Housing Demand Research Articles

The Circular Economy, Big Data Analytics, and the Transformation of Urban Slums in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is currently experiencing growth in the number of people living in poverty, and the situation is worsening due to climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Cities are increasingly under stress because of urbanization and the demand for low-cost housing. Slum dwellers face daunting social, environmental, and economic challenges. Geospatial analysis of remote sensing, demographic, economic, social, and environmental data is being used to delineate slums. The application of circular economy guidelines for an intelligent transformation of slums combines technical and social innovation that reaches beyond the slums to the whole urban ecosystem. Examples of contributions to the circular economy are provided. Finally, some ideas are introduced on how the internet of things can improve access to goods and services and strengthen interconnectedness through the ability to participate more readily in the social dialogue of the city. The city of Accra in Ghana, West Africa, is discussed as a potential slum city to functional intelligent city transformation.

Health-based crisis: how do firms weather the storms using the structural hole-bridging strategy?

Purpose Drawing on the structural hole-bridging perspective of network theory, this paper aims to examine the adaptation strategies undertaken by housing industry actors following the recent pandemic. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study was adopted as the research methodology for this research. Data collected through online interviews involving 20 participants was used as primary data, while document analysis (both online and printed documents) was used as secondary data. The interviews were guided by the visual vignette method. Findings This study’s findings indicate that a health-based crisis like COVID-19 triggers housing developers to act outside their comfort zones. They undertake arbitrage and collaborative brokerage strategies to cope with business uncertainties. This study revealed the contextual embedding of the owner-occupier market (consumer market) and the investor market (business market). This study also revealed that firms that aggressively located structural holes and built new relationships in B2C and B2B markets before the COVID-19 pandemic were well-equipped to face turbulent times. Practical implications The innovative strategies that housing developers adopt are transferable and applicable to other industries and countries. Therefore, awareness of these strategies is essential for industry practitioners, especially those badly hit by health-based crises. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study that combines relationship management, structural holes, the housing market and their implications for crisis adaptation. This study examined the grossly understudied phenomenon of demand for housing, which is a durable good, during a turbulent time. The findings of this study provide beneficial guidance for firms, buyers and policymakers facing COVID-19 and/or other similar crises.

Study of settlements carrying capacity in Jebres Subdistrict, Surakarta with das sein – das sollen approach

The calculation of the carrying capacity of urban settlements is intended to determine the availability and status of environmental aspects that are utilized by the community. This study aims to examine the availability of environmental support aspects in Jebres District, Surakarta City through the das sein and das sollen approaches. The results of this study indicate that the availability of settlements and supporting aspects in the Jebres District are still able to support the demand for housing in 2018 and projections until 2055. Analysis through the expectation approach (das sein) for 100% decent settlements and the quality of the supporting aspects capable has not been fully realized concretely (das sollen). The availability of green open space (RTH) in Jebres District also does not meet the standards set by the government (30%) where the total area of ​​green open space in Jebres District is 23% of the total. The results of this study are related to the 3rd, 4th and 11th environmental principles. Keywords: carrying capacity, das sein-das sollen, environmental principles, green open space, settlements.

Analysis of Factors Affecting the Dynamics of Residential Real Estate Prices in Russia

In this paper, we have constructed a VAR model to identify and assess the impact of real interest rate shocks, real estate demand, oil prices, uncertainty, and aggregate business activity on residential real estate prices in Russia. The relevance of the research is due to the following: the dynamics of real estate prices determines the consumer and investment behavior of households, and serious fluctuations in real estate prices lead to adverse consequences in many areas of life, so more and more researchers are asking questions about the presence of bubbles in the real estate market, which can be dangerous to the stability of the economy. In addition, a sharp increase in the cost of housing in Russia in 2020 is an open question for researchers. Our goal is to determine what factors caused the rise in real estate prices in Russia in the time interval from the Q1 of 2000 to the Q2 of 2022. A VAR model with a Cholesky decomposition was used for the evaluation. Several specifications were considered with the inclusion of the real oil price as an exogenous variable and a set of endogenous variables: real GDP, real interest rate, uncertainty index and housing price index. The main conclusion of the paper is that the housing market is sensitive to identified macroeconomic shocks, and a decrease in the interest rate leads to an increase in demand and real estate prices. The estimate of the long-term elasticity of housing prices for oil prices was 0.35, the dynamics of oil prices explained a significant proportion of the variation in real estate prices, but the predominant role in housing price fluctuations is given to housing demand shocks. The housing demand shocks in Russia itself had a negligible impact on GDP.

