Remote Work and Urban Real Estate: A Comparative Analysis of Accra and New York City

Abstract

The paper examined how remote work has influenced urban real estate dynamics in New York City and Accra, addressing the global research gap on its uneven effects across developed and developing cities. It aimed to assess changes in residential and commercial real estate demand, evaluate the role of digital infrastructure, and compare urban policy responses. A systematic review method guided by PRISMA was employed, synthesizing 47 peer-reviewed and grey literature from 2015 to 2025. Findings revealed that New York experienced rising office vacancies, and zoning reforms were enabled by strong digital infrastructure. In contrast, Accra’s shifts were modest, limited by housing informality, weak broadband access, and fragmented policy frameworks. The study found that digital infrastructure, socioeconomic inequality, and governance capacity shaped divergent urban real estate responses to remote work. Key recommendations included creating digital housing zones in Accra, supporting remote-friendly home upgrades, incentivizing office conversions in New York, and developing an Urban Remote Work Index for ongoing spatial monitoring. By comparing cities from the Global North and South, the study provides unique insights into how remote work affects urban real estate in contrasting development contexts. It offers actionable insights for urban planners and policymakers by highlighting infrastructure and governance gaps that shape real estate responses in both high-income and emerging urban contexts, supporting more inclusive, equitable, and resilient planning in the remote work era.