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Addressing housing costs and understanding real estate markets

Real Estate and Housing Economics (Spatial and Applied Economics)

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.  

This master's specialisation addresses housing and real estate challenges from an economic and policy perspective but also covers the finance-side of real estate and housing, including investment analysis, mortgage markets, and risk assessment. You will investigate how prices are determined, how real estate portfolios are managed, and how land use regulations, infrastructure, and government policy influence property values. You will also explore the deep connection between real estate and location. 

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Thursday 27 November 2025

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MSc Spatial and Applied Economics

Discover your ideal Spatial and Applied Economics specialisation

Why study Real Estate and Housing Economics?

Studying Real Estate and Housing Economics allows you to be taught by an expert staff that is leading in research and active in policy debates. The programme is unique that it allows you to choose courses in related fields, such as urban, transport, environmental, health, development, and public policy economics. Grounded in real-world data and rigorous empirical methods, the programme equips you to assess and shape policies at the household, local, and national level.

Recognized for its excellence, the programme has been ranked the Best Economics Master’s in the Netherlands by Keuzegids Masters 2025, consistently receives high ratings in the National Student Survey, and earned a bronze medal in Elsevier’s Best Studies 2023.

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