Information Management in the Real Estate Industry in Rwanda: Expectations in the Context of Knowledge-based Economy

Abstract

The real estate industry is an important segment of a nation’s economy. It comprises the real estate market, its products, services and participants. The participants in the real estate market require credible and reliable information for decision-making purposes. The Rwandan real estate industry is a developing one and as such requires efficient information sourcing and management for it to mature. This paper examines information management in the real estate industry in Rwanda. Data for the study were obtained from field survey of key stakeholders in the country’s real estate industry. These stakeholders include real estate professionals engaged in real estate transactions. The study found that information management in the industry is not adequately supported with ICT tools and this has made information sharing and transfer within the industry difficult. The paper advocates for the establishment of a sustainable real estate information management system (REIMS) for the industry and concludes that such an electronic data base will facilitate information sourcing, sharing and utilisation, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the industry.