Housing Policy Factors and Social Capital as Determinants of Homeownership among Middle-Income Earners in Libya: The Mediating Role of Housing Quality

Homeownership remains a major challenge for middle-income households in Libya because of affordability constraints, limited institutional support, and continuing economic and political instability. This study examines the effects of Housing Policy Factors, Social Capital, and Housing Quality on Homeownership among middle-income earners in Tripoli, Libya. It also assesses the mediating role of Housing Quality in the relationships between the independent variables and Homeownership. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Of the 300 questionnaires distributed, 240 were returned and 219 valid responses were retained for analysis using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that Housing Policy Factors have a significant positive direct effect on Homeownership and a significant indirect effect through Housing Quality. Social Capital does not significantly affect Homeownership directly, although it has a significant positive effect on Housing Quality. The direct relationship between Housing Quality and Homeownership is positive but not statistically significant, and the indirect effect of Social Capital on Homeownership through Housing Quality is also not significant. These findings indicate that institutional housing support is more directly associated with homeownership than community relationships alone. The study contributes evidence from Libya by integrating policy, social, and housing-quality dimensions within one analytical framework. It recommends coordinated policies that address affordability, institutional support, and the quality of housing available to middle-income households

Homeownership; Housing Policy Factors; Housing Quality

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