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How many listings are too many? Agent inventory externalities and the residential housing market

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  • Bian, Xun
  • Waller, Bennie D.
  • Turnbull, Geoffrey K.
  • Wentland, Scott A.

Abstract

Given the significant role of real estate agents in the housing market, this study examines how agents’ incentives regarding the size of their listing inventories indirectly affect residential home prices and liquidity. The theory shows that taking on additional inventory generates a critical principal–agent issue, resulting in the dilution of an agent’s selling effort and, ultimately, creating an externality that adversely impacts housing market outcomes across listings. It remains an empirical question whether diluted sales effort leads to lower prices, longer time on market, or both. The empirical results reveal significant inventory externality effects, as greater agent inventory tends to reduce selling price and substantially reduce liquidity for clients’ properties in this market.

Suggested Citation

  • Bian, Xun & Waller, Bennie D. & Turnbull, Geoffrey K. & Wentland, Scott A., 2015. "How many listings are too many? Agent inventory externalities and the residential housing market," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 130-143.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhouse:v:28:y:2015:i:c:p:130-143
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhe.2015.04.002
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    1. Zhaohui Li & Qiang Li & Hua Sun & Li Sun, 2022. "Diffused effort, asset heterogeneity, and real estate brokerage," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 50(3), pages 707-742, September.
    2. Weiwei Li & Lisheng Weng & Kaixu Zhao & Sidong Zhao & Ping Zhang, 2021. "Research on the Evaluation of Real Estate Inventory Management in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-29, November.
    3. Geoffrey K. Turnbull & Bennie D. Waller & Scott A. Wentland, 2022. "Mitigating agency costs in the housing market," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 50(3), pages 829-861, September.
    4. Chris Cunningham & Kristopher Gerardi & Lily Shen, 2022. "The Good, the Bad, and the Ordinary: Estimating Agent Value-Added Using Real Estate Transactions," FRB Atlanta Working Paper 2022-11, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
    5. Marcus T. Allen & William H. Dare & Lingxiao Li, 2018. "MLS Information Sharing Intensity and Housing Market Outcomes," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 297-313, August.
    6. Xun Bian & Bennie D. Waller & Abdullah Yavas, 2017. "Commission Splits in Real Estate Transactions," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 165-187, February.
    7. Xun Bian & Justin C. Contat & Bennie D. Waller & Scott A. Wentland, 2023. "Why Disclose Less Information? Toward Resolving a Disclosure Puzzle in the Housing Market," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 66(2), pages 443-486, February.
    8. Natalya Bikmetova & Geoffrey K. Turnbull & Velma Zahirovic‐Herbert, 2023. "Ethnicity in housing markets: Buyers, sellers and agents," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 51(1), pages 196-232, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Residential housing; House prices; House liquidity; Principal–agent problem; Moral hazard; Asymmetric information;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R30 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - General
    • R10 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General
    • L85 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Real Estate Services

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