International Housing Markets: Policy and Practice

The housing market refers to the property market where properties are bought and sold to buyers either directly or through real estate agents. It is a series of interconnected and location-specific submarkets, which exist on three different levels, namely, international, regional and urban. All countries have their unique set of housing problems and each country has its own different set of policies, practices, and institutions to deal with those issues. Demographic factors are the primary determinants of demand in the housing markets. Although, other elements like consumer preferences, income and credit availability are also crucial. Some of the most valuable real estate markets in the world include China, USA, Japan, UK, India, Germany, France, Brazil, Italy, and Russia. During the last decade, the world has witnessed a trend of global housing shortage along with increased demand due to Covid-19 pandemic. However, certain policies that can be adopted by countries in order to deal with the global housing shortages include upzoning, relaxing immigration laws, providing financial incentives, and providing mortgages to homebuyers. This book provides comprehensive insights on the policies and practices related to international housing markets. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by it.