A Study on Housing Consumer Preferences After COVID-19 Pandemic

[Purpose] This study examines how lifestyle changes induced by the COVID-19 pandemic have reshaped housing preferences in the post-COVID-19 period. As housing demand has shifted from a single residential function toward a multifunctional space integrating work, study, and leisure, the study analyzes preferences for housing types (apartments and country houses) and housing components (kitchens, working spaces, bathrooms, terraces, and multi-layer structures). The primary objective is to empirically identify whether these preference changes differ across demographic groups. [Design/Methodology] The analysis uses 209 valid survey responses collected between August and October 2022. Multiple regression analyses are conducted to examine differences in housing preferences according to age, gender, household size, and household income. Education level, real-estate asset holdings, and homeownership status are included as control variables to isolate the net effects of demographic characteristics. [Findings] The results reveal clear demographic heterogeneity in housing preferences. Older individuals show lower preference for apartments and higher preference for country houses and for housing components related to spaciousness, comfort, and privacy. Female respondents exhibit stronger preferences for lifestyle-oriented components such as kitchens, bathrooms, working spaces, and terraces. Larger households demonstrate a stronger preference for multi-layer structures, reflecting the need for spatial separation. Higher-income groups tend to prefer apartments and premium housing features, including bathrooms and multi-layer structures. [Research Implications] These findings indicate that post-pandemic housing functions as a multifunctional living environment and that housing demand has become increasingly segmented by demographic characteristics. The study highlights the importance of demographically differentiated housing design, development, and policy strategies in the post-COVID-19 housing market.