The value of a property tends to decrease over time as it ages, resulting in a reduced ability to generate the same value. Property depreciation is a multifaceted concept that encompasses both technical and economic aspects. The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether additional information on the quality of older single-family homes affected the depreciation factor. We collected specific data from property owners on the frequency of various maintenance and reinvestment operations, both internal and external, such as the roof, foundation, heating, and kitchen. Our database consists of nearly 10,000 owner-occupied single-family houses in Sweden sold between the beginning of 2021 and 2022 that are over 30 years old. Our results show, as expected, that the depreciation per year for older properties is lower. However, for older properties that have been renovated, the age-related price effect is an appreciation. This is especially true for older properties built before 1940. Renovating and maintaining older properties can mitigate the age-related decline in prices and should be taken into account when valuing properties, especially properties older than 80 years.

We are analysing Stockholm, Sweden’s regulated rental housing market, by analysing the distribution of rental apartments based on a person’s position in the housing agency queue. Our objective is to examine queue times and estimate the demand for rent-regulated apartments, as well as the market’s income elasticity. Using the hedonic two-step approach, we use empirical data from rental contracts provided by the Stockholm Housing Agency to investigate the relationship between individual waiting times and their characteristics, such as income, age, and family composition. The empirical analysis found a strong willingness to pay for rent-regulated apartments, especially for larger homes in better locations with lower regulated rent. The demand for rental apartments increases with increasing income, but this effect is less pronounced in the current distribution system. The findings will be valuable to real estate developers, property owners, and city planners to improve policies for the rental housing market.

Purpose: The primary aim of this research is to examine the effects of the Renovation, Conversion, and Extension (ROT) tax deduction for renovations on the scope and quality of renovations and its subsequent impact on house prices across various Swedish municipalities. Design/methodology/approach: This study utilises a two-way fixed effect instrument variable (IV) spatial Manski approach, analysing balanced panel data from 2004 to 2020 at the municipal level (290 municipalities) in Sweden. The methodology is designed to assess the impact of the ROT subsidy on the housing market. Findings: The study reveals that the ROT subsidy has significantly influenced house prices, with noticeable variations between municipalities. These differences are attributed to the varying amounts of tax reductions for renovations and the extent to which property owners utilise these subsidies. Research limitations/implications: The research is limited to the context of Sweden and may not be generalisable to other countries with different housing and subsidy policies. The findings are crucial for understanding the specific impacts of government subsidies on the housing market within this context. Practical implications: For policymakers and stakeholders in the housing market, this study highlights the tangible effects of renovation subsidies on property values. It provides insights into how such financial incentives can shape the housing market dynamics. Social implications: The research underscores the role of government policies in potentially influencing equitable access to housing. It suggests that subsidies like ROT can have broader social implications, including the distribution of housing benefits among different income groups and regions. Originality/value: This study contributes original insights into the field of applied real estate economics by quantitatively analysing the impact of a specific government subsidy on the housing market. It offers a unique perspective on how fiscal policies can affect property values and renovation activities at the municipal level in Sweden.

The housing market in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is expanding and with it a need for increased market transparency to guide investors and other stakeholders. The objective of this paper is to evaluate machine learning (ML) methods to appraise real estate in formal and informal housing markets in this nascent market sector. Various advanced ML models are applied with the aim of improving property value estimates in a market with limited access to information. The dataset used included detailed property characteristics and transaction data from both market types. Regression, decision trees, neural networks, and ensemble methods were employed to refine property appraisals across these settings. The findings indicate significant differences between formal and informal market valuations, demonstrating ML’s effectiveness in handling limited data and complex market dynamics. These results emphasise the potential of ML techniques in emerging markets where traditional valuation methods often fail due to the scarcity of transaction data.

