Main Article Content
Abstract
Rwanda’s real estate sector has experienced robust growth in recent years; however, developers continue to face unstable profit margins due to unpredictable macroeconomic policy shifts. This financial volatility undermines investment confidence and sectoral planning. The objective of this study is to examine how macro-policy realignments, specifically interest rate fluctuations, fiscal incentives, and regulatory changes, affect the cyclicality of profit margins among real estate developers in Rwanda. The study employs correlational research design, using secondary data collected from monetary policy bulletins, fiscal records, and audited financial statements of real estate firms between 2019 and 2023. Findings reveal that interest rate changes have a statistically significant and positive effect on profit margin variation, confirming that monetary tightening increases financial uncertainty and compresses returns. In contrast, fiscal incentives and regulatory reforms exhibit statistically insignificant effects, suggesting that these instruments are either poorly structured, inconsistently applied, or too recent in implementation to produce stabilizing outcomes. The study concludes that macroeconomic policy realignments substantially influence profit margin cyclicality, with monetary policy having the most immediate and measurable impact. Accordingly, it recommends that the National Bank of Rwanda institutionalize structured stakeholder consultations before major interest rate decisions to promote risk mitigation, planning certainty, and sustainable sectoral growth.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Emmanuel Imuede Oyasor

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References
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- Brennan, M. J., & Schwartz, E. S. (1985). Evaluating natural resource investments. Journal of Business, 58(2), 135–157. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2352967 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/296288
- Bulan, L. T., Mayer, C., & Somerville, C. T. (2006). Irreversible investment, real options, and competition: evidence from real estate development. Journal of Urban Economics, 60(3), 385–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2008.03.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3386/w12486
- Cabañes, M. L., Zuluaga, D., & Rojas, J. (2020). Real options and investment under uncertainty: evidence from Latin American real estate markets. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 17(4), 75–85. https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.17(4).2020.07 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.17(4).2020.07
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- Claude, S. J., Ngigi, M. W., & Majiwa, E. (2025). Determinants of market participation and its effect on profit margins among smallholder wheat producing farmers in Rwanda. Discover Agriculture, 3(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00184-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00184-w
- Dixit, A. K., & Pindyck, R. S. (1994). Investment Under Uncertainty. USA: Princeton University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400830176
- Fatnassi, I., Slim, C., Ftiti, Z., & Ben Maatoug, A. (2014). Effects of monetary policy on the REIT returns: evidence from the United Kingdom. Research in International Business and Finance, 32, 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2014.01.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2014.01.001
- Gatsinzi, J., & Ntirenganya, F. (2023). Regulatory compliance and construction efficiency in Rwanda’s real estate sector. East African Property Journal, 8(1), 45–67.
- Glaeser, E., & Gyourko, J. (2018). The economic implications of housing supply. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 32(1), 3-30. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.32.1.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.32.1.3
- Global Construction Review. (2023). African Regulatory Compliance Cost Benchmarking Report. Retrieved from https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/african-regulatory-report-2023
- Greenwald, B., Lettau, M., & Ludvigson, S. (2021). Monetary policy and real estate margins. Journal of Urban Economics, 45(3), 112–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2021.103456
- Gyourko, J., & Keim, D. (2020). Macroeconomic drivers of property returns. Real Estate Economics, 48(2), 345–372. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6229.12345 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6229.12345
- He, L. T., Webb, J. R., & Myer, F. C. N. (2003). Interest rate sensitivities of REIT returns. International Real Estate Review, 6(1), 1–21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53383/100043
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- Lindsay, M. (2022). Real options in real estate: a systematic literature review. European Real Estate Society Conference Proceedings, 1–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15396/eres2022_152
- Ling, D. C., & Naranjo, A. (2015). Returns and information transmission dynamics in public and private real estate markets. Real Estate Economics, 43(1) 163-208. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6229.12069 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6229.12069
- Mattar, Y. (2024). The impact of change orders caused by legislative changes on building projects. Buildings, 14(5), Article 1294. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051294 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051294
- Meinzer, M., Etter-Phoya, R., & Diakite, M. (2019). Comparing tax incentives across jurisdictions: a pilot study. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3483437 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3483437
- Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning [MINECOFIN]. (2021). Rwanda Fiscal Incentives and Sectoral Growth Report. Government of Rwanda.
