“SeoulHouse2Vec”: An Embedding-Based Collaborative Filtering Housing Recommender System for Analyzing Housing Preference

Han Jong Jun,Sun Woo Chang,Jae Hee Kim,Deuk Young Rhee

doi:10.3390/su12176964

Abstract

Housing preference is the subjective and relative preference of users toward housing alternatives and studies in the field have been conducted to analyze the housing preferences of groups with sharing the same socio-demographic attributes. However, previous studies may not suggest the preference of individuals. In this regard, this study proposes “SeoulHouse2Vec,” an embedding-based collaborative filtering housing recommendation system for analyzing atypical and nonlinear housing preference of individuals. The model maps users and items in each dense vector space which are called embedding layers. This model may reflect trade-offs between the alternatives and recommend unexpected housing items and thus improve rational housing decision-making. The model expanded the search scope of housing alternatives to the entire city of Seoul utilizing public big data and GIS data. The preferences derived from the results can be used by suppliers, individual investors, and policymakers. Especially for architects, the architectural planning and design process will reflect users’ perspective and preferences, and provide quantitative data in the housing decision-making process for urban planning and administrative units.

Highlights

Seoul is the capital of South Korea, with a population of approximately 9.7 million people [1]
To build SeoulHouse2Vec, an embedding-based recommendation system, a demonstration was conducted by creating housing profiles, conducting preference surveys, constructing, validating and evaluating a model, and presenting two scenarios
This study suggested the feasibility of using a recommender system to support rational decision making in both housing consumption and supply

Summary

Introduction

Seoul is the capital of South Korea, with a population of approximately 9.7 million people [1]. Of the 605.24 square kilometers of land in Seoul, 53.8% is designated as residential areas. Based on household—Korea’s unit of housing—about 2,866,000 houses have been supplied, a housing supply rate of 96.3% [2]. Housing affects occupants’ health, wealth, and lifestyle as it provides the necessary built indoor environment in which they live for an extended period. Housing-related costs including the purchase and lease of housing account for a significant portion of household spending [3]. From a social viewpoint, housing helps form and maintain relationships with occupants’ families, friends, and communities, impacting their well-being [4,5,6,7]

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Conclusion