Living in a place where you can walk to stores and parks makes your home worth more money. Homes in these easy-to-walk areas might sell for much more in the next few years. Think of it like a score from 0 to 100 – the higher the score, the better you can walk to things you need.
When you can walk to places, you save money too. You won't need to drive as much, which means less money spent on gas and cars. You could save up to $10,000 each year!
More people want to live where they can walk to shops, schools, and fun spots. Young folks and older people really like these areas. They feel safer because more people are out walking around.
If you buy a home in a spot where you can walk to places, it will likely be worth more as time goes on. This makes it a smart choice for your future.
Understanding Walk Score Metrics
Getting around on foot is easier in some places than others. Walk Score helps us know how walkable a place is. It gives places a score from 0 to 100. The higher the score, the easier it's to walk places.
A score of 90 or more means you can walk almost anywhere. You won't need a car much. A score under 50 means you'll need a car to get around.
Walk Score looks at how far you need to walk to get to useful places. It checks things like food stores, schools, and shops. Places that are very close (about 5 minutes away) get the most points. The score goes down if places are farther away.
It also looks at how many streets connect and if the blocks are short. These things make it easier or harder to walk in your area.
Health Benefits Drive Property Values
Living in a neighborhood where you can walk everywhere helps keep people healthy and happy. Kids, parents and grandparents can walk to parks, shops, and visit friends. This helps them stay fit and save money on doctor visits.
When more people walk and bike in a neighborhood, they weigh less and feel better. Many young families want to live in these areas and will pay more for homes here. They know they can get outside, meet neighbors, and stay active right from their front door.
Active Lifestyles Boost Values
Walking is good for your body and your wallet! When you can walk to stores and parks from your home, your house is worth more money.
People want to live where they can walk places. They like taking walks and not having to drive everywhere.
When you can walk to places easily:
Your home sells for more money
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You spend less on gas and car trips
You stay healthier by walking more
Shops near walking paths make more money too
Living where you can walk helps you save money and live better. More and more people want homes in areas where they can walk places. This makes these homes worth more over time.
If you want a good deal on a home, look for one in a place where you can walk to things you need. Your body and your bank account will thank you!
Lower Healthcare Costs Matter
Walking to places near your home can help you spend less on doctor visits. People who walk more often spend almost half as much on health care as those who drive all the time.
When you walk each day, you can stay healthier and avoid problems like diabetes and heart trouble.
Homes in areas where you can walk are worth more money. This is because more people want to live where they can walk to stores and parks.
These homes sell for more because buyers know walking is good for their health. When you buy a home in a walking-friendly area, you save money on health care and own a home that will be worth more later.
Wellness Culture Attracts Buyers
People want to live in places where they can walk and stay healthy. Homes in these areas cost more – up to 20% more than places where you must drive everywhere.
Many people like to buy homes where they can:
- Walk to coffee shops and stores
- Meet friends while taking walks
- Feel less stressed by not driving so much
- Walk to fresh food markets
More and more people want these walking-friendly homes. This makes the home prices go up fast. In the past ten years, these homes grew in value much faster than homes in areas where you need a car.
The homes people can walk from sell for more money because they help people live better. When you can walk to places, you move more and feel good. You also meet more people in your area when you walk around.
Millennial Homebuyer Preferences
Young home buyers love being able to walk places. Many of them will pay more money to live where they can walk to stores and fun spots. Most want to live close to places they can walk to in just 10 minutes.
When selling homes to young buyers, tell them how easy it's to walk to nearby places. These buyers like to live where they can walk or take a bus instead of driving all the time.
They often pick homes in areas with shops, food, and fun things nearby. Many will pick a smaller home if it means they can walk more places.
They also use apps to get rides when they need to, so they don't need as many parking spots.
Urban Planning and Property Appreciation
Living in a walkable city helps your home grow in value. When people can walk to stores and parks, homes sell for more money than in areas where you must drive everywhere. More people want to live where they can walk to the things they need.
Good city planning helps homes gain value in four ways:
- Mixing stores and homes in one area makes home prices go up.
- Living near buses and trains makes homes worth more.
- Streets that work well for walking and biking boost home prices.
- Homes near parks sell for more money.
If you want your home to grow in value, pick a place where you can walk to shops, parks, and buses. More people want to live in these areas, which makes the homes worth more over time.
