When homes are small and costly, dreams of having a family shrink

Across Asia’s densest cities, the milestones of adulthood are quietly shifting. Couples share kitchens with parents. Some wait years on public housing lists. Others secure a flat before thinking about a ring. In some cases, keys come before vows. Increasingly, love moves in step with property. Square footage, mortgage approvals and ballot results shape decisions that once felt spontaneous. At first glance, falling fertility rates might look like a purely economic or demographic...

By Nicole Chan