Real Estate Commons^™

Interpretive Flexibility And The Social Construction Of Generative Ai In Education: A Scot Analysis, Elham Mousavidin, Sujin K. Horwitz

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools has intensified discussions about their role in education. This study uses the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework to explore how educational stakeholders interpret GenAI and how these interpretations influence its development and adoption. Through an interpretive literature review of research published between 2021 and 2025, we examine stakeholder perspectives using SCOT constructs, including relevant social groups, interpretive flexibility, technological frames, and controversies. Results identify three main interpretive tensions shaping current debates: transformational force versus transactional tool, cognitive augmentation versus cognitive atrophy, and digital empowerment versus digital enslavement. These tensions show …

Most Affordable And Fastest-Growing Cities In The Mountain West, 2026, Cason Noll, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Cities & Metros

This fact sheet presents data on the most affordable and fastest-growing cities among the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The data are sourced from MoneyLion’s “50 Most Affordable, Fastest-Growing Cities” report, which analyzed and ranked U.S. cities by the most affordable places with large population growth. This fact sheet focuses on the 10 Mountain West cities that ranked within the top 50 and their corresponding 5-year population growth rate, median household income, annual cost of living for both homeowners and renters, and the leftover savings available at the end of the year for …

Who Bears The Burden: Tax Incidence And Water Governance In The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (Mrgcd) Within Bernalillo County, Michael W. Wilson

Economics ETDs

This study examines how property-value-based assessments within a large western irrigation and flood-control district distribute fiscal burdens across property owners. The empirical analysis is restricted to Bernalillo County within the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD), using parcel-level administrative data from fiscal year 2025 merged with 2021 irrigation service records and geospatial information. The analysis classifies 34,397 parcels by irrigation status, agricultural valuation enrollment, and primary use to evaluate whether non-irrigating residential and commercial parcels, including renter-occupied properties that lack direct irrigation access, bear a disproportionate share of financial responsibility for a district whose first listed priority under their primary …

Monetary Policy Regimes And Commercial Real Estate A Comparative Analysis Of The Relationship Between Interest Rates And Capitalization Rates In The Post-Gfc And Post-Covid Periods, Brooke Matney

Honors Theses

This study analyzes the relationship between U.S. interest rates and capitalization rates within commercial real estate under different monetary policy regimes. Specifically, the research examines whether the relationship between interest rates and cap rates changed structurally between the post-Global Financial Crisis (GFC) period and the post-COVID tightening cycle. Using quarterly data from 2000–2025 obtained from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), the study compares movements in the 10-Year U.S. Treasury yield and a constructed cap rate proxy derived from rental income and property price index data. Linear regression analysis was conducted across three monetary policy periods: the post-GFC expansionary environment (2010– …

An Explanation Of Alternatives Within A Portfolio, Isaac J. Reitman

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis attempts to provide insight into the role of alternative investments within modern portfolio construction for accredited and institutional investors.

The asset classes discussed are as follows: private credit, private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, collectibles, and real estate.

Educating For Responsible Ai Governance - Building Interdisciplinary Frameworks For The Management Of Artificial Intelligence, Grace Eboh

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly prevalent across industries, there is a critical need for educational programs that teach effective AI governance and management. This article examines how educational institutions can develop comprehensive curricula to prepare professionals for the complex challenges of overseeing AI systems responsibly. It analyzes current gaps in AI governance education, proposes frameworks for curriculum design, and identifies key competencies required for effective AI stewardship. The findings suggest that successful AI governance education must adopt an interdisciplinary approach that integrates technical literacy, policy understanding, ethical reasoning, and organizational management.

Two Essays On Out-Of-Town Home Buyers, Kamrul H. Talukdar

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This dissertation analyzes the price premia paid by Out-of-Town (or non-local) home buyers. The first essay investigates the role of social connectedness in the price premia paid by non-local buyers in the residential housing market. Using over 74,000 residential transactions from Orange and Seminole counties, Florida between 2016 and 2019 and exploiting the Social Connectedness Index (SCI) constructed based on Facebook friendship links, I show that non-local buyers who come from regions which are more socially connected to the purchase location pay about 1.8% to 2.1% lower premia compared to those coming from less connected regions. This effect is attributed …

Exploring The Struggles Of Minorities In Low-Income Communities With Affording And Financing Housing In San Antonio, Daniel Maes

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Affordability of housing has emerged as a major socio-economic issue in San Antonio, Texas,

especially among minority groups and other low-income groups. This thesis provides an analysis of the underlying factors that lead to housing unaffordability and the systemic factors that deny

these groups of people a chance to live in stable and affordable houses. This paper combines both primary survey data of local residents and secondary governmental and academic data, which

allows identifying the intersection of income differences, increased property prices,

gentrification, and the lack of affordable housing to worsen the affordability crisis. The

evaluation of the perception of …

The Impact Of Irrigation On Agricultural Land Values In The United States Southeast And An Analysis Of Farmland Prices In South Carolina, Christopher L. Thomas

