Owner-occupancy

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Owner-occupancy or home-ownership is a form of housing tenure in which a person, called the owner-occupier, owner-occupant, or home owner, owns the home in which they live. [1] The home can be a house, such as a single-family house, an apartment, condominium, or a housing cooperative. In addition to providing housing, owner-occupancy also functions as a real estate investment.

Contents

Acquisition

Some homes are constructed by the owners with the intent to occupy. Many are inherited. A large number are purchased as new homes from a real estate developer or as an existing home from a previous landlord or owner-occupier.

A house is usually the most expensive single purchase an individual or family makes and often costs several times the annual household income. Given the high cost, most individuals do not have enough savings on hand to pay the entire amount outright. In developed countries, mortgage loans are available from financial institutions in return for interest. If the homeowner fails to meet the agreed repayment schedule, a foreclosure (known as a repossession in some countries) may result.

Many countries offer aid to prospective homebuyers to make their purchases. These measures include grants, subsidized mortgages, and mortgage guarantees. Prospective homebuyers may have to meet certain means-tested qualifications to qualify for government aid, such as being a first-time homebuyer or having an income below a certain threshold. [2]

Pros and cons

Perspectives regarding the benefits and risks of owner-occupancy are not universally accepted and depend on individual circumstances and motivations.

Home ownership gives occupants the right to modify the building and land as they please (subject to government, homeowner association, and deed restrictions), protects them from eviction, and creates a right to occupation which can be inherited. Passed-down properties can be rented (as in intentional or accidental landlording) or sold as part of an estate. In some jurisdictions, it also confers certain legal rights with regard to abutters.

Houses and the land they sit on are often expensive, and the combination of monthly mortgage, insurance, maintenance and repairs, and property tax payments are sometimes greater than monthly rental costs. Buildings may also gain and lose substantial value due to real estate market fluctuations, and selling a property can take a long time, depending on market conditions. This can make home ownership more constraining if the homeowner intends to move at a future date. Some homeowners see their purchase as an investment and intend to sell or to rent the property after renovating or letting the house appreciate in value (known as flipping if done quickly). In 2024, the median homeowner's net worth was about $400,000, and the median renter's net worth was $10,400. [3]

Renting may be more beneficial than owner-occupancy when the renter requires flexibility in moving to where work opportunities are. [4] When a long-term work situation is settled upon, the renter may then reassess the costs of renting and home ownership.

Traditionally, home ownership has been encouraged by governments in Western countries (especially English-speaking countries) because it was one way for people to acquire generational wealth under the commodification of housing, it was believed to encourage savings, and it was thought to promote civic engagement. However, the housing market crash during the 2008 Financial Crisis in most of the English-speaking world has caused academic and policy-makers to question this logic. [5]

Political influence

Owning a home influences how an individual views the role of government. Data from OECD countries shows that when housing prices rise, individuals are more critical of the welfare state. Conversely, when housing prices drop, homeowners are more likely to favor government intervention. In the US, areas with high rates of homeownership have higher levels of voter turnout. There is also a weak relationship between homeownership and supporting Republican candidates. Data from the UK supports the idea that homeowners view the value of their home as a kind of private, informal insurance policy against economic shocks. A sufficiently valuable home protects the owner without need for government intervention. [6]

Homeowners are usually required to pay property tax (or millage tax) periodically. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state, a county or geographical region, or a municipality. Multiple jurisdictions may tax the same property. In most Canadian provinces home purchasers must pay a one-time tax called a Property Transfer Tax (Land Transfer Tax) which is based on the cost of the home.

International statistics

The home ownership rate is the ratio of owner-occupied units to total residential units in a specified area. [7] [ better source needed ]

