Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s recent proposal to ban non-EU citizens from buying property in Spain has sparked a heated debate. The core of the proposal focuses on preventing speculation in the housing market, particularly by those who aren’t residents of the country. Sánchez argues that these purchases primarily serve to inflate property prices, making homeownership increasingly unattainable for Spanish citizens.
This isn’t simply about targeting individual foreign buyers, though. The underlying concern is the broader issue of affordability and the impact of investment on the housing market. Many believe that the current system heavily favors investors and wealthy individuals, often at the expense of ordinary citizens struggling to secure housing.… Continue reading
Greece is taking a significant step to curb the impact of short-term rentals on its housing market by banning thousands of Airbnb accommodations. This move, while lauded by some as a necessary intervention to protect local residents from escalating rental costs, is also sparking considerable debate about its effectiveness and long-term consequences.
The ban specifically targets properties that were originally unsuitable for residential use – warehouses, storage units, industrial spaces, and old basements – but have been renovated and listed on platforms like Airbnb. This focus appears to be aimed at addressing the issue of converted spaces being used for tourism rather than permanently housing local residents.… Continue reading
The average age of homebuyers in the US has increased from 49 in 2023 to 56 in 2024, indicating that younger Americans are being priced out of the market due to high ownership costs. The National Association of Realtors’ report also reveals the median age of first-time buyers has gone up to 38, and their share among all buyers dropped to 24%, the lowest since tracking began in 1981. This trend is primarily attributed to rising homeownership costs, with median U.S. home price increasing by 39% to $435,000 since 2020 and the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate more than doubling to over 6% in the same period.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker