The project investigated the influence of different lifestyles on the mobility behaviour of households. Around 1,000 households in Germany were surveyed on a representative basis. The conclusion was that growing social mobility and home ownership are compatible.

There was a close correlation between the home ownership of households and their stage of life. Family households in middle to old age, who were in a secure employment position, had career opportunities that could be expanded and had a clear idea of what features their home and living environment should have were particularly owner-occupied. In this respect, the lifestyle survey provided differentiated results both with regard to the willingness to own property and with regard to the preferred residential location.

Residential mobility behaviour varied in different phases of the life cycle. According to the study, young people and households were more mobile than older ones, tenant households more mobile than owner households and small households more mobile than larger households. This statement was particularly true in the early phase of forming one's first household, which was characterised by education and career choices as well as family formation processes. The mobility behaviour associated with this phase of life was characterised by more frequent changes of residence. It tended to change once marriage and family were established or a professional "settling down" had taken place.

Even though home ownership was closely linked to "settling", the latter did not automatically result in more immobile behaviour. On the contrary, almost half of all owner-occupied households, mainly those of younger and middle age, signalled a willingness to relocate if they had better employment opportunities. This willingness to move was significantly higher than that of tenant households with conservative lifestyles.

The conclusion was that growing social and residential mobility and home ownership are compatible.