So it was no surprise when we saw this article from the Florida Association of Realtors:
According to National Association of Realtors® (NAR)'s 2013 Community Preference Survey, 60 percent of respondents favor a neighborhood with a mix of houses, stores and other businesses within walking distance, rather than neighborhoods that require more driving.
And while the size of a property matters, buyers are willing to compromise size for a preferred neighborhood and less commuting. For example, although 52 percent of those surveyed prefer a single-family detached house with a large yard, 78 percent said that the neighborhood is more important than the size of the house.
Fifty-seven percent would forego a home with a larger yard if it meant a shorter commute to work, and 55 percent were willing to forego a home with larger yard if it meant they could live within walking distance of schools, stores and restaurants.
“Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach, smart growth is typically characterized by mixed-use development, higher densities and pedestrian friendly streets that accommodate a wide diversity of transportation modes,” says NAR President Gary Thomas.
When asked to identify their ideal community, the most popular choice was a suburban neighborhood with a mix of houses, shops and businesses. The least popular was a suburban neighborhood with just houses.
When considering transportation concerns, 41 percent of those surveyed said better public transportation is the top solution; 29 percent prefer communities where people don’t have to drive long distances to work or shop; and 20 percent would prefer to build new roads.
#LizBobeck
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