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An analysis of the use of discounted cash flow methods and real options to value flexibility in real estate development projects

Includes abstract.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Bauer, Michael
Other Authors: Correia, Carlos
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: College of Accounting 2014
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access_status_str Open Access
author Bauer, Michael
author2 Correia, Carlos
author_browse Bauer, Michael
Correia, Carlos
author_facet Correia, Carlos
Bauer, Michael
author_sort Bauer, Michael
collection Thesis
description Includes abstract.
format Thesis
id oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/5628
institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:42:32.038Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
publishDateSort 2014
publisher College of Accounting
publisherStr College of Accounting
record_format dspace
source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/5628 An analysis of the use of discounted cash flow methods and real options to value flexibility in real estate development projects Bauer, Michael Correia, Carlos Real Estate Investment Analysis|real option analysis|property development|strategic risk management Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-71). Surveys of firms outside the property sector indicate the growth in the use of DCF methods such as the NPV and IRR methods to evaluate projects as compared to the use of such naïve methods as Payback and the Accounting rate of return. The growing convergence of theory and practice is indicated by the growing use of the NPV method. The objective of this study is to determine the capital budgeting methods used to evaluate real estate development projects and to compare the results of a survey with the results of other studies. Further, recent developments in capital budgeting theory, indicate that the investment valuation tools such as the Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (lRR), Payback Period (PP), and theAccounting Rate of Return (ARR) may fail to recognize flexibilities in real estate development projects. As a consequence, the discounted cash flow methods (DCF) may systematically undervalue strategic or large-scale real estate development projects. Two methods are introduced as an alternative to address the weaknesses of the DCF methods. Decision Tree Analysis (DTA) employs an approach to analyse flexibilities by creating a chain of possible options and allows alternative courses of action for management to adapt their initial strategies in order to capitalise on new opportunities or to minimise losses. Real Option Analysis (ROA) introduces the theory of valuing financial derivates, in particular call options, and allows the staging of the development. These instruments further introduce a risk management aspect, as call options have a limited down side and an unlimited upside. Each approach has advantages and shortcomings and should only be used in appropriate circumstances. DTA is suited for the analysis of the project specific risks. ROA on the other hand, is a superior tool when dealing with uncertainty. The thesis finds that that over 90% of all respondents are using a combination of NPV and IRR methods most often to evaluate development opportunities. Interestingly, 85% of all respondents are also using the payback period. Other methods used are the profitability index, residual value, free cash flow, economic value, and return on equity. Developers have adopted DCF methods such as NPV and IRR as the primary methods to evaluate projects rather than naïve methods such as Payback and ARR, although these latter methods remain in use. The use of decision tree analysis and real option analysis is very limited. 2014-07-31T12:14:16Z 2014-07-31T12:14:16Z 2007 Master Thesis Masters MCom http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5628 eng application/pdf College of Accounting Faculty of Commerce University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Real Estate Investment Analysis|real option analysis|property development|strategic risk management
Bauer, Michael
An analysis of the use of discounted cash flow methods and real options to value flexibility in real estate development projects
thesis_degree_str Master's
title An analysis of the use of discounted cash flow methods and real options to value flexibility in real estate development projects
title_full An analysis of the use of discounted cash flow methods and real options to value flexibility in real estate development projects
title_fullStr An analysis of the use of discounted cash flow methods and real options to value flexibility in real estate development projects
title_full_unstemmed An analysis of the use of discounted cash flow methods and real options to value flexibility in real estate development projects
title_short An analysis of the use of discounted cash flow methods and real options to value flexibility in real estate development projects
title_sort analysis of the use of discounted cash flow methods and real options to value flexibility in real estate development projects
topic Real Estate Investment Analysis|real option analysis|property development|strategic risk management
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5628
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