Bergen

The city administration of Bergen, Norway is actively addressing housing affordability challenges. While specific targets are not mentioned, the city recognizes the need for more affordable housing options, especially for younger buyers and essential workers.

Bergen is taking several concrete steps to create more affordable and sustainable housing:

1. Bergen Junction: This mixed-use redevelopment project aims to provide workforce housing for individuals starting careers in essential fields like public safety, healthcare, and education. It will include 168 apartments, with 158 designated as "workforce" units and 10 for veterans.

2. Emphasis on integrating municipal housing and units for low-income households in new developments.

3. Utilizing assisted purchasing schemes through the Norwegian State Housing Bank to support both households and developers in creating affordable housing options.

4. Focusing on balancing the housing market by addressing the absorption of new properties and clearing surplus inventory from previous years.

5. Advocating for policy changes to address construction costs and regulation of residential plots to encourage more affordable housing development.

6. Supporting the national initiative to reduce the minimum down payment for property purchases from 15% to 10%, making mortgages more accessible.

These efforts demonstrate Bergen's commitment to creating a more inclusive and affordable housing market, though challenges remain in meeting demand and controlling costs.

Bergen, Norway's second-largest city, is experiencing a robust housing market in 2025. The city's residential real estate market is expected to grow by 7-9% in value this year, continuing a trend of strong price increases. In 2024, Bergen saw a 13.1% rise in housing prices, outperforming many other Norwegian cities.

The average age of homebuyers in Bergen is 35 years old, reflecting a market accessible to younger buyers compared to Oslo. Rental yields for residential properties remain stable at 4-6%, indicating a balanced market for investors.

Construction costs in Bergen range from €3,500 to €5,250 per square meter, higher than the national average due to the city's geography and high demand. Second-hand villas in Bergen's outskirts sold for €700,000 to €1,225,000 in 2024.

As of 2022, Bergen had approximately 289,330 residents. The city has seen a 9% increase in residential developments in 2024 compared to 2023, with 597 new residential units completed and 686 building permits issued in 2023.

Unfortunately, specific data on the total number of housing units, the ratio of renters to homeowners, and the median prices per square meter for renting and buying are not available in the provided information. Similarly, details about public, social, and cooperative housing's role and market share in Bergen are not included in the search results.