Understanding Neighbourhood Housing Markets: Regional Context, Disequilibrium, Sub-markets and Supply

Abstract

Neighbourhood housing markets play a pivotal role in the evolution of the demographic, social and economic functioning of neighbourhoods, and hence are necessarily a key concern for national and local policy makers. This paper examines propositions about the determinants of neighbourhood housing market outcomes in England, particularly price changes over the last 10–20 years. These concern the influence of (sub-)regional economic and demographic forces, the nature and persistence of disequilibrium, the existence of sub-markets and the influence of supply. Data from a wide range of sources at ward and local levels underpins models of price level and change set within a multi-level structure. Results are discussed in relation to the role of neighbourhood in an understanding of the micro-structures of housing markets, as well as in relation to contemporary policies.