EconomyHousing
China Mortgage Subsidy Speeds Up to Ease Homebuying
China's first central-government mortgage subsidy is rolling out fast, cutting interest costs for first-home buyers and lifting holiday sales.
—6 min read
Category
Housing
28 articles
HousingEurope
Mice and Mold—Yet a Quality Label: Belgium's Housing Gap
An undercover probe finds Flemish student rooms with mold and mice that still carry quality certificates, as rents soar and tenants question the label.
—5 min read
EconomyHousing
Data Centers' Uneven Mark on U.S. Housing Markets
A landmark NAR study finds no single 'data center effect' on U.S. housing—home values rise in some markets while others strain under booming demand.
—6 min read
HousingEconomy
Flemish Rents Pass 1,000 Euros for the First Time
Average rent in Flanders has climbed above 1,000 euros a month for the first time, but the median tells a more modest story at 925 euros.
—5 min read
HousingEconomy
Poorest Americans Locked Out as Affordable Units Sit Empty
New investigation reveals paradox: America's poorest can't find housing even as low-income units sit vacant. Systemic barriers and policy gaps explained.
—8 min read
EconomyHousing
Homeowner-Renter Wealth Gap at Record as Millions Priced Out
The wealth gap between homeowners and renters has reached a record high, with home prices surging 50% in six years, locking millions out of homeownership.
—5 min read
HousingRegulation
Flanders Cracks Down on Illegal Airbnb Rentals
Flanders cracks down on illegal Airbnb rentals, requiring platforms to verify registrations and giving municipalities faster enforcement powers.
—5 min read
SocietyHousing
Only 41 Fined in Flanders Dutch Language Enforcement Gap
Only 41 of 150,000 social tenants in Flanders were fined in 2025 for not speaking Dutch, revealing a major gap between policy and enforcement.
—4 min read
PoliticsHousing
Brussels Parliament Backs Foyer Anderlechtois Reforms
Brussels Parliament validates 26 recommendations from the Foyer Anderlechtois inquiry, targeting political interference and clientelism in social housing.
—4 min read
EconomyHousing
China Overhauls Housing Provident Fund in Major Reform
China proposes sweeping reforms to its Housing Provident Fund system, expanding withdrawal options to include renovation and property fees.
—4 min read
PoliticsHousing
Anderlecht Housing Inquiry: Renovation Pace Criticized Again
The Brussels Parliament inquiry into the Foyer anderlechtois scandal faces turmoil as the rapporteur resigns over the accelerated work pace.
—4 min read
EconomyHousing
China Pushes Housing Fund Reform to Unlock Idle Balances
China accelerates Housing Provident Fund reform as idle balances hit 10.9 trillion yuan. New rules expand withdrawals for rent, renovations and more.
—5 min read
EconomyHousing
Falling Housing Prices: Good News or Bad? Planet Money Guide
Planet Money analysis explores when declining home values signal a healthy market correction and when they point to economic collapse.
—5 min read
EconomyHousing
Income Needed to Buy a Home Nearly Doubles Since 2020
Harvard report finds income needed for a median-priced home has surged to over $120,000, nearly doubling since 2020 as the housing crisis deepens.
—5 min read
EconomyHousing
Income for Median-Priced Home Nearly Doubles Since 2020
Harvard report: Income needed for a median-priced US home nearly doubled to $120,000 since 2020 as prices outpace wages.
—4 min read
HousingEconomy
5,000 Homes Lost to Airbnb in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent
ING study reveals nearly 5,000 homes in Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent have left the rental market for Airbnb, worsening Belgium's housing crisis.
—4 min read
HousingEconomy
Over 4 in 10 Belgian Homes Now Bought by Single Buyers
New data shows 42% of Belgian homes were bought by singles in 2025, up from 40% in 2024. Young buyers aged 26-30 lead the trend.
—4 min read
HousingRegulation
Belgium Fines Homeowners €1.1M for Undeclared Renovations
Belgian authorities have issued over €1.1M in fines since 2024 for undeclared home renovations, targeting homeowners who fail to report changes.
—4 min read
EconomyHousing
China Expands Housing Provident Fund for Renters, Homeowners
China proposes expanding the Housing Provident Fund to cover renovations, property fees, and flexible workers to stabilize the housing market.
—5 min read
EconomyHousing
China Expands Housing Fund Use for Property Fees, Renovation
China proposes expanding the Housing Provident Fund to cover property fees, home renovation, and flexible housing consumption in a landmark reform.
—4 min read
PoliticsHousing
Pulte's Dual Role Threatens Housing and Intelligence Goals
President Trump appoints FHFA Director Bill Pulte as acting DNI, raising concerns about his housing policy priorities and intelligence qualifications.
—5 min read
HousingEconomy
Flanders Tightens Rules on Airbnb Amid Housing Crisis
Flanders tightens short-term rental rules, requiring Airbnb registration and giving local councils stronger powers to tackle illegal lets.
—5 min read
SocietyHousing
Beijing Welcome Students Home: 30,000 Youth Apartments
Beijing launches '2026 Welcome Students Home' initiative with 30,000 youth apartments, a $4.1B talent fund, and the Line 10 Talent Vitality Ring.
—4 min read
EconomyHousing
Homes Not Moving: Five US Cities Hit by Steep Price Cuts
Phoenix, Tampa, San Antonio, Denver, and Portland lead US markets in home price cuts as high rates and inflation cool buyer demand.
—4 min read
PoliticsHousing
Brussels Housing Chair Seeks Parliament After Pano Probe
Lotfi Mostefa, chair of Anderlechtse Haard, requests Brussels Parliament hearing after Pano probe into social housing allocation abuses.
—4 min read
EconomyHousing
Belgian Mortgage Rates Hit 12-Year High: Buy Now or Wait?
Fixed mortgage rates in Belgium reach 4.13%, the highest in 12 years. Expert analysis on whether to buy a home now or wait amid geopolitical turmoil.
—4 min read
HousingEconomy
Gen Z Women Outpace Men in Homeownership, New Data Shows
Single Gen Z women are buying homes at nearly double the rate of Gen Z men, according to new NAR data, bucking broader declines in first-time homebuying.
—4 min read
EconomyHousing
Single Tenants in Belgium Spend 55% of Income on Housing
Single tenants in Belgium now spend 55% of income on housing, nearly double the affordability threshold. New data reveals a deepening crisis.
—4 min read