HousingWire Magazine recently published an article entitled “Energizing Real Estate: Oil and Gas Exploration Could Shock Housing Markets” in their November 2013 issue. The article discusses the work of Dr. Clifford Lipscomb, Director – Economic Research at Greenfield Advisors, and his cousin, Dr. Joseph Lipscomb, a professor of finance and real estate valuation in the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University, regarding the impact of energy production on the housing market.

The article provides an overview of the real estate valuation issues related to oil and gas exploration, including those related to hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.” One of the key points is that there is very little awareness about mineral (or subsurface) rights, and it is often difficult to determine who owns those rights and how to value them. The situation can become even more complex when a property enters foreclosure. The main take-away is that more awareness is needed to minimize risk for all involved.

Dr. Cliff Lipscomb says that this article highlights the importance of serious debate about the valuation issues surrounding fracking activities. In his opinion, the kind of “deliberation” highlighted in Adolf Gundersen’s book The Environmental Promise of Democratic Deliberation (The University of Wisconsin Press, 1995) is a model for public deliberation that could inform the debate about fracking.

The article also referred to a “white paper” by Dr. Cliff Lipscomb. Interested readers may refer to “Unconventional Shale Gas Development and Real Estate Valuation Issues” by C.A. Lipscomb, S.J. Kilpatrick, and Y. Wang, published by the Review of Regional Studies (RRS).

HousingWire Magazine is a monthly magazine that provides in-depth context and insight spanning the people, issues, and data that matter in mortgage finance and real estate. The magazine offers readers insight on U.S. housing and finance from leading national columnists, as well as exclusive features that tackle hard-hitting issues in real estate finance and bring to life the people that make markets. The publication is available in print or in digital format.