ᐅ Building Back from Urban Migration to the Countryside: Home, City, or Rural Property
Created on: 30 Mar 2018 12:18
N
Nordmanntanne
Dear Forum,
I have registered here and hope this is the right place for my question. I searched for a suitable platform for a long time, and this forum seemed the most fitting. I would like to share my situation and would appreciate as much feedback as possible:
My wife and I have been living in Frankfurt am Main for four years. We were both born nearby, about 60 to 70 kilometers (37 to 43 miles) outside of Frankfurt in a rural area. We both grew up there, and until finishing high school, it was never in question that we would one day build a house with a garden in our hometown (we both come from the same place). After high school (we were not yet a couple at that time), we both went out into the wider world. My wife studied in Cologne and Bonn, with semesters abroad in Rome, and I studied in Freiburg and Munich. After completing my doctorate in Berlin, I lived in Australia for a year. Now, we both live and work in Frankfurt am Main. We are both civil servants. My wife is paid according to grade A16, and I am at B3. Our financial situation is therefore quite comfortable. Our workplaces are conveniently located. My wife can walk to work, and I can get there quickly by public transportation. Our living situation is good as well. We have been living for four years in a large apartment (120m2 / 1,292 sq ft), which, however, also comes with a correspondingly high rent (basic rent about 2,200 euros). The apartment is spacious, but its layout means that while we can live here for two or three more years with our one-year-old child, eventually our child will need a "proper" separate room. I won’t go into more detail, but the fact is that we will need to move in two or three years.
Two years ago, we became owners of a plot of land in our hometown. It belonged to my wife’s grandparents, who bequeathed it to us. The plot is a dream: 900m2 (about 9,688 sq ft), located on the edge of a forest, with an unobstructed view of the valley, situated in a quiet dead-end street. It really doesn’t get better than that. Our hometown has about 11,000 inhabitants.
We have been constantly wondering if we should build there. Money is not a problem. We are torn. Our commute would be longer. The town has its own train station with connections to Frankfurt am Main. The train runs hourly. The travel time from the station to my workplace would be 55 minutes, for my wife 62 minutes. We both have free public transit passes. The station can be reached by bike from our plot in five minutes. Commuting would be quite an adjustment for both of us, but I think this is something we could get used to.
One concern is that since finishing high school – which was quite some time ago – we have not lived in our hometown. We visit our parents regularly, and many acquaintances have moved back after studying elsewhere. Life there is completely different from that in a big city. We are both worried about “shrinking” into the small-town life. You also don’t have the anonymity of a big city. On the other hand, for 2,200 euros, you could build a nice house there.
So we are torn between the old dream of having our own “nest” at home and the worry that, without meaning any offense, we have outgrown the hometown and might no longer fit in there. Also, the commute would be an adjustment. We are therefore wondering what to do with the land? Should we move within Frankfurt or build there? Selling is not an option for now, as we do not need the money. Money in the bank doesn’t do much anyway.
I would be grateful for any input!
Thank you
I have registered here and hope this is the right place for my question. I searched for a suitable platform for a long time, and this forum seemed the most fitting. I would like to share my situation and would appreciate as much feedback as possible:
My wife and I have been living in Frankfurt am Main for four years. We were both born nearby, about 60 to 70 kilometers (37 to 43 miles) outside of Frankfurt in a rural area. We both grew up there, and until finishing high school, it was never in question that we would one day build a house with a garden in our hometown (we both come from the same place). After high school (we were not yet a couple at that time), we both went out into the wider world. My wife studied in Cologne and Bonn, with semesters abroad in Rome, and I studied in Freiburg and Munich. After completing my doctorate in Berlin, I lived in Australia for a year. Now, we both live and work in Frankfurt am Main. We are both civil servants. My wife is paid according to grade A16, and I am at B3. Our financial situation is therefore quite comfortable. Our workplaces are conveniently located. My wife can walk to work, and I can get there quickly by public transportation. Our living situation is good as well. We have been living for four years in a large apartment (120m2 / 1,292 sq ft), which, however, also comes with a correspondingly high rent (basic rent about 2,200 euros). The apartment is spacious, but its layout means that while we can live here for two or three more years with our one-year-old child, eventually our child will need a "proper" separate room. I won’t go into more detail, but the fact is that we will need to move in two or three years.
Two years ago, we became owners of a plot of land in our hometown. It belonged to my wife’s grandparents, who bequeathed it to us. The plot is a dream: 900m2 (about 9,688 sq ft), located on the edge of a forest, with an unobstructed view of the valley, situated in a quiet dead-end street. It really doesn’t get better than that. Our hometown has about 11,000 inhabitants.
