top of page

Unlocking the Flaws in Real Estate Valuation
through Behavioral Economics

Explore My Behavioral Real Estate Research and Teaching Hub

I'm Simon Thaler, a PhD holder in Economics with a Master's degree in Banking and Finance. I'm currently researching and teaching at the University of Reading within the Henley Business Schools department for Real Estate and Planning: https://www.henley.ac.uk/people/dr-simon-thaler My primary research expertise lies in the field of Behavioral Real Estate, with a particular emphasis on the influence of imagery on valuation.

Join me every Tuesday at 7 PM on Twitch for Trinity Trading Tuesdays, a private finance stream conducted in German, which was actually inspired by my students. You can also catch the recordings of my streams on YouTube. Should you have any inquiries, don't hesitate to reach out to me through the chat.

  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Trinity Trading Tuesday

My Research Interests

​My primary research focus revolves around the behavioral aspects within the realm of real estate. Specifically, I place a strong emphasis on understanding the profound impact of visual stimuli on the perception of property values during the valuation process. Recognizing the substantial role of subjectivity in assessments conducted by both appraisers and potential buyers, as well as its broader significance in the field of valuation, it becomes evident that visual cues have the potential to introduce significant distortions in property values.

My research dives deep into the examination of these factors, not only assessing their influence on appraisal reports but also scrutinizing their effects on the various marketing strategies employed within the real estate domain. At its core, the ultimate objective of my research is to pioneer innovative valuation methodologies that can adeptly accommodate subjective measures. This pursuit is pivotal in our endeavor to attain the highest levels of objectivity and precision in property value assessments, a facet of immense importance given that the real estate sector contributes significantly, accounting for more than 14% of the European Gross Domestic Product.

Furthermore, my background in banking and finance has kindled a keen interest in comprehending market dynamics, with a particular focus on the speculative elements inherent in real estate markets. Here, once again, behavioral factors emerge as central determinants, contributing to the phenomenon of irrational exuberance, a phenomenon notably pronounced in my home real estate market of Tyrol, Austria.

Moreover, in response to my current professional engagement, I have embarked on the journey of integrating cutting-edge computer vision algorithms into my research. These algorithms hold vast potential, particularly in shaping the future landscape of automated valuation models. By training these algorithms on reliable and objective ground truth data, such as condition assessments, we can swiftly and accurately evaluate property conditions. This assessment can then seamlessly blend into hedonic models, yielding comprehensive property valuations and effectively mitigating the inherent subjectivity associated with traditional assessment methods.

About me

In my role at Henley Business School in the University of Reading as a Lecturer, I share my expertise in economics, banking, finance, and behavioural real estate with students while continually learning from them. As a Researcher, I delve into the intricacies of behavioural real estate, conducting rigorous analysis, data collection, and developing innovative methodologies to advance knowledge in this field. 
Beyond academics, I'm an avid advocate for outdoor activities, particularly bush-crafting, which connects me deeply with nature. I relish overnight adventures that provide an escape from academia, allowing me to disconnect from the digital world and find inspiration under the starry sky.
My life harmoniously blends academia and adventure, shaping a holistic and fulfilling journey of knowledge and natural exploration.

Education

2020 - 2023

Ph.D., Economics, University of Innsbruck

Supervisors: Jürgen Huber (University of Innsbruck)

                     Gunther Maier (Modul University Vienna)

2017 - 2018

2015 - 2017

2011 - 2015

Ph.D., Economics, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA

M.Sc., Banking and Finance, University of Innsbruck

B.Sc., Management and Economics, University of Innsbruck

Professional Experience

2023 - now

2020 - 2023

2018 - 2019

2017 - 2018

Lecturer and R&D Coordinator, Kufstein University of Applied Sciences, AUT

Researcher and Lecturer, Kufstein University of Applied Sciences, AUT

Sales Associate, Scalable Capital, Munich, GER

Teaching Assistant, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA

Other activities

2023 - now

Finance Stream

Host

2022 - 2023

ERES Ph.D. Network

President

2021 - 2023

ERES Ph.D. Network

Member of the board

2022

Barcelona School of Economics, ESP

Summer School on Platforms/AI

2020

University of Innsbruck, AUT

Winter School on Credence Goods

2020

Chapman University, CA, USA

Experimental Economics Workshop

2020

CFA Institute, AUT

CFA Challenge Austria

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications

  • Despotovic, M., Koch, D., Thaler, S., Stumpe, E., Brunauer, W., Zeppelzauer, M. (2024) Linking Repeated Subjective Judgments and ConvNets for Multimodal Assessment of the Immediate Living Environment. MethodsX, 102556.

