Europe’s Homeownership Dream Is Fading for Millions

For a growing share of Europeans, owning a home is no longer a realistic goal — or even an appealing one. A new survey suggests that almost half of people across Europe who do not currently own property either believe they will never be able to buy a home or simply have no interest in doing so, highlighting how sharply affordability pressures and housing cultures differ across the continent.

According to the RE/MAX European Housing Trend Report 2025, based on a survey conducted in August across 23 countries, 44% of non-homeowners fall into one of these two categories. On average, nearly three in ten respondents said outright that they do not expect to ever be able to purchase a property. That sense of pessimism is most pronounced in parts of Central and Western Europe, where high prices, slow wage growth and long saving periods have increasingly pushed ownership out of reach.

The share of people who believe they will never buy a home reaches its highest level in Czechia, where 44% of respondents gave that answer. Comparable levels were recorded in Slovenia, Italy, Malta, Ireland, Poland and Hungary, all hovering around one-third or more. In contrast, Turkey stands out at the other end of the scale, with just 13% expressing the same view.

When pessimism is combined with disinterest, the picture becomes even starker. In Germany, nearly six in ten non-owners say they are either unable or unwilling to buy a home, followed by Austria, Czechia, the Netherlands and Switzerland, all above the 50% mark. At the opposite end, Luxembourg and Lithuania record far lower levels, while Turkey again emerges as an outlier with fewer than one in five respondents expressing doubt about ever owning a home.

Among Europe’s largest economies, Italy shows the highest level of discouragement, while Spain and France appear more resilient, with only around a quarter of non-owners believing ownership is permanently out of reach. The UK sits close to the European average. According to RE/MAX Europe, the divergence reflects more than just housing prices. Slow economic growth across much of Europe has limited income gains, while property values have continued to climb, eroding affordability even in countries with relatively stable labour markets. In places such as Germany, Austria and Czechia, rising prices and extended saving horizons have led many households to step away from the traditional housing ladder altogether.

Disinterest in buying, though smaller in scale, also plays a role. Around 15% of respondents said they are not interested in owning a home, with Germany again topping the list. In countries with strong tenant protections and well-developed rental markets, renting is widely seen as a stable and socially acceptable long-term option, reducing the urgency to buy. Flexibility, avoidance of maintenance responsibilities and the high perceived cost of ownership also factor into that choice. Turkey’s position remains unusual. Despite high inflation and financial volatility, property there is still widely viewed as a reliable store of value, sustaining strong ownership aspirations. Spain shows a similar attachment to ownership, where housing continues to be seen as a pillar of long-term security, even amid tighter mortgage conditions.

Overall, the findings suggest that homeownership in Europe is undergoing a quiet transformation. While it remains a goal for many, it is increasingly judged through a financial lens rather than as a universal social milestone. With nearly 70% of EU residents still owning their homes, the divide between owners and renters may become one of the defining economic and social fault lines of the coming decade.