About the Journal

The Journal of African Real Estate Research (JARER)

JARER is the official academic journal of the African Real Estate Society (AfRES) and is accredited by the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). It is an open-access journal (ISSN: 2304-8395) hosted by the Urban Real Estate Research Unit at the University of Cape Town and published by the University of Cape Town Libraries.

History

The JARER was established in 2008 as an initiative of the African Real Estate Society (AfRES) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), with its first volume published in January of that year.

In 2012, the journal was transferred to the Department of Construction Economics and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), with Professor Sam Azasu taking on the role of Editor-in-Chief.

In 2018, AfRES moved JARER to the University of Cape Town (UCT), where it was placed on the electronic journal platform OJS. That same year, the journal began proudly receiving support from the International Real Estate Business School in Regensburg, Germany. Since 2018, JARER has been published biannually in digital format.

The 2018 editorial team was appointed as follows:

Editor-in-Chief: Professor Felician Komu
Chief & Associate Editor: Associate Professor François Viruly
Journal Manager: Mr. Luke Boyle

In 2019, a new editorial team was appointed:

Editor-in-Chief: Professor Abel Olaleye
Associate Editor: Associate Professor Aly Karam

In 2021, Vol. 6, Issue 1 featured a special edition titled Women in African Real Estate & Urban Development, guest-edited by Karen Gibler and Geci Karuri-Sebina.

Later that year, Ms. Lesedi Kgaka succeeded Mr. Boyle as Managing Editor.

In December 2023, Ms. Dayni Sanderson was appointed as the current Managing Editor.

JARER remains committed to accessible scholarship and does not charge article processing or submission fees.

Journal Objectives

JARER aims to advance understanding of African real estate markets, including their structure, operations, and reform efforts. The journal explores diverse built environment components such as planning, funding, development, construction, management, ownership, and occupation.

JARER highlights the significance of real estate markets in Africa in areas such as:

Real Estate Investment Trusts
Property and Economic Development
Transformation in the Real Estate Sector
Affordable Housing Provision
Real Estate Legislation and Policy
PropTech and Real Estate Technology
Equitable Land Management
Innovation in Property Development
Urban and National Economic Growth
Property Market Maturity
Market Studies
Financial Sector Development
Sustainable Real Estate Development and Management

The journal provides a platform for:

Research papers based on completed studies
Notes on ongoing or proposed research projects
Book reviews
Letters commenting on previously published works or other relevant matters

JARER also fosters discourse between researchers and informs African governments and policymakers of the latest developments in real estate research. The journal welcomes papers with strong policy emphasis, including analyses of existing policies or proposals for new ones. Submissions focusing on local, national, regional, or comparative international perspectives are encouraged.

All submissions undergo a double-blind peer review by an expert Editorial Board with specialized knowledge of African real estate issues and current research trends.

Open Access Policy

JARER follows a diamond open-access model, meaning:

No fees are charged to authors or readers.
All articles are freely accessible online upon publication without embargo.
Authors retain copyright and grant third parties the right to use, reproduce, or disseminate their work, provided that proper attribution is given and bibliographic details remain unchanged.

Archiving

JARER preserves and archives its content to ensure continued accessibility and relevance for its readership and stakeholders.

Language

JARER is an English-language journal. Recognising that many contributors are not native English speakers, the editorial team works closely with authors to refine their submissions.

Geographical Diversity

We recognise the geographical disparities in real estate scholarship within Africa, as some countries lack dedicated real estate studies and academic representation in the field. Limited data availability further compounds this challenge.

To address this, the African Real Estate Society has established an MOU with Estate Intel, a private organization committed to expanding access to real estate data across the African continent, supporting more inclusive and diverse research.

JARER is committed to expanding its author and editorial geographical diversity in the years to come, ensuring representation from underrepresented African countries and voices in real estate research.