All Theses

Land is a key component of the agriculture industry in the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, farm real estate (land and buildings) accounted for 82.8% of total US farm sector assets in 2022, consequently making land the largest source of wealth in a farmer’s investment portfolio and the primary source of collateral used for farm operating loans. The Southeastern region of the United States has seen rapid farmland appreciation and intense population growth in recent years. This research investigates the rising farmland prices across the Southeast from both a regional and state-level perspective. Chapter Two …

Fintech Companies Vs Traditional Lenders: Who Performed Better During Recent Rate Hikes?, Jordan Terry

Honors Scholar Theses

This research examines the performance of financial technology (fintech) lending companies, compared to traditional lenders, to assess whether a competitive advantage exists during periods of rising interest rates. A meta-analysis is conducted, linking historical lending behavior of banks and fintech lenders in relation to interest rate movements. Analysis of loan performance during the period 2013-2024 indicates that fintech lending does not reveal a significant advantage on a risk-adjusted basis during interest rate hikes. However, there is anecdotal evidence suggesting that the largest peer-to-peer lending platform experienced enhanced lending efficiency during a period of low interest rates. Overall, evidence suggests that …

From Poolside To Profit Margins: A Deep Dive Into Playa Hotels & Resorts, Elisabeth Zygmunt, Hai Tran

Honors Thesis

From a consumer perspective, all-inclusive leisure travel requires few worries coupled with plenty of enjoyment and relaxation. However, from a managerial perspective, there are countless operations to run to ensure a positive guest experience. Playa Hotels & Resorts (NASDAQ: PLYA) is a leader in all-inclusive resorts in vacation destinations worldwide. Compared to some of the biggest names and players in the industry, Playa has a relatively small market cap of $1.49B. To maintain its growth trajectory, Playa must capitalize on the increasing popularity of all-inclusive models and consumer health concerns, along with continuing to expand its portfolio through collaborations with …

Does Artificial Intelligence Bias Exist In Mortgage Underwriting Software? Investigating Bias, Regional Disparities, And Fair Ai Models, Dorian Cornelius

Dissertations

This quantitative study closely emulated Zou and Khern's (2022) analysis of AI Bias in Mortgage Applications. They used the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) dataset from the Federal Financial Institution Examination Council's (FFEIC) website to review mortgage loan data from 2019 to determine if there was bias in the AI mortgage application approvals. Those researchers concluded that bias does exist in the AI mortgage underwriting software. Since their study, research has demonstrated that discrimination continues to exist in AI software. Therefore, this research expands on Zou and Khern’s study to determine if there are differences in the mortgage loan approval …

J Mich Dent Assoc February 2025

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It is the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists. The February issue sets the tone for the MDA’s Annual Meeting, Revving Up Dentistry, this April in Detroit.

A detailed Annual Session Preview is included within the Journal with course listings and activities planned for the four-day event. Regular Departments: News You Need, New Dentist Column, MDA Insurance, Dentistry and the Law, Staff Matters, MDA at your Service, Governmental Affairs, and a Michigan Dental …

Harvest Gold Distillery, Alexis Mackey, Alexander Grecco, Cole Smith, Maggie Patterson, Blake Benko

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of our research project is to establish and grow Harvest Gold Distillery: a corn-based liquor distillery in Ohio that aims to produce and sell high-quality spirits while offering unique services that enhance outreach in the community. The motivation behind this business venture is rooted in one of our team member’s family traditions; Alex’s family makes homemade liquors, which has fostered an in-depth understanding of the distillation process. Alex’s firsthand experience with the craft provides a solid foundation, yet we recognize that starting a distillery involves significant challenges and requires thorough research in several functions of business. This project …

Road To Net Zero: Greenness Of Leadership In Energy And Environmental Design And California Green Building Standards Code In The Multifamily Sector, Jamie Jung, Michael Cusumano, Dongshin Kim, Abraham Park

Finance, Banking and Real Estate Faculty Publications

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) sustainability programs in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in multifamily buildings. We find that CALGreen effectively reduces GHG emissions by 7.2%–11.6%. However, among properties completed during the CALGreen period (on or after 2015), LEED-certified properties exhibit 14.1%–20.8% higher GHG emissions compared to non-LEED-certified buildings. We attribute this result to the emphasis on theoretical design versus actual energy performance of those programs. Furthermore, our research reveals that LEED-certified buildings completed before the implementation of CALGreen command a rent premium of 4.7%–5.4%. …

How To Communicate Your Estate Plan To Family When Dividing Assets Unequally, Anastasia Meyer

Cornhusker Economics

Provides a guide on how to effectively approach estate planning conversations with family members.

