Housing Prices and the Optimal Time-on-The-Market Decision

Abstract:     
This paper provides a model for housing prices based on a seller solving the optimal time-on-the market problem. Given the seller's optimal time-on-the market, analytical expressions are provided for both the expected time-on-the-market and the sales price. These expressions facilitate the computation of comparative statics. Consistent with economic intuition, we show that (i) both the expected time-on-the market and sales price decrease as interest rates increase, (ii) the expected time-on-the market increases and the expected sales price decreases as offer activity declines, and (iii) the expected time-on-the market and expected sales price both increase as the list price increases.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 14

Keywords: Real estate market, Price evolution, Optimal waiting time

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