The Impact of the Flight to Quality on Office Rents and Vacancy Rates in Tokyo

With the rapid spread of telecommuting since the COVID-19 pandemic, companies have been relocating to high-end business centers, thereby enhancing the workplace experience for employees, a phenomenon called the "flight to quality." However, this trend’s impact on rents and vacancy rates in...

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Main Authors: Matsuo Kazushi, Tsutsumi Morito, Imazeki Toyokazu, Kudoh Takeshi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2024-09-01
Series:Real Estate Management and Valuation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/remav-2024-0026
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author Matsuo Kazushi
Tsutsumi Morito
Imazeki Toyokazu
Kudoh Takeshi
author_facet Matsuo Kazushi
Tsutsumi Morito
Imazeki Toyokazu
Kudoh Takeshi
author_sort Matsuo Kazushi
collection DOAJ
description With the rapid spread of telecommuting since the COVID-19 pandemic, companies have been relocating to high-end business centers, thereby enhancing the workplace experience for employees, a phenomenon called the "flight to quality." However, this trend’s impact on rents and vacancy rates in individual office buildings has not been extensively studied. To determine the effects of the flight-to-quality phenomenon on individual buildings, we examine the impact of modern amenities, which directly influence employee lifestyles, on rents and vacancy rates in the Tokyo office market. Using a propensity score-based quasi-experimental method, we find that commercial properties with such modern amenities command higher rents and experience lower vacancy rates than those without. The difference in vacancy rates has increased since 2020. However, the significance of these amenities diminishes for properties less competitive in age, size, and location. The results indicate that the "flight to quality" may further polarize the office real estate market into two categories: one for high-end buildings experiencing increasing demand, and another for those with modest amenities experiencing decreasing demand. The findings have implications for office building owners/investors and the government, make educated decisions as to whether to invest in modern amenities, join the quality competition, or encourage urban restructuring.
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spelling doaj-art-55bf4ff571e841d8b106c6af3477ad112025-01-02T06:05:50ZengSciendoReal Estate Management and Valuation2300-52892024-09-01323778610.2478/remav-2024-0026The Impact of the Flight to Quality on Office Rents and Vacancy Rates in TokyoMatsuo Kazushi0Tsutsumi Morito1Imazeki Toyokazu2Kudoh Takeshi3Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, JapanGraduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, JapanSanko Estate Co., Ltd., Ginza Sanwa Bldg. 4-6-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, JapanSanko Estate Co., Ltd., Ginza Sanwa Bldg. 4-6-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, JapanWith the rapid spread of telecommuting since the COVID-19 pandemic, companies have been relocating to high-end business centers, thereby enhancing the workplace experience for employees, a phenomenon called the "flight to quality." However, this trend’s impact on rents and vacancy rates in individual office buildings has not been extensively studied. To determine the effects of the flight-to-quality phenomenon on individual buildings, we examine the impact of modern amenities, which directly influence employee lifestyles, on rents and vacancy rates in the Tokyo office market. Using a propensity score-based quasi-experimental method, we find that commercial properties with such modern amenities command higher rents and experience lower vacancy rates than those without. The difference in vacancy rates has increased since 2020. However, the significance of these amenities diminishes for properties less competitive in age, size, and location. The results indicate that the "flight to quality" may further polarize the office real estate market into two categories: one for high-end buildings experiencing increasing demand, and another for those with modest amenities experiencing decreasing demand. The findings have implications for office building owners/investors and the government, make educated decisions as to whether to invest in modern amenities, join the quality competition, or encourage urban restructuring.https://doi.org/10.2478/remav-2024-0026flight to qualityamenitiesoffice rentvacancy ratepropensity scorer30r33
spellingShingle Matsuo Kazushi
Tsutsumi Morito
Imazeki Toyokazu
Kudoh Takeshi
The Impact of the Flight to Quality on Office Rents and Vacancy Rates in Tokyo
Real Estate Management and Valuation
flight to quality
amenities
office rent
vacancy rate
propensity score
r30
r33
title The Impact of the Flight to Quality on Office Rents and Vacancy Rates in Tokyo
title_full The Impact of the Flight to Quality on Office Rents and Vacancy Rates in Tokyo
title_fullStr The Impact of the Flight to Quality on Office Rents and Vacancy Rates in Tokyo
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of the Flight to Quality on Office Rents and Vacancy Rates in Tokyo
title_short The Impact of the Flight to Quality on Office Rents and Vacancy Rates in Tokyo
title_sort impact of the flight to quality on office rents and vacancy rates in tokyo
topic flight to quality
amenities
office rent
vacancy rate
propensity score
r30
r33
url https://doi.org/10.2478/remav-2024-0026
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