Field Guide to Effects Of Low-Income Housing On Surrounding Properties

(Updated March 2007)

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. (D. Shumaker, Information Specialist)

Contents: 

Impacts of Low-Income Housing on Neighboring Properties  |  Opposition to Public Housing (NIMBYism)  |  Useful Websites  |  Books, eBooks & Other Resources

NAR 2006 Affordable Housing Survey Results

Source: 2006 National Housing Opportunity Pulse Survey, (NAR - Research, 2006).

America's Working Communities and the Impact of Multifamily Housing, (Harvard University - Joint Center for Housing Studies, 2004).

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). Q

Affordable housing not likely to hurt home values, (Realty Times, Aug. 14, 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

Do homeownership programs increase property value in low income neighborhoods?, (Harvard University - Joint Center for Housing Studies, Sept. 2001).

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).

In the wake of desegregation: Early impacts of scattered-site public housing on neighborhoods in Yonkers, New York , (Journal of the American Planning Association, Vol. 10, No. 4, 1999). Q

Impact of neighbors who use Section 8 certificates on property values, (Housing Policy Debate, Vol. 65, No. 1, 1999).

Transitory effects of disamenities on residential housing values: The case of public and senior housing, (Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management, Vol. 5, No. 3, 1999). Q

Low-income housing in our backyards: What happens to residential property values?, (The Appraisal Journal, Jan. 1996). Q

Overcoming Opposition to Multifamily Rental Housing, (National Multi Housing Council, Jan. 2007).

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.

Got NIMBY?, (Naples Daily News, Apr. 2006).

Most Back Affordable Housing Next Door , (USA Today, May 2005).

"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.

Community Acceptance of Affordable Housing: Report to the National Association of REALTORS®, (NAR - National Center for Real Estate Research, June 2004). Q

Addressing Community Opposition to Affordable Housing Developement: 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.

Where will they live?: Metropolitan dimensions of affordable housing problems, (Harvard University - Joint Center for Housing Studies, Sept. 2001).

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

Opinion & comment: Resisting low-income housing, (Journal of Housing & Community Development, Sept./Oct. 1998). Q

National Low Income Housing Coaltion - 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.

Paradise - at What Price? (Naples Daily News). - A year-long look at the affordable housing shortage in Southwest Florida by the Naples Daily News. Numerous articles, tables and resources.

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

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