Housing Choice Research Articles

Having a garden or being in the city? The trade-offs and strategies of young middle-class families in Prague

ABSTRACT In recent decades, evolving residential preferences among young middle-class families have diversified spatial mobility patterns, challenging the traditional suburban inclination with the emergence of reurbanization tendencies. Our study employs the concept of life course and explores the decision-making process of housing relocation in a post-socialist city and how housing needs and preferences are confronted with what is affordable for young middle-class families. Through semi-structured interviews in the Prague Metropolitan Area, our findings reveal heterogeneous mobility responses to family transitions and housing market dynamics. A significant trade-off is identified between having a garden and residing in the city without a commute, highlighting variations in parental perceptions of an ideal childhood. Our research underscores distinctions in residential preferences and housing choices in post-socialist cities compared to Western counterparts, driven by factors such as privatism, unique perceptions of suitable housing for young families, and historical development influencing intergenerational transmission of residential preferences.

Assessing the Efficacy of Spatial Planning and Architecture in New Cities: A Case Study of Galala City and Its Implications for Responsible Urban Development

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies used in the planning and construction of new responsible cities and to determine whether or not the stated objectives are being met. As a case study, Galala City provided insights into the efficacy of implementing the principles of responsible cities and served as a reference for similar projects. The evaluation encompassed an examination of diverse elements, including social, economic, and environmental considerations, in order to ascertain the degree to which the theory has been effectively implemented and its influence on both the city and its inhabitants. The research findings indicated that a critical first move in the development of new cities should involve the establishment of robust governance structures and institutions. It is essential to provide a variety of housing choices to accommodate different economic groups, promoting inclusiveness. Additionally, addressing the housing, commercial, and recreational requirements of low-skilled workers throughout the construction and post-construction phases is vital. Emphasizing the creation of employment opportunities and business prospects emerges as a fundamental principle for drawing and retaining permanent residents. Examining how well the Responsible Cities theory works in practice, using Galala City as a case study, has the potential to enhance the field of urban planning and architecture. This, in turn, can promote the creation of cities worldwide that are not only more sustainable but also more inclusive.

Towards a more integrated approach of housing and care for persons with a disability in Flanders

Aiming to offer persons with disabilities more opportunities to live independently and more inclusive, the Flemish government radically revised its subsidies for care and care infrastructure for persons with disabilities. Since 2016, subsidies for care are no longer allocated to care providers, but directly to the person with disabilities. In 2018, brick-and-mortar subsidies for care infrastructure were replaced with subject-specific investment subsidies. In this oral paper, we present the results of a study carried out in 2019 aiming to evaluate the impact of this more demand-driven subsidisation on the housing situation of persons with a disability.
 The evaluation was carried out by academic researchers, but set up in co-design with the Housing Agency Flanders, the Flemish Department responsible for care, care organisations, social housing providers, municipalities and organisations supporting persons with a disability. Persons with a disability receiving a care budget were invited to respond to a survey about their living conditions and how these changed after receiving the care budget. Another survey was send to care organisations and social housing providers and contained questions on the impact of the policy change on their investment decisions. After analysing the data, discussions with stakeholders were held to deepen the understanding of the results.
 Persons with disabilities reported in their answers to the survey changes in housing choices, housing quality and housing costs and linked these to the policy changes. Housing and care providers reported how their investment strategies were affected. The results of the study reveal how even after a few years the effects of a more demand driven subsidization are visible. Moreover, the study provides an example of how policy outcomes in one policy field (housing) can be affected by policy initiatives in another policy field (care). As such, the study stresses the need for more transversal research in studying housing policy outcomes and the need for an integrated policy approach.
 The presentation of the study will be followed by a presentation of one of the initiatives of the Housing Agency Flanders aiming at a better integration of these two distinct policy fields. The Agency is currently the driver of diverse incentives and experimental innovations for a more sustainable housing policy and initiatives. The Agency launched a call in 2017 for the development of experimental and innovative housing forms, focusing on building ‘common housing’ or ‘leasehold’ models. For a period of 6 years, 28 initiatives can develop an innovative practice exempt from housing regulation. In several initiatives, the aspect of care is intrinsically related to the experiment and innovation. We will present initiatives that provide an inclusive co-housing solution for people who need intensive and long-term care. Goal is to develop new housing initiatives, detect difficulties and gaps in legislation and explore possibilities to enroll these practices in Flanders.

