IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/ormksc/v43y2024i2p346-359.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

For-Sale-by-Owner Platforms and Intermediation Pricing: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Qiyuan Wang

    (Faculty of Business, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong)

Abstract

Intermediary agents play a crucial role in connecting sellers and buyers across various markets. However, the emergence of digital platforms has provided more affordable channels for direct transactions, challenging the dominance of agents. In this study, we examine the impact of a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) platform on real estate agents’ listing prices. By using a natural experiment in China, we find that the introduction of the FSBO platform leads to a 2.8% decrease in listing prices, a percentage comparable to the commission rate typically charged by agents. The cost advantage provided by the FSBO platform appears to be the primary driver behind this price drop rather than selection bias in listings. Furthermore, the impact of reduced listing prices extends to the final sales price of the properties. These findings carry important policy implications for competition regulation of intermediaries.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiyuan Wang, 2024. "For-Sale-by-Owner Platforms and Intermediation Pricing: Evidence from a Natural Experiment," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 43(2), pages 346-359, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormksc:v:43:y:2024:i:2:p:346-359
    DOI: 10.1287/mksc.2022.0245
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mksc.2022.0245
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/mksc.2022.0245?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tobias Salz, 2022. "Intermediation and Competition in Search Markets: An Empirical Case Study," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 130(2), pages 310-345.
    2. B. Douglas Bernheim & Jonathan Meer, 2013. "Do Real Estate Brokers Add Value When Listing Services Are Unbundled?," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 51(2), pages 1166-1182, April.
    3. Catherine Tucker & Juanjuan Zhang & Ting Zhu, 2013. "Days on market and home sales," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 44(2), pages 337-360, June.
    4. Jia Xie, 2019. "The Optimal Selling Strategy of Residential Real Estate," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 461-489, October.
    5. Christian Peukert & Imke Reimers, 2018. "Digital Disintermediation and Efficiency in the Market for Ideas," CESifo Working Paper Series 6880, CESifo.
    6. Steven D. Levitt & Chad Syverson, 2008. "Market Distortions When Agents Are Better Informed: The Value of Information in Real Estate Transactions," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 90(4), pages 599-611, November.
    7. Monika Piazzesi & Martin Schneider & Johannes Stroebel, 2020. "Segmented Housing Search," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(3), pages 720-759, March.
    8. Amy Finkelstein & Matthew Gentzkow & Heidi Williams, 2021. "Place-Based Drivers of Mortality: Evidence from Migration," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 111(8), pages 2697-2735, August.
    9. Horn, Keren & Merante, Mark, 2017. "Is home sharing driving up rents? Evidence from Airbnb in Boston," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 14-24.
    10. Yash Babar & Gordon Burtch, 2020. "Examining the Heterogeneous Impact of Ride-Hailing Services on Public Transit Use," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(3), pages 820-834, September.
    11. Herrin, William E. & Knight, John R. & Sirmans, C.F., 2004. "Price cutting behavior in residential markets," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 195-207, September.
    12. Abadie, Alberto & Diamond, Alexis & Hainmueller, Jens, 2010. "Synthetic Control Methods for Comparative Case Studies: Estimating the Effect of California’s Tobacco Control Program," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 105(490), pages 493-505.
    13. David H. Autor, 2003. "Outsourcing at Will: The Contribution of Unjust Dismissal Doctrine to the Growth of Employment Outsourcing," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 21(1), pages 1-42, January.
    14. Grace Gu & Feng Zhu, 2021. "Trust and Disintermediation: Evidence from an Online Freelance Marketplace," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(2), pages 794-807, February.
    15. Gehrig, Thomas, 1993. "Intermediation in Search Markets," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(1), pages 97-120, Spring.
    16. Emily Oster, 2019. "Unobservable Selection and Coefficient Stability: Theory and Evidence," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 187-204, April.
