ABSTRACT
As a result of a near universal trend in social values towards an economical use of resources, avoidance of pollution and related aspirations, in many urban areas real estate investments are now considered in a more sustainable framework. Real estate and housing is an important element in defining what a sustainable place is, because jobs and homes require their physical settings. The possibility, feasibility and necessity for either new development or refurbishment of the building stock depends on the character of the area within the city, the city itself, and the institutional setting where investment takes place. Furthermore it is about the quality-of-life (QOL) of the people occupying the dwellings and their daily living environment. While this topic has business and social policy relevance, academic work on defining the relevant economic, physical and social assessment criteria is yet speculative, when standard definitions as well as relevant data are lacking.
