Choosing a community is one of the most important factors for consumers as they consider buying home. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2013 Community Preference Survey, 60 percent of respondents favor a neighborhood with a mix of houses and stores and other businesses that are easy to walk to, rather than neighborhoods that require more driving between home, work and recreation.

Key Findings:
Americans prefer walkable communities, but only to a point. In most comparisons tested, a majority prefers the community where it is easier to walk or the commute is shorter. But when comparing a detached single-family house to an apartment or townhouse, the detached home wins out -even with a longer commute and more driving.

A majority prefers houses with small yards and easy walks to schools, stores and restaurants over houses with large yards but where you have to drive to get to schools, stores and restaurants (55 percent to 40 percent).

An even larger majority prefers houses with smaller yards but a shorter commute to work over houses with larger yards but a longer commute to work (57 percent to 36 percent).

A neighborhood with a mix of houses, stores and businesses that are easy to walk to is preferred over a neighborhood with houses only that requires driving to stores and businesses (60 percent to 35 percent).

Nevertheless, when given a choice between a detached, single family house that requires driving to shops and a longer commute to work and an apartment or condominium with an easy walk to shops and a shorter commute to work, a strong majority prefers the single family home –even with the longer commute (57 percent to 39 percent).

There is a split between those who prefer a walkable community with a mix of housing, close by commerce, limited parking and public transportation as opposed to a more conventional single-family houses only community, where driving is required and public transport is unavailable. Half prefer the walkable community and 45 percent prefer the conventional suburb model.

Having places such as shopping, restaurants, a library and a school that you can either walk or drive to is the main attraction of the walkable community.

Single-family homes only (48 percent) and short driving distance to schools and commerce (31 percent) are the top reasons for picking the conventional suburban community.
The groups that most prefer the walkable community are post-graduates (59 percent), African Americans (56 percent), college educated men (56 percent) and college graduates under the age of 45 (55 percent). The groups that most prefer the conventional suburban community are small town and rural residents (57 percent), married women (54 percent) and those who are married with kids (54 percent).

There is a wider divide among those who have moved in the last three years or are planning to move in the next three years. Recent movers prefer the walkable community by 20 points (58 to 38 percent), almost identical to the walkable community preference expressed by those who plan to move in the next three years (+18 points, 57 to 39 percent).

What’s Important in Deciding Where to Live

Privacy from neighbors remains at the top (86 percent important), along with sidewalks and places to take walks (80 percent important) and high quality public schools (74 percent important).

Second tier priorities center on the shared desire for both walking and driving: being within an easy walk of other places and things in the community (69 percent important); easy access to the highway (68 percent important) and being within a short commute to work (65 percent important).

Americans place more importance on community diversity than in 2011. All three “diverse” communities scored higher than two years ago: living in a community with a mix of people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds (+11 points from 42 percent total important in 2011 to 53 percent this year), living in a community with a mix of people from various income levels (+6 points, 42 percent to 48 percent), and living in a community with people at all stages of life (+6 points, 60 percent to 66 percent).

People place more importance on living in a community that is “at the center of it all” than in 2011 (+10 points, from 34 percent important to 44 percent). However, living in a place that is “away from it all” is still more popular overall (55 percent important).

Survey Methodology

American Strategies and Myers Research | Strategic Services, LLC designed and administered this national Internet survey. The survey reached 1,500 adults, 18 years or older. The survey was conducted September 18-24, 2013. Quotas were assigned to reflect the population proportion of each state to the total adult age population across the nation.

Participants were selected from an online panel that consists of over 3.2 million respondents across the United States. The panel is large and diverse so as to minimize the risk of biases. Panelists are recruited via banner ads, invitations and messaging of all types and go through rigorous quality controls before being included in any sample. Panelists are incentivized to take surveys through a points system, whereby they can redeem points for cash, prizes and donations to charity.

Invitations of all types are used in order to bring in people with a diversity of motivations to take part in research. These include e-mail invitations, SMS and text messages, telephone alerts, banners and messaging on web sites and online communities of all types. To avoid self-selection bias, specific project details are not generally included in the invitation. Rather participants are invited to “take a survey.” The details are disclosed later, when a survey has been selected for them to take within the system.

“Ideal” Santa Barbara Property – Newly listed!
212 West Anapamu, Santa Barbara, California: “Urban Oasis”
Offered for $1,268,000
www.212Anapamu.com

Detached, Restored Craftsman in the Heart of Santa Barbara’s Downtown

The beauty and artistry of Craftsman Architecture harmoniously sited along a magnolia-lined street within Santa Barbara’s downtown urban landscape. This meticulously restored 2 bed, 1 & 1/2 bath 1920s single-level bungalow offers a warm and welcoming haven… the convenience of city life just beyond the elegantly hedged front entry. Rated a “Walker’s Paradise” according to Walk Score, daily errands can be achieved without the use of a car. Situated just a few blocks off State Street, the home is within close proximity to the Santa Barbara downtown area’s finest shops, dining and cultural excursions.

The main home, guest suite, intimate garden and patio blend to create a comfortable and stylish living environment characterized by the use of natural elements, distinctive architectural details, and a connection to nature. New, wood-beamed, angular roof supported by tapered stucco columns along with a roomy front porch and hedges that enclose the front yard and garden, create abundant curb appeal and the perfect venue to visit with guests.

Inside the home, dramatic 10-foot ceilings and abundant natural light showcase the beauty of the built-in wood cabinets and bookshelves, extensive door, window and fireplace mouldings and gleaming hardwood floors. Ample master, two guest rooms and two bathrooms offer vintage charm. Gourmet kitchen includes a Wolf range, Villeroy and Boch ceramic farm sink, stainless refrigerator and a generous pantry. Just outside the kitchen door, is a private patio… and serenity.