I have been browsing various topics in the forum for some time but so far have only come across larger construction projects: 120 sqm to 180 sqm (1300 sq ft to 1900 sq ft) or similar.
Therefore, I wonder if anyone here has experience with very, very small residential buildings?
For example: 40 sqm (430 sq ft) of living space (see Thule KuBu40), which is just enough for one person, especially if there is an accompanying garden, conservatory, etc.
Can I still expect costs roughly like the following, adapted from a response in another thread:
Land already owned
2500€/sqm (230$/sq ft): 100,000€
30,000€ for outdoor facilities
Additional construction-related costs 50,000€
No basement
So about 180,000€ in total? My goal is to have a base comparable to my apartments from the last 10 years (30–50 sqm / 320–540 sq ft), but with a private garden and a view of nature.
Unfortunately, I have not been very successful searching the forum, and on my other questions I keep getting lost in threads that are unrelated to what I am asking.
So a link to a similar project would also be very helpful.
Thanks in advance if anyone feels like responding 🙂
Therefore, I wonder if anyone here has experience with very, very small residential buildings?
For example: 40 sqm (430 sq ft) of living space (see Thule KuBu40), which is just enough for one person, especially if there is an accompanying garden, conservatory, etc.
Can I still expect costs roughly like the following, adapted from a response in another thread:
Land already owned
2500€/sqm (230$/sq ft): 100,000€
30,000€ for outdoor facilities
Additional construction-related costs 50,000€
No basement
So about 180,000€ in total? My goal is to have a base comparable to my apartments from the last 10 years (30–50 sqm / 320–540 sq ft), but with a private garden and a view of nature.
Unfortunately, I have not been very successful searching the forum, and on my other questions I keep getting lost in threads that are unrelated to what I am asking.
So a link to a similar project would also be very helpful.
Thanks in advance if anyone feels like responding 🙂
H
hampshire11 Aug 2021 17:58Yes, our relationship with the parents/in-laws has also been decent to good, but definitely required a certain minimum distance. The ability or willingness to coordinate life rhythms and priorities is probably key to the success of voluntarily living very closely together. That is exactly what I meant, and you have expressed it more precisely. Thank you.
The thread has taken a somewhat technical turn (-;
On the topic of heating in a 40-60sqm (430-645 sq ft) house:
Thanks for sharing your experiences and ideas.
- Sustainability is my priority, even if it’s challenging, which is why I prefer a wood stove using my own forest.
- I find electric heating difficult to imagine, especially when you still have 35 years of working life ahead and it’s possible you might be away for a year every few years and would have to cover expensive electricity costs over winter without any other automatic heating system. At the beginning of one’s career (I’ve been working full-time for 5 years) a lot changes. But maybe my idea of electric heating is outdated.
- I also thought that you can have an underground gas tank in the garden that I could potentially refill in a few years with biogas from farmer relatives a few kilometers (miles) away. That would actually be the optimal solution in terms of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and automation, right? A gas heating system doesn’t require much space, is efficient, and is not too expensive to install.
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Off-topic: Apartment or house
Living in a city *apartment* is only bearable for me personally as long as I am fit enough to seek out sun and nature daily. Work forces me to sit at the computer for 40 hours a week. That’s only possible with physical balance, but nature and sunlight are among the most important things in my life. In old age (which is what I’m aiming for with the house), I want to be able to go into my garden right outside my door every day. Then I won’t miss anything in life.
Topic of multigenerational house:
After 10 years of living alone, I lived experimentally for 1.5 years with my parents and a sibling with their partner and child in a large former farmhouse.
Experiences:
- If the living spaces aren’t completely separate and you have to share the kitchen and bathroom, it doesn’t work well for long, especially when someone is ill.
- If the spaces are clearly separated and there is open communication about only getting together in the garden or for meals once a week or every two weeks, it works quite well if everyone gets along.
For me personally (as much as I love my family), it wasn’t a good fit because I work in a home office and need to concentrate continuously for my job. I can only do that if I can block out the outside world, which isn’t easy if, for example, I have to share the garden that I use for relaxation during work hours.
If everything were separate, including the garden, it would be possible. That’s how those who still live there do it 🙂
On the topic of heating in a 40-60sqm (430-645 sq ft) house:
Thanks for sharing your experiences and ideas.
- Sustainability is my priority, even if it’s challenging, which is why I prefer a wood stove using my own forest.
- I find electric heating difficult to imagine, especially when you still have 35 years of working life ahead and it’s possible you might be away for a year every few years and would have to cover expensive electricity costs over winter without any other automatic heating system. At the beginning of one’s career (I’ve been working full-time for 5 years) a lot changes. But maybe my idea of electric heating is outdated.
- I also thought that you can have an underground gas tank in the garden that I could potentially refill in a few years with biogas from farmer relatives a few kilometers (miles) away. That would actually be the optimal solution in terms of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and automation, right? A gas heating system doesn’t require much space, is efficient, and is not too expensive to install.