We have been constantly wondering if we should build there. Money is not a problem. We are torn. Our commute would be longer. The town has its own train station with connections to Frankfurt am Main. The train runs hourly. The travel time from the station to my workplace would be 55 minutes, for my wife 62 minutes. We both have free public transit passes. The station can be reached by bike from our plot in five minutes. Commuting would be quite an adjustment for both of us, but I think this is something we could get used to.
One concern is that since finishing high school – which was quite some time ago – we have not lived in our hometown. We visit our parents regularly, and many acquaintances have moved back after studying elsewhere. Life there is completely different from that in a big city. We are both worried about “shrinking” into the small-town life. You also don’t have the anonymity of a big city. On the other hand, for 2,200 euros, you could build a nice house there.
So we are torn between the old dream of having our own “nest” at home and the worry that, without meaning any offense, we have outgrown the hometown and might no longer fit in there. Also, the commute would be an adjustment. We are therefore wondering what to do with the land? Should we move within Frankfurt or build there? Selling is not an option for now, as we do not need the money. Money in the bank doesn’t do much anyway.
I would be grateful for any input!
Thank you
@Nordmanntanne
My suggestion:
Set up a large livable garden house in a corner of the property (so it won’t be in the way when you build the main house later) and use it regularly for weekends and holidays. However, make sure to mingle with the local community when you’re there; otherwise, you might not realize if it’s really the right fit for you.
After about two years, it should be easier to decide whether you want to stay in the big city or go ahead with building a house in the small town.
Our son faced a similar choice.
He and his partner are now building here in their hometown (only 1,400 residents) but still keep their two-room condominium at their workplace. They use it if they have to stay late at the company, or when they plan to visit a restaurant or theater, or if the weather is really bad.
They usually commute together in the company car—about 40 minutes. There is an hourly bus, but it takes longer.
We look forward to hearing what you decide.
My suggestion:
Set up a large livable garden house in a corner of the property (so it won’t be in the way when you build the main house later) and use it regularly for weekends and holidays. However, make sure to mingle with the local community when you’re there; otherwise, you might not realize if it’s really the right fit for you.
After about two years, it should be easier to decide whether you want to stay in the big city or go ahead with building a house in the small town.
Our son faced a similar choice.
He and his partner are now building here in their hometown (only 1,400 residents) but still keep their two-room condominium at their workplace. They use it if they have to stay late at the company, or when they plan to visit a restaurant or theater, or if the weather is really bad.
They usually commute together in the company car—about 40 minutes. There is an hourly bus, but it takes longer.
We look forward to hearing what you decide.
Yes, a one-room retreat apartment in a big city would definitely have its appeal. Simply for retreating or taking a break, or just for crashing after a night of partying or dancing all night. Your own coffee in your own bed, a visit to the leisure pool at midday, and then back home in the afternoon.
C
chand19861 Apr 2018 21:00Hey,
I thought the last idea of a “holiday cabin” plus possibly a replacement apartment in the city was creative and good. I wouldn’t have come up with that myself, but after some thought, I now consider it a recommendable option. And this approach is financially feasible for you.
I think selling the plot of land is inappropriate (for now). Land is extremely scarce, and you may never find anything of similar quality again. In 10 years, you might regret it a lot, even if you don’t need it urgently right now.
I thought the last idea of a “holiday cabin” plus possibly a replacement apartment in the city was creative and good. I wouldn’t have come up with that myself, but after some thought, I now consider it a recommendable option. And this approach is financially feasible for you.
I think selling the plot of land is inappropriate (for now). Land is extremely scarce, and you may never find anything of similar quality again. In 10 years, you might regret it a lot, even if you don’t need it urgently right now.
Somewhere it was mentioned that your relatives would buy the plot of land from you. Is that the reason why you are feeling "time pressure"?
Apart from an uneasy feeling about not selling the land to your relatives and not using it yourselves, there is really no reason why the plot can’t remain undeveloped in your ownership for at least another 3 years (until you have to move out of your current apartment). It could stay like that for 30 years, and you could sell it when you retire, if building never really appeals to you...
Apart from an uneasy feeling about not selling the land to your relatives and not using it yourselves, there is really no reason why the plot can’t remain undeveloped in your ownership for at least another 3 years (until you have to move out of your current apartment). It could stay like that for 30 years, and you could sell it when you retire, if building never really appeals to you...
Nordlys schrieb:
Build on the land and possibly rent it out. Never sell the land.Renting out a single-family home rarely pays off, especially new builds.
It also poses a huge concentration risk for private individuals.
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