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Rent, Buy, Build? Real Estate Realities

July 16, 2021

Shelter is a basic human need. But finding somewhere to live is a growing problem around the world. Whether you rent, buy or build a house, it's always a gamble – often with a lot of money at stake.

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Hauskauf Symbolbild Geldscheine Holzhaus
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Wohnen in Berlin
Image: picture-alliance/W. Steinberg

Germany vs. India: comparing rents

The difference between renting a home in Germany and India is huge. But there are similarities, like massive price hikes on the real estate market. How can the poorest still find somewhere to live?

 

Euromax | Kork, Korkhaus
Image: DW


Living large! And small…

What would it take to build your dream home? One Swiss architect spent 40 years building his cathedral-like mansion. And an English architect built a 100% natural house entirely out of cork.

 

Deutschland Neubau eines Mehrfamilienhauses
Image: Imago/Sven Simon

Can I still afford to buy a house?

Who can still afford to buy property? In Germany, Colombia and Kenya, our on-location correspondents look at what things are like for potential buyers and the respective construction industries.

 

USA Immobilienmarkt Haus zum Verkauf Schild
Image: Getty Images

Housing boom in the US

There's a shortage of some 5.5 million homes on the American housing market. Supply is low, demand is high. Wealthy buyers can offer much more than the asking price which sparks a bidding war. Buying property in the USA often comes down to luck.

 

 

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