Field Guide to Effects Of Low-Income Housing On Property Values
(Updated March 2009)
Are the sales prices of single-family homes made higher or lower when low-income housing is nearby? Most studies indicate that affordable housing has no long term negative impact on surrounding home values. In fact, some research indicates the opposite! However, local communities continue to believe the myth, raising a cry of "Not in my Backyard!" The following articles and studies examine the effects of low-income, public, and subsidized housing on the values of surrounding properties, the challenge of NIMBY, and some possible resources people can use to educate community groups and local governments. Most of the studies are in PDF format so be sure you have the free Adobe Reader program on your computer (D. Shumaker, Senior Information Specialist)
The New Face of Housing Opportunity
Source: NAR Housing Opportunity Program, (NAR - Government Affairs).
Impacts of Low-Income Housing on Neighboring Properties 
Spillovers and Subsidized Housing: The Impact of Subsidized Rental Housing on Neighborhoods, (Harvard University - Joint Center for Housing Studies, Mar. 2007). Evidence suggest that the neighborhood impacts of subsidized, rental housing will differ depending on where it is built, the scale of the development, the characteristics of its tenants, and the nature of ownership and management. This paper concludes with lessons for policymakers about the types of subsidized rental housing investments most likely to generate positive spillovers to the surrounding community. [PDF document]
Does Federally Subsidized Rental Housing Depress Neighborhood Property Values?, (NYU, Law and Economics Research Paper No. 05-04, Mar. 2005). The paper finds that federally subsidized developments have not typically led to reductions in property values and have in fact led to increases in many cases. Impacts are highly sensitive to scale, though patterns vary across programs. [PDF document]
Documents & Websites on Affordable Housing & the Relationship to Property Values, (California Dept. of Housing & Community Development, Dec. 2003). A good source for further studies back to the mid-1990s.
A review of existing research on the effects of federally assisted housing programs on neighboring residential property values: Report to the National Association of REALTORS®, (National Association of REALTORS® - National Center for Real Estate Research, Sept. 2002).
Low income housing tax credit housing developments and property values, (University of Wisconsin - Center for Urban Land Economics Research, June 14, 2002).
Assessing the property value impacts of the dispersed housing subsidy program in Denver, (Journal of Policy Analysis & Management, Winter 2001). Q
A study of the relationship between affordable family rental housing and home values in the Twin Cities, (Family Housing Fund, Sept. 2000).
Assessing property value impacts of dispersed housing subsidy programs: Final Report, (U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, July 2000).
2008 Advocate's Guide to Housing and Community Development Policy, (National Low Income Housing Coalition, Jan. 2008). Provides advocates, policymakers, students and others with information on the most relevant housing and housing-related programs and issues (including opposition to public housing). [PDF document]
NIMBY Notebook: Habitat for Hypocrisy, (Mother Jones, July 2007). Housing advocates say Marin County's Bill Duane exemplifies a vexing irony: People support affordable housing with their labor, money, and votes - just so long as it's nowhere near them.
Overcoming Opposition to Multifamily Rental Housing, (National Multi Housing Council, Jan. 2007). [PDF document]
From NIMBY to Good Neighbors: Recent Studies Reinforce that apartments are Good for a Community, (National Multi Housing Council, National Apartment Association, May 2006). Includes historical studies supporting the thesis, along with tools for apartment firms to overcome NIMBY opposition. [PDF document]
Got NIMBY?, (Naples Daily News, Apr. 2006).
"Why Not in Our Community?" Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing, (U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Feb. 2005). An Update to the Report of the Advisory Commission on Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing. [PDF document]
Community Acceptance of Affordable Housing: Report to the National Association of REALTORS®, (NAR - National Center for Real Estate Research, June 2004). [PDF document]
Most Back Affordable Housing Next Door , (USA Today, May 2004).
Addressing Community Opposition to Affordable Housing Development: A Fair Housing Toolkit, (The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Jan. 2004). Well organized, this toolkit is designed for developers to give them a working knowledge of fair housing that they can use to build community support for their project. [PDF document]
Where will they live?: Metropolitan dimensions of affordable housing problems, (Harvard University - Joint Center for Housing Studies, Sept. 2001). [PDF document]
Assisted housing and residential segregation: The role of race and ethnicity in the siting of assisted housing developments, (Journal of the American Planning Association, Summer 2001). Q
Websites
Housing Opportunity Program, (National Association of REALTORS®, 2007). NAR's Housing Opportunity Program helps REALTORS® become leaders in promoting home ownership at local, state and national levels.
National Low Income Housing Coalition - Includes numerous studies and reports on the state of affordable housing in the U.S., including the monthly NIMBY Report.
National Housing Conference - A national nonprofit affordable housing advocacy organization, featuring an Affordable Housing Clearinghouse, affordable housing publications and studies, and more.
HUD User (U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development). Numerous reports, articles, data sets, and other information on affordable housing from HUD's research department.
KnowledgePlex (Fannie Mae Foundation). Founded by several research institutions and sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation, KnowledgePlex is designed to support the efforts of a wide variety of groups involved or interested in the fields of affordable housing and community development.
eBooks & Other Resources
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
Growth Management and Affordable Housing: Do They Conflict?, (Brookings Institution Press, 2004). HT166 G74
Why Not in My Backyard? Neighborhood Impacts of Deconcentrating Assisted Housing, (Rutgers University - Center for Urban Policy Research, 2003). HD 7293 W52w
Low-Income Homeownership: Examining the Unexamined Goal, (Brookings Institution Press, 2002). HD 7287 L68
The Effects of Subsidized Housing on Property Values: A Survey of Research, (California Department of Housing & Community Development, 1988). HD 1387 C12e
The Impact of Public Housing on Neighborhood Poverty Rates: Cleveland Case Study, (University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School, Mar. 1996).
Impacts of Social Housing: Final Report, (Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation, Jan. 1994). HD 1387 C16
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
Field Guide to Social Benefits of Homeownership
Field Guide to Inclusionary Zoning
Field Guide to Housing Trust Funds
>> Have an idea for a new Field Guide? Click here to send us your suggestions!
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