A qualitative analysis of housing and homemaking for people labelled/with intellectual disabilities in Ontario, Canada

In this article, we examine people labelled/with intellectual disabilities’ experiences of their current homes and what they imagine or desire for their home in the future. Definitions of home in Canadian and Ontario policy are based on neoliberal and ableist notions of the dwelling and leave out other important elements of home. In this article, we will use quotes and artwork from a broader study to argue for a broadening of the definition of housing for people so labelled, in line with position statements from Inclusion Canada and People First of Canada (PFC), as well as the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). These findings draw on the importance of social connections, community resources, and accessibility in shaping the home and also highlight the felt limitations of the current system. By understanding what these limitations are, it is possible to understand what needs to change for the future to fit with the needs of people labelled/with intellectual disabilities. In recent decades, access to housing in community settings has been a priority for people labelled/with intellectual disabilities in many developed countries. While community living is recognized as an important goal, it has often been harder to achieve in practice given a shortage of appropriate housing choices and difficulties accessing supports. More work is also needed to ensure that views and preferences of people labelled/with intellectual disabilities inform the development of new housing options. In this article, we employ a qualitative, arts-informed methodology to examine the housing experiences and aspirations of a small group of people labelled/with intellectual disabilities in Ontario, Canada. Our analysis focuses on three related elements of participants’ experience of housing and home: the immediate dwelling and living arrangements, the supportive relationships that sustain people in their housing, and the social and environmental amenities within the neighbourhood. We then discuss the broader significance of this research with respect to housing provision, highlighting issues of choice, support, and connection.

Influence Factor Analysis and Forecast of US House Prices Based on Linear Regression and Time Series

In the United States, house prices remain a perennial topic of interest for every resident. Beyond influencing individual housing choices, fluctuations in house prices play a pivotal role in shaping pleasant lifestyles and ensuring the nation's stable economic growth. The housing market, in fact, underpins the entire U.S. economic system. This study employed a multifaceted approach, utilizing both multiple linear regression models and time series analysis, to delve deeply into the factors influencing U.S. house prices. The research identified that residential construction spending and GDP are the most significant drivers leading to an increase in the American House Price Index (HPI). Additionally, through time series analysis, various graphical representations were constructed to visualize the quarterly trends in the American HPI, rendering the findings more comprehensible. In essence, this research offers a scientific foundation for future adjustments in housing price policies. It holds substantial relevance for all stakeholders in the real estate market, from buyers and sellers to developers and policymakers.

How urban air quality affects land values: Exploring non-linear and threshold mechanism using explainable artificial intelligence

Air pollution has a significant impact on human health and influences housing choices. Existing studies on determinant factors affecting property prices, including air pollution, mainly employed hedonic and spatial regression models that have limitations in capturing non-linear relationships and local interactions. Neglecting the non-linear relationships can lead to incomplete estimation impacts between explainable features and prices. To fill these gaps, this study used machine learning algorithms and SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) to identify the relative importance of air pollutant variables on land values and their non-linear mechanism. The results showed that the Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) outperformed Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), Random Forest (RF), K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN), and Extra Tree Regression (ETR) models in price prediction and capturing the non-linear relationship between air pollution and land values. Notably, Ozone (O3) and Nitric Oxide (NO) concentrations contribute 1.64% and 1.47% to land value variation, respectively. The results confirmed the non-linear relationship and identified that the threshold effect between air pollution and land values is at mean concentration values. Furthermore, we observed that the negative influence of O3 and NO on land values appears as their concentration level is higher than 29.3 and 13 ppb, respectively. This paper contributes valuable insights by advancing our understanding of the non-linear mechanism impact of air pollution on house and land values, informing environmental policymaking, and shedding light on housing decisions.

