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This study aims to analyse the criteria used in measuring the determinants of the adoption of virtual reality (VR) technology in real estate agency practice in Lagos, with a view to providing information with which the practice can be enhanced.

The data for the study were elicited using a questionnaire which was administered to eight real estate firms (REFs). The firms were those that have been operating in Lagos for at least five years, and the data collected were analysed using the DEMATEL method.

The findings revealed that perceived utility and relative advantage were the most important criteria for determining REFs' performance expectancy with VR technology. The two most important criteria to measure effort expectancy were “perceived ease of use” and complexity. “Subjective norms” was the most important criterion for measuring social influence, while “perceived behavioural control” was the most important criterion to measure facilitating conditions. Under “price value”, output quality was the only significant criterion. Finally, the frequency of use, the actual number of use and the amount of time spent utilising the technology were significant for measuring the REFs' use behaviour.

The study offers insights into the criteria that can assist REFs in integrating VR technology into real estate agency practice. The results are also helpful to the Nigerian real estate professional bodies to organise workshop programmes for REFs on the use of VR technology and other disruptive technologies. The results will also serve as a guide for REFs to gain a competitive advantage in this trying time of pandemic and help them measure up to global standards and the expectations of their clients.

Before this study, efforts have not been made to study the criteria for measuring the determinants of VR technology adoption in the Nigerian real estate agency practice.

Beyond the economic determinants, non-economic criteria of land affordability are also of great importance. From the context of emerging economies, this study investigated the affordability of low-cost land allocation through the lens of non-economic criteria.

Given that the non-economic criteria considered are those related to religion and politics, data were elicited from the owners of residential plots at Redemption City and Ikosi Residential Scheme respectively in Nigeria. The data collected were analysed using statistical methods of analysis: mean and standard deviation.

The result showed that safety and comfort, quality management, proximity to market, proximity to public transportation and proximity to health facilities were the significant non-economic criteria at Redemption City. On the other hand, the non-economic criteria found to be significant at Ikosi Residential Scheme were proximity to public transport, safety and comfort, low presence of environmental problems and income ratio.

This study informs the promotion of private and public partnerships towards reducing the housing deficit in emerging economies. Also, it would help in the formulation and review of land policies, which would benefit not only their members.

This study is among the few that have looked at the non-economic criteria of land affordability, especially in emerging economies.

The study analysed the factors influencing real estate firms' (REFs) decision to adopt virtual reality (VR) technology using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method. This was done to enhance the practice of real estate agency in Nigeria.

Data were elicited from eight real estate experts. These experts were heads of the agency department of firms that had been in existence for a minimum of five years in the Lagos property market. The data analysed in this study were collected with the aid of a questionnaire.

The result revealed that use intention was influenced by performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, price value and UB. Also, facilitating conditions, habit and use intention did not influence use behaviour. Overall, six constructs, which include price value (R_i − C_j value = 0.1284), use behaviour (R_i − C_j value = 0.0666), social influence (R_i − C_j value = 0.0583), facilitating conditions (R_i − C_j value = 0.0323), performance expectancy (R_i − C_j value = 0.0196) and effort expectancy (R_i − C_j value = 0.0116), were significant predictors of the factors influencing the decision of REFs to adopt VR. Of these constructs, the R_i − C_j values indicated that price value had the highest causative influence.

The result of this study will bring REFs to the consciousness of the factors that could affect their adoption of VR technology. This study will also assist the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in appropriately enlightening REFs on the integration of VR technology into the agency practice especially at this time when all health protocols and guidelines need to be observed to help flatten the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This study is the first to have an insight into the analysis of the factors influencing REFs' decision to adopt VR technology using the DEMATEL method.