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The purpose of this paper is to determine the most significant factors influencing apartment values in Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA), Kenya and develop a valuation model using the identified variables. The paper is thus promoting the adoption of advanced, more reliable and accurate valuation methods in developing economies such as Kenya. Therefore, the paper demonstrates the potential of the hedonic pricing method (HPM) in property valuation by making objective adjustments to comparable sales data.

The paper utilizes a case study design by analysing recent (January 2020 to December 2021) apartment sales and apartment attributes in NMA. A sample size of 264 transactions was analysed using the HPM.

The study identified six significant factors affecting apartment values in the study area: apartment size, location, floor finishes, provision of shopping facilities, swimming pool and gym. A valuation model has been developed using the six variables.

The paper is contributing to the ongoing global debate on the accuracy, reliability and validity of property valuations with particular emphasis on the developing economies to adopt the more accurate, efficient and reliable valuation approaches.

The findings are useful to property valuers and estate managers in determining the most statistically significant attributes affecting apartment values in the NMA hence enabling them to offer informed professional advice. However, the findings of the study are limited to the study area since real estate is heterogeneous.

Property investors, financiers and other stakeholders in the society will benefit from the findings of this study in their decision-making process. Additionally, wide adoption of the more reliable and accurate valuation approaches would foster public confidence in valuation and estate management professional services leading to enhanced consumption of these services by the society and promoting public care.

The paper is promoting valuation accuracy, efficiency and reliability in the developing economies by advocating for advanced valuation methods. It is the first attempt to develop a valuation model for apartments in the NMA, the capital city of Kenya and the business hub of East and Central Africa.

The purpose of this study is to identify which are the main factors influencing the apartment prices in Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo, during the period 2018–2020. The factors identified will be used by real estate developers and investors for better decision-making in apartment investments.

The research methodology is quantitative. The methodology analyzes 1,468 real estate transaction contracts of apartment buildings using a probability random sampling. The research methodology uses multiple regression analysis to identify whether the research model is significant in predicting apartment prices but also identify which are the main factors that influence the apartment prices in Prishtina, Kosovo.

The present study finds that location, size, floor, access to road and building quality affect apartment prices in Prishtina, whereas surprisingly access to green spaces and availability of parking spaces have no statistically significant effect on apartment prices in Kosovo.

The study has great implications for the real estate developers in Prishtina, Kosovo showing how to improve their decision-making process in real estate investments to know which characteristics are most valued by investors for investment in new apartment buildings in Prishtina, Kosovo and local authorities in Prishtina, Kosovo to modernize the access to road infrastructure for its inhabitants and adopt building regulations that will enforce strict criteria as far as building quality is concerned.

The study is the first quantitative study that studies the factors influencing the apartment prices in Prishtina, Kosovo.

This paper applies the hedonic pricing model (HPM) approach to identify critical determinants of apartment value and employs the technique to develop a valuation model that can accurately estimate the value of apartments.

The research employed a case study design that was limited to transaction sales and attribute data of apartments in Nyali estate, Mombasa County in Kenya. A sample of 120 sales of apartments obtained from registered real estate firms was analyzed using quantitative methods.

According to the study results, the hedonic valuation model developed comprises four critical determinants of apartment value, namely, number of parking lots, presence of swimming pool, age of apartment and provision of balcony. The hedonic model was tested and found to be accurate and reliable in estimating apartment value.

The model will improve accuracy, reliability and efficiency in valuation. The application of the model in the valuation of apartments is, however, limited to the case study area where the data are obtained. The scope of application of the model may be improved by increasing the sample size to include apartment sales data from other estates in Mombasa County.

Previous studies that have used the HPM technique in analysis of apartment values have focused on the “explanatory” and “contributory” power of attributes on apartment values, rather than the development and use of the model to measure value. The present study is the first to develop a HPM equation for property value estimation in the apartment real estate sector in Kenya.

The purpose of this paper is to determine how much variance in vacancy duration can be explained by the architectural attributes of apartments and to illuminate strategies to reduce vacancy duration utilized by non-profit housing providers.

This is a sequential mixed methods research study with a qualitative variable-gathering phase followed by a quantitative variable-testing phase. Vacancy duration in days was the dependent variable and the attributes of the apartments were the independent variables. Each building functioned as a separate case, with its own results, and the cases were compared to draw conclusions about the strongest predictors for vacancy duration.

