Why don't construction prices go down?

That is only partially true. Ukrainian refugees are allowed to work immediately. Nevertheless, companies cannot find auxiliary staff. Even in places with many refugees.

The difficulty for Ukrainian women is that they cannot find childcare options. At best, something might perhaps be organized privately, provided it is allowed and possible from an insurance point of view. Our infrastructure is simply not designed for the high population growth since 2015 (or since 2010, by 4 million people), as we had long assumed a shrinking population. Creating infrastructure for so many new residents takes a long time, if it is even possible.

I do think that is possible. But for that, the professions important for it would have to be made attractive. Today, you’re only someone (and have prospects for financial prosperity) if you went to university. At least, that’s the perception. In our graduating class, almost no one did an apprenticeship. I did one, but then I also went on to study at university. We need educators, elderly and nursing caregivers, and much more. But these professions won’t see an upswing as long as the income stands in such a poor ratio to the responsibility. Time is not the major factor here. Such an apprenticeship can be completed in 3-5 years to be ready for the job market. Since 2015, we could have been better positioned by now. But the professions are unattractive. Just recently, a good friend of mine (nurse, focusing on outpatient intensive care) was dissatisfied with her job. She has nearly 20 years of professional experience. She walked into the office of a nursing service in her city to ask if they were hiring, intending to apply. They didn’t let her leave the office at all. She ended up IMMEDIATELY in the management’s office and left with a job contract. Of course, she didn’t sign immediately but slept on it, but that’s how extreme the situation in nursing is nowadays.

From what I hear and read, price and financing currently simply do not match. Construction companies and banks report a collapsing demand.

In my opinion, either the financing (interest rates/subsidies etc.) must become cheaper or the price (discounts/requirements etc.) must give way. If neither gives way, there are probably far too many companies and some will have to stop. The rest must come up with something or find some leeway.

I am following the situation, which I consider extraordinary in my opinion, with interest. While I wish every individual that on the one hand they get a decent house for their money or their installment and on the other hand earn something from the construction.

A real estate agent well known to me for existing properties has already confirmed this. Potential buyers enter negotiations much better informed and offset necessary measures. If the price does not match, the houses sit like lead in the display. It takes a while for this to become statistically noticeable, and whether this is also the case in very sought-after residential areas is questionable. The energy upgrade somewhere in the middle of nowhere is just as expensive as in the commuter belt of a major city, or also not exactly cheap.

This is already noticeable statistically, as it was recently a topic on the Tagesschau: Prices for real estate are currently falling as strongly as never before since records began. This affects energy-efficient properties / new houses rather little, but existing properties with high energy demand all the more.

The difficulty with Ukrainian women is that they cannot find childcare options. At best, something might be organized privately, if allowed and possible in terms of insurance. Our infrastructure is simply not designed for the high population growth since 2015 (or since 2010, by 4 million people), since we assumed a shrinking population for a long time. Creating infrastructure for so many new citizens takes a long time, if it is even possible.

But that, if anything, only applies to women with very small children. From school age, they go to school, after all. And at least here, efforts are made to place the kids in daycare centers as well, which unfortunately does not always work.