Global Housing Watch

The Global Housing Watch tracks developments in housing markets across the world on a quarterly basis. It provides current data on house prices as well as metrics used to assess valuation in housing markets, such as house price‑to‑rent and house-price‑to‑income ratios.

Making Affordable Rental Housing Part of Europe's Recovery

Already before the pandemic, many store or restaurant workers living in a major city in Europe had to spend more than half of their household's income on rent. During the pandemic, many of them have seen their incomes fall, pushing up their share of income going to rent.

Commercial Real Estate at a Crossroads

Empty office buildings. Reduced store hours. Unbelievably low hotel room rates. All are signs of the times. The containment measures put in place last year in response to the pandemic shuttered businesses and offices, and dealt a severe blow to the demand for commercial real estate–especially, in the retail, hotel, and office segments.

Incomplete Financial Markets and the Booming Housing Sector in China

Housing is by far the most important asset in Chinese households' balance sheets. However, despite forceful and frequent government interventions, the rise in Chinese housing prices has not been contained as much as intended, a trend that has not been reversed by the COVID-19 shock.

House Prices and Macroprudential Policies: Evidence from City-level Data in India

This paper examines the efficacy of macroprudential policies in addressing housing prices in a developing country while underscoring the importance of fundamental factors.