We have now decided to start building a house from autumn 2019, even though personally I would have much preferred to buy. On one hand, I’m happy that our long-held plans are finally coming to fruition; on the other hand, I’m currently frustrated that we spent 5 years searching in vain – 5 years of rent payments at 600 euros per month (about $650 USD) times 12 months times 5 years equals 36,000 euros (about $39,000 USD)… money we could have already paid toward a mortgage.
My parents had their mortgage paid off by age 50. According to our repayment plan, I expect to be in my early 60s when we finish.
We posted several ads, told everyone we know, left notes in mailboxes of vacant properties, and kept our eyes open everywhere… all ultimately futile. We could have bought something in November 2017 but were outbid at the last moment by about 10,000 euros (around $11,000 USD). That was not worth it to us, especially since the agent was also asking for a commission. That’s life…
One real estate agent told us that interesting properties sometimes have to be marked inactive within an hour after listing because the phone won’t stop ringing otherwise.
About 95% of the viewings we did turned out to be disappointments: mold, water damage, kilos of pigeon droppings in the attic, awkward floor plans, very old electrical installations, filthy bathrooms, no mobile reception, slow internet, impending road and sewer construction of 1.5 years duration with cost repartition, paint shops, and noisy neighbors like arcades, and so on.
Supposedly, half villages are empty here in northern Hesse and many houses are waiting for buyers. But I really don’t see that, except for some dilapidated half-timbered houses on main roads.
This year, our patience ran out because I don’t believe anything will change in the next 5 years either.
How long did it take for you? Or did you skip the “fun” and decide to build right away? I’d be glad to read about your experiences.
Have a great weekend!
My parents had their mortgage paid off by age 50. According to our repayment plan, I expect to be in my early 60s when we finish.
We posted several ads, told everyone we know, left notes in mailboxes of vacant properties, and kept our eyes open everywhere… all ultimately futile. We could have bought something in November 2017 but were outbid at the last moment by about 10,000 euros (around $11,000 USD). That was not worth it to us, especially since the agent was also asking for a commission. That’s life…
One real estate agent told us that interesting properties sometimes have to be marked inactive within an hour after listing because the phone won’t stop ringing otherwise.
About 95% of the viewings we did turned out to be disappointments: mold, water damage, kilos of pigeon droppings in the attic, awkward floor plans, very old electrical installations, filthy bathrooms, no mobile reception, slow internet, impending road and sewer construction of 1.5 years duration with cost repartition, paint shops, and noisy neighbors like arcades, and so on.
Supposedly, half villages are empty here in northern Hesse and many houses are waiting for buyers. But I really don’t see that, except for some dilapidated half-timbered houses on main roads.
This year, our patience ran out because I don’t believe anything will change in the next 5 years either.
How long did it take for you? Or did you skip the “fun” and decide to build right away? I’d be glad to read about your experiences.
Have a great weekend!
Jean-Marc schrieb:
Placing flyers in mailboxes of vacant properties, I wouldn’t have expected much from that from the start: whoever actually empties the mailboxes there doesn’t check if the flyer is an offer to buy or the usual notice about a new hairdresser or a missing cat poster.
Jean-Marc schrieb:
Without connections in the villages, it’s hardly possible for outsiders to get the good deals. And in my opinion, that’s a good thing: functioning village communities want to stay that way, and many newcomers just commute like tourists with blinders from their building site to their job in the district town without caring about the fire department or the choir club. So, if you’re looking in villages where you don’t have relatives: forget real estate agents, show up at the village pub, build relationships— with the pastor, funeral director, choir leader, shooting club champion, baker— that’s where the opportunity lies. But you also have to be likeable. Snobs with handbag SUVs or people who look like they just put their tie in their pocket like a womanizer at the hotel bar showing off his wedding ring won’t have a chance there.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
I wouldn’t have expected anything from that right from the start: whoever empties the mailboxes doesn’t check whether the note is a purchase offer or just the usual announcement about a new hairdresser or a notice about a lost cat.Yes, I could have imagined something more pleasant than constantly carrying those notes ready in my wallet and dropping them into random mailboxes on Sundays without knowing if we would ever hear back. We probably wouldn’t have done it if we hadn’t known some cases where it actually worked. You just grab every straw.
