Estimating the Home-Purchase Cost of Seoul Citizens

Seoul citizens are currently suffering from high housing price. Home prices have risen more rapidly than salaries so owning a housing unit (apartment, condominium, or single-family home) in Seoul is becoming more difficult than ever. Therefore, this research examines the behavior of average Seoul citizen in owning housing unit in Seoul, Korea, particularly in terms of the length of time required to afford a house unit. This research estimates that it will take about 18.75 years in maximum after getting a job (12.75 years after purchasing the housing unit) to own housing unit in Seoul that is currently valued at $300,000 where the growth rate of income is 2.97% and consumption price increases at a rate of 2.95% per annum. Finally in this research, the optimal growth rate of housing price is estimated ranged from 3.5 to 4.0% minimizing the loan payoff period.