Greece’s housing market is widely perceived as expensive and lacking transparency, according to new research by Blupeak Estate Analytics conducted by Ierax Analytics. The study examines housing conditions and perceptions among two age groups — adults aged 25–35 and those aged 36–55 — and finds that housing costs have become an increasingly intergenerational issue. While younger adults face strong financial pressure and difficulty living independently, older households are dealing with new housing needs and a changing economic environment.
Across both age groups, respondents also express limited trust in the real estate market, with many believing that opaque or undeclared practices influence property prices.
Housing Struggles Span Generations
The research highlights how the housing issue affects different generations in Greece in distinct ways.
Younger adults often face significant obstacles when trying to establish independent households, while older age groups — despite higher homeownership rates — are increasingly confronted with challenges such as relocation needs or upgrading their homes in response to evolving financial conditions.
At the same time, the perception that the housing market lacks transparency is widespread. Many respondents believe insufficient oversight allows informal or opaque practices to shape property prices.
According to the study, this shared perception across generations has created broader social support for policy measures aimed at improving transparency and oversight in the housing sector.
Support for a National Property Registry
Within this context, respondents show notable support for institutional tools designed to improve transparency.
Both age groups expressed a positive attitude toward the creation of a unified national Property Ownership Registry, as well as digital platforms that could better record and monitor real estate data.
Researchers say this response indicates that both the public and the market may be ready for reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and trust in the housing sector.
Young Greeks Struggle to Live Independently
Among adults aged 25–35, renting has become the most common housing arrangement. Nearly half of respondents say they rent their home, while just over a quarter live in a property they own. A significant share of young adults continue to rely on family support, with many still living with their parents or staying as guests in someone else’s home, highlighting the difficulty of achieving housing independence.
The pressure is particularly strong in certain areas. Rental rates reach 60 percent on Greece’s islands and 52 percent in major urban centers.
Housing insecurity is also evident. More than four in 10 young respondents say they feel little or no security regarding their current housing situation, while a similar share express uncertainty about whether they will be able to remain in their home over the next two years. At the same time, 62 percent describe housing costs as either borderline manageable or unsustainable.
Concerns about market transparency are widespread in this age group as well, with 71 percent describing the housing market as only slightly transparent or not transparent at all. More than half believe that a unified Property Ownership Registry could help improve transparency.
Housing Costs Weigh on Older Households
Housing pressures remain significant for Greeks aged 36–55.
In this group, an average of 34 percent of monthly net income goes toward housing costs, with the typical monthly amount reaching 443 euros. Although some respondents say they no longer pay housing costs, a substantial share of households continue to devote a considerable portion of their income to housing.
Perceptions of transparency are also particularly negative in this age group. A large majority believe the housing market lacks transparency, and many directly link the absence of effective oversight to the way property prices are formed.
Support for institutional reform is strong. Seven in 10 respondents view the creation of a unified public Property Ownership Registry positively, underscoring the importance placed on transparency as a key element in addressing Greece’s housing challenges.
source: ot.gr