And in my opinion, that’s a good thing: functioning village communities want to stay that way, and many newcomers are just like tourists with blinders, commuting from their building plot to work in the district town without caring about the fire department or the choir club. So, if you’re looking in villages where you have no relatives: forget real estate agents, make an effort to be seen in the local pub, build relationships – with the pastor, undertaker, choir director, shooting club champion, baker – that’s where the magic happens. But you have to be likeable to them. Snobs with designer handbags and SUVs or people who look like they just tucked their tie into their pocket like a womanizer at the hotel bar showing off his wedding ring have no chance.That’s all correct. I grew up in the countryside myself and know how it works there. Without participating in village life, moving there would not have been an option. Even though we may have become a bit more urbanized by now, we are not the type to move somewhere and never show up at the Easter bonfire, the sports festival, and so on. If you prefer that kind of anonymity, I’d rather stay in Kassel, where the neighboring homeowners couldn’t care less whether they haven’t seen you for two months, the mail is overflowing from your mailbox, and the hall smells a bit odd.
M
Mottenhausen30 Nov 2018 21:22Zaba12 schrieb:
I don’t know if it’s different elsewhere, but here it’s exactly the same. If you ask a shell builder now, the earliest start is in 12 months. That’s why I fully agree.Our general contractor is also the shell builder. That is why we chose him.
Josephine248930 Nov 2018 22:35Mottenhausen schrieb:
Started looking for existing properties in summer 2018, FAIL! The market is a disaster. Thanks to this forum, I quickly realized that the search would lead nowhere.
By chance, through acquaintances, learned about available plots in a new residential area in a perfect location for us. Viewed the plot, bought it in autumn 2018, since late summer 2018 visited model parks, compared a lot, and in the end chose a smaller local home builder. According to the contract, construction was to start in March 2019 with a guaranteed construction time until sometime at the end of 2019.
I don't think it can go faster... Without trying to start a race: it is possible, or at least similarly fast.
Summer 2018 permanent civil servant positions secured. Future safe. Employer safe.
On Sundays, grabbed the map, marked a drivable radius, and spent two weekends driving through the beautiful Eifel region checking new development areas and available plots. Found one in a small town, called the mayor on Monday. Got an appointment to "get to know each other" on Tuesday. We got along well and received the plot at €39/m2 (approx. $4/ft2).
Found an architect in summer 2018, had house plans/ideas collected beforehand. Went to the architect, good feeling, fine-tuning.
Construction started February 2018, solid build with extras. Setbacks due to weather, deliveries, and lightning strike, but move-in guaranteed for October 2018—and it worked out. Not everything finished, still some small open items at Christmas, but very satisfied.
Jean-Marc schrieb:
We probably would have left it alone too, if we hadn’t actually known some cases where it really led to success. Really? — with notes small enough to fit in a wallet? — you never cease to amaze me.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
Really? – with notes small enough to fit in a wallet? – you never cease to amaze.Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about the specific format used in these cases. It’s possible that using DIN A1 paper might have generated more responses than subtle notes. As I said, that was only one of a good dozen approaches we tried during our search. We received significantly more feedback from tear-off notes posted on the supermarket notice board, but unfortunately, nothing suitable was found there either.
The good properties are usually given to family members, friends, colleagues, and so on beforehand. Knowing this now, we could have saved ourselves a lot of searching and driving around.
I find it quite surprising that people here have to search for years, even for a building plot. Thankfully, it’s not that bad where I live. I looked at the land-use plan online, visited a field, and approved it, sent in an application, and after the deadline, the documents arrived immediately. The notary appointment is scheduled for January.
Similar topics