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
Ffmchris schrieb:
So, we’re looking at a price of around 600,000€ (about $640,000). We have approximately 300,000€ (about $320,000) in equity and 300,000€ (about $320,000) in a loan. A 300,000€ (about $320,000) loan is roughly 1,000€ (about $1,070) per month… Actually less at the moment, so there should still be some flexibility for two families?
Ffmchris schrieb:
We don’t want to plan with a million-euro figure, but something smaller should somehow be possible. I don’t know if all the other homebuilders have 300,000€ (about $320,000) equity. Of course, their requirements and wishes are different, but we’ll see. It might end up being an existing house, so buying instead of building. We’re really open to anything. Hopefully, with a bit of luck, it will work out. No, they don’t bring that. 300,000€ (about $320,000) is a good starting point, but it doesn’t help if the house ends up costing 2 million€ (about $2.1 million) and you don’t want to pay off the loan—you know what I mean… So either double the budget or come up with a different idea.
Basically, a two-family house with a basement/extension for the beauty studio would be the right choice. A semi-detached house is almost always the same size, and then you would be living in a large house again.
I also think it will likely end up being a multi-family or two-family house. The extension can be omitted since we would basically manage with 60-70 square meters (650-750 square feet) for the beauty salon, and there are only three of us. When buying a used property, we would still need to factor in the replacement of equipment (and hopefully not major renovations).
Yes, of course, €400,000 could be feasible, as we are already expecting rental income of around €1,000. However, I just don’t want to overextend initially. Everything should be repayable within a manageable timeframe of about 15 years.
Yes, of course, €400,000 could be feasible, as we are already expecting rental income of around €1,000. However, I just don’t want to overextend initially. Everything should be repayable within a manageable timeframe of about 15 years.
Square meters are not discounted. They cost what they cost, whether 0 euros or 300 euros. After all, this concerns two separate units plus a commercial space.
And this also means the choice of the plot is quite limited.
Regarding your question:
Two-family houses can also be designed like semi-detached houses. They are usually on a single plot that cannot be physically divided.
Semi-detached houses do not have to look identical. Matching or twin houses are generally offered by developers.
Here, an individual design by an architect is recommended.
Conventional semi-detached houses (or those that look like them) have the advantage that both units are accessible on the ground floor, sometimes with a shared main entrance.
One apartment above the other has the disadvantage that the person below has to tolerate noise from above, and the person above has to use the stairs. However, this is not always a disadvantage.
So what should be built? Whatever fits best on the plot and complies with the building permit / planning permission.
And this also means the choice of the plot is quite limited.
Regarding your question:
Two-family houses can also be designed like semi-detached houses. They are usually on a single plot that cannot be physically divided.
Semi-detached houses do not have to look identical. Matching or twin houses are generally offered by developers.
Here, an individual design by an architect is recommended.
Conventional semi-detached houses (or those that look like them) have the advantage that both units are accessible on the ground floor, sometimes with a shared main entrance.
One apartment above the other has the disadvantage that the person below has to tolerate noise from above, and the person above has to use the stairs. However, this is not always a disadvantage.
So what should be built? Whatever fits best on the plot and complies with the building permit / planning permission.
The consequence of having a completely windowless side would only apply to a semi-detached house if built without any offset—but that’s just a side note. Here, I rather see a two-family house (possibly as a duplex with a maisonette). A beauty salon is a commercial enterprise; this is allowed in a mixed-use area (MI), possibly conditionally in a residential area (WA), but not in a purely residential area (WR).
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kbt09 schrieb:To add to that, my further reading suggestions are: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/mehrgenerationenhaus-mit-3-Familien.30205/#post-308231 and https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/2-Doppelhaushälften-davon-eine-Doppelhaushälfte-mit-elw.30375/ by @Enkelkinder featuring a comparable project.
I’ll play the elephant now
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