Evaluating social inclusion for the Bangladesh settlers in Nakasi: Post-urban regeneration

This paper examines the concept of the government's 'social housing' policies for the urban poor and assesses their effectiveness. This research aimed to study an upgraded squatter settlement using subdivision and urban renewal concepts and gauge the social effects of the project as experienced by the residents. The paper also suggests how these state-sponsored programs can be improved and enhanced. Thus, it also reviews similar programs in other cities and countries as lessons to be learned. Due to the continuous population growth in the Suva-Nausori corridor, the demand for housing, exceptionally affordable housing, is exponentially growing, and this has led to real estate speculations and bubbles, substandard housing, overcrowding, squatting on public and private lands and homelessness, and this has led to other social problems. A field research study was carried out in 3 lower-income settlements within the affluent district of Nakasi. The findings revealed the need for more government interventions and a more strategic approach to rectify the severe shortfall of housing stock. The paper also notes the importance of the need for a paradigm shift in the state's housing policy to provide low-cost built housing, as opposed to just land length of service, which could not address some crucial issues experienced by the settlers.

The Impact of Covid-19 on China's Real Estate Market

The real estate industry is one of the most vital industries in any economy. The industry entails improvements to structures, roads, utility systems, and buildings and is responsible for creating many jobs. Many challenges have faced the real estate industry, including outbreaks of COVID-19 and Pneumoconiosis. The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge effect on the real estate industry, with sales of property declining significantly. There are three scenarios that can be used to explain the trajectory of the real estate industry after the pandemic. The first scenario, which is the negative scenario, shows that commercial property sales will decline by 13% year on year. The second optimistic scenario points out that sales will increase during the second half of the year and cause a 7% decrease year-on-year. Lastly, under the neutral scenario, sales will be the same as those of the previous years, and the decrease may exceed 10%. In conclusion, the real estate industry faces significant challenges due to the pandemic. There are likely to be differences in recovery as first-tier cities such as Shanghai and Beijing are expected to rebound due to a fall in mortgage rates and strong talent recruiting. Second-tier cities will experience the quickest recovery due to strong urban foundations, high population, housing demand, and economic resilience.

The Development Path for Real Estate of China During the Normalization of the COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic swept the world in early 2020, which strongly inhibited and severely affected the real estate industry of China. In terms of information retrieving, integrating relevant data and implementation of SWOT and PEST analysis, this paper explores the development path of it in the post-epidemic era. According to the analysis, under the normalization of the pandemic, the market has several strengths and weaknesses. To be specific, strengths (e.g., the removal of the house purchase quota policies and burgeoning demand for housing) and weaknesses (e.g., blocked corporate capital chains and restricted offline sales) are clearly demonstrated. Meanwhile, opportunities and threats are also existed for this market. For instance, opportunities include LPR interest rate cuts and deposit reserve ratio reductions, and threats include uncertain outbreaks of pandemic and changing consuming attitudes of the millennial generation. In order to stabilize the real estate market, the government should keep implementing a series of macro-control and monetary policies. Additionally, real estate companies should change the design of house patterns, focus on the development of green and intelligent housing products, and cater to consumers’ demand for new housing types. Under the premise of regular pandemic prevention and control, companies should also actively create an "online + offline" sales model to reduce the constraints of the pandemic. These results shed light on guiding further exploration of future development direction for the market.

An Analysis of The Economic Effects of The Phenomenon of Encroachment on Agricultural Lands in Egypt دراسة تحليلية للآثار الاقتصادية لظاهرة التعديات على الاراضي الزراعية بجمهورية مصر العربية

The phenomenon of urban sprawl on agricultural lands is a phenomenon suffered by all the poor and rich countries of the world. This phenomenon has represented a challenge to most countries of the world, especially the developing ones, whose population has increased at high rates, and the consequent pressures on resources, especially surrounding agricultural lands, whether in cities or villages. There is no doubt that the phenomenon of land encroachment is one of the most serious problems facing Egypt at the present time. It has increased significantly in the recent period, especially after the revolution of January 25, 2011, as the cases of encroachment on agricultural lands during the period (2011-2020) reached about 2037,456 thousand cases of encroachment with an area It amounted to about 92,990 thousand acres, and affected agricultural production and the national economy, as the steady population increase and the increase in demand for housing on the one hand and the lack of land to build on away from the agricultural area on the other hand led to the emergence of many outposts and settlement areas in many governorates of the Republic. In light of the random and unplanned urban expansion, to convert the usable agricultural land from its primary use to other urban uses by building buildings. Residential, factories, commercial and recreational activities.

