What would be a reasonable maximum loan amount for us?

Yes, as I said, we put our names on the lists with the relevant realtors and banks. But the offer is really poor. For example, we were now "exclusively" offered a house through connections, but it is already too expensive due to its location and the size of the plot, and the renovation... I don't even want to start on that. In any case, it is actually true that most houses are never even advertised but are gone beforehand. Patience is required, but we have time. We would just like to be in the house when the eldest starts school, so she doesn’t have to change schools again. In any case, that would be the ideal scenario.

I personally think it's good that you don't want to overextend yourselves. Just as an example. We bought a condominium on the ground floor as a new build for 250k and are super happy with it. Also in terms of the burden.

Currently, [stand bei euch müsstet ihr auf Urlaube etc verzichten]. I advise everyone to keep it smaller sometimes...

For us, it was also an important criterion to address the topic before primary school. Unfortunately, it also somewhat limited our search radius because the wish was to stay in the same district as the kindergarten.

Therefore, first a nice condominium with a garden. At the same time, we keep an eye out to see if the house will work out after all.

But you can’t predict when suitable properties will come on the market.

If the money is saved in inflexible structures, it can end up being quite a struggle to integrate it into the financing.

An ETW is unfortunately not cheaper here either. Existing ETWs for families (so from 4 rooms, over 100m2) are practically never available for purchase. If so, then in very unattractive urban areas and on the 3rd floor without an elevator in buildings with neighbors where you don't want to live. Everything else is simply rented out at high prices. Of course, no one sells such properties. In good locations, there is a lot of construction going on, but the prices are not affordable for us. What we would like would cost at least €330,000. Large new apartments are even much more expensive.

Over the weekend, we looked at a house. But there was too much to do there as well, and in the end, it would have been too expensive again and ultimately, you would have only had an old semi-detached house for which expensive renovations would certainly be due in the coming years. Besides, there were again an incredibly high number of competitors.

At the moment, we are now considering moving further out and taking the plot from relatives. Then, a new build wouldn't be cheaper, but we would have a new build according to our wishes. We are now gathering information and will then see... and will have to think about it thoroughly.

Exactly for that reason, I would first wait to see how your income develops, in order to then be able to purchase a house/an apartment according to your earnings.

As I said, we also don't want to spend too much. Even if we earn more, that doesn't mean we want to pour everything into home ownership. You don't have to participate in every price frenzy just because you can afford it. The extra money would only serve to give us a more peaceful sleep, not a much higher loan amount.