---------
Off-topic: Apartment or house
Living in a city *apartment* is only bearable for me personally as long as I am fit enough to seek out sun and nature daily. Work forces me to sit at the computer for 40 hours a week. That’s only possible with physical balance, but nature and sunlight are among the most important things in my life. In old age (which is what I’m aiming for with the house), I want to be able to go into my garden right outside my door every day. Then I won’t miss anything in life.
Topic of multigenerational house:
After 10 years of living alone, I lived experimentally for 1.5 years with my parents and a sibling with their partner and child in a large former farmhouse.
Experiences:
- If the living spaces aren’t completely separate and you have to share the kitchen and bathroom, it doesn’t work well for long, especially when someone is ill.
- If the spaces are clearly separated and there is open communication about only getting together in the garden or for meals once a week or every two weeks, it works quite well if everyone gets along.
For me personally (as much as I love my family), it wasn’t a good fit because I work in a home office and need to concentrate continuously for my job. I can only do that if I can block out the outside world, which isn’t easy if, for example, I have to share the garden that I use for relaxation during work hours.
If everything were separate, including the garden, it would be possible. That’s how those who still live there do it 🙂
You’re making things a bit harder for yourself.
I completely understand the longing for nature, but we all have to work for our money…
… And most people sit in front of a computer, 40 to 60 hours a week full-time, think about getting older, how nice it could be, and look forward to a home or their own house…
…Because: before that happens, things will change. Illness won’t turn you into a social welfare recipient overnight.
And if that’s the case for everyone—well, for almost everyone. We’re all just human and dependent. And you’re not in an alien position.
In that sense: go ahead with the gas; apparently, it’s not allowed to bury it if the water table is high?! But then set it up outside, plant trees around it.
When illness creeps in, just sell half of the property. So what!
Mathematically, you lose money with 40sqm (430 sq ft).
You have to be able to afford all those new modular building systems. You have to assume that only yuppies can afford such a thing.
Whether with 40sqm (430 sq ft), besides the cozy factor, a real sense of comfort can develop—I’m doubtful.
But you can report back and convince me otherwise 🙂
eenuep1 schrieb:
Living in a city *apartment* is personally only bearable for me as long as I’m fit enough to get out to enjoy the sun and nature every day. Work forces me to spend 40 hours at the computer.
I completely understand the longing for nature, but we all have to work for our money…
eenuep1 schrieb:
Between a full-time job and private life, this topic can sometimes be overwhelming for a short time (-;
… And most people sit in front of a computer, 40 to 60 hours a week full-time, think about getting older, how nice it could be, and look forward to a home or their own house…
eenuep1 schrieb:
Honestly, I always worry that despite good education and a well-paid job (I am my own employer), I might one day become dependent on social welfare due to illness.
…Because: before that happens, things will change. Illness won’t turn you into a social welfare recipient overnight.
eenuep1 schrieb:
everything over 45-50sqm (480-540 sq ft) gets taken away. It would obviously be easier if you were two people, then you have 90sqm (970 sq ft).
eenuep1 schrieb:
I can imagine many don’t think about a situation like that.
And if that’s the case for everyone—well, for almost everyone. We’re all just human and dependent. And you’re not in an alien position.
In that sense: go ahead with the gas; apparently, it’s not allowed to bury it if the water table is high?! But then set it up outside, plant trees around it.
When illness creeps in, just sell half of the property. So what!
Mathematically, you lose money with 40sqm (430 sq ft).
You have to be able to afford all those new modular building systems. You have to assume that only yuppies can afford such a thing.
Whether with 40sqm (430 sq ft), besides the cozy factor, a real sense of comfort can develop—I’m doubtful.
But you can report back and convince me otherwise 🙂
F
Fummelbrett!12 Aug 2021 06:31I just did a quick search – it seems that for Hartz IV recipients, up to 90 square meters (970 square feet) of living space in an owner-occupied home is accepted per person. So the house doesn’t actually have to be as small as initially planned. There are already "affordable" standard bungalows available in that size range.
Fummelbrett! schrieb:
I just quickly googled – apparently, for Hartz IV recipients, up to 90 square meters of living space in an owner-occupied home is accepted per person. So it probably doesn’t have to be as small as originally planned. There are already some "affordable" standard bungalows in that size range. That’s right, I must have misunderstood.
However, the cost of the house must be lower than that of an apartment in the area.
Another reason why I prefer a small house is that I don’t want to pay off a mortgage for 20 years (of course, that’s up to each individual). So far, as self-employed, I don’t contribute to any retirement savings in order to first afford a house as a form of retirement provision. This means I still need a few years after the mortgage to save for retirement. (Yes, I’m not alone in this.)
Owning a lot of property also comes with its own efforts (I’ve had to clear out several houses and outbuildings myself ;-). I’d like to avoid that as well.
That’s why I find cube-shaped designs with open living spaces interesting – fewer interior and exterior walls, and so on.
Thanks anyway for the tip; 90 sqm (970 sq ft) plus utility rooms certainly does offer more options.
VolkerRacho82 schrieb:
Does the total amount of assets I have affect the loan interest rate from the bank, even if I only use part of it as equity?No one is advising you against the small house. However, it makes little sense if floated or flying homes are only slightly more expensive than an affordable standard bungalow from budget providers.
You can also be happy with the standard option.