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Title:
Banking on Housing; Spending the Home, 2004-2007

Subject Categories:
Income, property and investment - Economics
Housing

Depositor(s):
Smith, S.J., University of Durham. Department of Geography

Principal Investigator(s):
Smith, S.J., University of Durham. Department of Geography
Searle, B., University of Durham. Department of Geography
Cook, N., University of Durham. Department of Geography

Sponsor(s):
Economic and Social Research Council

Grant Number:
RES-154-25-0012

Abstract:
This project is part of the ESRC's Cultures of Consumption programme. It documents the processes by which housing equity ebbs and flows between bricks and mortar and other goods and services. Options for 'spending the home' include debt consolidation and the purchase of safety net services, as well as investments to add value and/or to create livings spaces. Equally the equity in homes may be used to buy education, lifestyles, time, or a range of other 'things'. By charting the negotiations and decisions directing streams of housing equity into the wider cultural and material environment, this project casts light on the meaning, significance and use of housing wealth in consumption, and on its theoretical, practical and policy-linked consequences.

The data comprises of discussions about housing wealth, mortgage debt, and mortgage equity withdrawal. They were held with 119 home buyers in England. These mortgage holders were quota sampled from two previous studies to secure a spread of levels of unmortgaged housing equity and a range of mortgage types. The interview schedule considers: the extent to which home purchase is driven by likely investment returns; how 'mainstream' borrowers chose and manage their mortgage; and why, when and to what extent home buyers borrow from housing wealth to fund other expenditures.

Interviews were open-ended and semi-structured, completed by telephone by an interview team of two. Interviews were conducted after initial contact by letter and telephone, by prior appointment with respondents who opted-in to the study, and had received appropriate information about the research. The interviews are transcribed verbatim. They are not marked up for hesitation, pauses, or expressions of emotion.

Further information on this study can be found via the project's site Banking on Housing; Spending the Home and the ESRC's award page for Banking on Housing; Spending the Home.
Main Topics:
Housing wealth, mortgage equity withdrawal, owner-occupiers, consumption

Coverage:
Time Period Covered: 01 December 2004-28 February 2007
Dates of Fieldwork: June 2005-September 2005
Country: England
Spatial Units: No spatial unit
Observation Units: Individuals
Kind of Data: Textual data; Semi-structured interview transcripts

Universe Sampled:
Location of Units of Observation:National
Population:English mortgage holders across England, covering a range of property styles including first time buyers

Methodology:
Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: Purposive selection/case studies
Number of Units: 119
Method of Data Collection: Telephone interview
Weighting: No weighting used

Language(s) of Written Materials:
Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:
Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.
Availability: ESDS Qualidata, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: qualidata@esds.ac.uk

Date of Release:
First Edition: 7 July 2008

Copyright:
Copyright S. Smith, B. Searle and N. Cook

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