Newspaper Helsingin Sanomat has created a calculator to help readers determine if it is more cost effective for them to rent or buy a home in the current market.
HS noted the shifting attitudes towards home ownership in Finland, with renting becoming a viable alternative for many.
"In the 1990s, young couples were automatically asked when they planned to buy a home, now they are asked if they are going to buy one. It is no longer taken for granted," said Anne Viita, director of Finnish Tenants, an advocacy group for renters.
Viita told HS that uncertainties around job security as well as a more mobile lifestyle have made renting attractive, offering an exit option without the obligations of ownership, such as repair or renovation costs.
Rising costs in home ownership, including mortgage rates, energy and maintenance fees, have also dampened enthusiasm for buying.
Juho Kostiainen, an economist at Nordea, said that while mortgage costs can surpass rent, ownership remains appealing because loan repayments contribute to personal equity.
Economist Veera Holappa of the Pellervo Economic Research (PTT) meanwhile noted to HS that in cities like Helsinki and Tampere, owning was twice as expensive as renting in 2023. However, a recent decrease in interest rates has somewhat balanced the equation.
Holappa added that high rental supply is keeping rent increases modest in the Helsinki area.
For first-time buyers, falling property prices present an opportunity, though current owners may find it challenging to sell at past values.
Immigration has also contributed to the rental market's growth, with newcomers typically renting during their first years in Finland, according to Kostiainen.
Far-right's building burns
Tabloid Ilta-Sanomat reports that a fire broke out early on Monday morning at a building known as a hub for Finland's far-right groups in the Hiiltomo industrial area of Hyvinkää.
The blaze, which affected a single-story structure of approximately 400 square metres known as Otsola, required a response from 14 firefighting units.
Although the building was not completely destroyed, it sustained extensive damage. Authorities did not immediately comment on the suspected cause of the fire.
Otsola is unique in Finland as a space openly identified with far-right groups, the most prominent being the openly fascist Blue-Black Movement.
Members have referred to the building as a cultural centre, hosting various gatherings and events, including concerts.
Finnish forestry exports and Trump
Rural-focused newspaper Maaseudun Tulevaisuus writes that Donald Trump's re-election raises questions for Finland's forestry industry, particularly regarding his proposals to boost American manufacturing and impose broad import tariffs.
Trump's campaign included a general 10 percent tariff on imports, with a specific 60 percent levy targeting Chinese goods.
Finland's major forestry players — UPM, Stora Enso, and Metsä Group's Metsä Board — remain cautious, with all three declining to speculate on potential impacts.
Timo Tolonen of the lobby group Finnish Forest Industries emphasised that any significant change will happen over time, with Trump's term starting in January and policy shifts possibly taking even longer.
"It's too early to judge at this stage. As an industry, we support free trade and measures that do not lead to protectionism, ensuring a level playing field for industry," Tolonen told MT.
Currently, Finland exports forestry products worth one billion euros annually to the US, accounting for over eight percent of the country's total forestry exports.
For Metsä Board, which exports primarily from Finland and Sweden without local US production, new tariffs could pose challenges.
UPM, on the other hand, operates production sites in the US, potentially giving it an advantage if Trump's policies favour domestic manufacturers.
Increased tariffs may reduce demand for Finnish imports, forcing companies to seek new markets and offer discounts, especially in competitive sectors like cardboard.
Meanwhile, the US dollar's value has bolstered in the wake of Trump's victory. This could help offset some impacts by making Finnish exports cheaper for American buyers, though how long this exchange rate will hold remains uncertain.
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