Determining Water Footprint of Buildings During Construction Phase: An Activity-based Approach

Construction activity uses water to a significant extent for many operations, materials, and on-site activities, and the availability of potable water for building construction is a matter of concern. This research work aims to determine water consumption during construction activities on-site during the construction phase of the building in the Indian context. Conventional low-rise load-bearing and Reinforcement Cement Concrete (RCC) framed buildings are considered for the calculations of materials and activities. The application of building materials and water requirements for various construction activities and methods is determined to achieve the goal. Theoretical water use for various activities on site is considered, as per water requirements for application, mixing, and curing. Based on this research, recommendations are made for potential strategies for water saving in construction activity. Water consumption in building construction is expected to increase globally, particularly in developing countries like India, because of the demand for urban development and housing for all. Hence, water efficiency in building construction is a matter of concern. This research will contribute to the addition of new knowledge to the existing database about this topic to set a benchmark. Research paves the way for energy-efficient construction techniques and the use of building materials in a sustainable manner to reduce water use in building construction.

Design and documentation as attributes to waste generation at construction sites

Rapid demand of housing and infrastructure development in Malaysia had result in more construction and consequently increase the construction waste. Construction waste takes major impact to the environmental if there is no proper management of construction waste from earliest point of waste generated until waste disposal. Thus, it is important to identify attributes influencing construction waste generated at construction sites. This study aims to determine design and documentation as attributes of construction waste generation. This study was conducted at Putrajaya, Malaysia. Putrajaya was selected because this city is pioneer in urban development in measuring and promoting green development activities in Malaysia. Quantitative study using questionnaire survey was conducted at construction sites in Putrajaya. A total of 21 respondents from the construction sites have returned the survey. Using relative importance index (RII) as the analysis tools, this study determined that the design and documentation are waste generation attributes at construction sites. Findings of this study could assist more comprehensive study in determining the attributes of waste generation at construction sites.

Assessing high quality agricultural lands through the ecosystem services lens: Insights from a rapidly urbanizing agricultural region in the western United States

Globally, as the human population increases, so does the demand for developable land. More than ever, agricultural land is being developed to meet housing and commercial needs, but at the same time is necessary for food security and other critical ecosystem services (ES). High quality agricultural lands (i.e. those which can support high yields, a diversity of crops, and are resilient to climate change) may play an important role in balancing the demand for housing, food, and other ES. In this paper, we used the Ecosystem Service framework to investigate the quality of agricultural lands beyond that of their value for food production. We conducted our study in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, where the issue of agricultural land loss is particularly relevant due to severe development pressure, few restrictions on land use, and limited arable land. We quantified the relationships between agricultural land quality and ES supply in 2016, and then measured how ES supply is likely to change in the future under a “Business as Usual” land use scenario. We found that higher quality agricultural land was associated with food provision, livestock crop production, and nitrogen retention, whereas lower quality agricultural land was associated with carbon sequestration, habitat quality, and recreation. Urban development is projected to occur disproportionately on higher quality agricultural land. Over 15 times more higher quality agricultural land will be developed between 2016 and 2050 compared to lower quality agricultural land. With the expected loss of agricultural land to development, the landscape in 2050 will have a lower supply of four of the six chosen ES compared to 2016. We found that livestock crop production will decrease the most over the time period (−28.8%) followed by food provision (−22.8%), nitrogen retention (−19.3%), and habitat quality (−7.4%). However, carbon sequestration (+5.5%) and recreation (+1.6%) will increase. Overall, we found strong evidence that certain ES are associated with varying levels of agricultural land quality and higher quality agricultural land was shown to be particularly vulnerable to urban development. Our results suggest the need to consider additional values of agricultural land beyond its use for food production. We recommend the implementation of policies that consider the trade-offs of developing on varying quality of agricultural land to help balance the many competing demands of our lands.

Effect of Notching on Three-Ply Southern Pine Cross-Laminated Timber Panel Stiffness and Strength

Abstract Considering the high demand for housing and the ongoing environmental issues our society faces, it's crucial to opt for more ecofriendly materials for building purposes. In that scenario, engineered wood products play an important role as they are not only based on a sustainable material but also can reduce the carbon footprint from construction. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is one of the products that could expand wood products use while keeping up with low and mid-rise building needs. Although CLT use has been expanding in the United States for the last few years, there is still a high necessity for understanding this composite behavior. One of those needs is assessing the effect of notching on the panels and measuring strength reduction as well as possible reinforcement methods. The goal of this project was to evaluate the performance of CLT panels focusing on strength and stiffness properties. Mechanical bending testing of three-ply southern pine CLT samples was performed to evaluate the influence of notches and stitching reinforcement on panels. The strength reduction caused by notching was successfully measured. Control samples supported significantly higher loads than notched samples. However, it was found that the deeper the notch, the more effective the stitching can be regarding strength. Control samples presented cross-grain tension and splintering tension failure modes, whereas notched samples presented simple tension failure mode. The findings of this work are of great value toward updating manufacturing, design, and use criteria for notched CLT panels and can be potentially used in future building codes.

