Hello dear "fellow sufferers",
Next year we plan to relocate geographically. Currently, we own a house that is much too large for us (or maybe even a multi-family house, since the separate apartment has its own entrance?), and we would like to build or buy near Fritzlar (Hesse). We really like Fritzlar, and the family is practically just around the corner.
We were thinking about buying a semi-detached house. We (3 people) would live in one half, and our grown daughter with her husband and 4 children in the other. Therefore, each half would need to be somewhat larger (around 150m² (1,615 sq ft)). So we need a semi-detached house with a total living area of about 300m² (3,230 sq ft). In catalogs, it’s hard to find a house that large, and if there is one, it’s practically unaffordable.
As much as we like the idea of a semi-detached house, what particularly bothers me is that one side would naturally have no windows at all. The other extreme is the price. Now we’re considering what it would be like to live in a two-family house. In principle, we’ve already done something similar. Our current house is not really a two-family house, but classified as a single-family house with an apartment. The lower floor has only 100m² (1,076 sq ft) and too few rooms—impractical for 6 people. That’s why they had to move out. Back then, it was reluctantly accepted, but now, 5 months later, they (and we) realize how nice it was and how we want to have that again. So a two-family house would need to offer 150m² (1,615 sq ft) of living space downstairs, the same amount upstairs (for us), plus about 60m² (645 sq ft) for our beauty studio.
Have you ever faced a similar decision between a semi-detached house or a two-family house? If yes, what did you decide and why?
How did the prices compare?
Did you find a good builder or developer, and were you satisfied?
Well, you know how it is... There are so many questions, but during house construction, you will surely experience things you never expected before—and therefore never thought to ask.
Thanks in advance.
Have a nice Sunday.
Cu
Chris
Next year we plan to relocate geographically. Currently, we own a house that is much too large for us (or maybe even a multi-family house, since the separate apartment has its own entrance?), and we would like to build or buy near Fritzlar (Hesse). We really like Fritzlar, and the family is practically just around the corner.
We were thinking about buying a semi-detached house. We (3 people) would live in one half, and our grown daughter with her husband and 4 children in the other. Therefore, each half would need to be somewhat larger (around 150m² (1,615 sq ft)). So we need a semi-detached house with a total living area of about 300m² (3,230 sq ft). In catalogs, it’s hard to find a house that large, and if there is one, it’s practically unaffordable.
As much as we like the idea of a semi-detached house, what particularly bothers me is that one side would naturally have no windows at all. The other extreme is the price. Now we’re considering what it would be like to live in a two-family house. In principle, we’ve already done something similar. Our current house is not really a two-family house, but classified as a single-family house with an apartment. The lower floor has only 100m² (1,076 sq ft) and too few rooms—impractical for 6 people. That’s why they had to move out. Back then, it was reluctantly accepted, but now, 5 months later, they (and we) realize how nice it was and how we want to have that again. So a two-family house would need to offer 150m² (1,615 sq ft) of living space downstairs, the same amount upstairs (for us), plus about 60m² (645 sq ft) for our beauty studio.
Have you ever faced a similar decision between a semi-detached house or a two-family house? If yes, what did you decide and why?
How did the prices compare?
Did you find a good builder or developer, and were you satisfied?
Well, you know how it is... There are so many questions, but during house construction, you will surely experience things you never expected before—and therefore never thought to ask.
Thanks in advance.
Have a nice Sunday.
Cu
Chris
N
nordanney24 Nov 2019 17:43Ffmchris schrieb:
Have you ever faced a decision like this, whether to build a semi-detached house or a two-family house? No.
Ffmchris schrieb:
What was the difference in price? The prices should be relatively similar.
Ffmchris schrieb:
Did you find a good builder? Were you satisfied? The house you are planning is not an off-the-shelf model. Therefore, you should not go to a general contractor (a builder who sells house and land together under real estate and builder regulations), but rather to an architect who will design a custom house according to your wishes.
The basis for the design must be the plot of land in this case. It doesn’t make sense to start planning without knowing the plot and the local zoning plan (planning permission).
