Factors influencing buyers’ and investors’ decisions in acquiring property in hillside areas

This study aims to investigate and discuss the factors that influence buyers’ and investors’ decision in buying and investing in property in hill land areas. A sequential mixed methods approach, which involved extensive literature review, questionnaire survey and semi-structured interview was used. Literature review to identify influencing factors was followed by a questionnaire survey. A total of 373 valid questionnaires were analysed. Ten (10) semi-structured interviews were performed thereafter to clarify and validate the survey findings. The study found that only a slight majority were aware of the risk of landslide owing largely to the fact that, not every neighborhood had experienced landslide incidents. Understanding on the relationship between factors that influencing buyers/investors to acquire property in hillside area and provides useful insights that that the combination of influencing factors and a vibrant residential property market relatively outweighs the risks associated with landslide occurrence in the study area.