ᐅ Is the real estate market increasingly forcing families to build their own homes?

Created on: 6 Apr 2019 11:35
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Thierse
Actually, we would prefer to avoid building. Unfortunately, existing properties within a 20 km (12 miles) radius have become quite expensive, and affordable rental houses with small gardens are simply scarce.

Until now, we have been living in an old rental apartment without a garden. We would like to change that, but there is a lack of options. The listings on various platforms are overcrowded with families looking for affordable housing.

Who is familiar with this situation, and how do you deal with it?
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Nordlys
18 Apr 2019 14:26
I don’t understand why you can’t simply deduct mortgage interest for tax purposes like in Scandinavia, as a form of retirement provision. You can claim every minor expense, every business kilometer, every liability insurance, but not the home loan interest. Unless it’s a rental property, then yes. Absurd. K.
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chand1986
18 Apr 2019 14:35
Nordlys schrieb:
but not the mortgage interest. Unless it’s a rental property, then yes. Absurd. K.

I basically agree. The unequal treatment makes no sense.

However, I believe that due to bracket creep, the tax burden has already shifted downward for a long time. I would rather address this issue and fix this imbalance. But then, an average homeowner wouldn’t have much left to deduct – whereas a high earner with a large house could really benefit.

It would be better to make interest generally non-deductible and instead significantly raise tax allowances. That would also be preferable to all the child homebuyer subsidies, which are just cosmetic surgery on a seriously ill patient.
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Thierse
19 Apr 2019 08:08
The construction child benefit primarily benefits buyers of existing properties in rural areas. It is likely to lead to further increases in construction costs, as homebuilders will try to pass on cost increases accordingly.

The challenge when building or buying a home for personal use for many families is that existing equity is tied up. Equity that would actually be sensible for retirement planning as well, for example invested long-term in stocks and ETFs.

Most homebuilders then no longer have enough money left to provide properly for retirement. Owning a home is nice, but rarely a truly suitable retirement provision, as there are also ongoing costs similar to a second rent.
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Maria16
19 Apr 2019 08:53
Well, Thierse, then we’ll note down for you that everything is bad. Buying a house is bad. Renting is bad. So what would be your solution?
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Thierse
19 Apr 2019 09:03
Halving the real estate transfer tax, lowering energy standards for new buildings to an affordable level, increasing social housing, reintroducing the old homeowner allowance, and providing tax incentives for homeownership...
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Maria16
19 Apr 2019 09:56
No, I mean, what is YOUR solution. Not what others or the government should do for you. Because at some point, you will have to make a decision for yourself, based on the conditions in place.