The French view on individual homes and access to property in 2025

For Damien Hereng, President of the French Federation of Individual Home Builders: "However, this aspiration is coming up against an increasingly restrictive reality: 79% of French people believe that it is more difficult today than ten years ago to access property ownership, an increase of 25 points in three years. The perception of property ownership as debt is also increasing (+7 points since 2022). This gap between aspirations and concrete possibilities constitutes a real social challenge. More than half of tenants (56%) indicate that their financial situation is too precarious to consider purchasing real estate, despite their desire to be owners. Faced with this situation, levers exist: 63% of tenants wishing to become owners believe that the Zero Interest Loan could encourage them to take the plunge, particularly among the youngest (80% of 18-24 year olds). Its return is therefore particularly welcome. The detached house is not simply a housing choice, it is a symbol of accomplishment, security and freedom. It is urgent that public policies support this legitimate aspiration and allow all French people to achieve this dream, which must not become a privilege."

Key figures of the study:

• For 80% of French people, the detached house remains the ideal accommodation,
• 79% of French people believe that it is more difficult to access property today than ten years ago - a collapse of 25 points in three years,
• 23% of French people would be prepared to accept a minimum surface area equal to or less than 60m2,
• 56% of tenants point to their precarious financial situation as the main obstacle to home ownership,
• 63% of tenants believe that the zero-interest loan would encourage them to become homeowners,
• 70% of French people would accept a surface area equal to or less than 200m²,
• 82% of French people believe that the prospect of becoming a property owner is a source of professional motivation.

Single-family home: an ideal that resists the crisis

The fourth wave of the FFC-IFOP barometer on the French view of individual homes and access to property delivers a double-edged observation: attachment to property and particularly to individual homes remains intact, but economic obstacles are increasing, creating a feeling of resignation among many French people.

An aspiration that does not weaken despite the difficulties

As revealed by the FFC survey of 1000 French people conducted in February 2025, property ownership remains highly valued, primarily for its investment (52%) and security (51%) dimensions. The personal fulfillment it represents (39%) also makes it a powerful driver of professional motivation for 82% of working-age people.

Question: You personally associate real estate ownership primarily with...?

The desire to own a home remains a fundamental aspiration: 85% of French people consider it important, even essential (41%), to become a homeowner. These figures remain remarkably stable compared to our previous survey waves, demonstrating the deep roots of this value in French society.

The detached house also retains its privileged place in the hearts of the French, with 80% of respondents preferring it to an apartment. A garden (49%), peace and quiet (41%), and freedom (39%) are the three advantages that explain this persistent appeal.

The dream collides with an increasingly restrictive economic reality

While aspirations remain strong, the perception of difficulties is clearly increasing. Only 21% of French people believe it is easier to access property today than ten years ago—a 25-point drop in three years. At the same time, the perception of property ownership as a form of debt is growing significantly (+7 points since 2022).

Faced with this observation, 56% of tenants point to their precarious financial situation as the main obstacle to home ownership. The difficulties are such that 74% of French people fear that home ownership will soon become "reserved for an elite."

Question: For each of the following statements regarding real estate ownership, would you say you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree?

For Damien Hereng, President of the FFC: "These figures alert us to a major risk of social division. Access to a single-family home, which remains the aspiration of 8 out of 10 French people, must not become a privilege reserved for the wealthiest. This is why we are calling for a strong commitment from public authorities to promote home ownership."

Focus on the social divide in housing

Home ownership: a revealer of socio-economic inequalities

This barometer highlights the considerable gaps between social categories in their relationship to homeownership. For 66% of wealthy households, homeownership is primarily synonymous with security, while this perception is shared by only 42% of low-income households. Even more revealing, 60% of wealthy households consider it essential to become a homeowner, compared to only 34% of less advantaged households.

These differences in perception are accompanied by distinct aspirations: the wealthy categories are more demanding, with only 9% ready to accept a house of 50 to 60m² (compared to 31% among the most modest) and a marked preference for more spacious gardens.

