Understanding the housing aspirations of young adults in Malta
Ask a young person in Malta where they would like to be in ten years’ time, and the answer is likely to be the same: living in a home of their own. Ask how they plan to get there, however, and the picture becomes more complicated.
On 6 November, I presented a study exploring precisely this question at the KPMG Property Market Conference. During Freshers Week 2026, the Housing Authority surveyed almost 700 Maltese students aged 15 to 25 at the University of Malta and MCAST to understand their housing aspirations and expectations. Nearly all still live with their parents. They are at the very beginning of their housing journey, which makes their expectations particularly interesting.
Ownership is the destination, not the first stop
Nearly nine in ten say they would ideally like to own their home. Very few see renting as a long-term option, while only a small proportion would prefer to rent first and buy later.
Which housing situation would you ideally prefer?
At this stage of their lives, however, buying a home is competing with other priorities. We therefore asked what mattered most to them over the next five to ten years.
Only around three in ten included buying a home among their top priorities. Career development, financial independence and travel all ranked higher. Of course, these priorities are not mutually exclusive. A good income and financial independence are also important prerequisites for purchasing a property.
Priorities over the next 5 to 10 years
This does not mean that young people are less interested in owning a home. Rather, it suggests that, at 19 or 20, building a career and gaining life experiences come first. Homeownership remains an aspiration, but one they see themselves pursuing further down the line.
Home means independence
When asked what came to mind when they thought about having a home of their own, the most common response was independence, followed by the prospect of building a life with a partner or starting a family. Only around one in ten associated homeownership primarily with investment. For this generation, a home is less about acquiring an asset and more about gaining freedom and having a place from which to build their own lives.
When you think of having your own home, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Most expect to leave their parents’ home in their mid-to-late twenties. Very few anticipate moving out before the age of 21, while almost none expect to remain with their parents permanently. The typical expectation is to complete their studies, start working and then move out in their mid-to-late twenties. This is somewhat more optimistic than the reality, given that the average age of first-time buyers in Malta is around 30.
At what age do you expect to live independently from your parents?
Most expect to purchase a property with a partner, although around four in ten anticipate buying on their own. In practice, the proportion of first-time buyers purchasing alone is even higher, at around half in recent years. This suggests that the trend towards single-person purchases is likely to persist, despite the growing difficulty of buying a property on one income.
Buying alone can offer a degree of financial independence and security, particularly in the event of a future relationship breakdown, when obtaining a mortgage may become more difficult. It may also mean that, if someone subsequently forms a couple with another property owner, the household has the option of renting out one property to help meet its housing costs. However, purchasing on a single income is very different from buying as a couple, and inevitably involves difficult choices and trade-offs.
Smaller homes, closer to home
Most of the students surveyed currently live in houses. Yet, when asked about their future home, nearly half expected to live in an apartment, while around four in ten anticipated living in a smaller property than the one they currently occupy. In other words, many are already adjusting their expectations and recognising that the family home they grew up in may not be the type of property they eventually purchase.
Current and expected future home
The market has already moved further in this direction. The large majority of first-time buyers purchase apartments, with the proportion ranging from around two-thirds to as many as eight in ten, depending on whether the buyer is single or part of a couple. In this respect, students’ expectations may still be catching up with current market realities.
When asked what mattered most when choosing where to live, proximity to work or study and being close to family ranked highest, followed by a quiet environment. The size of the property and its cost ranked lower. The relatively low ranking of cost is striking, although it may reflect the perception that property prices are largely beyond their control, leading them to focus instead on factors over which they have greater choice.
What would matter most to you when choosing where to live?
Prices and the family safety net
Property prices emerged as the biggest obstacle to homeownership, identified by around eight in ten respondents. This was well ahead of other concerns, such as finding a suitable property, having sufficient income or saving for a deposit. Clearly, few expect the journey towards homeownership to be an easy one.
Biggest obstacle to getting the home you want
Many also expect their families to help bridge the gap. Around two-thirds anticipate receiving some form of financial assistance from their parents, while for approximately one in five this support is considered essential. These expectations are consistent with our previous research, which found that 40% of recent first-time buyers had received some form of financial assistance from their parents.
How important do you expect financial help from your parents or family to be?
Parental support goes well beyond financial assistance. It can also take the form of emotional support and practical guidance, including advice when dealing with estate agents and other professionals, as well as help with maintenance and repairs around the home, often provided free of charge.
A better-informed generation?
One encouraging finding is that six in ten respondents now consider themselves moderately or well informed about the property market. This is double the proportion recorded last year. Very few say they know nothing about the market, and hardly anyone says they have not yet thought about buying a property.
Of course, this measures how informed young people feel, rather than how much they actually know. Their increased confidence may partly reflect the fact that housing is now a regular feature of public debate and media coverage. It may therefore indicate greater awareness rather than a deeper understanding of the homebuying process. Nevertheless, it is encouraging that young people are engaging with these issues at an early stage.
What does this mean for housing policy?
Four messages stand out.
First, housing support needs to take account of single buyers, rather than focusing primarily on couples. At today’s prices, however, purchasing a home on one income is becoming particularly challenging and will almost certainly involve significant trade-offs.
Second, young people who can rely on family support and those who cannot are starting from very different positions. Public support is therefore particularly important for those without access to this family safety net.
Third, young people are thinking about homeownership well before they are ready to buy. Providing clear and accessible information about the schemes and assistance available, perhaps as early as 18 to 22 rather than only when people reach 30, could make a meaningful difference.
Finally, we should encourage young people to start preparing financially for homeownership at an early stage. Saving towards a deposit takes time, and the earlier this process begins, the more manageable it can become. This also highlights the importance of financial literacy and education, helping young people understand mortgages, borrowing costs, budgeting and the longer-term financial commitments involved in buying a home. Preparing for homeownership should start well before the decision to purchase is made.
The survey has its limitations. It captures the aspirations and expectations of students during Freshers Week, rather than their eventual housing choices. Nevertheless, the findings offer a useful insight into how the next generation views homeownership.
The picture that emerges is fairly consistent. Young people in Malta are not necessarily aspiring to large or luxurious properties. What they want is something more fundamental: a place of their own, close to the people and places that matter to them. The real test for housing policy is whether that aspiration remains within reach.