The city is constantly changing. New buildings are built, new infrastructure replaces old infrastructure, and the city grows with the addition of new areas. This study investigates the impact of new construction projects on the socioeconomic background and affordability of residents in Stockholm, Sweden. Using the difference-in-difference methodology, the authors analyse data from several construction projects in the city from 2009 to 2014. The results suggest a limited effect on the proportion of residents with higher education and young people, that is, no gentrification effect, but a positive effect on income and affordability. However, this could lead to gentrification and displacement over time. This research sheds light on the potential outcomes of urban development and highlights the need for effective policies to ensure sustainable and equitable growth in Stockholm.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of housing construction on single-family housing values and the implications for urban development. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve this objective, the author used the difference-in-difference methodology to examine the effect of multifamily and single-family housing construction on surrounding single-family homes in Stockholm, Sweden. The author analysed data from approximately 480 housing construction projects between 2009 and 2014 and 17,000 single-family detached house transactions between 2005 and 2018. Findings: The research found that multifamily construction projects did not affect the value of surrounding single-family homes, while single-family home construction had a negative impact. The author attributes this result to single-family housing projects typically located in areas with initially positive externalities, while multifamily housing projects are often located on the edge of areas with negative externalities before construction. Research limitations/implications: The research is limited by its focus on a specific geographic area and time frame, and future research could expand the scope to include other cities and regions and different periods. Additionally, further research could examine the impact of housing construction on other economic factors beyond housing values. Practical implications: The research has practical implications for urban planners and policymakers. They should consider the potential negative impact of new single-family home construction on existing single-family housing areas while balancing the need for new housing in urban areas. By carefully evaluating construction locations, policymakers can create more sustainable, livable and equitable urban environments that benefit all members of society. Originality/value: This research paper contributes to the field of housing economics by examining the impact of housing construction on single-family housing values in the context of urban development and climate change mitigation. Using a difference-in-difference methodology, the study provides evidence of the price effect of multifamily and single-family housing construction on surrounding single-family homes, which has important policy implications for urban planners and policymakers. By identifying the negative impact of single-family home construction on surrounding areas and highlighting the need for careful evaluation of construction locations, the research provides valuable insights for creating sustainable, livable and equitable urban environments that benefit all members of society.

New residential construction in many countries with rapid urban growth is often interrelated with smaller housing units being built. Sweden is not an exception. It is of interest to investigate the driving forces behind this tendency. Our presumption is that municipal land price policies and building permit regulations might play a certain role in this process. Contrary to previous studies that focus on the number of new dwelling units in housing construction, our purpose is to analyze the average size of new housing units and the factors that affect it on an aggregate level. We apply seemingly unrelated regressions for analysis of the average apartment size in new residential construction in the three largest metropolitan regions in Sweden as a function of the changes in population, apartment rent and prices, mortgage interest rates, land prices, and building permits per capita as a proxy for regulation. The unbalanced panel dataset includes the period between 1998 and 2017 and covers both the rental and the housing cooperative sectors. The analysis demonstrates that land prices and building policies along with market fundamentals are the underlying factors that affect the average size of an apartment in new residential construction in Sweden.

Our study aims to analyse whether the capitalisation of a property's energy performance is affected by how it is presented. In place since 2002, there is an EU directive mandating the introduction of an energy performance certificate (EPC) when selling detached houses. This directive was implemented in Sweden in 2009. We analyse how EPC capitalised on housing prices during 2012-2018 for detached houses in Stockholm. This was previously carried out, but our contribution is to analyse both the effect of energy rating or labelling (A-G) and energy consumption (kWh/m(2)). How energy performance is communicated or displayed to potential buyers conveys that the format, style, and content of energy performance information may influence how buyers perceive its value and impact on the property's market price. We have information on energy rating, consumption, or both for selected properties. This allows us to test the hypothesis that how energy performance is presented affects pricing. We also tested whether information affects different age cohorts differently. The results indicate that how energy performance is presented and visualised is important and that information about rating and consumption might be considered as a substitute for each other. It is also clear that the capitalisation effect differs depending on the age of the building.

Recycling is essential to the circular economy and reduces the environmental impact of our consumption. Creating conditions for recycling in new residential areas is relatively easy but finding good recycling opportunities in existing residential areas is more complicated. The recycling of newspapers, plastic and glass must be relatively close to where people live; at the same time, the locations must be relatively discreet and not disturb the residents in the area. The purpose of the article is to analyse the effect of small and local recycling stations (RCSs) on the attractiveness of residential areas. This has been made possible by analysing housing values for almost 200,000 housing units near 250 RCSs in Stockholm, Sweden. Using an identification strategy that relies on postal code fixed effects, we find evidence that the proximity to RCS affects housing prices on average in both owner-occupied single-family houses and cooperative owner-occupied apartments (condominiums). The results indicate that proximity to the RCS is negatively capitalised in housing values (the effect amounts to approximately 1.3 percent of the housing values), which indicates that the city should consider this in its planning.

The impact of COVID-19 on various aspects of our life is evident. Proximity and close contact with individuals infected with the virus, and the extent of such contact, contribute to the intensity of the spread of the virus. Healthy and infected household members who both require sanctuary and quarantine space come into close and extended contact in housing. In other words, housing and living conditions can impact the health of occupants and the spread of COVID-19. This study investigates the relationship between housing characteristics and variations in the spread of COVID-19 per capita across Sweden's 290 municipalities. For this purpose, we have used the number of infected COVID-19 cases per capita during the pandemic period-February 2020 through April 2021-per municipality. The focus is on variables that measure housing and housing conditions in the municipalities. We use exploratory analysis and Principal Components Analysis to reduce highly correlated variables into a set of linearly uncorrelated variables. We then use the generated variables to estimate direct and indirect effects in a spatial regression analysis. The results indicate that housing and housing availability are important explanatory factors for the geographical spread of COVID-19. Overcrowding, availability, and quality are all critical explanatory factors.