Effectively communicating an estate plan with unequal division of assets can be challenging, but approaching it with honesty, clarity, and empathy can help prevent misunderstandings and family disputes. Open, respectful dialogue—paired with thoughtful explanations and transparent documentation—ensures that your family understands your intentions and feels valued, even when tough decisions are involved.

Ultimately, your goal isn’t just to pass down financial assets, but also to preserve family harmony and, where applicable, secure the future of a viable business. By fostering open communication, you can create a …

Conservation Decision Making And Agricultural Land Leasing - An Experimental Investigation Of The Role Of Gender, Diya Ganguly, Simanti Banerjee, Christopher Gustafson

Cornhusker Economics

This research investigated the impact of landowner gender and of the different types of contract leases offered by them to a male tenant, on the conservation (or non-conservation) choice made by the tenant. Specifically, we investigate if a) female and male landowners offer different rental contracts and b) whether tenants choose different actions based on the landowner’s gender. For this purpose, we implemented a controlled, gender-context-loaded economic experiment with university students, in which we tested contract and land use choice under different treatments for three types of rental contracts – fixed rent, fixed rent with penalty, and fixed rent with …

Ideas For Estate And Transition Planning: Gifting Ownership, Jessica J. Groskopf

Cornhusker Economics

For many farm and ranch families, bringing children or grandchildren into the operation is the ultimate goal. Successfully bringing additional family members into the operation may require some creativity as all parties need to maintain a viable standard of living. This article is part of a series that will highlight ideas and tactics for bringing another family member into the operation. If this is the first article you are seeing in this series, I would encourage you to go back to the for background and additional guidance.

A strategy that is gaining popularity is the gifting of shares or a …

Study On The Structural Influence Mechanism Of Robot Construction On Real Estate Project Costs: Moderating Effect Of Management Change, Xiujuan Wei

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Cost control in construction is crucial for the survival of real estate enterprises. Especially in the context of cyclical downturns in the real estate industry, it is essential to achieve cost reduction and efficiency improvement in real estate projects. Currently, the widespread application of robotics technology may hold the key to achieving this goal. Robotics technology is widely recognized for its ability to automate tasks and reduce labor costs. However, it also brings about transformative impacts on management, organization, production, and processes, which can paradoxically increase project costs. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research focusing on the impact of …

Jakira & Jarrod Jackson: An Estate Planning Case, Kasim Alli, Crystal Hudson

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

Abstract: Jarrod and Jakira Jackson are an African American power couple who have amassed a net worth of more than $37 million dollars primarily through a small real estate business. Both were first in their families to go to college and by far the wealthiest. Now they need help passing on their wealth and their legacy to their twin teenagers. The Jackson family needs an estate planning assessment to ensure that their twins and family members are cared for and to ensure that as much of their estate gets passed onto their heirs as possible.

The case is designed for …

Financial Consulting Internship In Valencia: Alternative Investments And Ai, Mason Sidney Rike

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

During the summer before my senior year, I had the opportunity to work as a research analyst in the finance department of TuaTeam, a financial and strategic consulting firm in Valencia, Spain. TuaTeam is a relatively new firm that serves its clients in a wide range of areas, from strategic restructuring and business model development to finding funding for future projects and identifying/evaluating potential investment opportunities. TuaTeam also works closely with communities around Spain to foster innovation and development among youth and professionals seeking to gain experience in new trends in technology and cultural enrichment. The company currently holds classes …

Do Networks Matter In Real Estate? Real Estate Agent Performance Through Network Analysis, Ani Khachatryan

Finance and Real Estate Dissertations - Archive

The role of real estate agents as intermediaries in property transactions is well-established. However, the extent to which their positioning within professional networks influences transaction outcomes remains to be discovered. Drawing inspiration from network theory, this dissertation explores the relationship between real estate agent networks and performance metrics. Using a comprehensive dataset of Tarrant County, Texas, MLS transactions spanning 2002-2022, I test how agent network size and position relate to the property sale price and time on the market (TOM). The analyses suggest that network positioning could be pivotal in determining transactional outcomes. This study promises to fill a gap …

Volatility Transmission: Evidence From U.K. Reit & Stock Market Implied Volatility, Mutale Katyoka, Simon Stevenson

