Guțu Eva, XII A
Marriage and relationships have always had their struggles and conspicuous obstacles. However, how much of an obstacle does the housing crisis pose? According to Barbara Speed’s articles in “The Guardian”, this is very much the case.
The housing crisis does not only exist in the UK or the Netherlands because of students looking for residences throughout their studies. This is an aspect that more or less impacts the entire planet – Switzerland, Denmark, and even Australia are only a few such examples. Even Turkey has been facing fast-paced increases in house prices. Could this be a sublime dream for real estate agents? Perhaps, but this is a nightmare for the rest of us.
Housing crises are of global concern, transcending boundaries and affecting people from all walks of life and their decisions, including crucial life choices like when/whether to get married and have children. Escalating home prices is an indubitably detrimental factor that leads couples to either break up or move together prematurely. Consequently, being single is just as much of a tragedy as in the period of Jane Austen’s books. Affordability became record-low; thus, living “the single life” was no longer a desirable option for many individuals. Of course, considering the housing aspect a crucial part of one’s romantic appeal is not preferable. Yet, it has been statistically proven that the vast majority of young people would much rather choose “a safe bet” when it comes to finances, even though how much of a “safety net” housing and security signify in romantic partners remains up to debate.
Nevertheless, the article in “The Guardian” also indicated the significant distress and impracticality people face once these “finances first” relationships are over, with people still having to live together due to their financial inability to move out. This is the case for many unfortunate individuals struggling financially and, in some cases, psychologically, who nowadays make up a considerable portion of us, the youth.
However, the predictions are not merry, and easing house prices are nowhere in sight. In our contemporary world, housing is increasingly deemed as an asset rather than a basic human necessity, and institutional investors are just as much of an issue. Due to their deep pockets and unyielding investment-turned-profit perceptions, colossal land areas in prolific regions are purchased instantly, leaving little to no space for residential construction, hence the negative impact on housing inventory. As a result, this may be beneficial for investors and the real estate market in the short term but deplorable for homeowners and society as a whole in the long run.
In summary, considering all the aforementioned aspects, one could ask oneself: are we transforming into Jane Austen’s characters? How will the housing crisis affect future generations? But one thing is clear: individuals nowadays consider the financial situation of their partners perhaps just as much as during Jane Austen’s 19th century. With its truly global impact, the housing crisis has blurred the lines between love and finance, making the pursuit of both more complex and intertwined than ever before.