Homeownership and Living Conditions of the Immigrant Population in Spain: Differences and Similarities among Immigrant Groups

Abstract International migration has become a highly relevant issue over the last decade. In this paper, we study the homeownership and living conditions of the immigrant population in Spain in a period of economic growth. In particular, we analyse the decisions for tenure, quality of housing and the overcrowding rate. Additionally, we test the hypothesis that the behaviour connected to these decisions is divergent among immigrants according to their country of origin. Using data from the National Immigrant Survey, we found that economic factors and immigration-specific variables are strong predictors of the tenure and quality of housing. Individual characteristics and family structure are the main determinants of overcrowding. The results showed differences in immigrant behaviour by country of origin.