Nordregio has been commissioned by Boverket to perform a Nordic comparative study on strengths and weaknesses in the housing development and construction process in four urban regions: Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Oslo. The working paper presents results from the study. It is based on a desktop study as well as interviews with urban planners, construction companies and other representatives for the housing construction sector. Focus is on the urban planning process, costs related to housing development and construction, as well as financial instruments. Based on our study as well as studies performed by Boverket, the following report was presented before the Swedish Government in 2011: Analys av bostadsbyggandet i Norden