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29th March 2024
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HomeNewsHome-owning dream turns to nightmare

Home-owning dream turns to nightmare

The dream of owning a home is becoming a nightmare for Cypriot millennial couples as a 20% increase in prices in the past year has made buying a house impossible, with the average sale around €350,000.

Stakeholders are warning that with the rate of house building rising, and if corrective measures are not taken, the fabric of Cypriot society will be shredded.

In comments to the Financial Mirror, Angelos Constantinou, head of BNP Paribas/ Danos Real Estate‘s research department, pinned the estimated 20% increase in the cost of new houses to the rising cost of building materials.

“Following the COVID pandemic, we saw a boom in demand for housing projects, as people were trying to get their lives on track after two years of restrictions and uncertainty.

“This was made worse with the war in Ukraine, which added pressure on trade and transportation of raw materials, pushing the cost further up,” said the real estate expert.

Constantinou said a young couple would need to pay at least €340,000 to buy their own home.

“Buying an average house, nothing fancy, in non-high-end urban areas will put a family out by anything between €340,000 and close to half a million.

“For a smaller home of 170 square metres, for which a reduced 5% VAT applies, a family will definitely need well over €300,000.”

He added that if a family is looking to buy a more comfortable house of 220 square metres, they will need at least €440,000.

“And that is if they are willing to settle for areas that are not so popular, as let’s say Engomi and some areas in Strovolos in the capital.

“In high-end areas in Limassol, that’s a whole different ballgame.”

He said that prices for the same property a year ago would start from something close to €250,000.

“Unfortunately, things are set to get worse for couples looking for a home to start their family as the cost of building materials continues to rise.

“Last week, iron rods saw a 15% increase, going from €115 per tonne to €135. This will have a chain effect on all materials in the coming weeks.”

Rejection

Constantinou said real estate agents had seen a third of clients on the market for a house withdraw their interest in the past year.

“They just can’t afford to buy a house anymore.

“People who had loans approved, following the increase of building costs, had to return to their banks to ask for more money.

“The vast majority of these cases were rejected.”

He added that the drop in demand would inevitably impact the construction industry as developers will be hesitant to move on to their next project without selling all available housing units.

“Going ahead with new projects while demand is in a slump would be playing with fire, bringing a new crisis”.

The Technical Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK) advises the government on building and is particularly concerned over the consequences of increased house prices on society.

“It is now next to impossible for young couples to own their own home.

“Some 20 years ago, couples starting their families were able to obtain housing loans which they could pay off within six to seven years,” said ETEK’s Chair Constantinos Constanti.

He explained it will now take couples more than 20 years to pay off a loan of several hundred thousand euros.

“One-third of the household’s earnings would be going to pay off the loan.

“The difference is that houses are multiple times more expensive than they were a couple of decades ago, while salaries have only increased by 30%.”

He argued that young couples’ incapability to buy a house creates a loss of future wealth.

“It is no secret that Cyprus’ growth in recent years has been backed by business loans taken out by people wanting to start their own business with their home as collateral.

“This will no longer be an option for young people who may want to venture into the business world.

“What is more, people in the past have also been taking out student loans to put their children through university. They will not have that option now,” said Constanti.

Go green

He argued that Cyprus’ future generation is denied potential wealth.

Furthermore, as he noted, owning a home as a family is part of Cypriot culture.

“Families who cannot afford a house are frowned upon by the rest of the society, with complications including tension in their relationship, and their children being taunted at school.”

Constanti said that authorities and stakeholders need to go through affordable housing alternatives while reviewing the culture of building in Cyprus.

“We need to seriously rethink the materials we are using to build our houses, turning to cheaper and greener materials.

“One of the studies we have commissioned and expected to be concluded next week will give us an idea of what and how recyclable materials can be used in housing construction.”

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2 COMMENTS

  1. I don’t understand this. Where I live, in the Paphos District, the prices are around 2019 values. Two of my neighbours have sold in the last month for prices around €9,0000 below what they paid 15 years ago. I had my property valued by an RCIS surveyor and it is also €9,0000 down on 2004 when I bought it.

    Sales are brisk, I know that, and the the agents are doing very well. But that is commission on sales, not gains by owners.

    I think people have become used to low, low prices and don’t realise properties are on offer now for way below historical prices.

    • According to the EU Statistical Service (Eurostat) house prices have fallen 6% since 2010; three years after they peaked.

      Also, as resale properties command lower prices than new, it’s going to be a few years until you’re able to get your money back.

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