Ilmastoviisaan asumisen teemat ja kontekstit – Kun systeemimaailma kohtaa elämismaailman julkisessa keskustelussa

This study examines which topics climate-wise housing is connected to in public speech. Climate-wise housing stands for housing choices that take social, ecological and economic perspectives into account. The data of the study consists of a variety of journalistic texts and online discussions collected in a larger research project. Content analysis is used as a method, and the findings are discussed applying Habermas' concepts of system and lifeworld. The results show that in the journalistic media, the system-level starting point is strong and the individuals’ point of view comes to the fore only in certain types of stories. Economics and technology in particular are important ways of understanding climate-wise housing. In online discussions, the starting point is citizens' own lifeworld, which is connected to their everyday experiences. However, the topics of the discussions are also connected to the system through the presence of the (market) economy, which leads to seeing citizens in the role of consumers. As a whole, our analysis shows that climate-wise living becomes a part of citizens' everyday life both through the system, for example as a result of political decisions, and through grassroot level choices. From both starting points, efforts can be made towards more climate-wise living.

Retirement, housing mobility, downsizing and neighbourhood quality - A causal investigation

This paper provides the first causal evidence on the impact of retirement on housing choices. Our empirical strategy exploits the discontinuity in the eligibility ages for state pension as an instrument for the endogenous retirement decision and controls for time-invariant individual characteristics. The results show that retirement leads to a statistically significant and sizable increase in the probability of making a residential move or the likelihood of becoming outright homeowners. We also find that individuals downsize both physically and financially and tend to move to better neighbourhoods or closer to the coast upon retirement. We additionally discover that some housing adjustments take place up to 6 years before retirement. Moreover, our results reveal significant heterogeneity in the retirement impact by gender, marital status, education, housing tenue, income and wealth. Within traditional heterosexual couple households, housing mobility choices are primarily influenced by the wife's retirement while housing downsizing decisions are only affected by the husband's retirement.

Race, Space, and Take Up: Explaining housing voucher lease-up rates

While housing choice vouchers provide significant benefits to households who successfully lease homes with their vouchers, many recipients fail to do so. Understanding more about lease-up rates is critical, yet the latest national study was published over two decades ago and reported on the outcomes of only 2,600 voucher recipients across 48 housing authorities (Finkel and Buron, 2001). We use unique administrative data to estimate voucher lease-up rates and search times for about 85,000 new voucher recipients each year in 433 metropolitan housing authorities for 2015 to 2019, which allows us to explore variation over time, across housing agencies, and across individuals within housing agencies. Overall, only 60 percent of recipients successfully use their vouchers, even after waiting for two and a half years on average to receive them. Consistent with theoretical expectations, we show that lease-up rates are generally lower in markets with lower vacancy rates, more spatial variation in rent levels, and older housing, which may be less able to pass HUD’s quality standards. But we also find considerable variation across individuals within markets. Most notably, perhaps, we find that Black and Hispanic voucher recipients are less likely to lease homes than other recipients in their same markets. We explore mechanisms and find evidence that racial disparities are partly explained by differing conditions in the neighborhoods where voucher recipients start: voucher recipients are less likely to lease-up and take longer to successfully rent homes when they start in neighborhoods with older housing stocks and larger Black and Hispanic population shares. Observed and unobserved neighborhood factors explain about 40 percent of individual racial differences in lease-up rates. We also provide suggestive evidence showing that policy interventions, such as extended search times, neighborhood-based rent ceilings, and source of income discrimination laws, can help both to boost overall lease-up rates and to reduce these racial and spatial disparities.

Recommendations for Selecting Houses in the Bintaro Area Using the AHP Method for Property Sales Companies

This research aims to overcome customer difficulties in choosing a house in the Bintaro area, especially in the context of Property Sales Companies. Customers often face challenges in navigating the process of selecting a home that fits their preferences and needs. The complexity of very complicated and unstructured situations is one of the main obstacles, so an approach is needed that can simplify the process. In order to overcome these problems, this research proposes the application of two main approaches, namely Process Hierarchy Analysis (AHP) and system prototype development. Using AHP, variables such as price, land area, building area, number of bedrooms, and distance from the city center were identified as key elements that were the focus of the research. A criteria priority matrix will be created based on these variables to become the basis for determining optimal housing choices. In addition, this research also tries to overcome barriers in housing selection by adopting a prototype approach to system development. Thus, it is hoped that the system developed can provide a more effective and efficient solution in simplifying the home selection process for customers. By considering the findings of the AHP calculation method. It is hoped that this research can make a significant contribution in improving the house selection process in the Bintaro area. With better solutions, it is hoped that Property Sales Companies can more effectively overcome challenges in meeting customer preferences, thereby increasing their satisfaction.

