Proptech and Housing: A Solution to the Affordability Crisis?

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The Wharton School::Wharton Undergraduate Research::Joseph Wharton Scholars
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Business
Urban, Community and Regional Planning
Subject
Affordability
Rents
Construction Costs
Modular Construction
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2024
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Steinberg, Hailey
Contributor
Ferreira, Fernando
Abstract

Rental home affordability is a growing concern across the United States, perpetuating secondary issues of homelessness and food insecurity. Despite many policy interventions aimed at promoting affordable housing, rising costs far outpace the current solutions. Previous research has explored the relationship between modular construction methods and cheaper construction cost. I hypothesize that, given cheaper costs, modular housing should reduce rent prices at the hyperlocal level. To test my hypothesis, I investigated the rent price per square foot for 200 homes (100 modular homes and 100 traditionally-built) across five major U.S. cities. I found that modular construction has no statistically significant impact on rent price per square foot. While modular construction may offer potential long-term benefits in terms of cost-effectiveness, the full realization of these advantages may not have happened yet. Future studies should consider a more extensive sample of homes before recommendations regarding modular construction subsidies can be made.

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2024
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