> Buying in Germany seems widely considered as a bad idea

This is nonsense. If anything, it is too convenient, because you pay taxes on gains from everything, but you don’t pay them if you sell your property after 10 years or if you use it yourself for the last 2 years. If you have the money, buy, wait 10 years and cash out - you will not find a better deal in a tax-heavy country such as germany. And, as everywhere, your rent will increase, but your mortgage will decrease over years. Now, guess who will likely be better off in 20 years…