High gas prices mean Americans likely to prefer homes closer to work

Posted Jun 30th 2008 12:03PM by Joseph Lazzaro
Filed under: Forecasts, Other Issues, Employees, Oil, Housing

If one scrolls back into American history, one can detect a clear pattern of cycles or eras: periods of considerable economic expansion, followed by periods of less economic expansion. Periods of extensive public policy activity, followed by periods of less public policy activity. Periods of extensive suburban sprawl, followed by periods of less development.

As more and more Americans entertain the possibility that $4 per gallon gasoline, may, in the long-term, represent a price floor rather than a ceiling, one can detect the rumbles of a shift in housing preferences, so says economist Glen Langan.

"The 3-bedroom house with a back yard is still a goal. That's part of the American dream. The house with a yard 30 or 40 miles from work, is not," Langan said.

Case in point: the Denver metropolitan area. Suburban and exurban home prices in formerly preferred suburbs, are dropping more than in areas closer to the city center, The New York Times reported.

Denver will hardly be the only city affected, Langan said. "Many cities that experienced a 'long-commute' boom or an exurbia boom during the low gas price area are vulnerable," Langan said. "It's the 30-mile commute re-think." Another example of a city likely to be hit hard is Atlanta.

Langan said long-commute locations still typically offer many advantages - - more space, a quieter life, good schools - - but now a major negative, commuting costs, will turn-off many potential home buyers.

"The mantra now is 'good schools' and 'let's see if we can find something that's 15 miles closer,' " Langan said. "The high gas price era is forcing families and people to decrease commuting distances, so in that sense the era of the unlimited commute is over."

Two other types of communities are likely to benefit during the new era: those with reliable mass transit systems and those with amenities closer together, he said.

"Towns and communities close to mass transits systems almost always had an advantage over those that weren't close, but now that advantage will be magnified," Langan said. "Also, more-compact, less-vast communities will have an advantage. People will gravitate toward communities where all their needs are closer together. A community where you have to drive seven miles to the mall, then drive five miles to the soccer or ball field, will not be as desirable as communities where everything is closer together, other factors being equal."

Tags: Atlanta, cities, commuting, Denver, exurbs, featured, gasoline prices, housing, mass transit, oil shock, suburbs, U.S. economy

Print this

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-30-2008 @ 1:45PM

Jeff said...

As I walk past the labyrinth of idling autos I can't help but wonder what people are thinking. I never understand the 1 hour commutes. So you own a great house, but you spend two hours out of your day just to get there and back, through rush hour road rage? My time, my sanity, and my auto bill are all more important than my garage.

For the last year I've lived across the street from work. It is GREAT!