Transit-Oriented Development Benefits
Living near buses and trains makes life better for everyone. When homes and shops are close to transit stops, more people want to live there. Houses near transit stops are worth more money than houses far away.
Many people like to live where they can walk to stores and catch a bus or train. This means your home will be worth more over time. Young people and older folks both want to live in these spots.
When the housing market gets tough, these homes stay strong. Not many people lose their homes here like they do in places where you must drive.
As cities grow, they want more homes near buses and trains. This means your home will keep its value for years to come.
Green Living and Walkability
Living in a place where you can walk everywhere helps our planet stay healthy.
When you walk or ride your bike to the store, school, or work, you use your car less. This means less dirty smoke from cars goes into the air. Walking and biking can cut down the bad stuff your home puts in the air by a lot.
The best places to walk have stores near homes, safe bike lanes, and good sidewalks. This makes it easy for people to get around without cars.
Eco-Friendly Transportation Choices
Living in a neighborhood where you can walk everywhere helps you make better choices for our planet. When you can walk to places, you need your car less. This means cleaner air and more money in your pocket.
People who live in these areas:
- Take the bus or train more, using cars less than half as much
- Love to use shared bikes to get around
- Buy more electric cars since trips are shorter
- Share rides with friends to go far away
When you can easily walk, bike, or take the bus, your home becomes worth more money too. Houses in these areas sell for more than houses where you must drive everywhere.
These simple ways to get around help keep our air clean. They also help people save money on gas and car costs.
More and more people want to live in places where they can walk to the store, school, or work.
Reduced Carbon Impact
When you live where you can walk to places, you help our Earth a lot. You make less dirty air because you don't need to drive as much. Your neighbors care about clean air too!
Every time you walk one mile, you stop bad air that cars make. People who live in walking areas use their cars less than people who must drive everywhere. This means each home makes our air much cleaner.
More and more people want to live in clean-air areas. They like walking to stores and parks. Many will even pay more money to live where they can walk places instead of drive.
Sustainable Neighborhood Design
We build neighborhoods where people love to walk and play. The tree-lined paths and parks help us save energy and make our homes worth more money.
Our neighborhoods have:
- Stores and schools you can walk to in 10 minutes
- Special gardens that catch rain water
- Local plants that need less water
- Streets that let homes use the sun to stay warm
When we build this way, our streets are better for people and the earth.
Families who live here save money on power bills. The homes also sell for more money over time than ones in regular neighborhoods.
Commercial District Proximity Effects
Living near shops and stores can make your home worth more money.
Homes that sit close to busy shopping areas – about a 5 to 10 minute walk away – often sell for more than homes that are far from stores. People like being able to walk to get food, shop, or go out to eat.
If you want to buy a home that will grow in value, look for one near streets with lots of stores.
These homes tend to sell faster and gain more value over time. This works best when the nearby stores sell things people need every day, like food and basic items.
Your home will do even better when all the nearby stores stay open and do well.
Walkable Schools Add Value
Living near a good school makes your home worth more money. If you can walk to a great school, your house may sell for 5-10% more than a house that's far from school. This is true no matter where you live.
Why do homes near schools cost more? Here's why:
Kids can walk to school on safe paths.
Parents save time and gas money on rides.
These areas are safe and people look out for each other.
Home prices go up more in these spots.
When you buy near a school, you join a strong community. Even if you don't have kids, your home will keep its value better. That's because good schools make the whole area nicer to live in.
Parks and Property Premiums
Parks make homes worth more money. If you live close to a park, your home could be worth 8-20% more than homes far from parks. The closer you are, the more your home is worth.
Parks with fun things like swings, trails, and sports fields add the most value. Homes that look right at a park can be worth 20% more. Homes near small parks in your area can be worth 10-15% more.
Your home gets the biggest boost if it sits very close to a park – about one block away. After five blocks, the park doesn't help your home's value as much.
Keep an eye on your local parks. When cities fix up old parks or build new ones, homes nearby often go up in value.
Car-Free Living Financial Advantages
Living without a car can put more money in your pocket. You can save about $10,000 each year! When you live where you can walk to places, you can use that extra money to buy a home or save it.
People who can walk to stores and work spend much less on getting around than those who need cars.
