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Housing is a fundamental human need and shelter, officially recognized as a human right in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, ensuring an adequate standard of living. While governments expanded supply through public subsidies and direct construction from the 1950s to the 1970s, the global shift after the 1980s centered on private mortgages and the securitization of debt in the early 2000s, increasingly framing homes as investment properties. The sector is broadly divided into market housing (priced by supply and demand) and non-market housing (subsidized public, social, or cooperative units for low-income individuals). Economic research shows that housing prices are highly sensitive to the macroeconomy—fluctuations in interest rates, money supply (M2), and the Consumer Price Index cause significant property price swings in markets like the US and Hong Kong. Ultimately, access to safe, stable, and affordable housing is vital for optimal health, education, and employment, making it a central focus of housing ministries and authorities worldwide.