Real estate: Generation Z: 80 percent want to own their own home

According to FMH Finanzberatung, a loan with a ten-year fixed interest rate currently costs 4.4 percent interest, which has increased the monthly rate by around 200 euros.

80 percent of tenants between the ages of 23 and 30 want their own property, with single-family homes being preferred.

Two thirds of the young potential owners relied on family support in the form of loans or gifts.

Thomas Kreil from Interhyp is calling for a reduction in the real estate transfer tax, which is between 3.5 and 6.5 percent.

Munich. The conditions for moving from being a tenant to becoming an owner could be better: according to FMH Finanzberatung, a loan with a ten-year fixed interest rate currently costs 4.5 percent interest. In June, borrowers still paid 3.9 percent. In addition, increased inflation leads to higher living costs. Nevertheless, 68 percent of tenants in this country still dream of owning their own property. This emerges from the Interhyp living dream study.

Together with the market research institute Rheingold, Germany's largest mortgage broker surveyed over 1,500 people in Germany about how they would like to live and whether they believe they can afford home ownership.

The survey focuses on tenants between the ages of 23 and 30, i.e. members of Generation Z. Among them, the desire to own their own property is significantly stronger at 80 percent than in general. According to the study, around half of 23 to 30-year-olds also stated that their desire to own property had become stronger in recent years, while only 15 percent said their desire had weakened. In the study, Interhyp found out what type of property members of Generation Z want and how they want to make this dream come true.

“The fact that many young people are striving to own property is also due to the need for security in uncertain times like these,” says Thomas Kreil, who is responsible for private customer business at Interhyp. A good half of those surveyed believe they can find this security in a single-family home, followed by country houses and bungalows. Condominiums don't play a role in your dream home.

The family helps – but not always

Around half of 23 to 30-year-olds who want to buy also think it is possible to make this wish for security come true. Two thirds of this group rely on their family. Thomas Kreil deliberately does not speak of inheritances here, but rather of private loans and donations.

Particularly noteworthy from his point of view: “Family support is not a prerequisite for home ownership,” says Kreil. Around a third of the young people who have managed to become owners did so without help from relatives.

Overall, according to Kreil, young women and men approach the issue of home ownership very realistically. In concrete terms, this means: you look in the surrounding area when it is too expensive in the city, and the living space you want becomes smaller. In addition, more money is put aside to achieve the necessary equity. “This does not correspond to the cliché of a less assertive and less disciplined Generation Z,” says Kreil.

Even if prospective owners are becoming more pragmatic, the ownership rate has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years, according to an analysis by the brokerage firm Poll 2025. Currently only 43.5 percent of all people in this country live in their own four walls. From Thomas Kreil's point of view, this is a signal to politicians: "The property transfer tax, which is between 3.5 and 6.5 percent of the purchase price depending on the federal state, should decrease." He also considers subordinated loans from the federal or state governments for young buyers to be conceivable.