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Real Estate Agents in Ghana: A Suitable Case for Regulation?

Author

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  • Franklin Obeng-Odoom

Abstract

Obeng-Odoom F. Real estate agents in Ghana: a suitable case for regulation?, Regional Studies. This paper uses a qualitative approach to examine whether regulation would improve the effectiveness of the Ghanaian estate agency market. Interviews with landlords, estate agents, clients, and officials of the Rent Control Department suggest that (1) most so-called 'problems with unlicensed agents' are actually landlord-related problems; (2) there is a camaraderie relationship between unlicensed agents and their clients which effectively provides a licence against fraud; and (3) regulation would exacerbate unemployment and increase agency fees. For these reasons, regulation in general may not be in the public interest. Alternative ways of improving effectiveness in the Ghanaian estate agency market are recommended. [image omitted] Obeng-Odoom F. Les agents immobiliers au Ghana: est ce qu'il y a de bonnes raisons pour les reguler?, Regional Studies. Cet article emploie une facon qualitative afin d'examiner si, oui ou non, la regulation ameliorerait l'efficacite du marche immobilier au Ghana. Des interviews menes aupres des proprietaires, des agents immobiliers, des clients et des employes du Rent Control Department (des controleurs de loyer) laissent supposer que, primo, la plupart des dits 'problemes avec des agents non-agrees' sont en fait des problemes qui se rapportent aux proprietaires; secundo, il existe une camaraderie entre les agents non-agrees et leurs clients, ce qui fournit en effet une licence contre la fraude; et tertio, la regulation aggraverait le chomage et augmenterait les honoraires des agents. Pour ces raisons-la, il se peut que la regulation generalisee ne soit pas dans l'interet du grand public. On propose d'autres moyens d'ameliorer l'efficacite du marche immobilier au Ghana. Licence Locataires Proprietaires Agents immobiliers Ghana Obeng-Odoom F. Immobilienmakler in Ghana: ausreichende Argumente fur eine Regulierung?, Regional Studies. In diesem Beitrag untersuchen wir mit Hilfe eines qualitativen Ansatzes, ob sich die Leistungsfahigkeit des Immobilienmarktes von Ghana durch eine Regulierung verbessern wurde. Aus Interviews mit Hausbesitzern, Immobilienmaklern, Kunden und Beamten der Mietkontrollbehorde geht Folgendes hervor: (1) die meisten sogenannten 'Probleme mit nicht lizenzierten Maklern' sind in Wahrheit Probleme mit Vermietern; (2) zwischen nicht lizenzierten Maklern und ihren Kunden besteht ein kameradschaftliches Verhaltnis, das gewissermassen einen Schutz vor Betrug bietet; (3) durch eine Regulierung wurden die Arbeitslosigkeit und Maklergebuhren steigen. Aus diesen Grunden liegt eine generelle Regulierung eventuell nicht im Interesse der Offentlichkeit. Es werden alternative Methoden zur Verbesserung der Leistungsfahigkeit des Immobilienmarktes von Ghana empfohlen. Lizenz Mieter Vermieter Immobilienmakler Ghana Obeng-Odoom F. Agentes inmobiliarios en Ghana: ¿hay suficientes argumentos para regularlo?, Regional Studies. En este articulo se utiliza un enfoque cualitativo para examinar si la regulacion mejoraria la eficacia del mercado de las agencias inmobiliarias en Ghana. Las entrevistas realizadas a propietarios, agentes inmobiliarios, clientes y funcionarios del Departamento de Control de Alquileres indican que (1) la mayoria de los denominados problemas con agentes no autorizados se deben en realidad a problemas que tienen que ver directamente con los propietarios; (2) existe una relacion de camaraderia entre los agentes no autorizados y sus clientes que ofrece una licencia eficaz contra el fraude; y (3) la regulacion agravaria el desempleo y haria aumentar las tasas de las inmobiliarias. Por estos motivos, la regulacion en general podria no ser de interes publico. Se recomiendan otros metodos para mejorar la eficacia del mercado de las agencias inmobiliarias en Ghana. Autorizacion Inquilinos Propietarios Agentes inmobiliarios Ghana

Suggested Citation

  • Franklin Obeng-Odoom, 2011. "Real Estate Agents in Ghana: A Suitable Case for Regulation?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(3), pages 403-416.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:45:y:2011:i:3:p:403-416
    DOI: 10.1080/00343400903241550
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Buckley, Robert M. & Mathema, Ashna S., 2007. "Is Accra a superstar city ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4453, The World Bank.
    2. Kasanga, R. Kasim & Cochrane, Jeffrey A. & King, Rudith & Roth, Michael J., 1996. "Land Markets And Legal Contradictions In The Peri-Urban Area Of Accra Ghana: Informant Interviews And Secondary Data Investigations," Research Papers 12747, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Land Tenure Center.
    3. Overman, Henry G. & Venables, Anthony J., 2005. "Cities in the developing world," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 19887, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    1. Richmond J. Ehwi & Lewis A. Asante, 2016. "Ex-Post Analysis of Land Title Registration in Ghana Since 2008 Merger," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(2), pages 21582440166, April.
    2. David Asante Edwin & Evam Kofi Glover & Edinam K. Glover, 2020. "When Tradition Meets Modernity in Land Registration: Evidence from Dagbon, Ghana," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-28, October.

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