• astreus@lemmy.ml
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    7 months ago

    It’s not just America though.

    Where I’m from:

    UK average income before tax) £34,963 - £27,911 after tax (assuming NO student loan and NO pension) (for context: a band 3 nurse with 3 years experience makes £24,336 before tax or £20,631.51 after with no pension)

    England average house price: £375,131

    Approx ratio after tax: 13:1

    Minimum deposit: 5% - £18,756.55

    Tax: 0% on first time buyers

    Fees: about £1,000 - £5,000

    Total cost to get going: Approx £21,750 - nearly a years wage.

    Now let’s look where I live: Spain!

    Turns out Spain really is a load of countries wearing a hat so getting unified stats is not easy. Let’s try Barcelona:

    Average income before tax: €33,837 - €25,470 after tax

    Average house price: €376,399

    Approx ratio after tax: 15:1

    Minimum deposit: 10% - €37,639.90

    Purchase tax: 10% - €37,639.90 (plus 1.5% for new builds)

    Fees: 2 - 5% - 7,527.98 - 18,819.95

    Total cost to get going: €82,807.78 - €94,099.75

    Turns out treating housing as a market to speculate on might just be the problem all along.