ᐅ Psychology of Buying / Overcoming Obstacles

We currently live in a duplex in a large apartment, which feels like living in a bungalow-style house (so that’s good) – the neighbors are great. If I could get something like this, including the surroundings, except for a few minor issues here that affect the living quality, I would take it.

@Crossy Well, it’s more the fear of negative consequences—that probably sums it up exactly. This thread won’t be able to change that for me either. But talking about it is known to help .

Unsure schrieb:

Currently, we live in a large apartment within a two-family house, which feels like living in a bungalow-style home (so that’s good) – the neighbors are great. If I could get something like this guaranteed, including the surroundings, except for some minor issues here that affect the quality of living, I would take it.

@Crossy Well, it’s more a fear of negative consequences, that’s probably exactly it. This thread won’t change that for me either. But as they say, talking helps .

Have you approached the owner about buying?

What is the main reason behind your general desire to own property? In other words, what motivates you?

HilfeHilfe schrieb:

Hello, I think that’s completely normal and very human. In the USA, buying is like renting. It’s normal to buy and sell. In Germany, it feels more like a life-changing decision. Can I afford the costs, what is the neighborhood like, will I find a job nearby, and so on. I can reassure you! When it comes to jobs, I’m used to big numbers, but when we signed the purchase contract at the notary, I instantly felt like I might throw up right there! What is your biggest obstacle or fear?

I observe the same. In Germany, building a house is treated almost like a once-in-a-lifetime decision. In other countries, people are definitely more relaxed about it.

In my family circle abroad, it’s the same. If it no longer fits, they just sell it again, and that’s that.
@TE, this is probably uncertainty because you have never done something like this before. Once you’ve done it for the first time, it probably wasn’t as bad as you feared, and the next time will be even easier. At least that’s how it is for me.

HilfeHilfe schrieb:

Have the owners been approached about selling?

Not yet. However, I doubt the house can be bought by individual apartment because the children live in the landlord’s second apartment. Even if the children move out, the house would be much too large for a single family, if it’s even affordable at all (still a good location in the Frankfurt area). I’m not really interested in playing landlord.

saralina87 schrieb:

What is the main reason behind your general desire to own property? What motivates you?

The main reason is our child and the security of a stable environment. We would also like to be able to arrange the apartment according to our needs. It’s quite nice and generally neutral here, but, for example, the bathroom is unfortunately stuck in a wild design from the ’90s. The windows and other elements will have to be replaced eventually, and overall, I’m not keen on investing money here unless absolutely necessary. Beyond that, I would like to know, besides supporting my family, what I am working for. The money accumulates (good for retirement savings), but it’s not something you can physically "hold."

Yaso2.0 schrieb:

@TE That is probably the uncertainty because you have never done something like this before. Once you have it behind you, it likely won’t be as bad as feared, and the next time will even be easier. At least that’s how it is for me.

I don’t see it as such a critical life decision. I know I can sell a place, assuming there’s no property market crash in between, but yes. I even want to, since I would like to spend my retirement with my wife abroad—it’s the typical cold water, only it’s very cold here and you could really fall flat on your face. Is there maybe something like “Anonymous Property Builders” in the Frankfurt area?

Then you just have to keep renting, which is not a problem.