Romanians are the most confident in Europe that they will repay their mortgage early: 62% of people with a mortgage expect to repay it ahead of schedule, compared with the European average of just 25%, according to the latest REMAX Europe study on housing trends.
Romania’s residential market stands out for its high level of stability and attachment to homeownership. Around 77% of Romanians own the home they live in, one of the highest percentages in Europe. Of these, 68% view their current home as a “forever home,” meaning a place where they intend to stay long term, while 50% are optimistic about the overall outlook for the real estate market, 16% above the European average, according to the study.
However, only 44% of Romanians feel comfortable with their current housing expenses.
“The fact that almost two-thirds of Romanians with a mortgage want to repay it ahead of schedule says a lot about our relationship with debt. For most Romanians, a home is a lifetime investment, and a mortgage is an obligation they want to get rid of as quickly as possible. The experience of recent years, with rising interest rates and monthly payments changing from one month to the next, has reinforced this caution,” said Răzvan Cuc, president of REMAX Romania.
For non-homeowners in Romania, access to a first home remains the main goal: 47% of those who do not own a property primarily want to become homeowners. However, 26% believe they will never buy a home, while 17% have considered emigrating as an alternative to high housing costs.
Around 87% of Romanians meet friends or family at least once a month, while 69% also socialize frequently with their neighbours. Moreover, 46% say they know their neighbours well, above the European average.
This preference for direct relationships is also reflected at the family table: only 4% of Romanians admit to using their mobile phones during family meals, the lowest percentage in Europe.
Across Europe, housing has become a structural pressure with direct effects on people’s life trajectories. 72% of European adults who do not own a home say they have postponed at least one major life decision, such as marriage, having children, education, or a career change, because of housing costs.
To cope with these costs, many also give up smaller things: 41% have reduced spending on holidays, while 39% have cut their budgets for going out and leisure activities.
Housing pressure also affects personal relationships. 23% of Europeans say they have stayed in a relationship longer than they wanted because they could not afford separate homes. Generation Z feels this pressure most acutely: 34% of young people aged 18–24 have experienced this situation, while 21% of non-homeowners aged 18–34 have postponed the decision to have children.
The outlook for recovery remains modest for now. Only 34% of Europeans believe the housing situation in their country will improve in the coming period, while approximately two-thirds do not expect an improvement.