Location, Location, Location.....

I have lived in the same neighborhood since 2002 and have thought several times that it is really centrally and conveniently located to any place that I would want to go. I can head north or south to get to major highways. I am convenient to shopping, restaurants, schools, parks, libraries and hospitals or any other thing that I would want. I can, if I want to, even walk to much of this.




But we have become a driving society…….and most of us would even choose to circle around a parking lot several times to find the closest spot to park rather then park and walk a bit. With gas at near $4 a gallon there’s never been a better time to walk. I came across a web site which when supplied an address will give you a neighborhood “Walkability Score”.

As a Realtor® it makes me wonder if I will ever be selling a home or a neighborhood based on it’s “ Walkability Score”.

Just for fun try the Walk Score to See If You Live in a Walkable Neighborhood…..where every ten year old can walk to a library, every eighty year old can walk to a park bench and every twenty-one year old can walk home from a bar.

http://www.walkscore.com/

I wonder, will the new buzzword in Real Estate be Walkability?

“Buyers want it all within walking distance. The next hot market could be homes in walkable neighborhoods.”
—National Association of Realtors

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How It Works
Walk Score helps people find walkable places to live. Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc. Walk Score measures how easy it is to live a car-lite lifestyle—not how pretty the area is for walking.

What does my score mean?
Your Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100. Here are general guidelines for interpreting your score:
90–100 = Walkers' Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
70–89 = Very Walkable: It's possible to get by without owning a car.
50–69 = Somewhat Walkable: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
25–49 = Car-Dependent: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
0–24 = Car-Dependent (Driving Only): Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!

Please sign this petition to Congress to support walking, biking, and transit in the 2009 Transportation Bill. The Transportation Bill only comes along once a decade—so now is the moment to change our transportation priorities!