Ch. 8 Choosing a Place to Live Journal: Do you think a neighborhood in which someone lives is as important as the home in which they live? Explain your thoughts.

Objectives  Explain the steps in the decision making process  Analyze the impact of housing needs, wants, and priorities when choosing a place to live.  Identify human and material resources that influence housing decisions.  Contrast different types of community environments.  Analyze the factors that should be considered when selecting a neighborhood.  Evaluate the importance of public services in choosing a place to live.  Summarize and compare multifamily and single-family housing options.

Making Housing Decisions One of the most important decisions a family or person can make! –Make a list of 5 concerns you would have if you were moving next week to a new home in a different city.

The Decision Making Process You make decisions constantly Big vs. Small Outcomes of your decisions vary Following the DMP can help you achieve more satisfying results 1.State the situation 2.Identify your resources. 3.List the options. 4.Weight the options. 5.Choose the best option. 6.Carry out your decision. 7.Evaluate the decision.

Influences on Housing Decisions Needs –Roof over your head, OBVIOUSLY –Specific needs to your family –Number of bedrooms, size, space, types of spaces Wants –Swimming pool, media room, certain kinds of materials Priorities –Time at home, conveniences Resources –Human Personal qualities people possess (creativity, imagination, knowledge, skills, talent, time, energy, experience) –Material Tangible assets (money, property, supplies, tools)

“Want List” Make a top-ten list of things you would want if you could have the ideal house.

Choosing a Location Location, Location, