Home ownership in a European comparison – Germany lags behind

Bad news for anyone dreaming of owning a home: In September 2024, 23.1% fewer building permits were issued compared to the previous year. Experts predict a recovery no sooner than the end of 2025 – the housing shortage is worsening, Reuters reported.

With just 46.7% homeownership, Germany ranks last in the EU. Even in countries with significantly lower GDPs, like Romania (94.8%) or Poland (84.3%), the dream of owning a home is far more common.

What’s holding Germans back? High purchasing costs and strict equity requirements play a role, but these are often even higher in other countries. Perhaps it’s the “rental culture” deeply rooted since the 19th century – or maybe we just prefer to invest in cars over real estate.