Many Lower Austrians doubt they can afford a home

More than two thirds of people surveyed in Lower Austria already own a house or flat, but many doubt they could afford to buy or build one today, ORF reported, citing a survey commissioned by HYPO NOE.

Nine in 10 respondents said they were satisfied with their current housing situation. Among those without a home of their own, one third planned to buy or build within four years, while another third hoped to do so later. But two thirds of those with a specific project feared rising construction costs would stop them from going ahead. A similar proportion of current homeowners said they could not afford their property if they were buying it today.

Higher property prices and financing costs are also causing concern, with construction costs identified as the main obstacle. The findings were presented on Friday as part of the bank’s property barometer.

Four in five respondents with a concrete plan to buy or build had not yet asked a bank about a possible loan. Of those, 18 percent thought they lacked sufficient savings to secure financing, seven percent believed they would not meet the lending criteria, and three percent feared their loan application would be rejected, HYPO NOE chief executive Wolfgang Viehauser said.

Viehauser said discussion of the KIM regulation had contributed to people’s reluctance to approach banks. The strict lending rules expired last year, but he said some people remained hesitant after extensive coverage of the measures.

The survey was conducted online in August 2026 among 1,000 people aged 16 and over in Lower Austria. The stated maximum margin of error was 3.1 percentage points.

State finance councillor Anton Kasser of the Austrian People’s Party called on the federal government to reinstate the fee exemption for the purchase of a first home. He also said public policy should support affordable housing through measures such as subsidies and simpler renovation rules.

Respondents differed on where they wanted to live, with preferences ranging from district capitals and the commuter belt around Vienna to more rural areas, pollster Christoph Haselmayer said. Some people hoping to buy or build were planning smaller homes, doing work themselves or seeking help from family.