The problem is rural flight. We have insane housing pressure in the largest cities (Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt), but a loooot of vacant housing in the rural areas - over 10% of units [1], in extreme cases in Eastern Germany 15-18% [2]. Turns out young people flee in droves as soon as they can, when they don't even get ADSL at their home, where they don't have any chance at employment, or where neo-Nazis have been taking over.
Same everywhere. 100 years ago my great grandparents all lived on farms, now we're all in big cities. I always assumed I'd go somewhere quiet after retirement but that isn't looking possible anymore.