Each case study project has a significant linear regression equation with multiple variables contributing to the variance in tenancy duration. The R² statistic varied for the case study projects from a low of 10.2 percent to a high of 36.9 percent. Factors that resulted in longer vacancies for two or more of the projects include: unit mix, floor level, road proximity and length of tenancy for the tenant moving out. Factors resulting in shorter vacancies include: corner position in the building and relatively larger size of the apartment.

The geography of the study is limited to Washington State in the USA. However, the case study projects represent three metropolitan statistical areas, with distinct climates and economic conditions. There are limitations to the stepwise analysis method because the degrees of freedom limit the complexity of models that can be estimated.

This paper highlights influences on vacancy duration and proposes conceptual models for measuring the periods of vacancy duration.

Through this study, architectural contributions to vacancy were uncovered and tested so that subsidized housing, a public good, can be distributed more efficiently.

This research is the first known study to compare vacancy durations on a unit-by-unit basis.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the social and functional features of micro-apartment and, based on the findings, to demonstrate the projects of modern micro-apartment designed for one or two people, which are implemented in the experimental design.

Based on the analysis of the study of theoretical scientific works on the research topic and from the standpoint of an interdisciplinary discourse the social and economic prerequisites for the demand for such a dwelling are determined and the categories of citizens for whom a micro-apartment is an advantage are identified. Particular attention is paid to the typological boundaries of the study, the generalization and synthesis of sources which is reflected in identifying the features of the functional zoning of a micro-apartment in connection with the needs of residents and determining modern ways to improve the comfort of living.

At the examples of experimental design of micro-apartment for the city of Almaty we substantiated the expanding the existing typology of residential buildings by adding a new type of urban dwelling – a micro-apartment which occupies a niche between apartment housing for permanent residence and traditional hotels.

The content of the study is devoted to the analysis of a micro-apartment as a new type of modern urban dwelling for a single and small-family population. Urban residents’ interest in economical, affordable small-area dwellings as well as the need to study and design micro format dwellings for the modern urban environment is a topical issue.

Individual metering and charging (IMC) allows energy costs to be apportioned among tenants in multi-apartment buildings based on their own energy use. This can result in reduced energy use due to an increased saving behaviour by tenants, which has caught the attention of the European Parliament. In the EU-directive 2012/27/EU there is a requirement for IMC to be installed by December 31, 2016 in multi-apartment buildings.

Two techniques are mentioned in the directive for IMC: individual consumption meters and individual heat cost allocators. Either of these two techniques can be used as a method to measure the supplied energy to an apartment. Another method, not mentioned in the EU-directive, is temperature metering which means that the heating cost is instead based on measurements of the actual temperatures through sensors in certain locations in the apartment. However, some shortcomings have been identified with the aforementioned methods.

The purpose of this study is to investigate how internal heat production, solar radiation, an apartment’s location within the building and local defects in the building envelope affect the accuracy of IMC. The Energy demands of three apartments in different locations within the building have been simulated in the computer program VIP-Energy. The results of energy calculations prove that the accuracy of IMC is highly questionable in some of the investigated cases. The implication of the study is that it is difficult to measure the actual heat used for an individual apartment, which obstructs accurate and fair apportioning of heating costs among individual tenants.

This study examines the long term effects of macroeconomic fundamentals on apartment price dynamics in major metropolitan areas in Sweden and Germany.

The main approach is panel cointegration analysis that allows to overcome certain data restrictions such as spatial heterogeneity, cross-sectional dependence, and non-stationary, but cointegrated data. The Swedish dataset includes three cities over a period of 23 years, while the German dataset includes seven cities for 29 years. Analysis of apartment price dynamics include population, disposable income, mortgage interest rate, and apartment stock as underlying macroeconomic variables in the model.

The empirical results indicate that apartment prices react more strongly on changes in fundamental factors in major Swedish cities than in German ones despite quite similar development of these macroeconomic variables in the long run in both countries. On one hand, overreactions in apartment price dynamics might be considered as the evidence of the price bubble building in Sweden. On the other hand, these two countries differ in institutional arrangements of the housing markets, and these differences might contribute to the size of apartment price elasticities from changes in fundamentals. These arrangements include various banking sector policies, such as mortgage financing and valuation approaches, as well as different government regulations of the housing market as, for example, rent control.

