Would buying/building a house ever be affordable for us?

About the salary, somehow it seems unusual that people with this salary inquire here, when I look at what others receive. But well, the main thing is that you yourself are happy.

Money isn't everything. Other factors also play a role in happiness through work. The higher salaries can be found (at least according to what is read here) in somewhat duller "working regions." And the times when you could say that a degree automatically brings a fat salary are over anyway. We're talking here about starting salaries and not 20 years of professional experience... I wouldn't have had more 25 years ago either.

Nevertheless: the nice colleagues or the great workplace don't contribute to financing your own little house. In this respect, the average higher earners gather in the forum, although you also read a lot here that the man earns the majority, the woman doesn't come close to 1800 (in the West without children). If only I had studied economics, then I would have double the salary, but would be in the completely wrong film in working life.

Keep observing the market, save... and eventually a cozy house will come where you dare to renovate it bit by bit. But please no bargain house.

You can apply online for early repayment and then you will be given the final amount. For me, it's almost 12,000 euros, so that already makes quite a few thousand...

You don't even need to apply online. As soon as you receive the letter because the repayment is due, you find out anyway. It states exactly how much you have to pay if you repay it all at once and by when you have time to do so, otherwise the first installment becomes due, etc. However, I always thought that the repayable part of the Bafög is capped at 10,000? Or do you mean that you were paid out 12,000? Then only half of that would have to be repaid anyway.

At some point, this cap was introduced, my BAföG was paid without a cap. Therefore, I actually have to repay these 12k euros. I've also been deferring for a while now, and I've also received the BAföG final loan and an education credit. I have to dig really deep and look at the very first notice to see if there is a repayment amount for immediate full repayment in one lump sum. However, it always also states that this early repayment with a discount is "possible upon request." Online, there is also the option "Request for early repayment," so I thought that you definitely have to submit the request. That is probably also the safer option.

At some point, this capping was introduced, my BAföG was paid without any cap. Therefore, I actually have to repay these 12k euros.
I have also been postponing repayment for a while, I also received the BAföG final loan and an education loan.
I have to dig very deep and look at the very first notice to see if there is a repayment amount in case of immediate full repayment at once.
However, it always says that this early repayment with a discount is possible "upon request." Online there is also the option "application for early repayment," so I thought you definitely have to submit the application. That is probably the safer option.

Oh, when did you receive BAföG? That must be at least 10 years ago, right?
For me, the reduced amount due to one-off repayment worked smoothly simply after I received the letter. But depending on the situation, it can certainly be sensible to pay before the actual notice.

I studied with BAföG from 1997 to 2004, of which 3 and a half semesters were beyond the standard period of study. For the first 2 semesters I received BAföG as a full grant due to illness, for the last 1.5 it was a full loan (study completion loan). I almost continuously received the maximum amount, which back then was equivalent to 425 euros (ridiculous how little that sounds). Since I also received an education loan and completion loan, the letter with the final BAföG amount only came last year or the year before. At that time I earned significantly less and first got a deferral. Now I work 70% and at the end of the year then 100%, and I would like to increase the loan and repay the BAföG in full in one go once my car is paid off. Since I can take my entire salary for repayment (I am currently also paying 750 euros monthly for the car), a few months more "without money" won't make much difference. But in return I would be rid of the nasty loan amount. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a job after my studies and therefore had to keep writing x deferment letters for various loans. That gets annoying in the long run.

Uii... well, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you that you finally get that topic behind you soon!