High expectations of public authorities

In this tense context, 77% of French people believe that access to home ownership should be further encouraged through financial aid from the State. The zero-interest loan appears to be a relevant lever, since 63% of tenants wishing to become homeowners believe that this scheme would encourage them to take the plunge.

This support would be particularly effective among younger generations, with 80% of 18-24 year-olds saying they are open to this assistance - a figure that falls to 36% among those over 65, whose home ownership plans have often already been completed or abandoned.

Focus on generational disparities

18-24 year olds are shaping the future of home ownership

The study reveals a significantly different attitude toward home ownership among younger generations. While only 28% of 18-24 year-olds consider home ownership essential (compared to the national average of 41%), they demonstrate greater pragmatism in the face of current constraints. This generation is particularly flexible, with 38% of them willing to accept a house of less than 60m² (compared to only 15% of those aged 65 and over).

The shared ownership, often perceived as a major obstacle, is more readily accepted by young people: 48% of them would consider buying a semi-detached house, which is almost double the acceptance observed among seniors (25%). This adaptability represents an opportunity for builders to develop innovative offers of more compact and economical single-family homes.

For Damien Hereng: "The Zero-Interest Loan perfectly meets the expectations of this generation. With 80% of young tenants considering this scheme as a useful tool to encourage them to become homeowners, maintaining and strengthening it appears to be an essential lever for the future of homeownership."

The ideal house: criteria that adapt to constraints

While aspirations remain high, this barometer also shows a certain adaptability among the French.

Question: In your opinion, living in a detached house allows you, above all, to…?

Regarding their requirements for a detached house:

• In terms of interior space, while 52% would like at least 80m², 23% would be satisfied with an area equal to or less than 60m² - particularly among young people (38% of 18-24 year olds), residents of the Paris region (29%) and low-income households.
• For the garden, 70% of French people would accept a surface area equal to or less than 200m², of which 26% would be satisfied with a small outdoor space of 50m².
• On the other hand, on the issue of shared ownership, reluctance remains strong, with 62% of French people who would not be prepared to buy a semi-detached house - a resistance particularly marked in rural areas (72%) and among seniors (76% of those over 65).

Question: If you were to buy a house tomorrow, what would be the minimum garden area you would be willing to accept?

Focus on the influence of the living environment: Paris VS rural

Aspirations shaped by the residential environment

The contrast is significant between residents of the Paris metropolitan area and those in rural areas. While a single-family home remains the ideal home for 65% of Parisians, this figure rises to 92% in rural areas. Motivations also differ: residents of the Île-de-France region place greater value on space savings (34% versus 19% in rural areas), while rural residents prioritize peace and quiet (49% versus 32% in the Paris region).

Faced with the constraints of the real estate market, Parisians are showing greater flexibility, with 29% ready to acquire a house of 50 to 60m² (compared to 17% in rural areas) and 46% open to buying a semi-detached house (compared to only 28% in rural areas).

For Damien Hereng: "These differences illustrate the influence of the living environment on residential aspirations. They call for differentiated responses depending on the region, with solutions adapted to the specific constraints of dense urban areas."

Conclusion

Home ownership remains a strong aspiration for a majority of French people, seen as a guarantee of security and personal fulfillment. Despite a challenging economic climate, this desire remains stable, particularly among higher socio-professional categories and wealthy households.

The detached house still embodies the residential ideal, particularly outside of major cities, where space and tranquility are paramount. However, financial constraints are holding this access back: more than half of tenants consider their financial situation insufficient to purchase, and nearly 80% of French people believe that home ownership is more complicated than it was three years ago.

In this context, public assistance schemes, such as the zero-interest loan, play a key role, particularly for young adults. Despite the obstacles, buying property remains a priority for the French.

Methodology : The survey was conducted among a sample of 1000 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over. The representativeness of the sample was ensured by the quota method (sex, age, profession of the person interviewed) after stratification by region and category of agglomeration. The interviews were carried out by self-administered online questionnaire from February 5 to 6, 2025.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.