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Published: 10 October 2019

Owner-occupancy living decreases among young age groups

Among the household-dwelling units of younger age groups an increasingly smaller share lives in owner-occupied dwellings. According to Statistics Finland's data, less than one-half of households of 30 to 34-year-olds lived in owner-occupied dwellings at the end of 2018. Ten years ago, the share of such households was 58 per cent. Now, an increasing number of household-dwelling units chose to live in rented dwellings. Rental living has grown more common especially among those aged under 40.

Household-dwelling units living in owner-occupied dwellings by the age of the oldest member of the household in 2008 and 2018, share (%) of household-dwelling units in the same age group

In total, 63 per cent of all household-dwelling units lived in owner-occupied dwellings at the end of 2018. Owner-occupancy has lost some of its popularity as ten years ago, the corresponding share was still 66 per cent. Living in so-called non-subsidised rental dwellings is growing most in relative terms. Twenty-two per cent of household-dwelling units lived in non-subsidised rental dwellings at the end of 2018. A decade ago, 15 per cent of household-dwelling units lived in non-subsidised rental dwellings..

Fewer first-time homebuyers than ten years ago

There are fewer first-time homebuyers even though in recent years the number of first-time homebuyers has made a slight upturn. In all, 22,000 persons were first-time buyers of dwellings in housing companies in 2018. The number of first-time homebuyers has fallen in Finland by 12,000 in roughly ten years. First-time buyers of dwellings in housing companies are centred on towns. Most first-time homebuyers (66 per cent) were living in the ten biggest towns of Finland in the year of purchase.

Anincreasing number of young people postpone the purchase of their first home to a later age. The first home is on average purchased at a one-year older age than ten years ago. In 2018, the average age of first-time homebuyers was 28.8 years.

A first-time homebuyer refers to a person who has bought a dwelling in a housing company and is exempt from the asset transfer tax as a first-time homebuyer. Those having bought their first home in a real estate property are not included in these figures.

Number of first-time homebuyers in 2006 to 2018

Source: Dwellings and Housing Conditions, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Arja Tiihonen 029 551 3272, Marja Hermiö 029 551 3211, info@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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• 1. Dwelling stock 2018 (10.10.2019)
• 2. Household-dwelling units and housing conditions 2018 (10.10.2019)

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Household-dwelling units by number of persons in 1960 - 2018 (10.10.2019)
• Appendix table 2. Household-dwelling units by housing density on 31 Dec. 2018, by region (10.10.2019)
• Appendix table 3. Household-dwelling units and persons by tenure status in 1970 - 2018 (10.10.2019)
• Appendix table 4. Average floor area (m2) of dwellings in the dwelling stock in 1970 - 2018 (10.10.2019)
• Appendix table 5. Dwelling stock and amenities in 1960 - 2018 (10.10.2019)
• Appendix table 6. 20 - 29-year-old residential population by family status, tenure and region 2005 - 2018 (10.10.2019)
• Appendix table 7. First-time homebuyers in 2006 to 2018 (10.10.2019)

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Updated 10.10.2019