 Transformation of the housing industry: The impact of changing private household needs on real estate developmentFabian Lachenmayer Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) from Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) Abstract: The transformation of the housing industry is the result of several key developments, including climate change, digitalisation, socio-demographic change, migration and political interventions. These developments affect both supply and, in particular, demand within the housing industry. Private households are adapting their housing needs, reflected in new qualitative and quantitative requirements and changing location preferences. Successful positioning in a volatile, competitive environment requires players in the housing industry to effectively address the housing needs of private households. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive understanding of changing housing needs in research and in practice. To map these complex, multi-layered changes, this dissertation focuses on the demand side and conducts five studies. The first article of this dissertation highlights the extent and dynamics of changing housing needs and location preferences among private households. Based on surveys on the megatrends—ecological sustainability, digitalisation, socio-demographic change, (sub-)urbanisation and government intervention—it becomes clear how far the housing needs have diverged from the current housing supply. In addition, new location preferences are emerging. The results provide a basis for a deeper understanding of housing transformation and the interrelationships among factors that shape housing needs. The second article addresses sustainability as a central qualitative aspect of housing needs and examines the psychological antecedents that influence the intention to purchase sustainable residential properties. In addition, environmental awareness is considered a moderator. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and hierarchical regression, the study shows that psychological factors, attitudes towards the behaviour, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control have a significant positive influence on purchase intention. The study builds on previous research in this field by providing a well-founded analysis of the German housing market. The results offer starting points for increasing the demand for sustainable residential properties, which have so far fallen short of expectations. The third article examines the influence of work from home on the adoption of smart home technologies and considers another qualitative aspect of housing needs. The study also accounts for the mediating effect of personal innovativeness. The influence of work from home on the adoption of smart home technologies has not yet been examined in academic literature. Based on task-technology fit theory, a regression and mediation analysis is performed. The results show that work from home is another driver of smart home technology adoption and should be taken into account in the development of residential properties. The fourth article addresses the Sharing City and considers the quantity aspect of housing needs. Sharing in cities can substantially improve the efficient distribution of living space and make housing more affordable. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and hierarchical regression identify which motivators significantly influence participation in the Sharing City. The study expands academic research about the motivation to participate in the sharing economy in the city context. It thus provides important insights for urban planners and project developers, who are mainly responsible for the further development of sharing offers. The fifth article examines factors that influence the purchase intention of residential properties in peripheral and urban areas. The study focuses on changes in the location preferences of private households. Based on nine factors derived from the academic literature, a best–worst scaling (BWS) method (case 1) is applied. The results clearly show that affordability is the key factor in purchasing residential properties. It makes no differences whether the respondents want to live in an urban or rural area. Other factors, however, vary depending on residential preferences. The results serve as a basis for the development of residential properties in rural and urban areas. Additionally, the findings assist public authorities involved in revitalising rural regions and cities. The dissertation provides new insights into the transformation of the housing industry and expands existing knowledge by incorporating the consumer perspective. Through the systematic analysis of qualitative, quantitative and location-related housing needs of private households, this thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the changing requirements for housing. This knowledge sets the foundation for a targeted, needs-based development of urgently needed living space. Thereby, the dissertation not only reveals theoretical implications for housing research but also provides practical implications for project developers and public authorities to adopt in construction and redevelopment projects. Date: 2026-08-03 Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dar:wpaper:161636 Access Statistics for this paper More papers in Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) from Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) Contact information at EDIRC. |
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