- I think the apartments in Växjö are far too expensive. It is very new construction and many are luxury apartments that young people cannot afford to buy, says Isabell Schölin.

Why would you want to buy an apartment?

- A feeling of owning something yourself, being able to change without asking all the time, but also to lower the cost of housing, because rents today are soaring.

Few young people can afford to buy condominiums

SVT News has looked at how many apartments that young people aged 20 to 24 with an average income can afford. Our calculations show that in the central town of Växjö they could only choose 4 of the 508 apartments that were recently sold.

SVT has compared the average income for the age group with what the apartments cost to buy. We have also assumed the Consumer Agency's “move from home budget” which shows that a youth can spend 36 percent of their disposable income on their housing. 

Hard to save for cash 

Isabell Schölin spends significantly more than 36 percent of her income on her accommodation. She lives with her son in a 76 square meter apartment, which she pays just over SEK 8200 a month for.

- About half my salary goes to my accommodation. It is difficult to save the money together for a cash deposit with a regular job. You have to be able to live, too, she says.

Cheaper in smaller towns

Even in central Kalmar, it is difficult for young people to buy an apartment. According to our estimate, our youth would only be able to afford to buy 48 of the 559 apartments sold. 

In smaller towns, it is much easier for young people to buy an apartment. In central Oskarshamn, for example, our youth could afford 76 out of 121 apartments, in central Vimmerby 9 out of 17 and in central Tingsryd they could choose from 5 of the 16 apartments. 

In the clip you can hear Isabell talk about her situation.