Key Factors Influencing Purchase or Rent Decisions in Smart Real Estate Investments: A System Dynamics Approach Using Online Forum Thread Data

Abstract

The real estate sector is receiving mix responses throughout the world, with some countries like USA receiving lesser and European and Asia Pacific markets receiving more transactions in recent years. Among the concerning factors, post-purchase regrets by the real estate owners or renters are on the rise, which have never been assessed to date through scholarly research. These regrets can further increase in the time of lockdowns and bans on inspections due to Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and social distancing rules enforced by various countries such as Australia. The current study aims at investigating the key post-purchase regret factors of real estate and property owners and renters over the last decade using published literature and online threads. Based on pertinent literature, 118 systematically identified and text-mined articles, and four online threads with 135 responses, the current study develops system dynamics models to assess and predict the increase in consumers’ regrets over the last decade. Further, a user-generated thread with 23 responses involving seven real estate managers and five agents with more than 20 years of experience, 10 buyers with at least three successful rentals or purchases, and a photographer with more than 10 years of experience, is initiated on five online discussion platforms whereby the respondents are involved in a detailed discussion to highlight the regret reasons specific to real estate purchases based on online information. General architecture for text mining (GATE) software has been utilised to mine the text from both types of threads: Published and user generated. Overall, the articles and threads published over the last decade are studied under two periods: P1 (2010–2014) and P2 (2015–2019) to highlight the post-purchase or rent-related regret reasons. The results show that regret levels of the real estate consumers based on published post-purchase data are at an alarmingly high level of 88%, which compared to 2015, has increased by 18%. Among the major cited reasons, complicated buy–sell process, lack or accuracy of information, housing costs, house size, mortgages, agents, inspections, and emotional decision making are key reasons of regret. Overall, a total of 10% and 8% increases have occurred in the regrets related to the buy–sell process and lack of inspections, respectively. On the other hand, regrets related to agents and housing costs have decreased drastically by 40% mainly due to the good return on investments in the growing markets. However, based on the current trend of over reliance on online information and more powers to the agents controlling online information coupled with lack of physical inspections, the situation can change anytime. Similarly, lack of information, housing size, and mortgage-related regrets have also decreased by 7%, 5%, and 2%, respectively, since 2019. The results are expected to encourage policy level changes for addressing the regrets and uplifting the real estate industry and moving towards a smart and sustainable real estate sector. These results and pertinent discussions may help the real estate decision makers to uplift the current state, move towards a smart real estate, and avoid futuristic regrets, especially in the COVID-hit environment where most of the industries are struggling to survive. Careful attention is required to the top regret factors identified in the study by the real estate managers, investors, and agents to pave the way for a more managed real estate and property sector whereby the consumers are more satisfied with the value they receive for their money. This win–win situation will enhance the property business and remove the stigmas of intentional and deliberate withholding of information by managers and agents from the property and real estate sectors that can help boost the business through more purchases and satisfaction of its customers.

Advertising through UAVs: Optimized path system for delivering smart real‐estate advertisement materials

“…Other studies have focused on the use of 360°videos and images, 4D advertisements, and virtual and augmented reality-based immersive visualizations for Internet-based smart real-estate advertisements. 1,5,13,18 Similarly, displaying such distinguishing features as energy ratings, green spaces, and use of machine learning and urban big data can also add value to online smart real-estate advertisements and boost the sales. 8,21,25,26 Other techniques, such as sending personalized text messages and emails and calling potential customers, have also been explored and reported to yield positive results for smart real-estate property sales.…”

“…In 2017, the global real-estate transactions for commercial properties reached $873 billion. 1 Residential property accounts for 75% of the total global property value, which was estimated at approximately $160 trillion in 2019. Similarly, the commercial real estate for 2019 is valued at approximately $30 trillion.…”

“…An alternative (or augmentation, in some cases) to these billboards is digital marketing, in which digital media channels are used for advertising realestate properties, which is consistent with the demands of modern smart real-estate advertisements. 1,5 Digital marketing has empowered organizations working in multiple domains to obtain real-time customer insights. This outcome has led to the creation and subsequent communication of additional customer value, enabling the organizations to expand their consumer base.…”

“…Accordingly, smart realestate marketing technologies, such as mobile marketing, four-dimensional (4D) advertisements, virtual and augmented realities-based 3D visualization of properties, and virtual visits, have been adopted. 1,5,13,14 However, the literature is scarce, if not nonexistent, in the use of digital technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based smart real-estate advertisements. In the COVID-19-hit real-estate environment, where physical distancing is the new normal and people are reluctant to visit real-estate offices or be in contact with the post or mail delivery men, real estate should shift from the traditional to smart real-estate advertisements.…”

“…The real‐estate business is adding value to the global economy. In 2017, the global real‐estate transactions for commercial properties reached $873 billion 1 . Residential property accounts for 75% of the total global property value, which was estimated at approximately $160 trillion in 2019.…”