Housing has become one of the toughest challenges in global mobility, impacting recruitment, retention, and workforce planning worldwide. From affordability issues in the Gulf to limited supply in Europe and bureaucratic bottlenecks in Germany, mobility professionals everywhere are struggling to secure suitable accommodations for relocating employees.

And the global picture isn’t encouraging. According to the Ipsos Housing Monitor 2025:

  • 56% of renters worldwide don’t believe they’ll ever afford a home—rising to 70% in Germany.
  • 71% agree that even well-employed young professionals will struggle to secure housing.
  • 67% expect prices to rise in the next 12 months.
  • 52% believe their country is on the wrong track in addressing the housing crisis.
  • The top pain points across 30 countries? High property prices (49%), rental costs (43%), interest rates (29%), and taxes (28%).

Beyond the Headlines

Recognizing the growing urgency, Weichert’s Advisory Services Team launched the Global Housing Survey to get beyond the numbers and hear directly from those living this reality every day.

We gathered insights from 134 respondents across 93 countries: mobility professionals, corporate assignees, and global citizens navigating complex housing markets. Our goal? To understand how affordability, lease preferences, cultural expectations, and market norms are shaping the relocation experience.

The findings are clear: limited availability, rising costs, and regional disparities are making it harder for employees to relocate—and thrive—abroad.

A Global Concern with Local Nuances

Across every region, one theme stands out: housing affordability is deteriorating, and homeownership is slipping further out of reach—especially for younger generations. Respondents across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific pointed to:

  • Rising house prices and rent
  • Limited new construction
  • Poor urban housing conditions
  • Weak tenant protections

The survey also sheds light on the tension between temporary housing needs (for short-term assignments) and longer-term settlement goals. For mobility teams, this means balancing comfort, safety, and affordability—while keeping employees’ broader relocation journey in mind.

Regional Housing Highlights

Europe
Across Europe, housing sentiment is increasingly bleak. In Germany, pessimism is at an all-time high, with 70% of renters believing they’ll never be able to afford a home. Meanwhile, in countries like the Netherlands and Hungary, frustration with rising costs and limited supply has fueled strong public demand for greater government intervention. The message is clear: housing affordability has become a defining social and economic issue across the continent.

North America
In North America, the conversation shifts from ownership to livability. While affordability remains a concern, respondents place higher value on location, infrastructure, and quality of life. Proximity to public transit, low crime rates, and access to amenities often outweigh price alone—a reminder that in an age of hybrid work and urban sprawl, “value” means more than just cost per square foot.

Asia-Pacific
Across Asia-Pacific, the next generation is feeling the pressure most acutely. Seven in ten respondents under the age of 35 say it’s harder to buy or rent today than it was for their parents. This growing sense of housing insecurity is shaping not just personal decisions but career mobility, influencing where and how young professionals are willing—or able—to relocate.

Turning Insight into Action

We conducted this research to give mobility leaders more than data—to provide clarity and direction. Here’s how you can put the findings to work:

  • Refine housing policies: Use global insights to shape support programs that address real-world affordability and lease complexities.
  • Anticipate exceptions: Know where markets are most strained to adjust allowances, lease terms, and expectations.
  • Support better decisions: Apply benchmarks to guide cost forecasting and relocation timelines.
  • Advocate for change: Share this data internally to drive stronger, more responsive housing strategies—and to ensure housing challenges are factored into workforce planning.

The Bottom Line

The housing crisis isn’t confined to one region—it’s a global mobility challenge with real implications for talent strategy. By understanding regional dynamics and acting proactively, mobility leaders can build programs that are not only efficient but empathetic.

Weichert’s Global Housing Survey offers the data and context you need to stay ahead, helping your organization better support mobile employees in an increasingly complex housing landscape.

Keen to learn more about our study and how mobility is adapting to today’s most pressing housing challenges? Reach out to our Weichert Advisory Services team, and tune into my session at the upcoming WERC Global ’25 in Salt Lake City:

“Settle Down it Will All be Clear”: Finding a New Home in a Challenging Global Housing Market

Thursday, 30 October, 11:30am – 12:30pm MDT

I’ll be joined by experts Rohit Kumar (IKAN Relocation, India), Jose Lucena (Halliburton), and Brian Bowman (Corteva) to spotlight country-specific housing challenges and practical solutions to help relocating employees feel at home wherever work takes them.

Learn more here: https://www.talenteverywhere.org/Events/WERC-Global