A Model of Housing Demand Determinant in Owerri Urban, Imo State Nigeria

Abstract Despite the usual housing demand pattern in Nigeria- income, distance family preferences, gender; Owerri urban housing choice and demand characterization exhibited beyond that. The study adopted questionnaire method by using systematic sampling technique. 252 questionnaires were distributed and 174 questionnaires returned, five-point-rating method were used to rate the responses of respondents. X² technique was used to analyze data collected. Analysis of the perception of the sampled population in Owerri urban revealed that income, distance, family preference, gender, were not the major housing demand determinants with p-value of 0.000 less than α level of 0.05, while age has a p-value of 0.006 less than α level of 0.05, nevertheless positive but H₀ is accepted with some reservations. Analysis also showed that accessibility, security and location to the house triggers unquenched housing demand determinants to housing choice and demand in Owerri Urban which were translated into proposed model for housing demand pattern (HDP) using seven variables as major determinant factors for housing demand in Owerri Urban and beyond. DHk-1 = f {yk + dk + pk + gk + ek + ak+ lk + ………. Kn}.The study suggested that stakeholders should establish the open Registration System (ORS) to capture demand before eligibility and allocation is awarded to housing demandees in Owerri Urban.