Rental or cooperative aperment : A cost and risk analysis of the housing market in Malmö

Abstract: This thesis is analysing the housing market situation in Malmö. The reason for the research is the always equally relevant choice between two types of housing- cooperative apartments and rentals. Cost and risk is compared between the two in order to see what accommodation is preferable from cost and risk aspects. A theoretical framework dealing with cost and risk associated to housing is the starting point of the thesis. Theory on different cost associated to the two types of housing is presented as well as risk aspects, such as market risk, credit risk and fluctuations in interest rates. The data used in the research is individual data from 993 households living in Malmö, providing the possibility to map out the cost and risk for the two types of housing and compare it to the housing market situation in Sweden.   At first glance it seems slightly more expensive to live in a rental compared to a cooperative apartment. However, when return on capital, risk premium and value change is included this first statement changes. The risk is slightly higher when living in a cooperative apartment than in a rental, due to higher risk associated to fluctuations in interest rate. However, the current initial economic situation is better for households in cooperative apartments than for households in rentals, implying that these households on average are more capable to handle the higher risk associated to changes in housing cost.