Kan vi bygga bort ofrivillig ensamhet i Sverige? Inom det Vinnova-finansierade projektet H22 Alone Together har vi under två års tid ställt oss denna fråga. Resultatet av gemensamma krafter blev en helt ny bostadstyp, H22-huset.

There is a lack of international comparative housing studies, possibly because it requires thorough knowledge of the real estate market in question. This book brings together scholars with knowledge of different national markets in order to facilitate comparisons for real estate and housing and urban studies scholars and practitioners. By studying international markets using new data as well as new analysis of existing data, the chapters in this book present insights into the institutional constraints on national housing markets. Specifically, the contributors seek to examine the role of institutional factors and their influence on transaction costs in these markets. Exhibiting a diverse range of geographical, legal, and economic perspectives, the countries are grouped together based on legal institutional similarities, and each group includes an introduction and a conclusion highlighting similarities and differences from the institutional perspective.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical framework for the subsequent analysis of the European Union internal market's concept of transparency in residential real estate transactions. Specifically, it seeks to identify the essential factors that should be addressed within any such analysis. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on a review of the literature on the general concept of transparency, and on other related aspects. Findings – Based on this study, five dimensions of transparency are identified, namely transparency in transaction procedure, legal information, financing, taxation and transaction costs. The essential points are that an increase in cross-border transactions increases demand for easy access to information held in other countries. The studied literature focuses on the coordination of legal systems, making systems more uniform and legally secured, and on broadening of the mortgage market. The study highlights the complexities involved in achieving transparency, as well as the length of time that this will take to achieve in practice. Originality/value – The paper identifies different dimensions of transparency in residential real estate transactions. There is little prior research in the area which focuses specifically on residential transactions. The study therefore draws upon work in other areas, including financial markets and taxation, and places this within a residential housing context.

This dissertation consists of four essays with specific objectives. The overall objective is, however, to seek a further understanding of the issue of cross-border residential transaction markets. While the first two essays focus specifically on transaction processes and costs in a number of selected countries, the two subsequent essays shift their attention towards the EU’s Internal Market and the impact of differences between the countries, with relation to the transparency of transaction markets. The research is primary based on studies of written sources, subject-specific literature and legislation. The main message is that organization of the transaction process affects transaction costs in different ways. It can be argued that efficiency is associated with a lowering of transaction costs. The efficiency of different structures depends on our perspective. Transparency is associated with the organisation of transactions and their needs, though the term is somewhat unclear. Generally, the term may refer to the ability of transaction participants to observe information concerning the transacting process, thereby increasing their knowledge to make informed decisions. Thus it can be argued that a better basis for the decision-making process presupposes information disclosure, more standardized transaction practices, synchronized legal systems, and both legible and transparent regulations. This leads to the design of a transparency system, which is based on an understanding of the need for the system and its goal. Although reaching transparency will be both complex and time-consuming, this study draws attention to certain key aspect of the need to encourage transparency. The first two essays focus on how residential transactions are organized in selected countries and on the costs for carrying out these transactions. Essay II works with two hypotheses concerning the relation between the organizational structure and the transaction costs. The study shows that transaction processes and costs differ considerably between the countries and as a result it is difficult to arrange the countries in a clear way according to their rules. Moreover, there is no clear connection between a broker’s education level and how large a part in the process s/he plays. The total transaction costs excluding taxes vary from approximately 3 up to 8.5 percent. The costs are lower when the recording system is well arranged, when a broker has a bigger part in the process and when a conveyancer is impartial. In the countries where a broker has a higher education level and plays bigger part in the process, the broker’s commission is not any higher when compared to other countries in the study. The study shows also that transaction costs are lower in the countries where the broker has a more neutral role and where fewer parties are involved in the process. Thus in order to avoid high transaction costs, it is important to avoid situations where both buyer and seller have their own agents. Furthermore, the availability of standardized information about properties may increase the efficiency of the market even though it increases the short run transaction cost. Essay III provides a theoretical framework for an analysis of the concept of transparency in residential property transactions within the EU’s internal market and tries to identify the essential factors that need to be addressed with respect to transparency of procedural, regulative and economic features. Essay IV seeks a further understanding of the issue of transparency in the residential property transaction market and attempts to define the state of transparency on the basis of selected EU-countries, in accord with five specific dimensions. The essential points are that an increase in cross-border transactions increases demand for easy access to information in other countries, and that the studied literature focuses on the coordination of legal systems, which produces systems that are more uniform and legally secured, and on broadening the mortgage market. Some of the aspects analysed in the study are far from transparent while others may be considered relatively transparent. The degree of transparency in the EU’s internal market is determined by how transparency is defined, since something may be transparent based on a certain criteria but not on others, especially when the concept is a relative one and subject to changes. The study raises some key aspect as a basis for discussion about the encouragement of transparency.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to seek a further understanding of the issue of transparency in the residential property transaction market and to try to identify the state of transparency on the basis of a number of selected EU-countries: Sweden, Denmark, England and Wales, Germany, Poland, France and Spain, according to five dimensions, when carrying out cross-border housing transactions. The hypothesis is that the EU is far from transparent in this respect, and that the road to transparency will be long and winding. The purpose is also to identify the steps that are needed to enhance the transparency.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based the studies of written sources on the seven countries with respect to these five dimensions. Both primary sources such as legislation, and secondary sources such as literature, reports and information on the webpages of those countries, the home pages of professional branch organisations and other authorities, have been studied. A multiple case study research strategy is applied.

Findings – Based on this study, the state of transparency is identified. The essential points are that some of the aspects analysed in the study are far from transparent while others may be considered as relatively transparent. The extent to which the Internal Market may be considered as transparent is related in some way to the definition given to transparency. Something may be considered as transparent based on certain criteria but not on others, particularly when the concept is a relative one and subject to changes. The study raises certain key aspect as a basis for a discussion on encouraging transparency. The study indicates that a primary objective in seeking to improve transparency would be for Denmark to remove rules on the ownership of holiday homes, which make it difficult to acquire a secondary home in Denmark.

Originality/value – The study addresses the issues of transparency in real property transactions by providing an analysis of various aspects of a transaction.

The transaction process and transaction costs for single-family houses in six countries are analyzed. Among the results for the "real" transaction costs, taxes included, are that transaction costs are lower in the countries where the broker has a more neutral role, and in the countries where the register system is more developed and where fewer parties are involved. In order to avoid high transaction costs it is important to avoid a situation where both buyer and seller have their own agent. Standardized information about properties, like the Home Information Pack in the UK, can however increase the efficiency of the market even though it increases the short run transaction cost.