Regardless of whether or not you live in a quaint, rural landscape or a bustling city neighborhood, the commodities and attractions within walking distance of your home may weigh on the minds of first time home buyers more than you’d think. Recently on HouseLogic , Sacha Cohen refers to a study conducted by CEOs for Cities where the findings showed that pedestrian-friendly areas may be more sought after than those requiring residents to drive around for their everyday necessities.
What designates a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, exactly? For those selling homes in places where schools, parks, businesses and other amenities are within walking distance, their houses received a higher “Walk Score” in the CEOs for Cities study (PDF), whereas those houses situated so that the locals rely on public transportation or fill up their gas tank on the way to the grocery store have lower ones. By scouring through data from nearly 100,000 real estate transactions, CEOs for Cities found that 13 out of 15 markets have the easily walkable abodes ranking higher on the value scale.
For first time home buyers, this information is valuable for two reasons.
- You have a better understanding as to how the value of a home is decided upon
- You have a point of reference for hunting out properties that are more suitable for your budget
Though testing a home’s walkability score isn’t necessarily one of the first steps to buying a house, its affect on real estate market analysis is undeniable and homeowners are now looking for ways to improve the walkability of their homes in order to up the ante on the value front. Cohen links us to a few walkability tips from John Wetmore, the producer of Perils for Pedestrians Television:
- Trim shrubbery that’s blocking the sidewalk in front of your house.
- Pick up trash and litter to make it a more pleasant place.
- Support initiatives in your town to build new sidewalks and repair existing sidewalks.
- Be polite to other drivers and pedestrians when you drive.
- Set an example by walking more by yourself or with your family.
Even if you’re not selling homes and looking to raise the bar when it comes to your property value or if you’re just starting out on the house hunt, Cohen’s raised points regarding walkability are important when it comes to the safety and value of your new or current neighborhood.
Keith Munsell 