Mobility and Choices in Urban Housing

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) emerged as a bold programme initiative catering to the diverse housing demand of an aspirational urban population of the country. This article analyses the choices beneficiaries made on the types of houses and how they shaped the design and evolution of the PMAY-U, Housing for All Mission. It builds on the narrative that cities in India have both static and kinetic traits. The static trait accrues from the physical infrastructure, whereas the kinetic is a manifestation of the growing socio-economic aspirations of the people, creating spaces for demand-driven housing policies. It then explains the design and implementation of the policy: PMAY-U. The article subsequently takes up the role of the government and the role of stakeholders in the housing development narrative. It presents spatial evidence as to how PMAY-U is giving rise to new urban geographies which are driven by the need and demand of the beneficiaries.

강남 주택은 경유지인가, 종착지인가?

The rising cost of housing in Gangnam has been the main focus of housing policy in Korea. The concentration of local housing demand is attributed to this increase, which is believed to be driven by better educational infrastructure and job accessibility. This suggests that elderly households, who do not require quality education for their grown-up children or accessible jobs due to their retirement, can provide crucial insights into the market—whether Gangnam is a ‘stopover’ during the growing period or the ‘final destination’ for the entire housing career. The in-depth interviews with middle-aged or elderly households who own apartments in Gangnam and have grown-up children reveal that Gangnam housing is the final destination, not a stopover. The primary reason is their high level of residential satisfaction, which is largely attributed to the quality infrastructure. The satisfaction stems from the presence of high-income and highly educated residents in Gangnam. The fact that it is difficult to build affluent neighborhoods in Korea has strengthened their belief in future price appreciation. Additionally, their strong desire to transfer their convenient lifestyle, the perception of higher social standing, and the potential for capital gain to their children is also a significant factor.

Assessment of Speculation in Real Estate Sector in Pune City

Abstract: The Real Estate Sector is an aggregate made up of the housing, industrial, office and retail sectors; wherein, housing sector play the most significant role. The Real Estate Sector has emerged as the most prominent investment option for the country’s urban households, taking priority over gold, fixed deposits and equities exchange trading. At any point in time, this sector may not be at demand-supply equilibrium because of frequent exogenous parameters and a number of uncertainties present. The investment in Real Estate Sector, particularly in housing properties is done with speculative intention. The speculative activities in the housing properties are the result of uncertainty about future price movements. These activities add pressure to housing demand and, through hoarding, reduce the number of housing units directly available to buyers, thereby pushing up the housing prices. Therefore, assessment of speculation in Real Estate Sector in general and housing sector in particular has become inevitable to achieve equilibrium in Real Estate Sector and stability in housing prices. In this research paper, assessment of speculation in Real Estate Sector in the city of Pune has been carried out using Indexing Method along-with analysis of RESIDEX Index, Vacancy Ratio, Saving Investment Options and Rental Yield parameters.

The impact of immigration on urban housing prices in Indonesia

PurposeRural–urban migration has led to an increase in the community’s need for housing in the migration area. The demand for housing is getting higher while the land availability does not increase so that house prices will continue to increase. This study aims to estimate the impact of immigration on urban housing prices in Indonesia.Design/methodology/approachThis study examines the effect of immigration on urban housing prices at the city level in Indonesia by using 14 major cities data from 2012 to 2020 to build a panel data model. The model also incorporates urban economic conditions as control variables.FindingsFrom the national level, the authors find that inter-regional migration has a significant and positive impact on urban housing prices. Based on the results, this paper suggested addressing the volatility of house prices through the provision of decent and affordable housing improvement to meet the growing needs and demands of the immigrant population.Research limitations/implicationsThis study still has several limitations: the sample of cities used is not comprehensive enough, and the time period used is not long enough; the spatial impact on house prices is not taken into account, and the effect of migrant characteristics in each city has not been considered.Originality/valueThere is limited research on the impact of immigration on urban housing prices in city levels, especially in the case of Indonesia. In addition, recent migration is used to proxy the immigration pattern. This paper provides a valuable contribution to the empirical literature on the effect of immigration at the city level in developing countries.

