There is a lack of international comparative housing studies, possibly because it requires thorough knowledge of the real estate market in question. This book brings together scholars with knowledge of different national markets in order to facilitate comparisons for real estate and housing and urban studies scholars and practitioners. By studying international markets using new data as well as new analysis of existing data, the chapters in this book present insights into the institutional constraints on national housing markets. Specifically, the contributors seek to examine the role of institutional factors and their influence on transaction costs in these markets. Exhibiting a diverse range of geographical, legal, and economic perspectives, the countries are grouped together based on legal institutional similarities, and each group includes an introduction and a conclusion highlighting similarities and differences from the institutional perspective.

The book is divided into 3 parts:

Part I sets the theoretical context and the reasons for writing a book focusing on national housing markets.

Part II presents national markets from the perspective of the transaction process and covers Europe, North and South America, East Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.

Part III contains conclusions with a critical discussion on how to compare national housing markets and a reflection on future directions of housing markets in an increasingly competitive international environment.

The Routledge Companion to International Housing Markets is essential reading for academics and professionals in housing studies, real estate, economics, and urban studies.
About the Author:

Magnus Andersson is an associate professor in economic geography in the Department of Urban Studies and senior lecturer at the Institute for Urban Research at Malmö University, Sweden. His research focuses on socio-economic development in contexts with limited access to official statistics. He has since 2010 participated as researcher and adviser for United Nations' work to implement Global Sustainable Development Goals.

Peter Palm is senior lecturer in economics in the Department of Urban Studies, Malmö University, Sweden, and chairman of the Division of Property Valuation, Sweden. He holds a PhD in construction and real estate economics. His research focuses on the real estate market and real estate valuation.

Helena Bohman is a senior lecturer in economics in the Department of Urban Studies, Malmö University, Sweden. Her research focuses on urban and regional development, with a special focus on issues concerning real estate and transport.

Béatrice Balivet is a senior lecturer in private law in the Faculty of Law department at Jean Moulin University Lyon 3, France. Her research focuses are property law and real estate law, co-ownership, and construction.

Omokolade Akinsomi is an associate professor in real estate finance and investments in the School of Construction Economics and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, South-Africa. He is the president of the African Real Estate Society (2021- 2023) and a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS). His research focuses on real estate investment trust, price discovery in commercial real estate, real estate portfolio management, housing, and proptech.