  • Thaler, S., Koch, D. (2023) Real Estate Pictures: The Role of Furniture Preferences in Subjective Valuation. Journal of Housing Research. 1-24.

  • Koch, D., Dispotovic, M., Thaler, S., Zeppelzauer, M. (2021). Where do university graduates live? a computer vision approach using satellite images, Applied Intelligence, 51:8088–8105.

  • Koch, D., Thaler, S., Mayr, R. (2020). Order vs. Disorder - the impact on value estimates of durable consumption goods, Applied Economics Letters, 28(19):1635–1640.

Working Papers

  • Koch, D., Seiler, M. J, Thaler, S.. (2023). Using the Wisdom of the Crowd to Improve the Condition Assessment of Residential Real Estate, (submitted to the Journal of Real Estate Research)

  • Koch, D., Despotovic, M., Thaler, S., Zhang, Zedong. (n. a.). Classification of external building photos - integration into a simple hedonic pricing model, (draft paper)

  • Koch, D., Thaler, S., Zhang, Zedong, Despotovic, M. (n. a.). Mapping Types - How different mapping features impact CNN population data prediction, (draft paper)

  • Koch, D., Thaler, S. (n. a.). The impact of powerlines on agricultural and forestry property prices, (draft paper)

Conference Presentations

  • Koch, D., Thaler, S., Seiler, M. J. (2023). House Condition Assessment: The impact of the wisdom of the crowd on valuation, European Regional Science Association (ERSA) 62th Annual Congress, Alicante [oral presentation]

  • Koch, D., Thaler, S., Seiler, M. J. (2023). Laymen vs. Experts: Does Experience Matter When Assessing House Condition with Photos of the Exterior, European Real Estate Society (ERES) 29th Annual Conference, London [oral presentation].

  • Thaler, S. (2022) Single Family House Condition Assessment of (Lay) People: Does  Experience Matter When Assessing Property Photos. European Real Estate Society (ERES) 28th Annual Conference, Milan [oral presentation].

  • Koch, D., Thaler, S., Zhang, Z., Despotovic, M. (2021) The Image of a Map - The level of detail and its influence on population data prediction. European Regional Science Association (ERSA) 60th Annual Congress, online [oral presentation].

  • Thaler, S., Koch, D. (2021) Full or empty - the influence of furniture in flat valuations. European Real Estate Society (ERES) 27th Annual Conference, online [oral presentation].

  • Koch, D., Thaler, S., Zhang, Z., Despotovic, M. (2021) Classification of External Building Photos - Integration into a Simple Hedonic Pricing Model. European Real Estate Society (ERES) 27th Annual Conference, online [oral presentation].

Popular Science Publications

  • Koch, D., Thaler, S. (2022) Der Einfluss von elektrischen Leitungsanlagen auf den Preis von land- und forstwirtschaftlichen Grundstücken - Eine empirische Analyse für Österreich. Sachverständige, 1(46):19-26.

Theses

  • Thaler, S.. (2023). The Influence of Images in the Value Assessment of Real Estate. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Innsbruck.

  • Thaler, S.. (2017). Loss Aversion in the Finance Industry - Difference to Lay People and the Role of Social Identity. M.Sc. Thesis. University of Innsbruck.

  • Thaler, S.. (2015). High Frequency Trading and its Impact on Markets. B.Sc. Thesis. University of Innsbruck.

Obtained Funding

  • Pictures in Real Estate Appraisal
    2023 - 2024

  • Pictures in Hedonic Real Estate Pricing 2020 - 2023

25.000 EUR

​

17.000 EUR

Tyrolean Science Fund

​

Tyrolean Science Fund

Reviewer Activities

  • Annual Meeting of the German Finance Association

  • ReCapNet Conference

Teaching Experience

  • Finance and Risk Management - Energy and Sustainability M.Sc.

  • Behavioral Real Estate Economics - Facility and Real Estate Management M.Sc.

  • Selected Topics in Economics - Facility and Real Estate Management B.Sc.

  • Finance and Investment - Energy and Sustainability B.Sc.

  • Finance and Investment - Facility and Real Estate Management B.Sc.

  • Supervision of Thesis - M.Sc. and B.Sc.

bottom of page