{"id":1895,"date":"2026-05-22T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oun.fi\/?p=1895"},"modified":"2026-05-27T09:05:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T06:05:35","slug":"30-of-homes-will-be-on-the-market-in-20-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oun.fi\/en\/30-of-homes-will-be-on-the-market-in-20-years\/","title":{"rendered":"30% of homes will be on the market in 20 years!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Finnish housing market is facing a major transformation, which is hardly talked about openly enough. A recent study by OP Pohjola reveals that nearly 30% of all homes in Finland will be released onto the market over the next 20 years as elderly homeowners move into care homes or die. This “grey tsunami” could revolutionise the housing market in a way that many buyers are not prepared for. <\/p>\n

Statistics tell a harsh truth<\/h2>\n

The figures reveal a startling reality: more than half of all owner-occupied homes in Finland are already owned by people over 60. As the share of older people in home ownership increases further in the 2030s, the market will be flooded with housing in areas where demand is already weak. <\/p>\n

Eastern Finland and smaller municipalities are particularly hard hit. In the larger cities, the impact will be less pronounced, but housing prices are already high there. This creates a two-tier market situation, with regional disparities widening further. <\/p>\n

Optimism from banks and industry does not tell the whole story<\/h2>\n

The Central Federation of Real Estate Agents and the banks are signalling cautious optimism. KVKL’s CEO Tuomas Viljamaa says that prices for second-hand apartment buildings in large cities have risen moderately during the first part of the year and sales periods have shortened. Economists at OP Pohjola also predict that house prices will start to rise by around 3% in 2027. <\/p>\n

But there is a danger in this optimism. Bank forecasts often focus on short-term developments and large cities. They do not take sufficient account of the long-term effects of demographic change. Housing sales were 18.5% lower in April than a year earlier, and new home sales remain “very quiet”. <\/p>\n

Reality check for buyers<\/h2>\n

For home buyers, the situation is complicated. In the short term, there may be price increases in the big urban markets, which may tempt people to buy before prices “get out of hand”. But a longer perspective tells a different story. <\/p>\n

With almost a third of the housing stock coming onto the market over two decades, supply will increase significantly. This does not necessarily mean that prices will collapse everywhere, but it does mean that buyers will have more choice and bargaining power. <\/p>\n

The challenges for housing companies are deepening<\/h2>\n

Price stagnation or even a prolonged decline creates a serious challenge for housing companies. When house values do not rise as expected, residents’ enthusiasm for major renovations and improvements wanes. The board of directors of the housing company has to balance the need for necessary repairs with the ability of residents to pay –<\/strong> especially when many apartments are owned by elderly owners whose incomes may not be sufficient to pay large extra fees. <\/p>\n

This can lead to a build-up of repair debt, further reducing the value of the property and making it less attractive to buyers. In the worst case, a vicious circle is created where the deteriorating condition of the property drives down prices even further. <\/p>\n

What does this mean for you?<\/h2>\n

If you are planning to buy a home, don’t let the banks and estate agents rush you. Demographic changes do not happen overnight, but they are inevitable.<\/strong> Think carefully: <\/p>\n