Top home buyer preference? Walkable communities

Approximately 77 percent of respondents to a new home-buying survey said they would look for neighborhoods with abundant sidewalks and other pedestrian-friendly features over neighborhoods that require more driving between home, work and recreation.

According to the Community Preference Survey sponsored by the National Association of Realtors, Americans favor walkable communities where shops, restaurants, and local businesses are within walking distance from homes.

The survey also revealed that while space is important to home buyers, many are willing to sacrifice square footage for less driving. Eighty percent of those surveyed would prefer to live in a single-family, detached home as long as it didn’t require a longer commute, but nearly three out of five of those surveyed – 59 percent – would choose a smaller home if it meant a commute time of 20 minutes or less.

The survey also found that community characteristics are very important to most people. When considering a home purchase, 88 percent of respondents placed more value on the quality of the neighborhood than the size of the home, and 77 percent of those surveyed want communities with high-quality schools.