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European Energy Crisis: Did Electricity Prices Shock Real Estate Markets?

Author

Listed:
  • Becka Brolinson

    (Federal Housing Finance Agency)

  • William M. Doerner

    (Federal Housing Finance Agency)

  • Arne Johan Pollestad

    (Federal Housing Finance Agency)

  • Michael J. Seiler

    (Federal Housing Finance Agency)

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of the 2021–2022 European energy crisis, a significant macro-financial shock, on homebuyer willingness-to-pay for energy-efficient homes in Norway. Leveraging the country’s electricity market---characterized by five distinct regions with varying exposure to European power prices---as a quasi-experiment, we analyze how energy price shocks influence housing market dynamics. Applying a triple differences regression framework to real estate transactions, we find that home prices in regions affected by the shock fell significantly relative to unaffected regions, with single-family dwellings outside major cities experiencing the largest declines. While energy-efficient homes appeared less vulnerable, this effect was only marginally significant. Moreover, the negative price effects persisted despite the introduction of electricity price subsidies. These findings highlight the complex relationship between energy costs, housing market valuations, and buyer preferences, offering generalizable insights into the resilience of housing markets to macro-financial shocks and the role of policy interventions in mitigating their effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Becka Brolinson & William M. Doerner & Arne Johan Pollestad & Michael J. Seiler, 2024. "European Energy Crisis: Did Electricity Prices Shock Real Estate Markets?," FHFA Staff Working Papers 24-10, Federal Housing Finance Agency.
    • Handle: RePEc:hfa:wpaper:24-10
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • P18 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Energy; Environment
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy
    • R2 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis
    • R3 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location

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