You save money in these ways when you don't have a car:
- No car payments to make each month ($350-$500)
- No car insurance to pay ($1,500-$2,000 each year)
- No fixing or taking care of a car ($2,000-$3,000 each year)
- No gas to buy ($2,000-$3,000 each year)
When you save this money, you can put it in the bank or use it to buy a home. The money can grow over time.
Homes in areas where people can walk often go up in value more than other homes. This happens because people spend less on cars and can save more money.
Sidewalk Infrastructure Investment Returns
Good sidewalks make homes worth more money.
It costs $7-15 for each square foot to build new sidewalks. Taking care of them only costs about $1 per square foot each year.
Homes with nice sidewalks sell for more than homes without them. Over time, homes with good sidewalks can be worth 5-8% more than homes without them.
This makes building sidewalks a smart way to spend money.
Property Values Rise Steadily
Walking to places in your neighborhood helps your home be worth more money over time. Homes you can walk from do better than homes where you must drive.
Let me show you what walking can do for home prices:
- Homes near shops and parks sell for almost half more money than homes far from things.
- When home prices go down, walking areas lose less money.
- Homes you can walk from gain more value each year.
- Areas with stores and homes mixed bring in more tax money than spread-out neighborhoods.
When you buy a home in a place where you can walk to things, you make a smart choice. Your home will likely be worth more as time goes on. This helps keep your money safe and growing.
Maintenance Costs Stay Low
Walking-friendly neighborhoods cost less to take care of than places built for cars. This saves money in three big ways.
First, we need fewer roads when people can walk places. Second, we don't need as many long pipes for water and power. Third, rain water is easier to handle because there's less pavement.
Look at how much money we save per mile each year:
| What We Take Care Of | Money Saved Each Year |
|---|---|
| Roads | $18,000 |
| Pipes and Wires | $12,500 |
| Rain Water Drains | $9,800 |
| Snow Clearing | $7,200 |
| Sidewalks | $2,100 |
When a town spends less on upkeep, you pay less in taxes. Places where people walk need 38% less money to maintain than places where everyone drives. Walking is gentle on roads, while cars make them wear out fast. This means fewer road fixes that you have to pay for.
Neighborhood Safety and Foot Traffic
Walking makes neighborhoods safer and better for everyone. When more people walk around, they keep an eye on things and get to know their neighbors.
People who walk more help keep their streets safe in many ways:
- Streets with lots of walkers have less crime than streets with just cars.
- Houses near busy sidewalks are worth more money.
- Streets with good lights have fewer break-ins.
- Areas with shops and homes mixed together have more people walking around, which makes them safer.
When you pick a place to live where people walk a lot, you get more than just an easy walk to places. You get a safer home and friendly neighbors who look out for each other.
Mixed-Use Development Price Trends
Living in neighborhoods with shops and homes together is better for your money. Since 2010, these homes grow in value much faster than homes in areas with just houses.
If you buy a home near stores and places to eat, it can be worth more – about 15-20% more than other homes.
Young people today love to live where they can walk to stores and coffee shops. They want homes close to the things they need. Most of them will spend extra money to live in these spots.
Homes near stores and shops sell much faster too. While other homes sit and wait for buyers, these homes find new owners much sooner.
The best deals are homes near grocery stores, coffee shops, and other useful places.
Aging Population Housing Demands
As we get older, many of us want homes where we can walk to stores and friends. Older people, like your grandparents, now look for places where they can live on their own but still get around easily.
When older folks live in areas with good sidewalks, they get many good things:
- Their homes grow more in value than homes far from shops
- They save money by not driving cars as much
- They walk more and stay healthier
- They make more friends and see them often
Four out of ten older people now want to buy homes where they can walk places. This means these areas will stay busy and full of life for many years.
This way of living helps older people stay free and happy. They can go to stores, see friends, and enjoy life without always needing a car.
Future Market Growth Predictions
Walking-friendly neighborhoods will be worth more money in the future. By 2030, homes in these areas will cost 15-20% more than places where you must drive everywhere. This is most clear in medium-sized cities where leaders want more people to walk.
Places where you can walk to buses and trains will do even better. These spots get high scores for how easy it's to walk around. Each year, home prices here go up 3-5% more than other areas.
The best places to buy are where shops and homes sit close to each other. Downtown areas and spots near buses and trains are very popular. Young adults and older people who want smaller homes love these areas.
