Under these conditions, many governments have looked to the increasing housing wealth of homeowners as a means to offset welfare and pension obligations. There is also evidence that households themselves are looking to housing property investment as a means to enhance economic self-reliance and manage an environment of growing insecurity. Access to housing markets, for households, and facilitating entry into owner-occupation, for governments, have become social, economic and political priorities. At the same time, housing markets have been squeezed by pressures of affordability and credit availability. Recent downturns in the global credit market have revealed vulnerabilities derived from the previous era of house-price over-inflation, market deregulation and financial internationalization. The next period of housing market globalization will arguably be dominated by increasing government concern with the situation of homeowners and the further promotion of home ownership under unfavourable market conditions.

The restructuring of housing systems with the rapid growth of housing wealth and mortgage liabilities, and the dynamic restructuring of global finance are forging new relationship among individuals, the state and housing markets. Access to, and the affordability of, home ownership are issues at the heart of housing policies and social strategies across societies. The focus of the conference is the identification and explanation of these features and shifts in local and international contexts. The conference aims to bring together developing theories and new empirical research on home ownership and housing systems in various contexts. The plenary sessions will include presentations by leading researchers who will address these critical issues in housing and society. The parallel workshop sessions will provide a forum for current research and ideas on various aspects of home ownership. All sessions aim to facilitate dialogue between researchers, policy makers and others concerned with housing issues.

Participation is free of charge. Travel and accommodation costs are at one's own expense. The conference takes place at The OTB Institute, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.

The final call for abstracts for those wishing to participate in the conference 'Building on Home Ownership: Housing Policies and Social Strategies' has now been extended to July 25th. Please see below or the website for details. If you want to submit a proposal for a paper presentation, please send an abstract to Eveline Vogels (e-mail: E.M.Vogels@TUDelft.nl).