How pervasive is source of income discrimination faced by housing choice voucher households: Lessons from a progressive Midwestern city

ABSTRACT Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) recipients encounter many types of discrimination in the housing search process. Landlords could choose not to lease a home to HCV recipients merely because they are HCV recipients. While many forms of discrimination (such as discrimination because of race or gender) are proscribed by federal and state constitutions, discrimination based on source of income (such as paying rent using an HCV) is not banned by the federal constitution or by most state or local statutes. Discrimination faced for using an HCV makes the housing search process more complicated and time-consuming for HCV recipients, often restricting their housing options and resulting in sub-optimal housing choices. We report on the findings of a study exploring the relative magnitude of discrimination for using HCV compared to other types of discrimination among HCV recipients of a Midwestern public housing authority (PHA). We also report on how this source of income discrimination varies by race and other socioeconomic and demographic factors. Information for this study was collected by surveying all HCV families of this PHA using a mail-out/mail-back questionnaire. Our findings suggest that source-of-income discrimination is perhaps more pervasive than other common discriminatory factors. We conclude the paper by describing policy responses to our findings.

Tomada de decisão apoiada para pessoas idosas que vivem com demência: contribuições da bioética

Abstract The significant increase in the elderly population and the high incidence of chronic and degenerative diseases are a matter of concern with regard to issues inherent to promotion of autonomy and preservation of human rights and quality of life in this population group. Exercising the right to make a decision impacts various aspects of human life, such as health care, asset management, relationships, choice of housing, family care, religious activities and even daily routine activities. Supported decision-making (SDM) can be an important tool for promoting autonomy among elderly people living with dementia, as it consists of an approach based on respect for human rights, in which the aim is to establish control over the mechanisms for provision of support so that all people can exercise the right to make decisions inherent to their lives. In order to implement this more robustly in Brazil, it is fundamental to change the culture towards valuing elderly people and implementing the notion that protection involves offering mechanisms for promoting personal autonomy, which is partly achieved through encouragement of social engagement and strengthening community ties. In this regard, the notion of empowerment, based on concepts arising from Intervention Bioethics, is relevant.

Does telecommuting influence homeownership and housing choice? Evidence based on pre-pandemic data

Telecommuting has become widespread during the pandemic and are expected to become mainstream work culture in the post-pandemic era. By applying a three-step Instrumental Variable analysis to the 2009 and 2017 U.S. National Household Travel Surveys, this study analyzes the impact of telecommuting on homeownership and housing type choices. Results show that, households with telecommuters are more likely to be homeowners and to live in detached or duplex houses compared to their counterparts. These effects are especially prominent for middle-aged (30–55) households. Relying on robust and national representative historical data before the COVID-19 pandemic, this study provides convincing evidence on how telecommuting affects people’s housing decisions and thus has important implications for understanding the fast-evolving housing markets in the post-pandemic era when a growing number of telecommuters look for homeownership and extract spaces to accommodate home office. It will provide important guidance for revisiting existing housing policies for both urban and rural policymakers to meet the new demand and preferences.

Neighborhood and housing choices of out-of-town versus local movers: The case of Charlotte, North Carolina

Neighborhood and housing choices of out-of-town versus local movers: The case of Charlotte, North Carolina

Introducing the SEER-Medicare-Housing and Urban Development data linkage: A novel resource for examining the association of housing assistance and cancer care and outcomes.

