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Single-family houses in Leipzig: ownership rate has fallen nationwide since 2010
Photo: Jan Woitas / dpa
Especially in times of low interest rates, real estate is a worthwhile investment - and a good pension.
But while in an EU comparison a great many people live in a condominium or their own house, Germany ranks last in terms of home ownership.
In all countries of the Union, according to the latest figures from the statistics agency Eurostat, it is more common to buy an apartment or a house instead of renting it.
As the authority announced, in 2020, on average in the EU, almost 70 percent of the population lived in their own home and only 30 percent in rented accommodation.
In Germany, on the other hand, only around half of the population lives in their own home, the rest in rented accommodation.
The proportion of homeowners is particularly low in Austria at 55 percent, while Denmark still has 59 percent.
The ownership rate is highest in Romania (96 percent), followed by Slovakia (92 percent) as well as Hungary and Croatia (91 percent).
Switzerland has even fewer owners than Germany
Real estate in Germany - especially in the big cities - has become increasingly unaffordable for many people in recent years.
Accordingly, the number of homeowners in Germany has also decreased compared to 2010.
Even then, Germany was already in last place in an EU comparison.
However, 53 percent still lived in their own home, and the rate has fallen almost continuously since then.
A trend reversal is not in sight.
After all, the prices for houses and apartments have recently continued to rise strongly despite the corona crisis.
In the third quarter of 2021 alone, according to preliminary calculations by the Federal Statistical Office, apartments and houses rose in price by an average of twelve percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
Outside the EU, but within Europe, the development in Switzerland is remarkable.
Here, at around 42 percent, the owner quota is still well below the German figure.
apr / dpa
