Commercial Real Estate Market with Two-sided Random Search: Theory and Implications

ABSTRACT In this paper, we set up a two-sided random search model to study the trading behaviour between buyers and sellers in the commercial real estate market. Our model shows that the interaction between search and bargaining has a profound influence on the role played by the market search friction regarding the equilibrium transaction price of commercial property and the well-being of both buyers and sellers. Against the traditional view that the existence of search friction always plays a negative role in the commercial real estate market, we find that under some conditions the market search friction can increase the equilibrium transaction price of commercial property and thus benefit sellers, which is considered the most valuable especially during the downturn of a business cycle.