This study explores Dutch homeowners' intentions to adopt shallow geothermal solutions for the energy transition in existing buildings, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework. Through a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative elicitation interviews with 20 homeowners and a quantitative survey of 800 representative Dutch households, the study identifies key psychological and socio-demographic factors influencing adoption intentions. The findings indicate that approximately 33% of surveyed homeowners express intention to adopt geothermal technology within the next five years. Structural Equation Modeling reveals that attitudes toward geothermal technology and subjective norms significantly influence adoption intentions, while perceived behavioral control has no significant impact on intention. Economic benefits and environmental protection emerge as the strongest attitudinal drivers, with uncertainty about investment payback periods acting as the primary barrier. Normative influences from environmental advocates, suppliers, and community members also strongly shape adoption intentions. Among socio-demographic factors, higher energy cost-to-income ratios, higher income levels, and homeowners’ association membership positively influence adoption intentions, while age shows a negative correlation. These insights provide evidence-based guidance for policymakers to develop targeted interventions addressing specific psychological barriers experienced by different homeowner segments, potentially accelerating the transition to renewable heating systems in the Netherlands' existing housing stock.

Young talents are vital drivers of urban social and economic development. However, unaffordable homeownership in China’s first-tier cities increasingly marginalizes this vital demographic. Understanding young talents’ home-buying intentions and their determinants is therefore imperative for policies aimed at attracting and retaining them. While several studies have examined housing purchase determinants, few have considered behavioural psychological factors. This paper employs the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to investigate specific beliefs and background factors influencing young talents’ home-buying intentions. Analysing 1065 questionnaires from young talents across four Chinese first-tier cities using structural equation modelling (SEM), we found that multiple beliefs and background factors significantly impact buying intentions. Behavioural beliefs prove pivotal: young talents perceive homeownership as investment opportunity, source of belonging, and means to secure children’s education. Normative beliefs are influential, with individuals valuing opinions from current homeowners, family members, and partners. Control beliefs—encompassing financial constraints regarding down payments and mortgages, family support access, and settlement decisions—also significantly influence home-buying intentions. Additionally, background factors including gender, occupation, and current tenure shape various beliefs and attitudes, subsequently affecting purchase intentions. This study advances tenure choice literature by employing TPB to examine specific beliefs and socio-demographic influences. In the context of China’s sluggish real estate market, these findings offer policymakers practical guidance for stimulating housing demand by targeting the specific psychological drivers of young talents, complementing conventional economic instruments.