This book provides the knowledge needed for expert property valuation in line with the requirements of the Valuers Act. But the scope of its contents is not confined to the needs of the professional valuers and students; it will prove to be very valuable to all property people: estate agents, attorneys, quantity surveyors, architects, and property practitioners in general.

Countries which take spatial planning seriously should take planning law and property rights also seriously. There is an unavoidable logical relationship between planning, law, and property rights. However, planning by law and property rights is so familiar and taken for granted that we do not think about the theory behind it. As a result, we do not think abstractly about its strengths and weaknesses, about what can be achieved with it and what not, how it can be improved, how it could be complemented. Such reflections are essential to cope with current and future challenges to spatial planning. This book makes the (often implicit) theory behind planning by law and property rights explicit and relates it to those challenges. It starts by setting out what is understood by planning by law and property rights, and investigates - theoretically and by game simulation - the relationships between planning law and property rights. It then places planning law and property rights within their institutional setting at three different scales: when a country undergoes enormous social and political change, when there is fundamental political debate about the power of the state within a country, and when a country changes its legislation in response to European policy. Not only changing institutions, but also global environmental change, pose huge challenges for spatial planning. The book discusses how planning by law and property rights can respond to those challenges: by adaptive planning), by adaptable property rights, and by public policies at the appropriate geographical level. Planning by law and property rights can fix a local regime of property rights which turns out to be inappropriate but difficult to change. It questions whether such regimes can be changed and whether planning agencies can make such undesirable lock-ins less likely by reducing market uncertainty and, if so, by what means.

This study of the strategic, policy and operational characteristics of Land Value Taxation is a unique and original contribution to Elston knowledge. McCluskey and Franzsen provide a clear and detailed synthesis of existing Land Value Taxation systems and address the perceived advantages and disadvantages of such systems. The implications of this work, based on a two-tier analysis of selected countries, will be critical in terms of informing policy makers when contemplating reviews of existing Land Value Taxation systems or its possible introduction. The empirical research underpinning this work has attempted to concisely provide the role of land value systems within the selected case study countries. The work has clearly identified a number of challenges being faced by those countries and jurisdictions that currently utilise land value tax systems. Given these challenges this book is timely in that it provides detailed expositions of property tax systems that are undergoing significant change and reform.

In recent years, growing attention has been focussed on real estate education. The objective of Real Estate Education Throughout The World: Past, Present and Future is to document the current status and perspectives of real estate education and the underlying research throughout the world. The intent is to inform students, academics and practitioners about the situation in the widest possible range of countries and to provide a foundation for the future of the real estate discipline. The structure of this monograph follows the organisation of the world-wide network of real estate societies. In Part 1, Stephen E. Roulac sets the framework for the other contributions. Part 2 contains 20 chapters that examine real estate education in Europe. Part 3 consists of two articles covering North America. Part 4 includes two chapters dealing with Latin America. In Part 5, 8 countries in Asia are examined. Part 6 contains two chapters covering the Pacific Rim. Finally, Part 7 focuses on Africa. This collection of papers is unique, in the sense that 50 authors have contributed to the monograph and 37 countries or regions in total are covered. The editor does not know of any comparable book.

This ground-breaking Encyclopedia provides a nuanced overview of the key concepts of urban and regional planning and design. Embracing a broad understanding of planning and design within and beyond the professions, it examines what planners and designers can do in and for a community.

There is a lack of international comparative housing studies, possibly because it requires thorough knowledge of the real estate market in question. This book brings together scholars with knowledge of different national markets in order to facilitate comparisons for real estate and housing and urban studies scholars and practitioners. By studying international markets using new data as well as new analysis of existing data, the chapters in this book present insights into the institutional constraints on national housing markets. Specifically, the contributors seek to examine the role of institutional factors and their influence on transaction costs in these markets. Exhibiting a diverse range of geographical, legal, and economic perspectives, the countries are grouped together based on legal institutional similarities, and each group includes an introduction and a conclusion highlighting similarities and differences from the institutional perspective. The book is divided into 3 parts: Part I sets the theoretical context and the reasons for writing a book focusing on national housing markets. Part II presents national markets from the perspective of the transaction process and covers Europe, North and South America, East Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Part III contains conclusions with a critical discussion on how to compare national housing markets and a reflection on future directions of housing markets in an increasingly competitive international environment. The Routledge Companion to International Housing Markets is essential reading for academics and professionals in housing studies, real estate, economics, and urban studies.

This practical handbook is an indispensible guide for all owner builders. A consistent seller for nearly two decades, this edition has been completely revised and updated to take account of changes in building legislation, new building techniques, and contemporary architectural, design and decor trends. A practical, easy-to-read reference book that will enable the owner builder or home renovator to tackle a project in a logical manner and with confidence. Sound advice is given on making an offer to purchase land, how to calculate costs and raise finances, preparation and submission of building plans, and how to quantify the cost of building. Topics include building methods and materials, the construction schedule, tools and plant hire, siteworks and excavations, foundations, damp-proofing, wall structures, roofing, flooring, ceilings, plumbing, drainage and sanitation, electrics, plastering and screeding, decorative finishes, fixtures and fittings, verandahs, porches, patios and paving, landscaping, and home security.