In distinction to the previous studies carried out on Swedish and German data for single-family houses, this study focuses on the apartment segment of the market and examines apartment price elasticities from a long term perspective. In addition, the results from this study highlight the differences between the two countries at the city level in an integrated long run equilibrium framework.

Landscape view is a crucial factor in house-buying decisions. Landscape views provide an amenity to residents, and this can influence the house or apartment owners in their residence decisions. Yet, the relative value of different types of view potentially differs. Additionally, the value of each type of view may differ depending on an apartment’s elevation above the ground level. In this study, the authors aim to estimate the value of landscape views on apartment prices in major urban areas in Indonesia.

This paper evaluates to what extent various landscape views including mountain, sea, river, lake, street, urban village, garden and sports center views affect apartment prices in major urban areas in Indonesia. Two hedonic regression approaches are used: ordinary least squares and semiparametric regression. The latter is used to accommodate a possible non-linearity in the relationship between price and apartment characteristics. The model also incorporates housing and locational characteristics as control variables.

Using online apartment market data, the estimates in this paper show some degree of heterogeneity in the value of various views to the extent of providing negative externalities. Mountain, street and sports center views are associated with higher apartment prices. Sea, lake and garden views are statistically insignificant in explaining the prices. In contrast, the unappealing nature of the rivers and their surrounding creates a negative impact on prices. The estimates also suggest that an apartment’s floor height plays a significant role in the valuation of views.

There is little research on landscape view effects on apartment prices, especially in Indonesia. In addition, the relationship between the value of views and height preferences has seldom been analyzed. This paper provides the valuation of an extensive list of landscape views in urban areas in Indonesia. The estimation results also suggest that the value of views may differ depending on the floor on which an apartment lies.

This paper aims to explore the relationship between market pricing and design quality within the development industry. Currently, there is a lack of research that examines real estate at the property level. Development quality is widely believed to have diminished over the past decades, while many investors seem uninterested in the design process. The study aims to address these issues through a pricing model that integrates design attributes. It is hoped that empirical findings will invite broader stakeholder interest in the design process.

The research establishes a framework for assessing spatial compliance across residential developments within London. Compliance is assessed across ten boroughs, with technical space guidelines used as a proxy for design quality. Transaction prices and spatial assessments are aligned within a hedonic pricing model. Empirical findings are used to establish whether undermining spatial standards presents a significant development risk.

Findings suggest a relationship between sale time and unit size, with “compliant” units typically transacting earlier than “non-compliant” units. Almost half of the 1,600 apartments surveyed appear to undermine technical guidelines.

It is suggested that an array of design attributes be explored that extend beyond unit size. Additionally, future studies may consider the long-term implications of design quality via secondary transaction prices.

Practical implications include the development of a more scientific approach to design valuation. This may enhance the position of product design management within the development industry and architectural services.

Social implications may include improvement in residential design.

An innovative approach combines a thorough understanding of both design and economic principles.

The purpose of this paper is to study views of owner-occupiers concerning infill development as a mechanism for financing major repairs in apartment buildings and financial benefits they require from the infill development for accepting it near their homes (on the plot of their housing company).

The data used draws upon a survey of 894 respondents concerning residents’ views on infill development in Finland. The required financial benefits from the infill development were questioned in both relative proportions of the expenses related to major repairs and concrete monetary sums.

First, the findings indicate that the financial benefits owner-occupiers require in order to accept infill development are significant, covering about two-thirds of the costs of major repairs during following ten years or over 75 percent of an (imagined) upcoming pipeline repair. Second, approximately one-fifth of the respondents regard that no economic benefit is enough to make them support infill development. Third, people’s decision-making concerning infill development is complex, involving also many other factors than monetary.

This paper provides insight into the feasibility of infill development as a means to finance major repairs from the perspective of owner-occupiers. The paper has strong policy implications as it highlights the significance of the public authorities and their policies in enabling the infill development.

This is the first academic study to focus on owner-occupiers views and financial requirements for the infill development as a means to finance major repairs in apartment buildings.