South Korea's Statistics Korea recently released data showing that in 2019, 85.8% of newlywed households had loans from financial institutions, a 0.7 percentage point increase year-on-year. The median loan balance stood at 112.08 million won (approximately 672,600 RMB), representing a 12.1% year-on-year increase.
In South Korea, homeownership isn't viewed as the ultimate goal, so few young people own property, with many opting to rent.
How crucial is housing for young people's marriages?
A survey conducted through in-home visits with 907 unmarried individuals in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Dalian, and Jinan revealed that most unmarried residents decide to buy a home before getting married.
55.6% believed marriage should only occur after homeownership, 23.3% favored renting initially with gradual home purchase post-marriage, while 21.2% opted to live with parents before buying a home after marriage.
Significant gender differences emerged on marriage and homeownership: 60.7% of women insisted on owning a home before marriage, compared to 52.0% of men.
Evidence suggests that securing a marital home remains a key prerequisite for marriage among many young people.
Survey responses also varied between local and non-local residents.
Among locals, 56.5% insisted on buying a home before marriage, slightly higher than non-locals (51.6%). For locals, owning a home in the city symbolizes independence. In contrast, many non-locals view the relationship between homeownership and marriage more pragmatically. With limited funds, they often choose to rent first and consider buying after marriage.
As the old saying goes, "A stable home leads to a fulfilling career." Without a stable home, one cannot thrive in their career; without career fulfillment, one cannot build a family. Too many marriage-age men and women, after enduring lengthy romantic marathons, stall at the reality of homeownership—ultimately parting ways in regret.
Man says: Marry first, buy a home later.Women say: Buy a house first, then get married!
When making life's most crucial decisions, what exactly causes men and women to hesitate, agonize, and repeatedly stop short of the marriage registry office?
Buy a house first?
For women who hold the belief that marriage should follow homeownership, their reasoning is straightforward, falling into one of two categories.
Personal Needs:Marriage is no trivial matter—it's a lifelong commitment. A home is the symbol of a family; without a home, how can there be a family? Moreover, marrying in a rented space that isn't truly yours means you won't decorate it with care. No matter how you arrange it, it won't feel like your own home. Without that sense of belonging, there's no security in daily life.Moreover, a home built on property allows a couple to nurture the "fruit" of their love smoothly.
Women who insist their partners buy a home before marriage aren't being unreasonable. The concept of "having a place to call home" dates back to ancient times. Even the most passionate love eventually settles into the mundane realities of daily life. Marriage is about two people leaning on each other, seeking a stable, warm refuge.Yet rented homes lack both stability and warmth. If a man's promise of "marriage first, home later" becomes an empty check, married life may involve living with in-laws—filled with friction and awkwardness—or constant, unsettling moves.
Even if a love-first girl agrees to marry before buying, her parents might still object.When love collides with parental resistance, the likelihood of marriage plummets. Thus, women who balance true love with practicality demand homeownership before marriage—even if it's an old, modest place. This brings peace of mind to both parents and themselves.
Marry first?
Some open-minded women with enlightened parents might enthusiastically marry a man with "nothing but four walls."
They believe marriage should prioritize the person over the property. Finding someone you truly love is harder than buying a house, and with today's high housing prices, it's not too late to buy once both partners have earned enough together. Indeed, renting for marriage has its merits: First, renting avoids the burden of a large down payment, offering significant relief for young couples.Second, renting allows choosing a location closer to work, saving on transportation costs and avoiding excessive commute time. Third, renting eliminates the need for costly renovations. Fourth, dissatisfaction can be addressed by moving freely at any time.
However, such marriages often end in two extremes: either instability leads to friction and a tragic conclusion;or the man proves to be a rising star, steadily advancing or soaring after marriage, turning their modest life into a thriving, fulfilling one, eventually gaining the means to purchase a warm, spacious home.
Yet marriage remains life's most crucial decision and gamble—not every woman bets on the right horse.
Ultimately, whether to buy a home first or marry first hinges on each individual's circumstances.Marriage is the extension of love, its ultimate destination. Qiong Yao once said marriage is two lovers' urgent desire to proclaim their happiness to the world. Yet modern marriages are increasingly entangled with material realities. As we agonize over buying a home versus marriage, perhaps we should reflect deeper: Why do we marry?