How different infrastructure projects can affect home value

There are many pockets in America that don’t have reliable high-speed internet service, including more than 35% of rural areas, according to President Joe Biden, who has made universal broadband access a key component of his infrastructure plan. So is it any surprise that a home’s value can rise when it already has the infrastructure for residents to do things like connect to virtual classrooms and video conferences, answer emails, stream movies, play video games without latency, and run internet-connected smart home devices?

Single-family homes with access to a 25 megabits per second (Mbps) broadband connection have a price that is about $5,977, or 3%, more than similar homes in communities with only 1 Mbps. In rural areas, the premium is $5,099.

The importance of living near public transit dropped slightly for folks during the pandemic. However, having trains and buses nearby has consistently been an important factor for people deciding where to live. Being based near stations can not only save money and hassle, but it can also help property value.

Between 2012 and 2016, median sales price increases near public transit were 4% to 24% higher than for homes farther away. Of course, some potential buyers may find the benefits of convenience would be outweighed by cons like area congestion and frequent train horns.

Nearly 90% of American kids go to public school, and 53% of buyers with children at home said the quality of a school district is an important consideration when purchasing a residence. Still, living near a top-notch school can benefit even homeowners without little ones since great schools are often linked to higher home values.

A congressional paper notes the average ZIP code associated with an A+ public elementary school has a median home value of $486,104, while the value drops to $122,061 around a public elementary school graded D or lower. Even institutions of higher education can affect a neighborhood. ZIP codes with universities located within them often have above average median home prices.

Surrounding yourself with nature is good for mental health, and many studies have found living close to a green piece of earth can be a good home investment as well. Parks in urban areas could potentially produce premiums in the 8% to 10% range on average for nearby homes.

Properties that face golf courses can see higher boosts of between 15% and 30% on average. The higher premiums tend to reward views of private courses rather than municipal ones. Nonetheless, some buyers may see living so close to potentially noisy park or golf course revelers as a downside.

Fracking, the process of extracting shale gas from underground, can have demonstrative impacts on homeowner stress levels. The impact on home values is murkier. One study found hydraulically fractured natural gas wells that are within 3,500 feet of a property in a densely populated area around Dallas reduce property values by about 1.5% to 3%.

Other research found that in neighborhoods of Pennsylvania that use well water, home prices dropped by an average of $30,167 when shale drilling occurred within a distance of a mile. Nearby homes using piped water, however, gained an average of $4,800 in value after shale wells opened, perhaps due to royalty payments from gas companies.

Biking surged during the coronavirus pandemic, but it has long been a favored means of getting from one place to another or enjoying the great outdoors. Having a home within close proximity to trails, bike lanes, and other designated spaces to ride is convenient for bike enthusiasts and is associated with higher home prices.

One study found that being a quarter mile closer to an advanced bikeway in Portland, Oregon, translated to a $686 premium for a single-family home. Another report found the value of a median-priced home in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area increased by $510 for every 1,312 feet closer it is to an off-street bicycle facility.

Staying away from power lines can have a dual meaning for homeowners and buyers. Researchers studying vacant lots found those next to high-voltage transmission lines sold for 45% less than those farther away. Lots located within 1,000 feet of power lines often sold at a discount of 18%.

Meanwhile, many residents fear having cell phone towers in their neighborhoods and believe they can lead to problems, including reduced property values. As more 5G cell towers begin popping up throughout the country, that claim is ripe for updated research.

As climate change exacerbates flooding risks, many cities have begun to explore “green” ways to handle stormwater beyond the typical “gray” solutions that are designed to transport water elsewhere, but don’t always work as planned. Nature-based alternatives that help water seep into the ground instead of getting stuck on streets or in homes can add to the aesthetics of a property and a home’s sales price.

Doubling the square footage of some green infrastructure — specifically rain gardens, planters, pervious pavement, or the shallow channels known as swales — near a home can produce an average 0.28% to 0.78% higher value — an increase of $700 to $1,950 for a $250,000 home. Even planting trees, which can help alleviate stormwater problems, can potentially benefit a home’s sales price.

While 46% of homeowners have given serious thought to the idea of installing solar panels on their homes, just 6% of U.S. homeowners told the Pew Research Center in 2019 that they had installed solar panels at home. Reducing utility bills and helping the environment were among the top reasons they cited, though bumping up their home’s value could prove to be another benefit.

One study found buyers are willing to pay premiums averaging about $15,000 for homes with an average-sized system. Another report estimates a solar energy system that saves $200 per year would add $4,000 to a home’s value.

Single-family homes in center-city neighborhoods of Charlotte, North Carolina, saw their values jump by nearly 10% after a craft brewery opened within a half mile. Values of condominiums rose nearly 3%. One component of this quirky finding may be the fact that many people like living within an easy walk to points of interest.

On average, homes with good “walkability” in Washington D.C. had for-sale residential property values of $81.54 per square foot more relative to a place with fair walkability.

This story was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.