ᐅ Building as a Single Person – Sharing Experiences

mrnoname schrieb:

With just over 280 sqm (approximately 3,000 sq ft) of living space and a little over 1000 sqm (approximately 10,800 sq ft) of private land, it’s way, way too big for someone living alone and simply involves a lot of work.

Hmm...
For me, the whole concept still feels a bit off and far from the dream home.
I understand that 280 sqm (3,000 sq ft) / 1000 sqm (10,800 sq ft) can be a lot of work and too big for someone, but 160 sqm (1,720 sq ft) / 750 sqm (8,100 sq ft) also requires effort and can be inconvenient when it comes to holidays or weekend leisure time with children.

mrnoname schrieb:

Work means time that I’d rather invest in my children, traveling, and my job.

mrnoname schrieb:

I say “never say never,” but right now (since I moved out about 2.5 years ago) I’m doing very well on my own. I can focus on work, kids, and traveling. But even with 140–160 sqm (1,500–1,720 sq ft), there should still be enough flexibility/space to accommodate a possible future scenario…

If I were you, I wouldn’t plan around a hypothetical future—just imagine adding three more bedrooms as hybrids to the three kids’ rooms… hehe… large blended families like that aren’t uncommon 😉

mrnoname schrieb:

Rental apartment and “dream house” building.

I’m wondering how many kids’ rooms you’re planning. We’ve had layout discussions here where one or two rooms were included for weekend kids. Always teenagers, as I recall. Each child got their own room, even if only for 2 nights a month, and the rooms were only about 8–10 sqm (85–108 sq ft). Just a thought. What you decide to do—or what’s best—always depends on the child and upbringing (putting money aside).

mrnoname schrieb:

Office and kids’ rooms will likely both be guest rooms at the same time (with minor modifications). The office also needs space for a spinning bike—unless there’s room somewhere for a small fitness room. Two showers should also be in the house (one on the ground floor, one upstairs).

mrnoname schrieb:

I would definitely want to plan with at least one guest/kids’ room and a large office that can also be used for overnight stays.

…and that’s why I think 160 sqm (1,720 sq ft) with the condition “only for me” isn’t fully thought through.

I would rather agree with @Yaso2.0 and wait a bit longer to see where things head.
Definitely buy the plot!
Maybe renovate or divide the current 280 sqm (3,000 sq ft), a shared flat (flatshare) could be an option?
Or sell and rent first. Create breathing space for travel and leisure, then in a few years see what’s left from the kids.

A dream home for yourself probably includes fewer large multifunctional rooms rather than many smaller ones.

I think you’re very much influenced by your current situation and should try to gain some distance. So check whether a new house is really the right option now, or if there are better possibilities in your current phase.

mrnoname schrieb:

Have others done something similar? How did you build? Just for yourselves, or was it rather a “family house” even if you moved in alone? Ultimately deciding against a house, choosing a condo instead?

I kept my three-room terraced house alone after a separation, but wanted to sell it. However, rental apartments over 90 sqm (970 sq ft) (I can’t manage with less :cool 🙂 were more expensive than my mortgage payment, so I kept it.
We built a house with my partner later in life and decided against a family house. That might be a disadvantage at resale, but one child should be fine.
We definitely decided against planning for hypothetical situations.
Otherwise, here (in our area), there are many houses built and/or occupied by single individuals.
I wouldn’t want to build alone anymore. I’m currently considering whether a rental apartment might offer me better comfort of life, combined with an RV or caravan or mobile home by the sea or lake on a leased plot.

Our situation is not comparable, but the approach might be interesting for you.

First, consider how we want to live. Apart from other aspects not detailed here, having an easy-to-manage everyday living area was important to us. Therefore, we significantly reduced the number of rooms. At the time of moving in, the children were 17 and 19 years old – they needed space to grow and develop, but at the same time, after a few years, there shouldn’t be too much unused space once they moved out. For this reason, we built a separate small living unit for each child and designed our own part just as it felt right for us. Once the children have moved out, the children’s apartments can be used as holiday homes, offices, or guest areas without requiring daily maintenance.

You mention that you like a geometrically clear shape made of cubes. My idea is to fit a loft-style apartment over two floors and a two-room flat in one building. The two-room flat serves the children as long as they often visit and stay overnight, and later it can be repurposed – in old age, for example, as a spacious apartment for a mutually beneficial care arrangement. I would design the generous loft so that it doesn’t feel cramped even if a partner sometimes joins.

Yaso2.0 schrieb:

It was the same for me. I acted according to my needs and possibilities.

At 21, I bought a 3-room condo with 65m² (700 sq ft). Sold it 5 years later.

At 26, I bought a mid-terrace house. Sold it 7 years later.

At 33, we bought a semi-detached house. We've lived here for 5 years; the house will be sold during the year.

At 38, I/we (m, 44) are building a detached house.

...

Amazing! And all of that (apparently) without money... 😳

But who needs money? After all, you have it!

pagoni2020 schrieb:

Not if it happens one after another, depending on your own needs and possibilities.
I can’t count myself among the financial elite here, yet I have lived in several different properties of my own.
...

Still, a significant amount of money is necessary for the first (and any further) property(ies).

But this isn’t really about money...

Schimi1791 schrieb:

Amazing! And all that (apparently) without any money ... 😳

But who needs money? After all, you have money!

Start small, then it works out.

I also bought my first condominium for personal use in my early 20s. Now I’m about to move into my fifth owner-occupied property (sometimes alone, sometimes unmarried, sometimes married – sometimes without children, sometimes with two, sometimes with three, sometimes as a part-time dad). Always according to the current life situation.

nordanney schrieb:

Start small, and it will work out.
...

I understand what you mean 🙂
Still, it’s impossible without money. That’s why it’s a matter of money. If you don’t have any, you can’t buy anything...

Schimi1791 schrieb:

Amazing! And all of this (obviously) without any money ... 😳

Well, first of all, I never said that you don’t need money to buy real estate, and secondly, I can tell you that I didn’t have any money when I bought the apartment—the money was borrowed from the bank.

It was the same with the townhouse; I didn’t have a single cent of equity.

Only later, because of the good resale price of the townhouse, did I have some money left, which went into the semi-detached house.

But what exactly can you do without money, except for air and love?