Do you need a beauty studio, one living unit for 3 people, and another for 6?
Then 300 sqm (3,230 sq ft) is not very generous.
You need a plot of land and must be familiar with the zoning plan / building permit regulations.
Make sure the plot matches your plans.
My initial idea would be to build a duplex. One house smaller. Put the beauty studio in an extension.
An extension allows more flexibility later on. For example, renting it out after retirement.
A duplex is ideal because each living unit gains direct garden access.
In favor of an architect.
A general contractor won’t manage the requirements well. Especially the large, inexpensive ones with show homes don’t fit.
Then 300 sqm (3,230 sq ft) is not very generous.
You need a plot of land and must be familiar with the zoning plan / building permit regulations.
Make sure the plot matches your plans.
My initial idea would be to build a duplex. One house smaller. Put the beauty studio in an extension.
An extension allows more flexibility later on. For example, renting it out after retirement.
A duplex is ideal because each living unit gains direct garden access.
In favor of an architect.
A general contractor won’t manage the requirements well. Especially the large, inexpensive ones with show homes don’t fit.
I assume the budget here is well below the desired expectations.
Just to clarify and very roughly estimated: it doesn’t really matter whether you arrange the square meters side by side, stacked, or in a circle. You pay for the living area. As a guideline, you can expect around 2000 €/m² (approximately $220 per ft²) depending on the region. For a total of 360 m² (approximately 3900 ft²), the budget for the house alone should be around 720,000 € (approximately $790,000). On top of that, you’ll need a significant amount for additional costs, land, and furnishing. The whole project will likely come close to about one million euros.
What was your planned budget?
Just to clarify and very roughly estimated: it doesn’t really matter whether you arrange the square meters side by side, stacked, or in a circle. You pay for the living area. As a guideline, you can expect around 2000 €/m² (approximately $220 per ft²) depending on the region. For a total of 360 m² (approximately 3900 ft²), the budget for the house alone should be around 720,000 € (approximately $790,000). On top of that, you’ll need a significant amount for additional costs, land, and furnishing. The whole project will likely come close to about one million euros.
What was your planned budget?
Hello everyone,
First of all, thank you very much for all the feedback.
As you can see, we don’t have much experience yet. Of course, everyone has their dream plans. But it’s clear that some adjustments will have to be made in the end. That’s not such a big deal. The main thing is that we all end up together. If necessary, apartment next to apartment... so what!
In terms of budget, we are looking at around 600,000 euros (about $650,000). Our equity is roughly 300,000 euros (about $325,000), and we plan to take out a loan for 300,000 euros (about $325,000). We don’t want to plan with a million-euro amount, but something smaller should be doable. I don’t know if other homebuyers also bring 300,000 euros (about $325,000) in equity. Of course, their requirements and wishes might be different, but we’ll see. It might even be an existing house instead of building new—that is, a purchase rather than construction. We are genuinely open to anything. With a bit of luck, it should work out.
My main interest was about your decisions and experiences regarding multi-family houses or duplexes.
Anyway, I’m glad this kind of forum exists. Once I have more time, I will gather more knowledge.
Best regards,
Chris
First of all, thank you very much for all the feedback.
As you can see, we don’t have much experience yet. Of course, everyone has their dream plans. But it’s clear that some adjustments will have to be made in the end. That’s not such a big deal. The main thing is that we all end up together. If necessary, apartment next to apartment... so what!
In terms of budget, we are looking at around 600,000 euros (about $650,000). Our equity is roughly 300,000 euros (about $325,000), and we plan to take out a loan for 300,000 euros (about $325,000). We don’t want to plan with a million-euro amount, but something smaller should be doable. I don’t know if other homebuyers also bring 300,000 euros (about $325,000) in equity. Of course, their requirements and wishes might be different, but we’ll see. It might even be an existing house instead of building new—that is, a purchase rather than construction. We are genuinely open to anything. With a bit of luck, it should work out.
My main interest was about your decisions and experiences regarding multi-family houses or duplexes.
Anyway, I’m glad this kind of forum exists. Once I have more time, I will gather more knowledge.
Best regards,
Chris
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