Asuntomarkkinoiden tilanne Hämeenlinnan ja Riihimäen alueella

Abstract

The thesis examined changes in the housing market in the Hämeenlinna and Riihimäki regions. The aim of the study was to investigate how various economic, demographic, and structural factors have affected the local housing markets and to identify observable trends in their development. The research was conducted as a qualitative study, utilizing a survey targeted at local real estate agents. The background of the study was based on the observation that the housing market has undergone significant changes in recent years, largely due to interest rate fluctuations, economic uncertainty, and migration. Special attention was given to factors influencing housing demand and supply, such as financial conditions and demographic developments. The results showed that the local housing market has been significantly influenced by national factors, such as rising interest rates and an aging population. These factors have reduced buyers willingness to purchase and altered the overall demand. Supply has essentially come to a halt, and especially investors have withdrawn from the market. The study revealed that there is currently an oversupply of one-bedroom apartments, while family homes are in high demand. Demand has clearly diverged between different types of housing and buyer groups. There is an imbalance in the housing market, and uncertainty strongly affects both buyers and sellers. If demand begins to recover, concerns rise about whether the supply can respond quickly enough to the changing situation, as new construction is slow to start. This could lead to a scenario where the housing supply cannot keep up with demand, potentially causing price increases and making it especially difficult to access family-sized homes.