ᐅ Is it possible to build a new house for €900 per square meter?

Hello everyone,

After my house purchase unfortunately fell through, I happened to start a conversation with someone from a new development in town.
He told me that the average cost for new builds is usually around €3000 per m² (approximately $280 per ft²), which is quite expensive. But he built his 100 m² (1,076 ft²) flat-roof bungalow with an architect for only €900 per m² (around $85 per ft²). How he managed that: wall construction consists of 17.5 cm (7 inches) calcium silicate bricks + 15 cm (6 inches) insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/(mK) + 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) plaster (this is apparently the cheapest possible wall build-up).

Most of the interior work was done by himself, so for example, the kitchen cost €2000 (about $2200) purchased from a DIY store, and the bathrooms were tiled and the fixtures installed by himself. Laminate flooring and tiles were also installed as DIY for a maximum of €15 per m² (about $1.40 per ft²). Interior plaster on ceilings and walls, interior doors, windows, and the front door were also installed by himself.

The design is very simple with small window areas, and the excavated soil was reused in the garden, for example. The house has no photovoltaic or solar system. Hot water is provided by a tankless water heater, and heating is done with an air-to-air heat pump, that is, a split air conditioning system.

What do you think about such a construction cost? It seems somewhat unrealistic to me.

Best regards

Ottowillswisse schrieb:

He told me the average cost for new construction is actually around 3000€ per m2 (about $280 per sq ft), which is already quite expensive,

No. That’s normal. The client is currently building a multi-family house for almost 4,000€/m2 (about $370 per sq ft). Additional construction-related costs, underground garage, landscaping, etc., are not yet included.

Ottowillswisse schrieb:

but he built his 100m2 (about 1,080 sq ft) flat-roof bungalow with an architect for 900€/m2 (about $84 per sq ft). How he managed that: wall construction 17.5cm (7 inches) sand-lime brick + 15cm (6 inches) insulation with WLG 035 + 1.5cm (0.6 inches) plaster (supposedly the cheapest wall build)

Only material costs, meeting minimum requirements (including standards), and doing the work yourself.

Ottowillswisse schrieb:

so, 2000€ kitchen from OBI

The kitchen isn’t part of construction costs. Just like a new car isn’t.

Ottowillswisse schrieb:

What do you think about a construction price like that?

I started answering before reading everything. But since you also mentioned the fittings, a complete self-build at this price is possible. He left out everything that adds to living comfort and used the cheapest (not low-cost) options. For example, using an air conditioning unit for heating—which saves a lot. And if you do everything yourself, you only pay for materials.

P.S. I have just completed a major renovation almost entirely by myself, upgrading an old building to nearly a KfW 40 energy standard house. Yes, it can be very affordable if you know where to save on purchases and have enough time for the work.

Ottowillswisse schrieb:

but he built his 100m2 (1,076 sq ft) flat-roof bungalow with an architect for 900€ per m2 (900€ per 10.76 sq ft), I wonder how he managed that:

With "shell construction plus materials for interior finishing, excluding the value of his own labor." Here is a more realistic construction cost level (although already tight): https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/baubericht-einfamilienhaus-1200-eur-m.35362/
I also know of 900 [€/m2], even in Deutsche Mark, but that was back when I was still in school (something should have gone here).

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Well, the house in the other thread has a ventilation system and a smart home setup, plus the more expensive air-to-water heat pump. All electrical and water/sewage pipes were installed by professionals.

nordanney schrieb:

No. Normal. The client is currently building a multi-family house for almost 4,000€/sqm (approx. $4,400/sq ft). Additional construction costs, underground garage, landscaping, etc. are not yet included.

This was meant in the sense that people with average incomes can hardly afford this anymore.

nordanney schrieb:

Only materials, meeting the minimum requirements (including standard quality), and self-building.

So the walls were still built by a mason.

Ottowillswisse schrieb:

were all done by professionals

To avoid misunderstandings: This means that in my acquaintance’s house, the electrical systems, water supply, and wastewater installations were carried out by professionals.