Support in finding a personal pain threshold

A payment of 1200 euros, a term of 30 years, and an interest rate of 2% p.a. (assumption) results in a loan of 324,000 euros. At 1% p.a., you get 374,000 euros.

Was the 540,000 euros the pure construction costs or does it include the land value?

To determine the personal pain threshold, the reverse approach based on the possible monthly rate and term is certainly sensible. Then I would look at how and what I can build with the available capital. Just as Bieber0815 has already shown. With 2.5% repayment, 330,000 euros are probably realistic. For me personally, however, that would already be at the limit with a monthly income of 4000 euros; I would also not completely ignore the ratio of equity to loan.

If the architect says 540k at the first meeting... it will end up >600k ;) What do you want to bet on?

We once thought of 600..700k all-in. Currently 950k

But it’s not because the architect miscalculates, rather you keep coming up with new goodies ;) Better start building at last, otherwise your wish list will get even longer :) Eventually, enough is enough.

First of all, many thanks for your numerous assessments and advice. They have definitely contributed to us reconsidering some things :)

As far as the architect's calculation is concerned, I just assume that we either did not understand him correctly or we did not express properly what we want and where our limit is :-D But that is also because we are still at the very beginning and first have to sort out our thoughts and wishes... Otherwise, the architect was actually quite likeable and he has a very good reputation here in the area as well as in the closer family circle. Which is very important to us.

We have a second appointment with the mentioned architect and there we will address his calculation again... And we can clarify once more that we imagine a different price range.

Until then, we will think again about where our limit lies. Currently, we tend more towards €300,000 - €330,000. However, we still have enough time before the appointment to calculate different scenarios (e.g., pregnancy and parental leave, disability, etc.)...

But it’s not because the architect miscalculated, it’s because you keep coming up with new goodies ;)
Better start building soon, or your wish list will get even longer :) Eventually, there’s a limit.

We’re already at :) Tomorrow the foundation slab..130t concrete + 2.5t steel :)

Regards, Steffen