- Ministry of Infrastructure [MININFRA]. (2021). Building Code and Land Use Regulations Update. Government of Rwanda.
- Mwakipesile, J. (2022). Regulatory stringency and developer profitability in Tanzania. African Urban Quarterly, 17(2), 78–95.
- Mwangi, P. W., & Karanja, J. M. (2021). Interest rate transmission in East African real estate markets. African Journal of Economic Review, 9(2), 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2021.1894321
- Myers, S. C. (1977). Determinants of corporate borrowing. Journal of Financial Economics, 5(2), 147–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(77)90015-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(77)90015-0
- National Bank of Rwanda. (2023). Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Report 2023. BNR. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24149/wp2315
- National Institute of Statistics Rwanda. (2022). Rwanda Housing Market Annual Review 2022. NISR.
- OECD. (2024). Housing Market Challenges and Policy Options in Slovenia: Easing the Regulatory Burden and Improving Land Conversion Policies. Paris: OECD Publishing.
- Peters, G. T., & Kiabel, B. D. (2015). Tax incentives and foreign direct investment in Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Economics and Finance, 6(5), 10-20. https://doi.org/10.9790/5933-06511020
- Real Estate Board of Rwanda. (2023). Sector Performance Report Q1–Q3 2023. REB.
- ResearchGate. (2023). Regulatory Compliance and Access to Finance: Implications for Business Growth in Developing Economies. Research Report, 2023.
- Rwanda Development Board. (2022). Fiscal Incentives Impact Assessment 2022. RDB.
- Rwanda Housing Authority. (2022). Sector Compliance Cost Analysis Report. RHA.
- Rwanda Real Estate Association. (2023). Industry Performance Benchmarks 2019–2023. RREA.
- Rwanda Revenue Authority. (2023). Sectoral Tax Guidelines: Real Estate Development. https://www.rra.gov.rw
- Savchuk, V. (2023). Real options technique as a tool of strategic risk management. International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences, 14(2), 15–27. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2303.09176
- Schmidt, G., & Okello, D. (2023). Meta-analysis of interest rate effects on emerging market real estate margins. International Real Estate Review, 26(3), 389–412. https://doi.org/10.53383/IRER.2023.045
- Simpson, M. W. (2007). The asymmetric response of equity REIT returns to inflation. Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 35, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11146-007-9023-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11146-007-9023-0
- Trigeorgis, L. (1996). Real Options: Managerial Flexibility and Strategy in Resource Allocation. MIT Press.
- Uwitonze, E. (2023). Interest Rate Sensitivity in Rwanda's Real Estate Sector [Unpublished master's thesis]. University of Rwanda.
- Van der Berg, J., Botha, F., & Van Rensburg, L. (2022). Nonlinear effects of monetary policy on property developer margins. South African Journal of Economics, 90(1), 112–130. https://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12345 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12345
- World Bank Group. (2022). Doing Business 2022: Comparing Business Regulation in 190 Economies. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/business-enabling-environment
- World Bank. (2022). Regulatory Impacts on Emerging Real Estate Markets. World Bank Group.
- Zamba, A., & Nkundabagenzi, J. (2023). Evaluating Rwanda’s real estate fiscal incentives. Rwanda Journal of Business and Economics, 8(1), 22–41. https://doi.org/10.15604/rjbe.2023.08.01.002
- Zhou, Q., Sial, M. S., Álvarez-Otero, S., Salman, A., & Liu, W. (2023). Analyzing the underlying relationship between monetary policy and residential property prices in China. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 27(6), 405–418. https://doi.org/10.3846/ijspm.2023.20662 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/ijspm.2023.20662
References
Adeleke, O., & Yusuf, T. (2020). Fiscal policy distortions in Nigeria’s luxury housing market. Journal of Property Research, 37(4), 345–363.
