ᐅ Is Buying a House a Wise Decision in the Current Market Situation?

Created on: 23 Sep 2020 14:32
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Alibert87
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Alibert87
23 Sep 2020 14:32
Good day and hello everyone,

Some time ago, I joined this forum to gather information and read experience reports.

I would like to get your neutral opinion on whether buying property at this time would be advisable. We currently rent in a "very good location" and would like to purchase a home here. Many properties are sold "off-market" or only available at very high prices (I’m talking well over 500,000). There is no land available for development; if there is, a property is demolished and rebuilt. I want to gather some input on whether this whole situation is crazy or if such a project is feasible.

Since we don’t have a specific property in view yet but have been monitoring the market for about 1.5 years and have already done quite a few viewings, I assume the median price for homes or condominiums that suit us would be around 600,000.

He, 33 years old, permanently employed in the public sector, net income 2,600 euros (plus 14 monthly payments plus bonus, around 5,000) – from 2021 about 3,000 net (fixed)
She, 32 years old, permanently employed part-time, 25 hours per week, net income 2,300 (plus additional payments around 2,000)
1 child (child benefit) – possibly a second child within the next 3–5 years
Married, tax class 4

Equity around 110,000 (plus 30,000 as a buffer)
Regarding equity, I have a question: Are bank conditions tiered, so that having, for example, 10,000 more in equity results in a better loan offer (how does this tiering work)?

We are really torn whether or not to take this step. It feels very surreal to spend so much money on housing.

I am grateful for any advice
Regards
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HilfeHilfe
23 Sep 2020 14:43
Hello, buying is not always better than renting. Owning a house also means becoming somewhat "immobile." Renting is more flexible.
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Alibert87
23 Sep 2020 14:51
HilfeHilfe schrieb:

Hello, buying is not always better than renting. Owning a house also means becoming somewhat "immobile." Renting is more flexible.

The likelihood of us moving with a child is very low. So this "limitation" would be fine for us. We would like to have a small garden. That is what motivates and drives us.
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Alessandro
23 Sep 2020 14:55
The conditions to secure a loan of this amount are favorable!
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Alibert87
23 Sep 2020 15:02
At the moment, we just feel pressured because prices keep rising, and we don’t want to complain in two years that we didn’t buy anything and now would have to pay 100,000 more. The market situation is simply crazy in some cases: When I talk about 600,000, I’m not referring to luxury villas or anything like that.
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Ybias78
23 Sep 2020 15:17
The question would be whether:
A) you can get a property for that amount
B) how much you would still need to invest

600,000 euros should be feasible given your salaries and equity.