    17. Marco Tabellini, 2020. "Gifts of the Immigrants, Woes of the Natives: Lessons from the Age of Mass Migration," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 87(1), pages 454-486.
    18. Jian Ni & Kannan Srinivasan, 2015. "Matching in the Sourcing Market: A Structural Analysis of the Upstream Channel," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 34(5), pages 722-738, September.
    19. Tabellini, Marco, 2020. "Gifts of the Immigrants, Woes of the Natives: Lessons from the Age of Mass Migration," CEPR Discussion Papers 14317, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wei Chen & Zaiyan Wei & Karen Xie, 2022. "The Battle for Homes: How Does Home Sharing Disrupt Local Residential Markets?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(12), pages 8589-8612, December.
    2. Shusen Qi & Steven Ongena & Hua Cheng, 2022. "Working with women, do men get all the credit?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 1427-1447, December.
    3. Laliotis, Ioannis & Minos, Dimitrios, 2022. "Religion, social interactions, and COVID-19 incidence in Western Germany," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    4. Sergei Guriev & Elias Papaioannou, 2022. "The Political Economy of Populism," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 60(3), pages 753-832, September.
    5. Graziella Bertocchi & Arcangelo Dimico & Gian Luca Tedeschi, 2022. "Strangers and Foreigners: Trust and Attitudes toward Citizenship," CHILD Working Papers Series 100 JEL Classification: J, Centre for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic Economics (CHILD) - CCA.
    6. Cheng, Jiameng & Dai, Yanke & Lin, Shu & Ye, Haichun, 2021. "Clan culture and family ownership concentration: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    7. Hongchang Wang & Benjamin Williams & Karen Xie & Wei Chen, 2024. "Quality Differentiation and Matching Performance in Peer-to-Peer Markets: Evidence from Airbnb Plus," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 70(7), pages 4260-4282, July.
    8. Yu Yan & Shusen Qi, 2021. "I Know What I Need: Optimization of Bribery," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(2), pages 311-332, November.
    9. Jérôme Gonnot & Federica lo Polito, 2023. "Cultural Transmission and Political Attitudes: Explaining Differences between Natives and Immigrants in Western Europe," Working Papers 2023-12, CEPII research center.
    10. Alexander S. Skorobogatov, 2021. "The effect of alcohol sales restrictions on alcohol poisoning mortality: Evidence from Russia," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1417-1442, June.
    11. Lin, Pengsheng & Pan, Yinghao & Wang, Yuan & Hu, Longhai, 2024. "Reshaping unfairness perceptions: Evidence from China's Hukou reform," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    12. Chen, Shuai, 2023. "Unemployment, Immigration, and Populism," IZA Discussion Papers 16642, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Simone Moriconi & Giovanni Peri & Riccardo Turati, 2022. "Are Immigrants More Left-Leaning than Natives?," CESifo Working Paper Series 9859, CESifo.
    14. Hiroyuki Matsuyama & Chigusa Okamoto & Yasuhiro Sato, 2024. "Social integration of Immigrants in Cities: Theory and Evidence from The European Social Survey," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1236, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    15. Adithya Pattabhiramaiah & Eric Overby & Lizhen Xu, 2022. "Spillovers from Online Engagement: How a Newspaper Subscriber’s Activation of Digital Paywall Access Affects Her Retention and Subscription Revenue," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(5), pages 3528-3548, May.
    16. Moriconi, Simone & Peri, Giovanni & Turati, Riccardo, 2023. "Are Immigrants More Left Wing than Natives?," IZA Discussion Papers 16164, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    17. Nahim Bin Zahur & Lucy Xiaolu Wang, 2024. "Procurement Institutions and Essential Drug Supply in Low and Middle-Income Countries," Working Paper 1519, Economics Department, Queen's University.
    18. Lleras-Muney, Adriana & Price, Joseph & Yue, Dahai, 2022. "The association between educational attainment and longevity using individual-level data from the 1940 census," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    19. Baulia, Susmita, 2024. "Is household shock a boon or bane to the utilisation of preventive healthcare for children? Evidence from Uganda," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    20. Song, Jinbo & Nie, Rong & Yuan, Hehui & Gao, Jingxin, 2023. "Does the renovation of waste-to-energy incineration plants attenuate the housing price gradient? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in Shenzhen, China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:ormksc:v:43:y:2024:i:2:p:346-359. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.