Article Review: Gnagey and Tans (2018). Property Price Determinants in Indonesia.
Gnagey and Tans (2018) try to find determinants of property price in Indonesia. Using spatial analysis, they see the effect of location characteristics on property price.
This review provides brief summary for this article, critique on it, and reflection how this article useful for future research.
Gnagey and Tans (2018) provide an important study since there is limited research regarding property price determinants in Indonesia.
The potential determinants are selected from the advertised property attributes and advertisement attributes. Moreover, the application of spatial approach makes it able to capture spatial-related-information.
The results of the study are that residential prices influenced by the structural factors, i.e. better house quality (e.g. additional bathroom or bedroom and quality of flooring) drive to higher price.
For commercial buildings, advertisement strategy has big impact. Ads that that specify high-end-commercial properties like “shop”, “hotel”, and “restaurant” have higher prices than lower-end-commercial properties like “kiosk” or “foodstall”.
For undeveloped land, the land size is the most important aspect.
Considering spatial effect, location is important for all of three types of properties, i.e. properties near CBD are highly priced rather than other areas. In urban area, additional square meter of land are highly appreciated.
While in rural area, additional building properties (like landline telephone, air conditioner, and swimming pool) can raise house price.
Gnagey and Tans (2018) is the first who comprehensively discuss property price in Indonesia in city level.
Another researchs focus only on a certain city, like Aswin, et.al. (2015) that focus on Jakarta and Anggraini (2013) that discuss Surabaya. They also the first who intensively use OLX classified ads, an innovative way since until now there is no comprehensive property price data in Indonesia.
Unlike OLX classified ads, data published by Bank Indonesia (BI), Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) and Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) have limitations.
BI produces property price index, BTN gain data from houses sold solely by him, while IFLS capture price information from household survey potentially allow over-priced or under-priced in the results.
Gnagey and Tans (2018) also deliver new solutions by using road name as a proxy for distance to CBD, since CBD area are mainly indicated by certain name roads.
One note should be addressed to Gnagey and Tans (2018), the accuration of using road names as proxy for distance from CBD can be enhanced by add additional features.
This is caused by not all roads mentioned by them are considered as main roads and located in downtown. Some cities use ancient names for villages or local heroes. While some terminology mostly found in one specific area only.
Gnagey and Tans (2018) may consider the distance from schools and markets (like Lerbs & Obeerst (2014)) or the preference of owning homes (proposed by Li & Gibson (2014)).
Spatial autoregression approach used by Gnagey and Tans (2018) lead another researchers to produce similar study.
For example, the effort to find the determinants of homeownership rate by considering spatial characteristics. The households’ decision of owning homes are also influenced by spatial and environmental aspects attached in future homes, for example the distance of homes from schools, distance from public parks, and the quality of neighbourhood.
Moreover, the selection of urban or rural status provide an reminder to always put them in the analysis related to Indonesia.
To sum up, Gnagey and Tans (2018) provide breakthrough in methodology, data, and the selection of study area. Their research will significantly contribute to literature regarding determinants of property price, specifically by considering spatial characteristics.
References
Anggraini, P. (2013). The Spatial Pattern of Urban Land Prices Determination in Indonesia. Research Paper. The Hague: International Institute of Social Studies
Aswin, R. R., Kaderi, W. S., Priatmodjo, K. D., & Budiman, S. I. (2015). Factors influencing the price of housing in Indonesia. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 8(2), 169-188. doi:10.1108/IJHMA-04-2014-0008
Gnagey, M., & Tans, R. (2018). Property Price Determinants in Indonesia. Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, DOI: 10.1080/00074918.2018.1436158
Lerbs, O.W. & Oberst, C.A. (2014). Explaining the Spatial Variation in Homeownership Rates: Results for German Regions, Regional Studies, 48(5): 844-865
Li, C. & Gibson, J. (2014). Spatial Price Differences and Inequality in the People’s Republic of China: Housing Market Evidence. Asian Development Review, 31(1): 92-120
(Thomas Soseco)