In order to establish approaches to smart growth that will succeed in the housing marketplace, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), along with the National Association of Realtors (NAR), recently surveyed households who have bought a home within the last 48 months.

What they found is that home buyers prefer large houses and large lots and are willing to live in distant suburbs and accept longer commutes in order to have more space inside and outside their homes.

“This survey demonstrates that home buyers are aware of the tradeoffs they make when buying a home,” said NAHB President Gary Garczynski. “A better understanding of these tradeoffs enables us to develop planning and growth policies that take into account home buyers’ preferences.”

“Not everyone is of one mind on this issue,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.). “It’s important to have this kind of study so we can have this kind of discussion and advance smart growth.”

The home buyers who were surveyed indicated that home size was more important that proximity to work, the central city or schools. When presented with a wish list about their homes, 64 percent said they wished their home was larger; 27 percent wished they could walk to more places from their homes; 23 percent wished their home was closer to work; 17 percent wanted to be closer to shopping and restaurants; 9 percent wanted their home to be closer to public transportation; and 5 percent wished they were closer to the city.

The survey was undertaken to help identify factors behind consumers’ home buying decisions and the tradeoffs they are willing to make, Garczynski said.

Other findings of the survey were:

“Houses spread out” led the list of aspects of a home and its location that respondents found important.

Asked to rank three alternatives for where new growth should occur, 37 percent selected “build new homes in existing, partially developed suburban areas” as their first choice and 51 percent identified this as their second choice. “Build new homes on vacant land in the central city of inner suburbs” was the preferred choice of 35 percent and the second chose of 23 percent. “Build homes in outlying areas,” was the first choice of 29 percent and second choice of 26 percent.

Asked which single factor they would change in their home or community, ”taxes would be lower” led with 35 percent, followed by “I’d live in a bigger home,” 26 percent; “I’d own a larger lot,” 17 percent; “my home would be closer to where I work,” 8 percent; “schools would be better,” 5 percent; and “other,” 9 percent.

“The survey responses suggest a vision of smart growth that home buyers are prepared to embrace,” Garczynski said. “A majority of home buyers want single-family detached homes in a pedestrian-friendly community that has shopping within walking distance. They want a mix of open space, including parks, recreational facilities, playgrounds, farms, nature preserves and undeveloped areas. They want traffic minimized on neighborhood streets. To the extent that we – builders, developers, planners, elected officials – can create high quality, walkable, mixed-use communities, we will deliver a version of smart growth that is more likely to be accepted in the marketplace.”.