Real Estate: What Do the French Really Want?

The dream of homeownership persists, even though new ways of becoming a homeowner have not generated the enthusiasm that was hoped for. 
 

For the fourth consecutive year, the Housing Barometer, conducted by Procivis in collaboration with the Jean-Jaurès Foundation and Harris Interactive, provides an in-depth look at French attitudes toward housing. With a sample of more than 10,000 participants, this year’s survey focuses specifically on the appetite for homeownership amid rising mortgage rates and a decline in real estate transactions.
 

A growing financial burden and increasing difficulty in becoming a homeowner
 

The study reveals that 81% of French people now consider the portion of their budget allocated to housing to be significant, marking a 10-point increase since 2020. This concern is particularly acute among renters, with a 9-point increase, compared to a 4-point increase among homeowners. Overall satisfaction with housing has shown a slight decline since 2020, although satisfaction with the community of residence remains unchanged. Despite these challenges, 36% of French people plan to move in the coming months, even though 45% of them consider their housing budget to be “very important,” suggesting that these moves are often out of necessity rather than by choice.
 

Despite the challenging economic climate, real estate projects appear to be holding steady. The French have shown continued interest in purchasing property, with 69% focusing on buying a primary residence. The criteria for choosing a new home remain stable, with priorities such as insulation, natural light, high-speed Internet access, and proximity to shops.
 

The Dream of Homeownership Remains Unchanged
 

The survey highlights that the ideal of homeownership remains strong, with 81% of French people believing that owning their primary residence has more advantages than disadvantages. Although achieving this dream seems more difficult, 61% of non-homeowners express a desire to become homeowners. A single-family home remains the ideal for 75% of French people, while the choice between new and older homes reflects a variety of preferences.
 

Lack of awareness of alternatives to homeownership
 

Despite growing difficulties, the French seem to have little knowledge of—and little enthusiasm for—alternative pathways to homeownership, such as the SCI, rent-to-own programs, and solidarity-based leases. The preference for buying a home as a couple or alone remains dominant, leaving these new homeownership options largely unknown.
 

Although 71% of participants are aware that the energy efficiency of their homes can be improved, their actual knowledge of their own homes’ energy efficiency ratings remains low. Intentions to undertake energy-efficiency renovations appear to be on the decline, even though tenants are willing to accept rent increases in exchange for such improvements.