Marja Hoek-Smit

Marja Hoek-Smit serves as Adjunct Professor of Real Estate at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and holds an adjunct appointment in City and Regional Planning at the School of Design. She directs the International Housing Finance Program at the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center and founded the Housing Finance Information Network (HOFINET), establishing herself as a leading expert in global housing systems.

Education:

• Doctoraal, University of Amsterdam, 1971

Her research centers on housing finance systems, urban policy, and real estate development in emerging economies, with specialized focus on Eastern and Southern Africa. She has executed over 20 international consulting projects analyzing housing markets and subsidy systems across Latin America, Africa, and Asia for institutions including The World Bank, IMF, and UN-Habitat, emphasizing practical solutions for expanding housing access in developing nations.

Scientific Awards:

• G. Holmes Perkins Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Member of the Practitioner Faculty, School of Design, University of Pennsylvania (2009)

She advises doctoral candidates through independent studies and teaches REAL890 – International Real Estate Comparisons, examining cross-border development strategies in emerging markets. Her consulting portfolio includes housing finance reforms in 9 countries and infrastructure feasibility studies for CLIFF, demonstrating deep engagement with real-world policy implementation.

Hoek-Smit leads the International Housing Finance Program and HOFINET web-portal, creating vital knowledge-sharing platforms that connect policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working on housing challenges in developing economies.