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How many houses does a person buy in their life? - La Nacion Propiedades
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Cuántas casas compra una persona en su vida
Un informe revela que en la Argentina el promedio es comprar una o dos viviendas en toda la vida, mientras que en otros países puede llegar a 10 la compraventa de una persona
www.lanacion.com.ar
August 09, 2025
A report reveals that in Argentina the average person buys one or two homes in a lifetime, while in other countries the average person buys up to 10 homes.
By Paz García Pastormerlo
A report reveals the number of times a person moves house and becomes a property owner throughout their lifetime. Shutterstock
Unlike Argentina , where people change homes on average once or twice in their lifetime , in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, people buy between eight and 10 homes in their lifetime. This is according to a report by the Chamber of Real Estate Services Companies (Camesi), which analyzes residential mobility in our country and the rest of the world.
Asking how many homes a person buys in their lifetime may seem odd in Argentina, although it's a widely used indicator in countries with mature real estate markets and greater opportunities. "While in the United States a person changes property between eight and 10 times, in Argentina they do so only once or twice. The figure is telling. And we're not talking about renting, but about buying a home ," warns Camesi. The survey considers the purchase of homes to live in: those of investors don't count.
What is the housing turnover cycle or residential mobility rate in different countries?. Shutterstock
The concept that defines this dynamic is the "housing turnover cycle" or "residential mobility rate ," an index that reflects a market's activity and is closely linked to economic, credit, family, labor, and public policy factors. In our country, this cycle is low. According to the report, the reasons are multiple: limited access to mortgage loans , a strong culture of permanence and family inheritance, high labor informality, and a dollarized market with very high barriers to entry. The truth is that, in the last two decades, less than 10% of Argentines have accessed a mortgage loan , which drastically limits the possibilities of changing homes.
The United States leads the ranking when it comes to change cycles. There, people move between eight and 10 times in their lives. This phenomenon is due to a highly flexible market, a tax system that favors relocation, abundant mortgage credit, and a culture that views moving house as part of economic and family progress, not as a burden. According to a recent Redfin report, the average home tenure in the United States is around 12 years.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the turnover cycle is between six and seven times . The concept of the " housing ladder " is key: people start by buying small properties and move up the ladder as their income and needs grow.
In France, the change of residence cycle is around four to five times per person . There, access to low-rate, fixed-rate loans, job mobility, and a flexible buying and selling market drive turnover. It's common for people to move between different types of housing throughout their lives: an initial apartment, a suburban house, and then a more affordable property in later life. Spain shows a similar pattern, with three to four housing changes throughout a lifetime . Despite its strong homeownership culture, mobility is increasing, especially among the new urban generations.
“In contrast, in Argentina , moving house is a costly, complex, and often unattainable decision. Properties can take more than six months to sell if they're not properly appraised or marketed. Furthermore, the emotional and financial investment is often so large that it paralyzes any attempt at change. This directly impacts urban development: low mobility hinders neighborhood renewal, impedes housing turnover, and generates static cities ,” says Mariano García Malbrán, president of Camesi and director of Keymex Latam and Argentina.
The United States tops the list of countries where a person can buy up to 10 homes throughout their lifetime. Shutterstock
Analysts emphasize that another key problem is the lack of options for new buyers. Without a replacement, young people have few opportunities to access a first home. “ While in other countries, housing is part of a path to social and economic mobility, in Argentina it remains a final destination or, worse yet, an inaccessible goal . If the country manages to stabilize its economy and generate real financing tools, we could move toward a more active, professional, and dynamic market. We see a window of opportunity in Argentina. With the relaunch of mortgage loans such as the Historic Repair Plan and UVA, we could begin to close the gap,” adds García Malbrán.
Camesi also sees a direct relationship between access to housing and the need to transform the real estate market , a debate that has been taking place in the industry for several months, after sources close to Federico Sturzenegger, Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, confirmed to LA NACION that they were beginning to analyze the deregulation of the sector .
“Knowing that an Argentine changes property only once or twice in their lifetime, while an American does so up to 10 times, reveals a market trapped in inertia . We need to break down structural barriers that hinder access, mobility, and urban development. Deregulation of the real estate market is not only necessary: it will be decisive for the future of housing access in the country,” García Malbrán concludes.
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