ᐅ Construction of a 144 sqm bungalow in Fichtenwalde (near Potsdam)

Then I would also like to introduce our building project here and keep you updated.

First, a brief introduction about us. He (42.5 years; controller in healthcare), she (38.5 years; full-time teacher), child (8.75 years; fully dependent). Our household net income is currently about €6,400 (approximately $6,800) plus performance bonuses, 13th-month salary, overtime, etc. We own a 1,462 sqm (15,735 sq ft) plot of land in Fichtenwalde. The remaining debt on the land is €37,000 (about $39,000). According to official land value guidelines, the land is valued at €146,200 (about $156,000) (€100 / sqm). The market price is around €400,000 to €600,000 (recent sale prices). We submitted the building permit application including the land conversion at the end of December. We expect approval by mid to late July.

The construction company is KB Brandis from Jüterbog. External site supervision will be handled by Bauherrenhilfe with 13 appointments.

Now about the house. It will be a 144 sqm (1,550 sq ft) bungalow plus a 12 sqm (130 sq ft) covered terrace with the following additions:
- Ceiling height 3.00 m (9.8 ft)
- Electric roller shutters (including smart home integration)
- Double-sided laminated windows (wood-colored; RC3 security rating)
- Brine-to-water heat pump with ground collectors due to water protection area (Bosch Compress 7800i LW)
- Hydraulic balancing of the underfloor heating
- Controlled residential ventilation with heat recovery (Bosch)
- Motion detectors from a security company
- 13 kWp photovoltaic system, including battery preparation
- 10 m³ (2,650 gal) cistern for rainwater use
- Doorbell with video function
- Wallbox preparation for electric vehicle charging
- Exterior lighting

Floor plan attached.

We have not yet finalized financing (although discussions have taken place). So far, we have invested up to €30,000 (approximately $32,000) from our own savings during the planning phase. This is almost all of our equity. However, we continue to save about €2,750 (approximately $2,920) per month. The monthly mortgage payment is expected to be around €1,650 (about $1,750) plus additional costs of approximately €200-250 (about $210-265) (taking into account the photovoltaic system). This means when we move into the house, we will still have savings of at least €1,500 (about $1,590) per month.

The construction contract will be signed within the next few weeks. The prices (recently discussed with the company) correspond to the offer and commitment as of September 2020.

The price per square meter of the house (according to the latest offer and full specification) will be €2,700 (about $2,870). This includes everything, such as painting, flooring, etc. The overall costs are structured as follows:
House: €378,000 (about $402,000)
Land conversion including reclassification: €25,000 (about $26,600)
Additional building costs: €40,000 (about $42,500)
Outdoor facilities: €25,000 (about $26,600)
Total financing volume: €468,000 (about $498,000)

Acof1978 schrieb:

What helped us a lot, even if it’s not for every taste, were Polish house catalogs.

Please feel free to explain that in more detail. I wouldn’t have thought of that: the Belgians (who are as close neighbors to me as the Poles are in your area) generally have a very different house style, and even between Bavaria and Austria I notice some differences despite the common language.

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https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

11ant schrieb:

Please feel free to explain that in more detail. It wouldn’t have occurred to me: Belgians (to me, as close neighbors as Poles are in your area) have a significantly different taste in houses in many regions, and even between Bavaria and Austria, despite the shared language, I notice some differences.

There are house projects compiled in catalogs. Here is an example (see image). The catalog includes 326 projects of various house types. It costs 9.90 zl (about 2.25 €). From that, we initially chose one project as a starting point and then improved/had it improved.

Acof1978 schrieb:

Double-sided coated windows (wood-colored; RC3)

Just a thought, since this was a topic for us a long time ago and we have now decided on it:

Have you considered wood-aluminum windows instead of the foil-coated PVC windows? The additional cost is definitely affordable for a bungalow of your size.

For us, wood-aluminum windows represent a significant quality improvement in terms of durability and comfort.

We ultimately decided to go for the upgrade.

DaSch17 schrieb:

Just a thought, since it’s been a topic for us for a while and we’ve now decided to go for it:

Have you considered wood-aluminum windows instead of foil-coated plastic windows? The extra cost is definitely affordable for a bungalow of your size.

For us, wood-aluminum windows represent a significant quality improvement in terms of durability and comfort.

We ultimately chose to upgrade to them.

What are the advantages compared to plastic windows? To be honest, I’m not sure if they offer those, since these are passive house windows and, among other things, we need to meet kfw55 standards.

We are building 40Plus. The U-value is the same as that of a plastic window and is therefore irrelevant.

The windows last longer, are more environmentally friendly (as they are made mostly from natural materials), look better, and provide a more comfortable living experience.