The State of Hungary’s Housing Market – Episode 3: What Keeps Housing Sustainable Long Term?
This final episode concludes the Hungarian-language series by Corvinus Business Intelligence examining the current state of Hungary’s housing market, hosted by Theodore Sebastian Boone. In Episode 3, the focus shifts to the long-term sustainability of Hungary’s housing market and asks what it would take to keep it stable, affordable, and resilient in economic, social, and environmental terms. The conversation features András Varga, Manager at KPMG Hungary’s Real Estate Advisory, and Ágnes Vaskövi, Associate Professor at Corvinus University of Budapest, who bring market and academic perspectives to the question of what can keep Hungary’s housing system viable over the long run. The episode explores what a truly sustainable housing market means in practice, from energy-efficient and green construction to the role of ESG regulation, construction-sector capacity, material use, domestic production, and technological development. It also examines the financial side of sustainability, including housing finance models, savings culture, REITs, reverse mortgages, and the broader conditions needed to support long-term housing security. As the closing chapter of the series, the discussion also addresses supply-side solutions such as nonprofit housing development, state involvement in residential construction, and condominium reform, asking whether Hungary can build a housing model that is both environmentally responsible and socially affordable, and how progress toward a more sustainable housing market could be measured in the years ahead. Recorded in February 2025.