Editorial

Citation

Reed, R.G. (2010), "Editorial", International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, Vol. 3 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhma.2010.35103daa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, Volume 3, Issue 4.

The six papers in this issue are diverse, originating from six different countries as well as covering a range of research challenges facing international housing markets. The paper on the US housing markets examines the linkages between citizen satisfaction levels and housing transaction prices where the findings have direct implications for neighbourhoods and improved property values. Another paper investigated affordable housing in Saudi Arabia by undertaking a survey of real estate consultants, contractors and investors. The survey questions related to 34 different factors where the results indicated that labour availability, building material standards, design quality and design changes are the most severe factors that influence housing affordability.

The third paper conducted a longitudinal study in Ghana involving over 3,000 sale transactions and over 1,000 rental transactions between 1992 and 2007. The analysis focused on residential submarkets and the findings concluded five characteristics were directly linked to rental and transaction prices: location, detached dwelling, quality of landscaping, gross internal floor area and land area. The next paper analyses the real estate market in China using a CRE index which incorporates effective supply and demand, potential demand, as well as potential supply. A survey questionnaire was conducted and was supported by data from 1999 to 2003. The results concluded that a CRE index can be a generic indicator for the real estate market in China and provides stakeholders with an insight into marketplace and also from natural and social influences.

An analysis of the housing market in Tokyo, namely condominiums, was undertaken in the fifth paper. The dataset spanned the period between 1986 and 2006 and constructed hedonic models based on scenarios including no change and monthly change. The results suggested that the structure of the housing market in Tokyo, including seasonality, changes over time. The final paper examined three urban areas in Malaysia, more specifically in the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor regions. The focus is placed on the short-run and long-run dynamics of regional house prices and is the first known study that examines lead-lag dynamics for short-run and long-run dynamics in Malaysia.

This is the final issue in volume 3 and highlights the excellent depth of research being undertaken. I would like to thank authors and reviewers for ensuring this journal continues research which contributes to knowledge about international housing markets. I encourage your feedback (richard.reed@deakin.edu.au) and thank you for your continued support of this journal and the research within.

Professor Richard G. Reed