Elucidating the drivers of residential mobility and housing choice behaviour in a suburban township via push–pull–mooring framework

Ezlika M. Ghazali, Elaine Yee-Ling Ngiam, Dilip S. Mutum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study applies the “push-pull-mooring” model of migration to explain home purchase intention in a suburban township. “Push” effects include dissatisfaction and high housing costs in one’s current neighbourhood (“the origin”). “Pull” effects were consumers’ perceived value of the suburban township (“the destination”), which encompassed price, functional, emotional, social, symbolic, and Feng Shui aspects. Relocation costs and alternative township’s attractiveness were hypothesized as “mooring” effects that negatively impact purchase intention as well as moderate the push and pull effects. 179 valid responses from prospective home buyers were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Pull effects were found to exert a positive influence while mooring and push effects exert a negative influence on purchase intention. Moderation effects of the mooring factors were found to be not significant in this context. This study offers several interesting implications for researchers and marketing practitioners in the real estate industry.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)633-659
Number of pages27
JournalJournal of Housing and the Built Environment
Volume35
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Attractiveness of alternatives
  • Feng-Shui
  • Home purchase intention
  • Housing choice behaviour
  • PLS-SEM
  • Push–pull–mooring
  • Residential mobility
  • Switching barriers

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