Search results

1 – 5 of 5
Article
Publication date: 10 July 2018

Braam Lowies, Robert Brenton Whait, Christa Viljoen and Stanley McGreal

The purpose of this paper is to determine the profile of the typical online fractional residential property investor in Australia. This study also seeks to understand the motives…

1147

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the profile of the typical online fractional residential property investor in Australia. This study also seeks to understand the motives for engaging with and investing in alternative residential property investments.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a survey-based design via an online questionnaire to gather information on investor age, gender, type, education levels, time horizons and investment history and risk and return expectations. It also gathers information regarding investors’ financial literacy including tax implications of fractional property investment.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest amongst others, that fractional property investors tend to be younger, although the platform also attracts older investors including older females. The study also found that investors do not select alternative investment platforms in anticipation of super-normal investment returns. Return expectations are realistic and are based on a balance between capital growth and income.

Practical implications

This study indicates that alternative investment platforms lowers the barriers of entry into residential property for first time investors. It therefore creates opportunities to allow many first time individual investors to invest in property, often as an alternative to bank savings or investing in the stock market.

Originality/value

This study enhances our understanding of the influence of alternative investment platforms on investment decision-making. More specifically, it contrasts fractional property investment with more traditional investment opportunities to understand the motives of investors for diversifying into online investment vehicles.

Details

Journal of Property Investment & Finance, vol. 36 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-578X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 December 2021

Braam Lowies, Graham Squires, Peter Rossini and Stanley McGreal

The purpose of this paper is to first explore whether Australia and the main metropolitan areas demonstrate significant differences in tenure and property type between…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to first explore whether Australia and the main metropolitan areas demonstrate significant differences in tenure and property type between generational groups. Second, whether the millennial generation is more likely to rent rather than own. Third, if such variation in tenure and property type by millennials is one of individual choice and lifestyle or the impact of housing market inefficiencies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs a comparative research approach using secondary data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to consider housing tenure and type distributions across generations as well as through cross-city analysis.

Findings

The results show that home ownership is still the dominant tenure in Australia, but private rental is of increasing significance, becoming the tenure of choice for Millennials. Owner occupation is shown to remain and high and stable levels for older generations and while lower in percentage terms for Generation X; this generation exhibits the highest growth rate for ownership. Significant differences are shown in tenure patterns across Australia.

Originality/value

The significance of this paper is the focus on the analysis of generational differences in housing tenure and type, initially for Australia and subsequently by major metropolitan areas over three inter-census periods (2006, 2011 and 2016). It enhances the understanding of how policies favouring ageing in place can contradict other policies on housing affordability with specific impact on Millennials as different generations are respectively unequally locked-out and locked-in to housing wealth.

Details

Property Management, vol. 40 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-7472

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 September 2019

Braam Lowies, Robert Brenton Whait and Kurt Lushington

The purpose of this paper is to explore older people’s intention to relocate from their primary homes. The study also seeks to understand the policy implications that such…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore older people’s intention to relocate from their primary homes. The study also seeks to understand the policy implications that such intentions may have.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a survey-based design via computer-aided telephone interviews (CATI). The CATI survey was employed to gather information on the behaviour of older people and whether differences exist by gender, age, health immigration status and financial knowledge. The survey-based design is triangulated with the literature on this topic area and policy issues.

Findings

The findings of the study suggest amongst others, that older South Australians overwhelmingly and significantly do not intend to move from their primary home and are content to age in place. This is particularly true as people reach the older stages of life.

Originality/value

The study enhances the understanding of the decision-making environment that older people are exposed to in contemplating relocation from the primary home. More specifically, it shows that factors stated in the literature that deemed to be of importance in the decision to relocate, has no significance in this study and that ageing in place should be used as a policy base.

Details

Property Management, vol. 38 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-7472

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 November 2017

Braam Lowies, Christa Viljoen and Stanley McGreal

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of property investors of the risks and returns associated with property crowdfunding as an investment vehicle. The…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of property investors of the risks and returns associated with property crowdfunding as an investment vehicle. The study contributes to the understanding of alternative property investment vehicles and how it is perceived by investors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focusses on investor perceptions in using property crowdfunding as an investment vehicle and follows a survey-based design. A questionnaire was finalised after the completion of a pilot study and was distributed to existing property crowdfunding investors via email. Inferential statistical measures were used.

Findings

The results show, to an extent, similarities to general equity-based crowdfunding studies. However, the uniqueness of property crowdfunding as an investment vehicle may explain the insignificance of the results when related to other studies. Overall, the property crowdfunding investor seems to present cautious behaviour with a conservative perception of property crowdfunding as an investment vehicle.

Practical implications

It is recommended that property crowdfunding platforms present prospective investors with more formal regulation of the property crowdfunding industry. Such a regulatory framework may lessen the current level of uncertainty presented by investors.

Originality/value

The study enhances the understanding of the role of property crowdfunding as an alternative investment vehicle in Australia. More importantly, it went some way towards enhancing the understanding of how investors perceive and behave vis-à-vis property crowdfunding as an investment vehicle.

Details

Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, vol. 22 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1366-4387

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2016

Gert Abraham Lowies, John Henry Hall and Christiaan Ernst Cloete

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether anchoring and adjustment as heuristic-driven bias and herding behaviour influences listed property fund managers in South…

2481

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether anchoring and adjustment as heuristic-driven bias and herding behaviour influences listed property fund managers in South Africa’s property investment decisions. The study contributes to the understanding of the influence of heuristic-driven bias and herding behaviour on property investment decisions made in a highly volatile environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is focused on the subject field of behavioural finance and follows a survey-based design. A questionnaire was finalised after completion of the pilot study and was sent via e-mail to fund managers of all South African-based property funds listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange. Non-parametric statistical measures were used.

Findings

Consistency with other studies suggests that anchoring and adjustment may exist in the decisions made by listed property fund managers. However, fund managers tend to not adjust to new information due to the current socio-political environment in South Africa rather than a lack of understanding of the new information.

Practical implications

It is recommended that investors form developed and emerging economies take notice of the highly volatile circumstances in which property fund managers in an emerging economy such as South Africa have to make investment decisions. The probability of missed gains as a result of conservative investment strategies may have an impact on future returns.

Originality/value

This study enhanced the understanding of the role that heuristic-driven bias plays in the South African property industry and more importantly, it went some way towards enhancing understanding of behavioural aspects and their influence on property investment decision making in an emerging market.

Details

Journal of Property Investment & Finance, vol. 34 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-578X

Keywords

1 – 5 of 5