For an object to have value it must be scarce in
relative to demand, i.e. it has to be limited in supply relative to its demand,
this also applies to the case of properties. If an item is in high supply and
there is limited demand for it, then ion an economic sense that object has no
value. For example, air is useful for many purposes because it is in free
supply, it has no economic value.
Apart from being a measure of the relationship
between supply and demand of commodities, value also measure the usefulness and
scarcity of a commodity in relation to other commodities. Human wants, as
generally believed, are limited and the resources to satisfy these wants are
scarce. This fact prompts the need for choice among the numerous wants and the
relative values attached to such wants will be a reflection of the choice made.
Example, if a man wants one commodity more than the other, he will place
greater value on the one he wants. Should there be a change in the level of
want of a commodity and the resources devoted to satisfy the want so will the
relative value of commodities change. In this case, price will be a measure of
these relative values in money terms.
In Economics, we learnt that increase in price will
lead to increase in demand because some people will prefer to buy substitute
commodities rather than pay higher the price. Conversely, increase in price
will lead to increase in supply because the producer will want to maximize
profit. However, at a point, a level is reached where, theoretically, supply
equals demand. At this point, “market price” of a commodity tends to its cost
of production or replacement. This behavior is also applicable to the landed
property market whether; Commercial, Residential, Agricultural, Industrial,
Educational, etc.
Example:
Below is a table showing the demand and supply
levels and the prevailing prices of two-bedroom flats over a given period in
Abuja Metropolis.
PRICE
PER UNIT
DEMAND
SUPPLY
N100,000.00
50
10
N200,000.00
40
20
N300,000.00
30
30
N400,000.00
20
40
N500,000.00
10
50
From the Table above, it can be deduced that N300,000.00
is the equilibrium price and the equilibrium quantity is 30 housing units.
Ibraheem, A. (2018). AN APPRECIATION OF THE ECONOMIC BASIS OF PROPERTY VALUES. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/an-appreciation-of-the-economic-basis-of-property-values-6424
Ibraheem, Aminuddeen "AN APPRECIATION OF THE ECONOMIC BASIS OF PROPERTY VALUES" Afribary. Afribary, 29 Jan. 2018, https://afribary.com/works/an-appreciation-of-the-economic-basis-of-property-values-6424. Accessed 08 Sep. 2024.
Ibraheem, Aminuddeen . "AN APPRECIATION OF THE ECONOMIC BASIS OF PROPERTY VALUES". Afribary, Afribary, 29 Jan. 2018. Web. 08 Sep. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/an-appreciation-of-the-economic-basis-of-property-values-6424 >.
Ibraheem, Aminuddeen . "AN APPRECIATION OF THE ECONOMIC BASIS OF PROPERTY VALUES" Afribary (2018). Accessed September 08, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/an-appreciation-of-the-economic-basis-of-property-values-6424