We (26m, 25w) are currently considering building a small house (100 square meters (1,076 square feet)) instead of buying an (older) condominium.
Reasons for considering this:
Condos in our area cost between €150,000 and €200,000 in poor condition.
Condos are always part of a homeowner association (HOA) / commonhold, which limits decision-making freedom.
We are fortunate to already own several building plots (at no cost).
If the house is built to be age-friendly, our parents could move in later, and we could then build a larger house or swap houses.
We currently pay €700 rent including utilities. We can easily afford this. We could also handle higher payments for loan repayment. We have about €100,000 in equity.
We have already read some information and warnings in the forum, ranging from kit homes to prefab houses.
The key question is: what does a house of about 100 square meters (1,076 square feet) cost without any major extras?
Basically rectangular, 2 floors, possibly a basement.
Region between Ulm and Lake Constance.
Examples of houses we like:
Flair 110 from Town & Country
Balance 200 from Weberhaus
ALTO SD.100.2, Modicus M 52 i from Heinz von Heiden
In the forum, prices between €2,000 and €3,000 per square meter (approximately $2,150–$3,225 per square yard) are mentioned, regardless of house type. That means €200,000 to €300,000. I assume this is without any personal work, right?
Is it cheaper to go with a prefab house builder for such “simple” floor plans than hiring a construction company to put up the shell?
What is the best way to compare different offers?
At the moment, we are at the very beginning and have not yet decided on a house type.
Reasons for considering this:
Condos in our area cost between €150,000 and €200,000 in poor condition.
Condos are always part of a homeowner association (HOA) / commonhold, which limits decision-making freedom.
We are fortunate to already own several building plots (at no cost).
If the house is built to be age-friendly, our parents could move in later, and we could then build a larger house or swap houses.
We currently pay €700 rent including utilities. We can easily afford this. We could also handle higher payments for loan repayment. We have about €100,000 in equity.
We have already read some information and warnings in the forum, ranging from kit homes to prefab houses.
The key question is: what does a house of about 100 square meters (1,076 square feet) cost without any major extras?
Basically rectangular, 2 floors, possibly a basement.
Region between Ulm and Lake Constance.
Examples of houses we like:
Flair 110 from Town & Country
Balance 200 from Weberhaus
ALTO SD.100.2, Modicus M 52 i from Heinz von Heiden
In the forum, prices between €2,000 and €3,000 per square meter (approximately $2,150–$3,225 per square yard) are mentioned, regardless of house type. That means €200,000 to €300,000. I assume this is without any personal work, right?
Is it cheaper to go with a prefab house builder for such “simple” floor plans than hiring a construction company to put up the shell?
What is the best way to compare different offers?
At the moment, we are at the very beginning and have not yet decided on a house type.
I have rarely commented on the topic of gardens.
When it comes to exterior work, this refers to paving, splash protection, and similar tasks. But Bamboo is not involved in those details.
@Bamboo
What does the equity of 100,000 refer to? Is it cash available or the value of the land?
Keep in mind that in addition to the loan repayment (whatever the amount), there are also monthly additional costs. Altogether, your total expenses will likely exceed 700.
Would it be possible to sell one of the many plots of land to balance out the financing?
That way, you could approach the house search and costs more relaxed...
Even with 100,000 equity, you would still have to borrow at least or close to 200,000 €.
Regards, Yvonne
When it comes to exterior work, this refers to paving, splash protection, and similar tasks. But Bamboo is not involved in those details.
@Bamboo
What does the equity of 100,000 refer to? Is it cash available or the value of the land?
Keep in mind that in addition to the loan repayment (whatever the amount), there are also monthly additional costs. Altogether, your total expenses will likely exceed 700.
Would it be possible to sell one of the many plots of land to balance out the financing?
That way, you could approach the house search and costs more relaxed...
Even with 100,000 equity, you would still have to borrow at least or close to 200,000 €.
Regards, Yvonne
True, but seriously: They have several plots of land plus (as I understand it) €100,000 (about $110,000) in equity. In that region, the price per square meter is probably quite high. If I remember correctly, that should be around Ravensburg and so on. Given these circumstances and the current interest rate levels, I would actually build a bungalow as described above. You would have your own house, no condominium association, be able to walk all around the house, and have your retirement provision comfortably secured. Looking at other 110% financing options here, you are comfortably in the safe zone.
But the location also comes with a cost, that's true. You should probably expect at least an additional €150,000 (about $165,000).
But the location also comes with a cost, that's true. You should probably expect at least an additional €150,000 (about $165,000).
Nordlys schrieb:
Why two stories if it’s supposed to be age-appropriate? You’re right, of course. On the other hand, I’m reluctant to build a single-story house (space feels wasted). In fact, I will still look at bungalows. Unfortunately, I can’t open the attachment.
@ypg: We won’t create a large garden since the family home already has a big one.
The 100,000 in equity is readily available.
@daniels87 Doing work ourselves is currently not an option. I already see that self-performance can delay construction because the work needs to be done at the right time (requires a lot of planning and coordination). However, we can certainly do some things on our own (e.g., excavation, plumbing). First, though, I want to proceed without detailed planning.
Thank you very much for the tips so far. We will now look at some houses and providers.
It is very difficult to compare prices and services of the different providers.
Near Erbach, there is a holiday home village. Unfortunately, the provider is not interested in selling outside of their site.
This type of house would definitely be an alternative. Are there comparable providers?
What you linked is a nice holiday apartment, but for me not suitable for permanent living.
A bungalow doesn’t waste space; it simply arranges the available area all on one level.
The pictures, which hopefully can be opened, show what I consider a well-designed bungalow with a somewhat steeper roof, making the attic function as a substitute for a basement. This way, you live on the main floor and use the upper floor for storage of your belongings. It also provides a space for drying laundry, storing suitcases, boxes, Christmas decorations, etc. Ideally, there is a staircase leading upstairs instead of a hatch with a ladder. Karsten
A bungalow doesn’t waste space; it simply arranges the available area all on one level.
The pictures, which hopefully can be opened, show what I consider a well-designed bungalow with a somewhat steeper roof, making the attic function as a substitute for a basement. This way, you live on the main floor and use the upper floor for storage of your belongings. It also provides a space for drying laundry, storing suitcases, boxes, Christmas decorations, etc. Ideally, there is a staircase leading upstairs instead of a hatch with a ladder. Karsten
We are currently building a bungalow with 168 sqm (1,808 sq ft). It has many advantages, especially if you have young children or are planning to have them. However, the floor plan of a bungalow needs to be carefully designed to avoid a confusing layout. You also need a plot with a suitable building area.
Regarding the garden: based on my own experience, make sure to plan it well. It’s not so much about paving work, but more about essentials like the previously mentioned splash guards and infiltration or rainwater harvesting systems. Authorities nowadays expect you to manage rainwater entirely on your own. That can quickly add up to several thousand dollars.
About the 100 sqm (1,076 sq ft): Are you planning to have children? At 26/25 years old, you’re starting to reach the age where those thoughts come up. It makes sense to include children’s rooms in your building plans, especially since it seems you want to build near your parents.
Regarding the garden: based on my own experience, make sure to plan it well. It’s not so much about paving work, but more about essentials like the previously mentioned splash guards and infiltration or rainwater harvesting systems. Authorities nowadays expect you to manage rainwater entirely on your own. That can quickly add up to several thousand dollars.
About the 100 sqm (1,076 sq ft): Are you planning to have children? At 26/25 years old, you’re starting to reach the age where those thoughts come up. It makes sense to include children’s rooms in your building plans, especially since it seems you want to build near your parents.
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