Estimating Distance Gradients for Apartment Properties

Abstract

The effect of distance from the city centre on selling price, tax assessment and gross income is investigated for income property in proximity to the city centre. Hedonic estimation with a multiplicative model specification is used to estimate the relationship between property characteristics on the one hand and price, assessment and income on the other. The sample consists of centrally located apartment buildings in downtown Stockholm sold during a recent three-year period. The application is specific to Stockholm, but the methodology and the insights gained are general. The results include the estimation of price gradients for the dependent variables. The models are used for estimating the implicit capitalisation rates in the property market as a function of the distance to the centre. We also estimated where the market appears to place the city centre as implied by the observations. Although no rent gradient was found, we were able to detect a significant negative price gradient. The former is reasonable considering the rent control ordinances. The latter indicates the existence of a negative land rent gradient.