Who Gets to Own? How Political and Social Factors Shape Homeownership

The dissertation examines what, besides personal financial resources, decides who can buy a home in the Netherlands. It reports that a tax reduction for young purchasers mainly increased house prices and assisted those already able to buy, leaving lower-income people without support. Parental money lowers the borrowing needed by young purchasers and raises their living standards, but it also makes them bid more, which pushes up prices for other nearby buyers. In addition, buyers and sellers sharing a migrant background trade more often than would be expected, and sellers in such deals tend to accept a lower price. Overall, homeownership is presented as shaped not only by individual means but also by family support, government policy and social ties.