Property transaction taxes-also known as stamp duty-are widely viewed as an inefficient form of taxation. In this paper, we examine the welfare implications of removing stamp duty in a general equilibrium overlapping generation model with heterogeneous agents. Our model features an idiosyncratic...

The Federal Ministry of Finance wants to allow German Federal States to lower the property transfer tax rates for owner-occupied housing. There is evidence that such tax heavily distorts the housing market. However, since the tax is an important source ofrevenue for the Federal States, it...

We exploit staggered real estate transaction tax (RETT) hikes across German states to identify the effect of house price changes on mortgage credit supply. Based on approximately 33 million real estate online listings, we construct a quarterly hedonic house price index (HPI) between 2008:q1 and...

We exploit staggered real estate transaction tax (RETT) hikes across German states to identify the effect of house price changes on mortgage credit supply. Based on approximately 33 million real estate online listings, we construct a quarterly hedonic house price index (HPI) between 2008:q1 and...

House prices have increased faster than average income in many countries over the last decade, raising concerns on the affordability of housing. We study the impact of transaction taxes on the real estate market and the effectiveness of tax subsidies to make housing more affordable. We show how...

Es ist populär, Spekulation als Grund für die Anspannung im Wohnungsmarkt anzuführen. Im Antrag 17/13391 "Spekulationen und Fehlentwicklungen im Wohnungsbau verhindern" werden die Themen Bauüberhang, Share Deals und Umwandlungen von Miet- in Eigentumswohnungen als Problembereiche genannt....

This paper examines the effects of real estate transfer taxes (RETT) on property prices using a rich micro dataset of roughly 17 million German properties for the period from 2005 to 2019. We exploit a 2006 constitutional reform that allows states to set their own RETT rates, leading to frequent...

We exploit staggered real estate transaction tax (RETT) hikes across German states to identify the effect of house price changes on mortgage credit supply. Based on approximately 33 million real estate online listings, we construct a quarterly hedonic house price index (HPI) between 2008:q1 and...

This paper examines the effects of real estate transfer taxes (RETT) on house prices using a rich micro dataset on German properties covering the period from 2005 to 2018. We exploit a 2006 constitutional reform that allowed states to set their own RETT rates, leading to frequent increases in...

This paper examines the effects of real estate transfer taxes (RETT) on house prices using a rich micro dataset on German properties covering the period from 2005 to 2018. We exploit a 2006 constitutional reform that allowed states to set their own RETT rates, leading to frequent increases in...

The homeownership rate in Germany is one of the lowest among advanced economies. To better understand this fact, we evaluate the role of specific housing policies which tend to discourage homeownership. In comparison to other countries with higher homeownership such as the United States, Germany...

Tax incentives favouring homeownership are widely used in developed economies. Homeownership is often thought to bring a number of positive contributions, from the promotion of households' saving to enhanced community engagement. However, housing tax incentives are also considered as a major...

The tax burden of real estate transactions in Germany increased considerably since the constitutional reform in 2006. We examine the impact of the real estate transfer tax (RETT) on transactions and (net-of-tax) prices of commercial buildings and vacant commercial lots by means of a...

Housing Taxation in OECD Countries provides a comparative assessment of housing tax policies in OECD countries and identifies options for reform. The study starts with an overview of recent housing market trends and challenges and an analysis of the distribution of housing assets. It then...

The homeownership rate in Germany is one of the lowest among advanced economies. To better understand this fact, we analyze the role of three specific policies which discourage homeownership in Germany: an extensive social housing sector with broad eligibility criteria, high transfer taxes when...

This paper analyzes the tax effects of the German real estate transfer tax (RETT). While the vast majority of single-family houses in Germany are owner-occupied, apartments are usually held by private and incorporated investors. For this reason, we conducted a regression analysis to determine...

This paper analyzes the tax effects of the German real estate transfer tax (RETT). While the vast majority of single-family houses in Germany are owner-occupied, apartments are usually held by private and incorporated investors. For this reason, we conducted a regression analysis to determine...

The homeownership rate in Germany is one of the lowest among advanced economies. To better understand this fact, we analyze the role of three specific policies which discourage homeownership in Germany: an extensive social housing sector with broad eligibility criteria, high transfer taxes when...

Aus ökonomischer Sicht haben es Bund und Länder verpasst, im Rahmen der Neuregelung der Bund-Länder-Finanzen die Fehlanreize bei der Grunderwerbsteuer zu beheben. Denn in den vergangenen Jahren haben zahlreiche Landesregierungen den Steuersatz erhöht, da sie die Mehreinnahmen nicht mit den...

This paper uses recent data for single-family home purchases to study the effects of the German real estate transfer tax. We aim to separate the tax’s short-term anticipatory effects from its long-term effects on real estate transactions. The data indicate that an increase in the transfer tax...

"When it comes to taxes, it's not just about how much money you make-but how much money you actually get to keep. Are you tired of working hard all year, just to lose the largest chunk of that money to the IRS? Believe it or not, the U.S. tax system is filled with loopholes designed specifically...

Durch die stetig steigenden Steuerbelastungen und die zahlreichen sukzessiven gesetzlichen Anpassungen gewinnt die Grunderwerbsteuer zunehmend an Relevanz. Während die Forderungen nach einer Reform lauter werden, zielt die Arbeit auf die Entwicklung einer konsistenten, kohärenten und...

State and local government tax revenues dropped steeply following the most severe housing market contraction since the Great Depression. We identify five main channels through which the housing market affects state and local tax revenues: property tax revenues, transfer tax revenues, sales tax...

Houses and apartments sold in New York and New Jersey at prices above $1 million are subject to the so-called 1% "mansion tax" imposed on the full value of the transaction. This policy generates a discontinuity (a "notch") in the overall tax liability. We rely on this and other discontinuities...

Houses and apartments sold in New York and New Jersey at prices above $1 million are subject to the so-called 1% "mansion tax" imposed on the full value of the transaction. This policy generates a discontinuity (a "notch") in the overall tax liability. We rely on this and other discontinuities...

Die Belastung mit der Grunderwerbsteuer ist in den letzten Jahren stetig gestiegen. Für das kommende Jahr sind in einigen Ländern bereits weitere Erhöhungen der Grunderwerbsteuersätze geplant. Ein Grund für diese Entwicklung liegt in einer Regelung im Länderfinanzausgleich, wodurch ein...