Percentage of owner-occupied units in urban areas, by country Owner-Occupied Units in Urban Areas.jpg
Percentage of owner-occupied units in urban areas, by country
Country % Owner-Occupied Units in Urban Areas [8] Urban Population,
% of Total [8]
Home ownership rate [9]
%Year
Flag of Albania.svg Albania 95.32023
Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina 67%92%68.92017
Flag of Armenia.svg Armenia 96%64%
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 68%89%66.32020
Flag of Austria.svg Austria 54.32023
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Azerbaijan 71%52%
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium 71.92023
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina 91.22007
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil 74%87%70.82022 [10]
Flag of Brunei.svg Brunei 65.02019
Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria 87%73%86.12023
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 68%81%66.52021
Flag of Chile.svg Chile 69%89%
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China 89%45%96.02022
Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia 50%75%
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica 75%94%
Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia 91.22023
Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba 90.02014
Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus 68.82023
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic 47%74%76.02023
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 54%87%60.02023
Flag of East Timor.svg East Timor 49.92007
Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt 37%43%76.02019
Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia 80.72023
Flag of Europe.svg European Union 69.22023
Flag of Finland.svg Finland 69.22023
Flag of France.svg France 47%78%63.12023
Flag of Germany.svg Germany 43%74%47.62023
Flag of Greece.svg Greece 69.62023
Flag of Haiti.svg Haiti 60%48%
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong 53%100%50.42023 [11]
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary 93%68%90.52023
Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland 75.02021 [12]
Flag of India.svg India 87%30%86.62011
Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia 67%54%84.02019
Flag of Iran.svg Iran 60.52017
Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland 69.42023
Flag of Israel.svg Israel 64.62019
Flag of Italy.svg Italy 80%68%75.92024
Flag of Japan.svg Japan 55.02021
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan 96%98.02024
Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya 22%75.02019
Flag of Laos.svg Laos 95.92015
Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia 82.82023
Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania 88.82023
Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg 67.62023
Flag of Malawi.svg Malawi 19%
Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia 72%76.92019
Flag of Malta.svg Malta 74.72023
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico 71%78%80.02009
Flag of Mongolia.svg Mongolia 58%
Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro 91.02023
Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco 62%57%
Flag of Myanmar.svg Myanmar 85.52014
Flag of Namibia.svg Namibia 69%35%
Flag of Nepal.svg   Nepal 86.02021 [13]
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 59%83%70.22023
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 67%87%64.52018
Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria 10%50%25.02019
Flag of North Macedonia.svg North Macedonia 85.82023
Flag of Norway.svg Norway 77%78%79.22023
Flag of Oman.svg Oman 83.02014
Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan 38%82.02023 [14]
Flag of Panama.svg Panama 66%75%
Flag of Peru.svg Peru 72%
Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines 80%66%
Flag of Poland.svg Poland 78%61%87.32023
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 76.02023
Flag of Romania.svg Romania 97%54%95.62023
Flag of Russia.svg Russia 81%73%92.62023
Flag of Rwanda.svg Rwanda 19%
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia 62.12019
Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal 43%
Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia 91.62023
Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore 87%100%87.92020
Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia 93.62023
Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia 75.22023
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa 62%62%69.72021
Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea 56%82%57.32021
Flag of Spain.svg Spain 85%77%75.32023
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri Lanka 82%15%
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 41%85%64.92023
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 40%74%42.32023
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan 83.92010
Flag of Tanzania.svg Tanzania 26%
Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand 75%34%74.02021 [15]
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Trinidad and Tobago 76.02013
Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia 78%67%
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 81%70%56.72023
Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda 13%
Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine 68%
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg United Arab Emirates 28.02017
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 50%90%65.22023
Flag of the United States.svg United States 65%82%65.72024 [16]
Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay 59%93%
Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela 83%94%
Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam 28%90.02020
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe 38%

See also

References

  1. Koren, Liran (2022-04-13). "Owner-Occupied vs. Non-Owner-Occupied Real Estate: What's the Difference?". Luxury Property Care. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  2. "Public spending on financial support to homebuyers" (PDF). OECD. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  3. Delouya, Samantha (2024-12-16). "The median renter in America has a net worth of $10,400. The median homeowner's net worth is $400,000 | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  4. "The Advantages of Renting".
  5. "Shelter, or burden?". The Economist. 2009-04-16.
  6. Ansell, Ben W. (2019). "The Politics of Housing". Annual Review of Political Science. 22: 165–185. doi: 10.1146/annurev-polisci-050317-071146 .
  7. "What Is the Homeownership Rate?". www.thebalancemoney.com. 9 November 2021. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  8. 1 2 Housing Finance Information Network (HOFINET)
  9. "Homeownership rate in selected European countries in 2023, by country". Statista . 5 September 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  10. "Síntese de Indicadores Sociais". IBGE (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  11. C.Textor (25 April 2024). "Share of households owning the housing property they occupy in Hong Kong from 2000 to 2023". Statista . Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  12. "Statistics Iceland: Many low-income households in central Reykjavík and in Ásbrú". Statistics Iceland. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  13. https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/household
  14. "HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS BY RESIDENTIAL STATUS, OWNERSHIP AND NUMBER OF ROOMS BY REGION, PAKISTAN" (PDF).
  15. "The 20-Year Housing Development Master Plan BE 2560-2579 (2017-2036)". www.ohchr.org. 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  16. "Homeownership Rate". www.ibisworld.com. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.

Further reading