200 Background: Lack of stable and affordable housing is an important social determinant of health. Federal housing assistance—through housing choice vouchers, public housing, and other programs—may buffer against housing vulnerabilities among low-income households, but research examining the association of housing assistance and cancer care has been limited. We introduce a new linkage of SEER-Medicare and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administrative data that can be used to examine housing assistance and cancer care and patient outcomes to inform efforts to reduce inequities. Methods: Individuals enrolled in HUD programs 2006-2021 were linked with cancer diagnoses 2006-2019 identified in the SEER-Medicare data from 16 states using Match*Pro probabilistic linkage software. HUD administrative data include timing and type of housing assistance and verified household income. Medicare administrative data are available through 2020. We describe the cohort aged ≥66 years with continuous Medicare fee-for-service Parts A/B coverage surrounding diagnosis who had episodes of housing assistance: 1) at diagnosis or 2) starting within 3 years after diagnosis. Because supply of housing assistance is limited, eligible, low-income families are frequently wait-listed; individuals who receive housing assistance after diagnosis can serve as controls for individuals with housing assistance at diagnosis. Results: Among 42,197 individuals aged ≥66 years diagnosed with cancer and with housing assistance, the most common diagnoses were female breast (n=8,108), lung (n=5,400), colorectal (n=5,197), and prostate (4,548) cancers. Sociodemographic characteristics were similar among the 35,873 individuals with HUD assistance at diagnosis and 6,334 who received it later (Table). Both groups were majority female and non-Hispanic white and with median household income <$14,000. Private multifamily housing programs were the most common form of assistance, followed by housing choice vouchers, and public housing. Conclusions: This novel data linkage will be available through the National Cancer Institute and can be used to explore the ways in which housing assistance is associated with cancer diagnosis and outcomes, including the role of housing assistance in potentially reducing or contributing to inequities across racialized and ethnic groups.[Table: see text]

Factors Affecting Place Attachment and Types of Living ArrangementPreferences for Ageing-In-Place of the Malaysian GenerationalHousing Consumers in Malaysia

Nearly all older adults prefer to age in their homes and neighbourhoods instead of in an institutional facility. The concept of ‘ageing-in-place’enables people to maximise their self-realisationand preferred lifestyle in familiar surroundings or elsewhere. The study aims to provide an in-depthoverview ofthe place attachmentfactors and living arrangement structure preferences that affectthe generationsinShah Alam, Selangor.Themainobjectives ofthis studyare:(i) to identify thefactorsaffecting place attachment for ageing-in-place; and(ii) to determine the types of living arrangement preferencesfor ageing-in-place. This study adopts a mixed-method research strategy combining qualitative (interviews with industrial experts) and quantitative (survey questionnaires to the housing consumers) data gathering. The findings from this study revealfour(4) main place attachment factors:(1) Facilities & Amenities; (2) Geographic Location; (3) Physical Environment;and(4) Social & Well-being. The main types of preferred living arrangement for ageing-in-place are; (1) Living alone; (2) Living with parents; (3) Living with spouse; (4) Living with son/daughter; and (5) Living with family members. Theresearch findings are vital, whereit can be beneficial to theactors of the development process, including the public and private agencies, to gain more knowledge on the preferences factors for ageing-in-place for a better supply of housing provisions. The housing consumers in Malaysiawill benefit from having more housing choices specifically tailored for future ageing life stages.

Factors and determinants of housing choices in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

The study examined the factors and determinants of housing choices in Kaduna metropolis. Respondents were selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive techniques. Also, data for the research adopt the use of Key Informant Interview (KII), questionnaire and field observation. The result shows the various types of houses that includes 3 Bedrooms Detached (66.7%), 2 Bedroom Detached (11.4%), 3 Bedrooms Semi Detached (9.8%) as types of housing residence. Also, the findings revealed that aluminum roofing was the major roofing material used for the houses (48%). In addition, the major sources of water supply in the study area were borehole (72.4%). Also, the distance from house to school shows that half of the respondents covered almost less than 10km. The studies revealed that MPH estate was the major housing private partnership provider with 33.3% and preferred choice followed by Tripple A, while the Tapiddac was the least private partnership provider. Despite the preferences of private partnership providers, the respondent preferred affordability of houses (43.1%) rather than housing quality (29.3%), security (15.4) and housing accessibility (12.2%) was the lowest reason for the choice of houses. The result also revealed that too much bureaucratic process as one of the major challenges during acquiring of a house unit followed by a long waiting period. Also, the findings revealed that beneficiary must be an active civil servant with monthly salary or a registered business to serve as one of the criteria to be fulfilled before he/she can own a house.

