The Housing Crisis
Today's European youth face an unprecedented housing crisis. As jobs concentrate in major urban centers, young professionals find themselves trapped in a cycle of high rental costs and stagnant wages. The dream of homeownership becomes increasingly distant, while even basic rental accommodation consumes an unsustainable portion of their income. Meanwhile, rural areas face abandonment, creating a stark contrast between overcrowded cities and empty villages. Is there a solution to this growing disparity?
Date
2024
Focus Areas
Housing Crisis, Urban Development, Social Impact
The Data
EXPLORING THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE HOUSING CRISIS
AND ITS IMPACT ON EUROPEAN YOUTH
Rising Costs
THE COST OF LIVING AND HOUSING CONTINUES TO SKYROCKET IN URBAN AREAS, WITH RENTAL PRICES CONSUMING UP TO 45% OF THE AVERAGE SALARY. THIS UNSUSTAINABLE TREND IS CREATING A GENERATION OF PERPETUAL RENTERS, UNABLE TO SAVE FOR THEIR FUTURE.
Urban Concentration
DESPITE SOARING COSTS, POPULATION CONTINUES TO CONCENTRATE IN MAJOR CITIES WHERE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST BUT AFFORDABILITY DIMINISHES. BY 2050, 85% OF EUROPEANS WILL LIVE IN URBAN AREAS, FURTHER STRAINING HOUSING MARKETS AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
Meanwhile, 7.1 Million Houses Stand Empty in rural Areas
A PARADOX OF ABUNDANCE AND SCARCITY: WHILE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS STRUGGLE TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CITIES, MILLIONS OF PROPERTIES REMAIN VACANT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CREATING AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS.
The Solution
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Own a Home for Less Than €50K
Think owning a home is out of reach? In Madrid, a tiny apartment costs over €400,000, but in Galicia, you can buy a charming stone house for under €50K. The catch? It needs some work—but with a little vision, you could turn it into a stunning dream home for a fraction of city prices.
Turn It Into a Luxury Home for €50K - €100K
Renovations in rural areas are shockingly affordable. With €50,000 to €100,000, you can upgrade a run-down house into a modern, high-end home—spacious living areas, sleek kitchens, spa-like bathrooms, and even a private garden. Instead of struggling to afford a 70m² flat in Madrid, you get a 200m² house, total freedom, and a lifestyle that city dwellers can only dream of.
More Money. More Comfort. More Life
Less rent, lower taxes, fresh air, and no suffocating mortgage—this is what happens when you swap city chaos for smart living. With remote work on the rise, why pay triple the price to be crammed into a noisy, overpriced city, when you could live in luxury, surrounded by nature, for a fraction of the cost?