Program Overview

Real Estate and Housing Economics (Spatial and Applied Economics)

Overview

The Real Estate and Housing Economics program addresses housing and real estate challenges from an economic and policy perspective, covering the finance-side of real estate and housing, including investment analysis, mortgage markets, and risk assessment.

Program Description

Dutch households spend about 30% of their income on housing — a figure that’s on the rise in many countries worldwide. The ongoing housing affordability crisis is a central concern in real estate and housing economics, as it highlights the growing disconnect between housing costs and household incomes. This raises urgent questions about housing supply, housing policies such as rent control, public housing, and mortgage interest deductibility, and the consequences of unequal access to housing. The energy transition, the increased popularity of working from home, and the rise of e-commerce also have important consequences for real estate markets.

Real estate values, including commercial rents, vary widely across time and locations. For instance, house prices in Amsterdam are many times higher than in more peripheral regions. Even within cities, office rents in central locations can be several times higher than in outlying suburbs.

Program Details

• The program is taught by expert staff leading in research and active in policy debates.
• The program allows students to choose courses in related fields, such as urban, transport, environmental, health, development, and public policy economics.
• The program is grounded in real-world data and rigorous empirical methods, equipping students to assess and shape policies at the household, local, and national level.
• The program has been ranked the Best Economics Master’s in the Netherlands by Keuzegids Masters 2025 and consistently receives high ratings in the National Student Survey.
• The program earned a bronze medal in Elsevier’s Best Studies 2023.

Why Study Real Estate and Housing Economics?

Studying Real Estate and Housing Economics allows students to be part of a unique program that combines economic and policy perspectives with the finance-side of real estate and housing. The program provides students with the skills to investigate how prices are determined, how real estate portfolios are managed, and how land use regulations, infrastructure, and government policy influence property values.

Program Structure

• The program is a Master's specialization.
• It is a one-year, full-time program.
• The program is taught in English.

Research Areas

• Housing affordability crisis
• Housing supply and demand
• Housing policies (rent control, public housing, mortgage interest deductibility)
• Real estate markets and values
• Investment analysis and mortgage markets
• Risk assessment in real estate and housing
• Energy transition and its impact on real estate markets
• Working from home and e-commerce and their consequences for real estate markets

Career Prospects

The program prepares students for careers in real estate and housing economics, policy-making, and research. Graduates can work in government agencies, private companies, or non-profit organizations, applying their knowledge and skills to address housing and real estate challenges.