The Ipsos Housing Monitor 2025, released today, surveyed attitudes to housing in 30 countries including New Zealand and while more Kiwis are said to be “mostly happy” with their current housing situation, we are more worried than our global counterparts about being able to pay the mortgage in the coming 12 months.
Plus the they report that young Kiwis more than any other nationality in the world (except the Dutch) feel less able to afford their own home or a rental than their parents’ generation.
These probably come as no shock to many, but sometimes it is good to know that little old New Zealand has similar issues to the rest of the world when it comes to housing.
It’s an interesting report to read.
Key Findings:
Homeowners broadly happy – renters not so much.
Forty-seven per cent of renters say they are happy with their current housing situation compared to 69% of homeowners. While in all markets, owners are happier than renters, in countries with stronger rights for tenants, the gap in satisfaction is smaller.
People think their country’s housing is on wrong track.
Across 30 countries 52% think their country is on the wrong track when it comes to housing, while 28% are happy with how things are going. There are big differences by country and region, with people in Asia generally more positive, while Europeans are more likely to say
housing is on the wrong track.
People feel it is harder to buy a home now than previously.
Seven in ten (70%) under 35s say it is harder for people their age to buy or rent a home to settle down in than it was for their parents’
generation. However, there is little difference across age groups, with 60-74-year-olds likely to say the same thing (64% agree).
Apartment vs house? It depends where you live!
Culture and context seems to play a strong role in shaping people’s idea of the ideal home.
In Asia and LATAM, many people want a detached house in the city, in much of the West people want a rural house. However, in
Italy, Spain, South Korea and Singapore people tend to prefer apartment living.
Few feel rising house prices are a good thing.
Only 19% say they think rising house prices is a good thing for me personally. Even among those who own their property outright this only
rises to 23%. On average 57% think rising prices is not good for themselves.
What makes a good property? Location X value
On average people feel value for money (47%) and a good location (45%) are the most important characteristics a property can have. A low local crime rate (33%), access to public transport (29%) and good local infrastructure (25%) are also seen as important.
About the Ipsos Housing Monitor
The Ipsos Housing Monitor 2025 is a global survey on people’s attitudes to housing, which included 30 countries and more than 22,000 online responses at the end of last year.
You can find the full 71-page report here.
