More than two-thirds of middle-class Europeans find it difficult to afford a family home, according to a study published on September 3 in the Journal of Maps, as reported by the Spanish newspaper El País. The research was conducted by two scholars from the Technical University of Vienna, who analyzed data from about 22 million real estate listings across 31 European countries. Their goal was to create visual maps that highlight the challenges different regions face in terms of housing affordability and availability. This study is one of the first to offer a comprehensive, continent-wide comparison of housing prices and accessibility. The findings reveal that in most European countries, even with a 30-year mortgage, the average salary is no longer enough to purchase a 75-square-meter apartment. This size is considered the standard for a family home in many regions. The researchers used this benchmark to assess whether incomes can realistically support home ownership, and the results show a widespread gap between wages and housing costs across Europe. Hungary was singled out in the study as the "European champion of the housing bubble," indicating that property prices there are particularly inflated compared to incomes. The report also highlights specific housing challenges in other countries. In Portugal, thousands of people live in rooms—often shared spaces in larger homes—due to the high cost of housing. Meanwhile, young people in Paris, known as Gen Z, face significant difficulties in finding affordable housing in one of Europe's most expensive cities. In the Netherlands, the researchers noted an unusual practice where homes are sometimes divided or "cut up" to accommodate more residents. This reflects the intense demand for housing in a country with limited space and high population density. The study underscores the growing pressure on housing markets across Europe and the urgent need for policy solutions to address affordability and availability for different demographics.