African Development Bank. (2021). East Africa real estate market review. AfDB. Retrieved from https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/african-economic-outlook-2021
Bond, S. A., Gardiner, B., & Tyler, P. (2013). The impact of enterprise zone tax incentives on local property markets in England: who actually benefits? Journal of Property Research, 30(1), 67–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/09599916.2012.721381 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09599916.2012.721381
Brennan, M. J., & Schwartz, E. S. (1985). Evaluating natural resource investments. Journal of Business, 58(2), 135–157. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2352967 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/296288
Bulan, L. T., Mayer, C., & Somerville, C. T. (2006). Irreversible investment, real options, and competition: evidence from real estate development. Journal of Urban Economics, 60(3), 385–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2008.03.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3386/w12486
Cabañes, M. L., Zuluaga, D., & Rojas, J. (2020). Real options and investment under uncertainty: evidence from Latin American real estate markets. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 17(4), 75–85. https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.17(4).2020.07 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.17(4).2020.07
Chung, J. S. (2023). Effects of tax incentive policies for land use on local socioeconomic factors: evidence from urban regeneration projects. Land, 12(9), Article 1801. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091801 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091801
Claude, S. J., Ngigi, M. W., & Majiwa, E. (2025). Determinants of market participation and its effect on profit margins among smallholder wheat producing farmers in Rwanda. Discover Agriculture, 3(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00184-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00184-w
Dixit, A. K., & Pindyck, R. S. (1994). Investment Under Uncertainty. USA: Princeton University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400830176
Fatnassi, I., Slim, C., Ftiti, Z., & Ben Maatoug, A. (2014). Effects of monetary policy on the REIT returns: evidence from the United Kingdom. Research in International Business and Finance, 32, 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2014.01.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2014.01.001
Gatsinzi, J., & Ntirenganya, F. (2023). Regulatory compliance and construction efficiency in Rwanda’s real estate sector. East African Property Journal, 8(1), 45–67.
Glaeser, E., & Gyourko, J. (2018). The economic implications of housing supply. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 32(1), 3-30. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.32.1.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.32.1.3
Global Construction Review. (2023). African Regulatory Compliance Cost Benchmarking Report. Retrieved from https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/african-regulatory-report-2023
Greenwald, B., Lettau, M., & Ludvigson, S. (2021). Monetary policy and real estate margins. Journal of Urban Economics, 45(3), 112–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2021.103456
Gyourko, J., & Keim, D. (2020). Macroeconomic drivers of property returns. Real Estate Economics, 48(2), 345–372. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6229.12345 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6229.12345
He, L. T., Webb, J. R., & Myer, F. C. N. (2003). Interest rate sensitivities of REIT returns. International Real Estate Review, 6(1), 1–21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53383/100043
Hilbers, P., Lei, Q., & Zacho, L. (2020). Interest rate effects on emerging market real estate. IMF Working Papers, 20(45). International Monetary Fund. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513546721.001
Ihlanfeldt, K. R. (2007). The effect of land use regulation on housing and land prices. Journal of Urban Economics, 61(3), 420–435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2006.09.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2006.09.003
International Accounting Standards Board. (2022). International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Retrieved from https://www.ifrs.org
International Monetary Fund. (2023). Rwanda: Financial Sector Assessment Program (IMF Country Report No. 23/45). Retrieved from https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2023/02/15/Rwanda-Financial-Sector-Assessment-Program-529723
Kok, N., Monkkonen, P., & Quigley, J. M. (2014). Land use regulations and the value of land and housing: an intra-metropolitan analysis. Journal of Urban Economics, 81, 136–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2014.03.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2014.03.004
Lindsay, M. (2022). Real options in real estate: a systematic literature review. European Real Estate Society Conference Proceedings, 1–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15396/eres2022_152
Ling, D. C., & Naranjo, A. (2015). Returns and information transmission dynamics in public and private real estate markets. Real Estate Economics, 43(1) 163-208. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6229.12069 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6229.12069
Mattar, Y. (2024). The impact of change orders caused by legislative changes on building projects. Buildings, 14(5), Article 1294. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051294 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051294
Meinzer, M., Etter-Phoya, R., & Diakite, M. (2019). Comparing tax incentives across jurisdictions: a pilot study. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3483437 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3483437
Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning [MINECOFIN]. (2021). Rwanda Fiscal Incentives and Sectoral Growth Report. Government of Rwanda.
