What are the motives and criteria of Greeks for moving (graphs)

The highest housing standards, the best location and the largest area of ​​a property are the key factors for European citizens, as reflected in the pan -European research « European Housing Trend Report 2024 » conducted by the Re/Max European real estate network.

On the other hand, factors, such as the weather, are slightly affected by respondents’ decisions about a possible move, with only 8% of them referring to the climate as a major reason for changing home. At the same time, almost two out of three who wish to move are referring to the high cost of real estate as a deterrent.

The research on moving

According to the results of the Re/Max Europe survey, the desire for moving is also influenced by urbanization trends, with 31% of people who are thinking of moving to plan to settle in cities that cover high standard of living. This trend is more intense in Turkey (55%) and Romania (42%), where a significant proportion of the population is attracted to life in the city.

In addition, 22% of respondents prefer the suburbs, with moving to these areas being particularly popular in Poland (39%) and the Czech Republic (33%), while 18% of people involved in the survey responded that they were thinking of moving to more rural areas. In particular, in France the rate is 30% and in Slovenia at 29%, which proves a new trend – a shift to the rural lifestyle, highlighting the great diversity of housing preferences throughout Europe.

However, despite the increasing desire for better housing conditions, more space and better location, many of those who are likely to move are held by important factors with the most basic market cost. 64% of those planning to move consider this economic factor as the biggest challenge.

This concern is particularly strong in countries such as Croatia and Malta, where housing costs have reached prohibitive levels for most of the population. Also, 2/5 of the respondents (40%) say they do not have sufficient capital to move, with this issue more common in the Czech Republic (60%) and Greece (58%). Other factors that make it difficult to move include the hassle of moving from one place to another (25%), high interest rates (23%) and the lack of available real estate in locations (18%). The combination of high real estate prices, increased interest rates and high costs seem to prevent many from taking the step towards homes.

36% of participants in Opinium Research for Re/Max Europe, in a representative sample of 20,000 adults in European countries, including Greece, responded that finding an appropriate property in an ideal location or increase in wages are parameters that can be played as a decisive role in deciding to decide on a significant role. A brave reduction in interest rates will also play a role in their decision. State support for the real estate market is also critical by some, with 19% of respondents pointing it out as an important factor, with the rate reaching 29% in both Greece and Turkey.

At the same time, at high levels in some countries in Europe, housing satisfaction, despite extensive concerns about real estate prices worldwide. According to pan -European survey, « European Housing Trend Report 2024 », the Netherlands and in Romania respondents responded to 84% that they were very pleased with their current housing situation. This level of satisfaction is far beyond the European average of 76% and is closely linked to the high rates of ownership and the quality of available homes in these countries.

However, not all countries share this level of satisfaction. Ireland, for example, has the highest percentage of unsatisfied residents reaching 18% (8% above the European average of 10%). Throughout Europe, this dissatisfaction is particularly found in tenants and those who live in less safe living conditions. On the contrary, those who acquired their property with equity (84%) or through mortgage or lending (83%) report significantly higher levels of satisfaction, emphasizing the connection between home ownership and the sense of household prosperity. In Greece, the percentage of residents who are satisfied with their current housing situation is 68%.

Data reveals that satisfaction rates are directly linked to the quality of housing. Employees located in areas with higher costs or in lower quality houses are more likely to express dissatisfaction. This trend emphasizes the importance of ownership and access to quality housing to achieve complete satisfaction with the living conditions.

According to a Re/Max Europe survey, although many Europeans express their pleasure for their current home, a significant number remains receptive to the idea of ​​moving. More than half of the respondents (55%) said they would think of the possibility of moving if the opportunity was presented. This trend is stronger in countries such as Turkey (67%), Portugal (62%) and Slovenia (61%), where the desire for changes probably stem from the search for better living conditions, more space or greater economic comfort.

Interestingly, the tendency for relocation is more pronounced in large cities, where 63% of them are thinking of moving. On the contrary, in rural or isolated areas, only 43% of residents are thinking of moving.

However, even in countries with a high rate of satisfaction, such as the Netherlands and Romania, the possibility of relocation reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of housing preferences throughout Europe. However, when examined in which type of region one would like to move, there are no clear trends, as preferences vary significantly in different parts of Europe.

Source: OT