Hello everyone 🙂
In recent days, I have been thinking more about the idea of building a house. It’s basically decided that my girlfriend and I definitely want to own our own home in the future. The question of whether to buy an existing house or to build one keeps coming up. We regularly check the usual property websites to get an overview of the homes currently available in the nearby area (Mülheim an der Ruhr). Since the market situation has been, to put it mildly, "more challenging" for some time now, this raises my question. While browsing these property sites, I often find at least 2-3 issues with the houses listed that, in my opinion, would be deal-breakers 😀
Therefore, to what extent should preparatory work or efforts be made before starting a building project?
I hope my question doesn’t sound too “stupid”! 😱
In recent days, I have been thinking more about the idea of building a house. It’s basically decided that my girlfriend and I definitely want to own our own home in the future. The question of whether to buy an existing house or to build one keeps coming up. We regularly check the usual property websites to get an overview of the homes currently available in the nearby area (Mülheim an der Ruhr). Since the market situation has been, to put it mildly, "more challenging" for some time now, this raises my question. While browsing these property sites, I often find at least 2-3 issues with the houses listed that, in my opinion, would be deal-breakers 😀
Therefore, to what extent should preparatory work or efforts be made before starting a building project?
I hope my question doesn’t sound too “stupid”! 😱
stfn_86 schrieb:
We are currently living in Holsterhausen but have been searching for existing houses and plots of land in Essen, Mülheim, Duisburg, and the Mettmann district (workplaces for me and my wife are in Düsseldorf). In fact, there are very few plots available on the open market. However, we haven’t used the Barthel tips, so I don’t know how many deals are made privately.
We were lucky to secure a plot in a new development in the south of Duisburg for €720/m² (around $67 per ft²), but unfortunately, everything else is far from inexpensive. There is a very restrictive design code there, but it matches our preferences, so it’s not a problem for us. I should also say that we haven’t ruled out buying an existing house, but the market there is quite limited as well. When something is available, prices start at around €400,000 (about $440,000), and renovation might be required.
We are also looking in the Ruhr area, but specifically in the eastern part. However, I’m very familiar with the Mülheim/Essen/Duisburg/Lower Rhine region. With your budget, finding a detached single-family home anywhere in the metropolitan area will be extremely difficult! The Lower Rhine was already suggested, but places like Moers/Krefeld etc., which are considered commuter belt areas, have also become quite expensive. Commuting from there into the Ruhr area is definitely not easy either.
We have been searching for a long time (with a significantly higher budget and equity) and there are many dishonest sellers out there. We are now also considering townhouses, as we want to stay with one child and the space is sufficient for us.
My advice would be to spread your search as much as possible, everywhere you can. Here, everything is sold through word of mouth. Even the new townhouse development with 33 units wasn’t advertised; the word just got around on its own. On the open market, only the worst properties are offered, and at unrealistic prices...
Good luck :-)
We have been searching for a long time (with a significantly higher budget and equity) and there are many dishonest sellers out there. We are now also considering townhouses, as we want to stay with one child and the space is sufficient for us.
My advice would be to spread your search as much as possible, everywhere you can. Here, everything is sold through word of mouth. Even the new townhouse development with 33 units wasn’t advertised; the word just got around on its own. On the open market, only the worst properties are offered, and at unrealistic prices...
Good luck :-)