For many young Italians, buying a first home at 30 was seen as a realistic goal in 1996. In 2026, the picture looks different. Stagnant wages, property costs and more difficult access to mortgages have changed the rules.
According to data from Istat and the Bank of Italy, the average age for buying a home in Italy has gradually increased in recent decades. Job insecurity and the resulting delay in leaving the parental home are among the reasons. But is buying a home still out of reach for young people today?
- Average age for buying a home in Italy: the data
- House prices in Italy over the past 30 years: what the statistics show
- First-home mortgages then and now
- Young people’s first homes in 2026: property preferences are changing too
- Is buying a home at 30 still worthwhile?
- A first home at 30: a different dream, not an impossible one
Average age for buying a home in Italy: the data
The average age at which people buy a home in Italy has risen over time. Compared with the 1990s, analyses of the property market cited by the Bank of Italy and Nomisma indicate that access to homeownership has progressively shifted towards older age groups.
The main reasons include:
- entering stable employment later;
- a rise in fixed-term contracts;
- greater geographical mobility;
- higher average housing costs in some urban areas.
House prices in Italy over the past 30 years: what the statistics show
Changes in house prices in Italy over the past 30 years are an important factor.
According to Istat’s House Price Index, property values rose sharply between the late 1990s and 2008, followed by a period of decline and stabilisation after the financial crisis. In recent years, prices have begun rising again in some larger cities, including Milan and Bologna.
The overall pattern can be summarised as follows:
- 1995–2008: significant price growth;
- 2009–2015: a period of contraction;
- 2016–2023: stabilisation, with localised price increases.
First-home mortgages then and now
A mortgage for a first home remains the main route into homeownership for younger buyers.
Interest rates in the 1990s were generally higher than the very low rates recorded between 2015 and 2021, though the relationship between property prices and average incomes was different.
Today, anyone aiming to buy a home at 30 needs to consider:
- the required deposit, often 20%;
- fixed or variable interest rates;
- the average mortgage term, usually 20–30 years;
- any available state support.
In recent years, measures have been introduced to help younger people buy their first home, including the Consap Guarantee Fund for under-36s. This provides a public guarantee for part of the mortgage.
Young people’s first homes in 2026: property preferences are changing too
There is another interesting factor: changing preferences.
In 1996, many couples looked for a home close to a stable workplace. Today, the spread of remote working has shifted priorities. There is growing interest in:
- homes outside historic city centres;
- larger living spaces;
- homes with a terrace or usable balcony;
- well-connected but less expensive areas.
Is buying a home at 30 still worthwhile?
To understand whether buying a property at 30 makes sense, several factors need to be considered: job stability, the city where a person lives, available savings and personal plans.
In 1996, owning a home was seen as an almost inevitable investment. Today, many young people consider alternatives such as:
- long-term renting;
- co-housing;
- alternative financial investments.
Even so, buying a first home remains an important aim for many young people, particularly those looking for stability and protection against rising rents. In some Italian cities, monthly mortgage payments can be comparable with rent, meaning that buying can still be worth considering.
A first home at 30: a different dream, not an impossible one
Comparing 1996 and 2026 means looking at two different realities.
Buying a home at 30 is now more complicated in some urban areas, but it is not impossible. Financial products are more structured, guarantee funds exist, and public data from Istat, the OMI, and the Bank of Italy has made information more transparent.
The difference is not only economic, but cultural. Buying a home is no longer an automatic step into adult life, but a strategic choice.
