The relative importance of mortgage pricing determinants in mortgage affordability in Ghana

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the mortgage affordability problem in Ghana, an issue that has been associated inter alia with high mortgage rates, which results from the high cost of capital, an unstable macroeconomy and unfavourable borrowers’ characteristics. Concurrent improvements in both the macroeconomy and borrowers’ characteristics have rendered the identification of the most problematic mortgage pricing determinant difficult, consequently making the targeting of policy interventions problematic. Design/methodology/approach This research sought to resolve this aforementioned difficulty by providing empirical evidence on the relative importance of mortgage pricing determinants. A data set of mortgage rates of selected Ghanaian banking financial institutions from 2003 to 2013 was examined and analysed by applying Fisher’s model of interest rates and an ex post analysis of the standard regression coefficients. Findings The risk premium factor emerged as the most important determinant in Ghana compared with the inflation premium and the real risk-free rate, although all are statistically significant and strongly correlated with mortgage rates. Originality/value This study provides an insight on the relative importance of mortgage pricing determinates and subsequent macro-economic guidance to support policy interventions which could reduce mortgage rates/enhance mortgage affordability. The paper specifically aims to engender wider debate and provide guidance to the Ghanaian Government and/or private enterprises that seek to provide affordable mortgages. Further research is proposed which could explore ways of reducing mortgage rates as a means of engendering social equality and adopt innovative international best practice that has already been tried and tested in countries such as South Africa and the USA

Real estate infrastructure financing in Ghana: Sources and constraints

Finance represents a major barrier to real estate development in Ghana and constraints responsible remain unknown. In order to gain insight into this important social/economic issue, a positivist tradition of thinking via the survey approach sought to uncover, explain and rank these constraints using the Relative Importance Index. A total of 53 questionnaires were distributed to real estate developers within the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. The survey reveals that real estate developers predominantly use debt financing including short-term bank loans, mortgages and hire purchase. Finance is constrained by five main factors: i) legislation; ii) macroeconomic barriers; iii) collateral barriers; iv) inadequate risk assessment and diversification mechanisms; and v) a dearth of financial mobilization mechanisms. This paper provides a practical reference for the targeting of policy interventions to overcome these constraints and to catalyse the development of finance for real estate infrastructure delivery. The work is also useful to the Government, banks and capital market regulators who seek to develop the capital market to provide appropriate financing options. These options may include real estate investment trusts (REITs) and risk reduction/diversification platform via derivatives. Future research is proposed which seeks to explore practical innovations in designing tailor-made real estate financing options that meet the needs of real estate developers. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd