The Wealth Surveys from 2004 to 2015 were used to analyse the determinants behind purchasing a primary residence, both for first-time buyers and others. In 2015, 8% of households responding were recent buyers, i.e. having purchased their primary residence in the five years preceding the survey. Recent buyers are relatively young, are couples with children, and have a standard of living above the median. Due to the 2008 crisis, despite measures to support the purchase of housing, the likelihood of purchasing a primary residence in couples with or without children decreased between 2004 and 2015. However, inheritances and, above all, donations made a positive contribution to the likelihood of purchasing of a primary residence.

Between 2010 and 2015, all other things being equal, the likelihood of purchasing a home experienced a slight upturn in the poorest households, in contrast to households in which at least one person was unemployed.

The decline in the number of people who had recently purchased a home between 2004 and 2010 was due in large part to changes in behaviour or a reduction in household purchasing capacity. Between 2010 and 2015, changes in the structure of the population, particularly ageing, were the main reasons behind this reduction.