Educational opportunity and public rental housing choice of rural migrant families in Chongqing, China

ABSTRACT This article examines how the location choices of rural migrants residing in public rental housing (PRH) are influenced by the presence of high-quality schools and their perception of education’s significance in their children’s upward mobility. In most Chinese cities, rural migrant children are denied access to urban public schools due to residency restrictions. However, Chongqing has implemented an alternative urbanization model, allowing rural migrant children to attend PRH-affiliated primary schools. The study investigates the impact of this policy through 42 semi-structured interviews with rural migrants residing in Chongqing PRH and 18 semi-structured interviews with local government officials. The findings reveal that rural migrants strategically select PRH accommodations to secure educational opportunities and enhance their children’s social mobility. The study also uncovers how schooling acts as a filter, differentiating rural migrant families based on their social resources and hukou locations. The article concludes that the Chongqing model establishes a unique housing-schooling relationship that mitigates educational inequality and social segregation. The findings contribute to the development of equitable access to education for rural migrant children in Chinese cities.

The impact of housing on birth outcomes in breeding macaque groups across multiple research centers.

Demand for nonhuman primates in research has increased over the past several years, while nonhuman primate supply remains a challenge in the United States. Global nonhuman primate supply issues make it increasingly important to maximize domestic colony production. To explore how housing conditions across primate breeding colonies impact infant survival and animal production more broadly, we collected medical records from 7959 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and 492 pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) across seven breeding facilities and used generalized mixed-effect modeling to determine prenatal and infant survival odds by housing type and group size. Infant survival odds for each housing type and group size varied for prenatal, neonatal, early infant, and late infant age groups. Odds of prenatal survival were lowest in paired indoor housing and small and medium outdoor groups. No housing type performed better than large outdoor groups for neonatal survival. Odds of early infant survival was greatest in indoor and mixed indoor/outdoor housing compared to large outdoor enclosures. Large outdoor housing was associated with higher survival odds for late infant survival compared to small and medium outdoor housing. These results may influence housing choices at macaque breeding facilities hoping to maximize infant success, although there are relative care costs, the promotion of species-typical behaviors, and infrastructure factors to also consider. Our study used an interinstitutional collaboration that allowed for the analysis of more infant macaque medical records than ever before and used the broad variations across the seven national primate research centers to make the results applicable to many other facilities housing macaques.

Housing Satisfaction: A Comparison between Post-Second World War Large Housing Estates and Post-Socialist Multifamily Residential Neighbourhoods in Slovenia

As a reaction to the critical writings of urban sociologists regarding the quality of post-Second World War large housing estates (monotonous architectural design, cheap/poor quality building materials, high building density, minimum dwelling sizes, overcrowding, etc.), fewer problematic types of mass housing neighbourhoods started to emerge, first in Western European countries in the 1970s, and later in Eastern European countries after they abandoned the planned economy system of the communist era and adopted the market economy system. One of the major concerns often raised in this regard is that, due to a variety of negative aspects associated with post-WWII housing estates, these neighbourhoods may eventually end up as concentrations of low-income households, after the more affluent residents relocate to the more attractive, less problematic residential neighbourhoods. Such developments are, understandably, undesirable. This concern inherently assumes that the inhabitants of post-WWII housing estates are not satisfied with their housing and are, as a result, expected to move away, as soon as they can. This hypothesis presents the focus of discussion in this paper. We examine its validity with the help of the findings of a comparative study between post-WII large housing estates and post-socialist multifamily residential neighbourhoods that was conducted in Slovenia in 2021. Contrary to the hypothetical assumptions, our analyses of the research results reveal that the inhabitants of post-WWII large housing estates are (a) generally quite satisfied with their dwellings and residential neighbourhood and that (b) a large majority of them have no intention to move. Understanding people’s satisfaction with their housing circumstances requires a complex analysis of their attitudes that goes beyond surface-level observations and encompasses a broader range of psychological and social influences on housing choices, suggesting the need to incorporate these aspects into future research. The consideration of these aspects is essential in order to ensure the longer-term sustainability of post-WWII large housing estates.