Exploring the factors influencing real estate investment intentions among real estate undergraduates in higher education

This study investigates the behavioral factors influencing direct real estate investment intentions among seventy (70) undergraduate students at UiTM Shah Alam. By applying Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), the research evaluates the roles of financial literacy, social influence, perceived risk, and trust. The results demonstrate that financial literacy and social influence are significant positive predictors of investment intention. Interestingly, while perceived risk and trust were analyzed, their effects were found to be statistically insignificant. This suggests that for future property professionals, specialized knowledge and peer networks carry more weight than risk perception in shaping their investment outlook. The study underscores the need for enhanced financial education and mentorship within academic programs to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world investment behavior.