a basement, triple garage, granny flat, and 5 children's rooms. But life is also quite excellent in an optimally planned standard [Energieeinsparverordnung] house with adequate room sizes and quantities. In my opinion, the energy regulations are at a level that makes additional initiatives by builders almost unnecessary. The savings per additional euro are too low. The price leads to smaller houses, which further lowers the energy level. If you really want to make a contribution, rather retrofit an old building to today's standards. ;)

Have prefabricated houses or timber frame constructions really become that expensive? Who is supposed to pay for that anymore?

Everything has become so expensive, yes.
Presumably, that is why the others on the list have also dropped out.

If you really want to make a contribution, rather upgrade an old building to today's standards

Exactly that!
That benefits the environment 100 times as much.

The reflex to go to the next model house park is understandable, as is the assumption that a prefabricated house would somehow be cheaper or faster. If I were to start again, I would do it quite late and first roughly follow the following list: - Budget: what can I actually afford - Plot: slope location? Difficult soil? Particularly beautiful or ugly sides? Restrictions by the development plan - Wishes and requirements: family house with 3 children's rooms or bungalow for two? - rather proven standard house or individual architect house? - rather general contractor (= fewer contacts + coordination but fewer direct possibilities to influence) or individual awarding? - if general contractor: rather a large company or small? - reasons for a preferred construction method?

This narrows down the field of construction companies without talking to a representative and then you just have to start checking out companies that fit the requirements well.

Yeah, the only thing that helps is lowering your demands. Of course, many would love a passive house by a star architect with a basement, triple garage, granny flat, and 5 kids’ rooms. But life is also great in an optimally planned standard Energy Saving Ordinance house with adequate room sizes and quantities. In my opinion, the energy regulations are at a level that makes additional initiatives by homeowners nearly unnecessary. The savings per additional euro are too low. The price leads to smaller houses, which further lowers the energy level. If you really want to make a contribution, it’s better to upgrade an old building to today’s standards. ;)

Neither passive house nor star architect, basement, triple garage, and granny flat are our demands here. We are already planning “only” 150 sqm, a slab foundation, and a carport. A modern heating system and photovoltaic are the “luxury” I would gladly afford, and a proper timber frame construction that perhaps doesn’t necessarily get hauled by 5 trucks from the Czech Republic to Rhineland-Palatinate. According to my current calculations, that still leaves us 550,000 EUR including incidental building costs (the land is already paid for), and I somehow have the feeling that this is going to be really tight.

If you really want to make a contribution, better renovate an old building to today's standards.

We searched for a house for 4 years. You have probably also followed the price development of existing properties. People tried to sell old junk houses for exorbitant sums and partly succeeded. I have stood in houses with completely moldy cellars and garages for 600,000 EUR. In any case, a complete renovation was always necessary, and even then the money would not have been enough to properly renovate such a house energetically.