The Social Homeownership Model - the case of Norway

Abstract

In Norway, mass home ownership has been an important part of social housing in the post-war period. Social housing became available to everybody and a great majority seized the opportunity. The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) had little effect on the Norwegian housing market other than to create a more rigorous housing finance system for the purpose of counteracting increasing house prices and housing debts. This, in turn, has affected the possibilities of young adults entering home-ownership. Nevertheless, the share of young homeowners has been stable or even growing in recent years. Today, social housing in Norway mainly refers to a rather marginal and targeted system providing housing only for the most vulnerable groups.