ᐅ Buying or Searching for Land... What Is the Best Approach?

Hello everyone and good evening!

I would like to start by introducing myself as a "beginner" in the topic of house building, and I hope you’ll forgive any awkward phrasing or somewhat silly questions.

Here’s the situation:
We have been searching for a detached house for more than two years in the area around Essen, NRW.
(Mainly focusing on Kettwig, Werden, Heithausen, Ratingen, and Mülheim).
So far, we have mainly used Immoscout and Immowelt to look for "listings." After several unsuccessful house viewings and contacting over 20 real estate agents, frustration is setting in.

Since very few new houses appear in our "desired region," we have now considered building a house (...having one built).
We are currently gradually educating ourselves step by step about the topic of "house building."

The next step was to look for plots of land.
We also used the two mentioned portals for this, but disappointment quickly followed because there are very few plots available in the region on these sites, and some of them are quite expensive.

Now I would like to know if any of you can give us some tips regarding land searches and possibly some recommendations for "reliable" house building companies.
What options or websites are there to look for plots?
There are also companies on Immoscout that offer "new builds" including land, but usually these are "planned projects" and often seem less trustworthy, especially when I look at some of the contacts provided.

Or are there other ways to make our dream home a reality?

We have completed our budget planning. We are currently compiling our specification list. We already have concrete ideas about the floor plan and architecture (partly as a "floor plan draft").

Is there perhaps something like a "schedule" or "timeline" outlining what the future builder needs to do and when?

As you can see, everything is still a bit vague, but this is what I want to change with your help.

Therefore, I would appreciate any tips from you, also feel free to send me a private message if you want to share a helpful link.

Of course, I am also ready and available for any questions...

With that said, I wish you a relaxing evening and a great weekend.

Stephan

You don’t have anything yet.
Therefore:
Mark out how much a plot of land would cost in your area, including notary fees and property transfer tax (around 5%?).

Contact banks to find out how much you could borrow.

Calculate your desired house size in square meters (please search for this here in the forum, I’m not great with numbers;)) plus about 30% for contingencies. Add costs for painting and landscaping...

Then you can start planning 🙂

Hello YPG,

Thank you for your reply, but what you wrote is not entirely correct. The bank matter has been settled for almost two years now, which is why I wrote: "the budget planning is already completed."

So, we have already determined how much a house including the land may cost. The ratio between the price of the house and the land will only become clear once we find a property. It is just not yet certain whether it will be a standard house or a custom-designed one.

However, before moving on to detailed planning, we first need to find a "suitable" plot of land. That is currently the main issue. This is also why I asked for tips and advice.

I hope I have explained myself more clearly now?

Best regards,
stephan68

Mainly focusing on Kettwig, Werden, Heithausen, Ratingen, and Mülheim

Does that mean everything else is off the table? Heiligenhaus, Velbert, Hattingen, Kupferdreh, Burgaltendorf ... as far as I know, there are still plenty of options there – although the price per square meter increases the closer you get to Essen. What are your preferences? Average size (400 m² (4300 sq ft)), large, small, or huge?

The fact is: not all plots are listed on the major real estate platforms, so it might help to inquire directly with the local municipalities or simply drive around the area yourself and see what is available.

Good luck

K1300S

Hello K1300S,

no, everything else in the surrounding area would also be considered, although Buraltendorf is not really our preference, but basically the southern part of Essen with the mentioned neighboring towns. I have also thought about the municipalities before; which authority is responsible for land/property...?

Best regards
stephan68

Hello Stephan,

stephan68 schrieb:

I have also wondered about the municipalities before, which office is responsible for plots of land...?

The land registry office.

Often you don’t even need to visit the office in person, although it can never hurt to do so. For example, the city of Essen has a very clear website; in the Planning & Building section, there is a list of contacts available for download and, in my opinion, they also publish a gap register.

So, in cities or municipalities that maintain a website, you can easily and quickly find initial information. However, you must take into account that the cities or districts you have been considering for future living—especially the southern part of Essen—are not exactly among the most affordable options.

By the way, Velbert has recently offered a number of plots for sale; the development process is underway.

Best regards, Bauexperte