How long will the property model keep sustaining itself?

[u/AdventurousCrazy30]

Owning a property in Malta in 2026 feels increasingly impossible. It’s not just the purchase price, but also taxes, notarial fees, finishing costs, and all the expenses that come with it.

People are frustrated, stressed, and worried about their future. How can younger generations afford a home, let alone start a family? And then we wonder why Malta’s birth rate is declining.

When will the government take this seriously?

Genuine question: What can I, as one individual, realistically do to help change this situation? Because right now, it feels impossible to make a difference alone.

[u/FluffMyPuff-yDog]

The honest, long term answer is to vote for politicians who advocate for real solutions, even if these solutions may cause is discomfort in the short term. Increasing taxes on people who own multiple properties may negatively affect those who rent in the short term, but it would also encourage home owners to sell which would help reduce the overall cost of housing in the long term

[u/Wahx-il-Baqar → u/FluffMyPuff-yDog]

You are right, but in other words: it will never happen

[u/electric-sheep → u/FluffMyPuff-yDog]

literally the only solution, no two ways around it. That and daily protests, france style, but we all know we don't have it in us to do that.

[u/Long_Director_6087]

Start with taxing empty properties, or taxing the ones who have 10 or more properties to rent.
It doesn't make sense that there are people owning 20 apartments making 1k month on average for each, and on the other hand people that can't afford the first home

[u/Necessary_Pear9579]

You want to start helping? Ask your parents to sell their house at 1990's prices!!!

[u/ThrowRA_Southern]

Many solutions available.

Problem: No government has the balls to implement.

Solution: Protest as they did in Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon…

[u/San-Glassis]

We are at a point where the problem has gotten so out of hand that only an extreme and multi-pronged strategy will work, barring a cataclysmic economic event. However, an extreme strategy is one that will basically trigger a cataclysmic economic event. Here is what I believe government can do:

First, tax empty and unused properties, as this creates an expense for the holder that will create selling pressure.

Second, raise interest rates and tighten borrowing criteria. This reduces the affordability of buyers, and causes most existing loans to increase in their monthly payments. This tightens cash flow, it hurts everyone but also creates more selling pressure. Put yourself in the shoes of a contractor/developer. If there are fewer affording buyers for the property, the price needs to come down, and delaying means the developer/contractor is also paying more interest many times. Before you say government doesn't control banks, government is the majority shareholder of BOV which also happens to be the largest bank in Malta, and if they raise the bank base rate, just watch all other banks follow suit.

Third, tax buying a second non-residential property hard.

Fourth, and this is one of the most important, clamp down on money laundering hard. Construction is one of the main streams of how dirty money gets cleaned.

Fifth, stop making the purchase of property a golden passport requirement. Make them invest it in the local stock market.

Sixth, incentivise investment in the local stock market and educate people financially that there are other alternatives to riches than being a landlord.

Good luck finding a government that is willing to do all that.

[u/Zealousideal-Poet-56]

Each generation had it's issues, our parents where probably worried there won't be enough jobs for everyone back then and yet here we are.

People and families adapt and if you have the right motivation you will find the solution. At time you need to think outside the box too, so possibly in the future remote work will be more accessible and more people might make find better lives abroad for example