People > Home ownership: Countries Compared

Real estate can be one of the best investments for people living in a big city. However, urban property is more important for some countries. Ireland is an example of this trend. Despite the rockiness of its property market, Irish people seem to feel pretty safe in their own homes, as more than 83% of Irish people prefer to live in a house they own. Italians are second in the list and seem to have the same mentality as the Irish about home ownership. But people in Central European countries prefer to rent instead of buying a home. The stats show weak bonds between Central Europeans and property ownership. Less than half of Dutch (49%) and German (43%) households are not owned by the people who live there, while French (54%) and Danish (53%) ownership percentage slightly exceeds 50%.