Editorial

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHMA-04-2022-155
• Published date: 25 February 2022
• Date: 25 February 2022
• Pages: 273-276
• Subject Matter: Property management & built environment,Real estate & property,Housing markets
• Author: Richard Reed

Editorial

Welcome to the second issue in the fifteenth volume of the International Journalof Housing

Markets and Analysis. This issue contains 11 research papers from 10 different countries,

both developed and developing, documenting research problems and then providing an

effective analysis with practical findings and implications. This is a core strength of this

journal, being not limiting the focus only to developed countries or a small number of

continents. In addition, the format of the papers is considered to be individual and

innovative, therefore expanding the boundaries of internationalhousing research. The first

paper from the USA investigates if weather events causing flooding impact upon losses

suffered by mortgage insurers and homeowners.The research assesses whether some flood-

damaged residences in the USA wereunrepaired due to the lack of flood insurance coverage.

The methodology used regressionmodels with the actual data inputs supplied by mortgage

insurance companies over a period between 2002 and 2017.The findings confirmed that the

more serious the floodingevent during a specific year then the higher the losses experienced

by the private mortgage insurer. Furthermore, the income variable had a significant

negative coefficient confirming that decreasing income can lead to rising mortgage insurer

losses. In addition, the National Flood Insurance Program variable was significant with a

positive coefficient.

The second paper examines the effect of immigration on housing prices in Australia at

both the regional and national levels. The methodology used a panel vector autoregressive

error correction approach to investigate a possible dynamic and endogenous relationship

between housing prices and immigration. Data recorded on a quarterly basis between 2004

and 2017 relating to eight Australianstates were used. The results indicate that immigration

positively and significantlyaffects housing prices in the short run; however, in the long run,

there was no significant relationship observed betweenthe two variables. However, from a

regional perspective, it was noted that for some Australian states, there was a significant

and positive effect from immigration on residential real estate prices in the long run.

Causality analysis confirmed the direction of causation is from immigration to housing

prices. The study confirmed that immigration and interstate migration, as well as higher

income, caused an increase in housing demand and subsequently housing prices. To

address very high housing prices and enact effective policy, local authorities should be

monitoring migration and salary levels. The third paper from Ghana investigates

differences in demographic,employment and housing characteristics between the critics and

non-critics of the RA (rent advance) payment system. At present, the landlords require

renters to pay rent advance (RA) of between 6 months and 5 years; however, renters appear

to be divided about the benefits anddrawbacks of this rent advance payment. The data used

in the analysis were drawn from a survey of renters in 13 regions in Ghana with the

methodology using non-parametricand parametric tests including chi-squared, goodness of

fit and t-test models. The results identified statistically significant differences between

critics and non-critics associated with the level of education, marital status, employment

status and employment sector. These findings can be used by policymakers to assist with

the provision of effectivehousing policy.

The objective of the fourth paper is to address the problem associated with an under-

researched housing market in India. The research used a methodology based on a scoping

review and a thematic analysis method. All articles examined in the study were

systematically identifiedvia an accepted scoping review approach proposed by Arksey and

Editorial

273

InternationalJournal of Housing

Marketsand Analysis

Vol.15 No. 2, 2022

pp. 273-276

© Emerald Publishing Limited

1753-8270

DOI 10.1108/IJHMA-04-2022-155