> On the other hand, many Germans believe: renting is paying someone else, buying is paying yourself (which is nonsense). Especially in more rural areas, buying/building a house is considered a big achievement in life. People are even willing to move from a smaller city to little towns just to be home-owners.

People change to small towns because they want stress free life and a better/larger home for the same price of a small apartment in big cities. Living in cities brings also disadvantages!