Real Estate Verticalization and Ground Rent Valorization Due to Public Infrastructure: an Econometric Analysis of Greater Santiago de Chile, 2008-2011

Abstract

Investments in public infrastructure and land upzoning aimed to high-rise redevelopment are both factors that considerably increase ground rent values in the city. Drawing on a dataset of new departments sold between 2008 and 2011, with data on unit size and commercial sale price, and discounting costs of land and construction, a multiple linear regression analysis is conducted with controlled fixed factors. The analysis shows that in Greater Santiago, state investment in Metro subway networks increases the ground rent captured by redevelopers by 25.6%, whereas only 5.5% by private landowners. Likewise, each additional point of the Coefficient of Constructability (Floor Area Ratio), which are contained in the municipal-level construction codes, increases by 6.1% the value of ground rent, revenues that are also absorbed by the private redeveloper. Given these results, it is important to discuss the efficiency of having a land rent tax in the country.