Keywords

land prices, land development, nonlinear pricing, plattage, plottage

Abstract

As lot area increases, it is commonly believed that land prices will increase at a nonconstant rate. In the case where the land price-area curve increases at a decreasing rate with respect to parcel area, it is believed the cost of subdividing land is the driving factor behind the concavity. This paper uses a unique data set to explore how the area elasticity of price changes over the development cycle as land moves from raw land to finished lots. The results show the area elasticity of price increases as parcels of land move through the phases of development. The results also show concavity in the price-quantity (of lots) curve—as the number of lots bundled in a transaction increases, total price increases at a decreasing rate.

Original Publication Citation

Munneke, H., C.F. Sirmans and B. Slade. 2023. Land Prices and the Development Process. Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2023

Publisher

Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Finance

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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