Ministry of Infrastructure [MININFRA]. (2021). Building Code and Land Use Regulations Update. Government of Rwanda.
Mwakipesile, J. (2022). Regulatory stringency and developer profitability in Tanzania. African Urban Quarterly, 17(2), 78–95.
Mwangi, P. W., & Karanja, J. M. (2021). Interest rate transmission in East African real estate markets. African Journal of Economic Review, 9(2), 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2021.1894321
Myers, S. C. (1977). Determinants of corporate borrowing. Journal of Financial Economics, 5(2), 147–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(77)90015-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(77)90015-0
National Bank of Rwanda. (2023). Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Report 2023. BNR. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24149/wp2315
National Institute of Statistics Rwanda. (2022). Rwanda Housing Market Annual Review 2022. NISR.
OECD. (2024). Housing Market Challenges and Policy Options in Slovenia: Easing the Regulatory Burden and Improving Land Conversion Policies. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Peters, G. T., & Kiabel, B. D. (2015). Tax incentives and foreign direct investment in Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Economics and Finance, 6(5), 10-20. https://doi.org/10.9790/5933-06511020
Real Estate Board of Rwanda. (2023). Sector Performance Report Q1–Q3 2023. REB.
ResearchGate. (2023). Regulatory Compliance and Access to Finance: Implications for Business Growth in Developing Economies. Research Report, 2023.
Rwanda Development Board. (2022). Fiscal Incentives Impact Assessment 2022. RDB.
Rwanda Housing Authority. (2022). Sector Compliance Cost Analysis Report. RHA.
Rwanda Real Estate Association. (2023). Industry Performance Benchmarks 2019–2023. RREA.
Rwanda Revenue Authority. (2023). Sectoral Tax Guidelines: Real Estate Development. https://www.rra.gov.rw
Savchuk, V. (2023). Real options technique as a tool of strategic risk management. International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences, 14(2), 15–27. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2303.09176
Schmidt, G., & Okello, D. (2023). Meta-analysis of interest rate effects on emerging market real estate margins. International Real Estate Review, 26(3), 389–412. https://doi.org/10.53383/IRER.2023.045
Simpson, M. W. (2007). The asymmetric response of equity REIT returns to inflation. Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 35, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11146-007-9023-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11146-007-9023-0
Trigeorgis, L. (1996). Real Options: Managerial Flexibility and Strategy in Resource Allocation. MIT Press.
Uwitonze, E. (2023). Interest Rate Sensitivity in Rwanda's Real Estate Sector [Unpublished master's thesis]. University of Rwanda.
Van der Berg, J., Botha, F., & Van Rensburg, L. (2022). Nonlinear effects of monetary policy on property developer margins. South African Journal of Economics, 90(1), 112–130. https://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12345 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12345
World Bank Group. (2022). Doing Business 2022: Comparing Business Regulation in 190 Economies. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/business-enabling-environment
World Bank. (2022). Regulatory Impacts on Emerging Real Estate Markets. World Bank Group.
Zamba, A., & Nkundabagenzi, J. (2023). Evaluating Rwanda’s real estate fiscal incentives. Rwanda Journal of Business and Economics, 8(1), 22–41. https://doi.org/10.15604/rjbe.2023.08.01.002
Zhou, Q., Sial, M. S., Álvarez-Otero, S., Salman, A., & Liu, W. (2023). Analyzing the underlying relationship between monetary policy and residential property prices in China. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 27(6), 405–418. https://doi.org/10.3846/ijspm.2023.20662 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/ijspm.2023.20662