The Impact of Aging on Housing Market: Evidence from China

In recent years, the Chinese government has gradually introduced the multi-child policy to control the aging phenomenon. The aging of the Chinese population has aroused international attention. How the aging of the Chinese population will affect housing prices makes this study focus on the question. This study fitted the housing demand curve using the CGSS database and found that the housing demand will continue to rise as residents enter middle age. After residents enter old age, housing demand shows a slow decline. Then, this study establishes the spatial Dubin model to analyze the influence mechanism of population aging on housing prices in China, and finds that aging has a positive impact on housing prices. However, with the intensification of the aging phenomenon in China, the benefits brought by the welfare housing distribution system to the elderly will be gradually consumed, and the insufficient supply of social labor force and the stagnation of total output, its positive impact on housing prices will gradually weaken or even become negative.

Māori experiences of social housing in Ōtautahi Christchurch

ABSTRACT This article presents selected findings of a twelve-month-long research project exploring the lived experiences of Māori social housing tenants residing in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Over the last five years, Aotearoa New Zealand has seen unprecedented social housing demand. There is currently an overrepresentation of Māori experiencing housing need and awaiting placement into social housing, yet studies on this topic are limited. This research narrates the lived experience of Māori social housing tenants. It recounts experiences of social housing placement and explores the interactions tenants have with each other and their surrounding environment to create and maintain a sense of community within their housing placements. This article presents a complex understanding of Māori tenant experience centred on people finding a place to belong. Through utilising a Kaupapa Māori research framework and using semi-structured interviews, this qualitative research describes the process of creating a home as moving beyond the individual house. It highlights how the experience of ‘home’ for Māori tenants is governed by where you live and with whom you live with. Ultimately, the results presented emphasise the relevance of incorporating a Māori worldview into social housing provision to create environments that support Māori wellbeing.

Governance of densification and climate change adaptation: How can conflicting demands for housing and greening in cities be reconciled?

Urban green spaces are important for climate change adaptation, in particular to reduce the negative impacts of heat waves on human well-being. However, in growing cities urban green spaces are under pressure due to increasing housing demand and densification. Municipalities face the challenge of addressing both the housing shortage and the need for climate change adaptation on limited space. This study assessed the barriers that hinder successful integration in urban policymaking. More specifically, it analyses structural conditions impeding or promoting climate resilient urban development in growing, densifying areas. Based on interviews with urban and green space planning officers and policy analyses, we investigate current discourses and the interrelations between actors, power, resources and regulations. Our results show that improved cooperation between individual administrative departments, as well as administration and politics is decisive for better integration of green spaces in urban planning, negotiations with investors and sustained citizen involvement. Certain departmental structures and working routines can help to promote such cooperation. We show that it is not the availability of resources alone that is key for integration, as commonly suggested. Instead, transparent communication, the co-development of rules and resolutions with the public, and strategic external resource management are needed for solving conflicting demands for densification and greening in cities. We conclude with recommendations for research, policy and practice.

Centering on economic construction to stabilize general socioeconomic conditions while fully promoting economic recovery: Outlook, policy simulations, and reform implementation—A summary of the annual SUFE macroeconomic report (2022–2023)

AbstractThe Chinese economy upheld a frail recovery in 2022 under the triple superposition of contraction of demand, disruption in supply, and weakening expectations, aggravated by unanticipated adverse shocks in the midst of global turmoil. Over the year, rising income uncertainty set off by the pandemic shock continued depressing household consumption and housing demand. Trade also saw slowing growth, along with consumption and investment, with sluggish residential investment awaiting policy stimulus to take force. Unemployment rate remained high, and was much higher for youth engendered by severe structural imbalances in the labor market. Local government debt burden worsened while revenue shrinking, only to exacerbate the local fiscal financial risk. It fared better on the price side. While growth in producer price index kept falling, consumer price index maintained steady growth. Renminbi depreciated against USD through fluctuations with larger swings, but the exchange rate remained in a manageable band. The Institute for Advanced Research‐China Macroeconomic Model projects the baseline growth rate in real gross domestic product to be 5.4% in 2023. We have also used the model to conduct alternative scenario analyses and policy simulations to assess the impacts of potential downside risks or favorable situations. Our findings call for a focus on economic construction with deepening reform and opening up more comprehensively and initiatively. Only by doing so can China spur market vitality, strengthen business confidence, and forge competitive advantages.