The Role of Speculative Demand in Housing Price Changes in Turkey

Abstract

Housing accounts for the largest portion of households' total assets in Turkey. It is an economic sector that requires careful analysis, especially considering the government's housing sector support policies and the significant price increases in recent years. This study utilizes the theoretical model developed within the Efficient Markets Hypothesis framework and the SVAR methodology to estimate house price changes. These changes are then decomposed into structural shocks, including supply, residential demand, and speculative demand shocks. The empirical results highlight the significant role of speculative demand in driving house price changes, with house price expectations being the main factor influencing speculative demand shocks. The behavior of the banking sector and interest rates also play a significant role in this process. Consequently, policies to stabilize house prices should consider these factors and not solely focus on credit regulations when consumer expectations are the driving force behind house price changes.