Finance Faculty Publications

This paper investigates volatility transmission in the U.K. REIT market. It considers how REIT volatility is related to implied volatility in both the overall stock market as well as that derived from traded options on REIT stocks. The multivariate analysis utilizes both Constant Conditional Correlation (CCC) and Dynamic Conditional Correlation (DCC) GARCH specifications to analyze the interdependence of the data. The findings confirm the presence of volatility transmission across the implied volatility of U.K. REITs, the U.K. implied volatility index, and the U.K. REIT index. The study also applies the variance decomposition approach proposed by Diebold and Yilmaz to examine …

Product Elimination Decision And Its Impact On Consumers: The Special Case Of A Local Speedway, Mark Mitchell, Jacob Voegel, Michael Smith

Atlantic Marketing Journal

After 60+ years of operation, Myrtle Beach Speedway was closed and the property sold. The new owners will redevelop the property for commercial and residential purposes. Businesses routinely eliminate products for a variety of reasons, including under-performance and/or a desire to redeploy those resources elsewhere. What is often overlooked is the impact on consumers. In addition to reducing fan access to racing, a closed race track removes a racing opportunity for aspiring race car drivers and crew members. It can also mean shuttering tracks that once had historical significance. The history of raceway closures in the Myrtle Beach, SC area …

Shadow Bank, Risk-Taking, And Real Estate Financing: Evidence From The Online Loan Market, Xiaoying Deng, Chong Liu, Eng Seow Ong

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This paper examines whether and how individual risk-taking behavior affects real estate financing through shadow banks. Using the loan data from an online platform in China, we show that riskier households tend to employ online loans to meet the increasing down-payment in their home purchase. Individual investors are likely to fund riskier real estate loans with higher expected returns. Real estate loans experience higher ex-post default rates than other types of loans. The effect is more pronounced during the period of credit constraints.

Estimating Financial And Environmental Risk: Some New Developments And Comparison Study., Fnu Kamronnaher

All Dissertations

This dissertation delves into the concept of risk, specifically focusing on two prominent categories: financial risk and environmental risk.

Financial risk is the probability of unfavorable outcomes of an investment while environmental risk refers to the possible harm to the environment resulting from extreme weather events. More specifically, risk is the high (low) quantiles of the distribution of variables of interest. \\ To quantify and assess uncertainties in financial and environmental risk, robust and reliable methodologies are needed. The aim of this dissertation is to develop some risk assessment methods and compare them with the widely used methodologies in both …

An On-Ramp To Financial Inclusion: Measuring The Impact Of Mercy Corps' Community Investment Trust Program On Minority Investors, Lexi Yokote

University Honors Theses

Mercy Corps' Community Investment Trust (CIT) was launched in 2017 as a low-risk real estate investment and education initiative. The program is now working to replicate this in cities across the United States. However, it has not been able to collect much feedback from existing investors about their experiences and needs. This paper will use primary and secondary research in the form of a literature review and original surveys to collect information about investor demographics, attitudes toward the CIT and investing, risk perceptions, and future investment plans. The results show that U.S.-born versus foreign-born status, ethnicity, and gender affect the …

Two Essays In Real Estate Dynamics, Navid Safari

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Real estate dynamics encompass a multifaceted interplay of various factors that shape the market. This dissertation presents two distinct essays that delve into critical aspects of real estate dynamics.

In the first essay, we investigate the influence of short-term rentals, specifically Airbnb activity, on neighboring house prices in Hampton Roads, Virginia. By employing robust measures such as active listings, reservations, and their cumulative impact over different periods, we uncover a positive association between prior Airbnb rental activity and housing sales prices. Moreover, we observe a spatial decay effect, where the localized impact diminishes with increasing geographic distance, particularly beyond 500 …

An Analysis Of The Housing Affordability Crisis: Private Equity Or Legislation Issue, Jack Polk

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

The aim of this thesis is to explore the claim that private equity investment is the cause of the modern unaffordability in the single family housing market. Through empirical study and historical research we found that the footprint of institutional investors in this space is insignificant. However, legislative errors which have artificially inflated demand and suppressed supply over the past decade have greatly contributed to the crisis and must be corrected for the long term health of the housing space. These corrections will focus primarily in the alleviation of supply pressures for new development and the continuation of the low …

Asset-Rich And Cash-Poor: Which Older Adults Value Reverse Mortgages?, Joelle H. Fong, Olivia S. Mitchell, Benedict S. K. Koh

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Home equity represents a substantial share of retirement wealth for many older persons, particularly in Asia where national housing policies have encouraged home-ownership. This paper explored the potential for reverse mortgages to help 'asset-rich and cash-poor' older Singaporeans unlock their home equity while ageing in place. The empirical analysis was based on a nationally representative survey of home-owners age 50+ in the 2018 Singapore Life Panel (N = 6,258). Our analyses showed that the average older home-owner holds some 60 per cent of total net wealth in housing equity, suggestive of high demand potential for reverse mortgage products. Nevertheless, actual …