Connotation and Textual Analysis in Real Estate Listings

Real estate listings typically include objective, factual information about property characteristics, along with subjective, descriptive language. How the agent constructs the content of the listing can either encourage or discourage potential buyers from viewing a property. Thus, understanding how buyers are interpreting the language in the listing is essential for effective marketing. This study takes an important first step towards creating a real estate specific dictionary of descriptive terms and measure of favorability.