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> The 2008 bubble-pop never happened here. I live in the Netherlands and that seems to be roughly what happened here too. ~~I mean, yes the prices have dropped

> The 2008 bubble-pop never happened here. I live in the Netherlands and that seems to be roughly what happened here too. ~~I mean, yes the prices have dropped a tiny bit around 2008, but in 2009 they were at an all time high again and have not come down.~~ EDIT: This was a lie, turns out they bottomed out around 2013 at ~25% below the 2008 peak. I live in a 'provincial' city, where prices are ~40-50% of what you might see in the big cities (i.e Amsterdam). With my income, which is well above median, only about 20-30% (2 to 3 % at median income according to the news iirc) of the homes that go on sale are within my mortgage limit. And to solve the on going housing shortages they are building a few new neighborhoods where, surprise, surprise, all houses start at 2 or 3 times that limit... I have read that one of the reasons this happens, is that _everyone_ expect the buyer is better of if prices are higher. Thus brokers, appraiser and sellers all keep driving up the prices. As long as there are more buyers than houses this will keep driving up prices. And the big building companies, that do entire neighborhoods, are quite happy to keep the market scarce.

adflux 6y ago
I also live in the Netherlands. I am starting to believe there is something a bit more nefarious at play here. Anyone who is in power owns a house. Anyone who owns a house profits from house prices increasing. Who benefits if house prices go down? A select few, who are currently unable to buy a house. There is little incentive to actually start building affordable housing. Actually, most people who already own house(s) are probably very happy with the way the market is currently working.
- bojan 6y ago
  As a house owner in the NL, yes, it is comfortable to know that if I ever need to, I have room to increase my mortgage or sell my house at the considerable win. But then what? I still need to live somewhere, and the rest of the houses are also getting more expensive. And in any case, some of my taxes are based on the value of my house - meaning, they are increasing every year. The only people really benefiting from this are people owning multiple houses with the purpose of renting them.
- edejong 6y ago
  The nefarious thing is that nobody wants currency, markets are over priced and investors need collateral. So, they go to the banks who in turn sell outrageous mortgages to home owners.
roel_v 6y ago
Prices in the Netherlands bottomed out in 2013, at 20 to 30% below the peak of 2008.
- holstvoogd 6y ago
  You are right! I was sure that that is what I saw last time I looked it up.. That's what I get for relying on my memory ;)
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adflux 6y ago

I also live in the Netherlands. I am starting to believe there is something a bit more nefarious at play here. Anyone who is in power owns a house. Anyone who owns a house profits from house prices increasing. Who benefits if house prices go down? A select few, who are currently unable to buy a house. There is little incentive to actually start building affordable housing. Actually, most people who already own house(s) are probably very happy with the way the market is currently working.

bojan 6y ago
As a house owner in the NL, yes, it is comfortable to know that if I ever need to, I have room to increase my mortgage or sell my house at the considerable win. But then what? I still need to live somewhere, and the rest of the houses are also getting more expensive. And in any case, some of my taxes are based on the value of my house - meaning, they are increasing every year. The only people really benefiting from this are people owning multiple houses with the purpose of renting them.
edejong 6y ago
The nefarious thing is that nobody wants currency, markets are over priced and investors need collateral. So, they go to the banks who in turn sell outrageous mortgages to home owners.

roel_v 6y ago

Prices in the Netherlands bottomed out in 2013, at 20 to 30% below the peak of 2008.

holstvoogd 6y ago
You are right! I was sure that that is what I saw last time I looked it up.. That's what I get for relying on my memory ;)

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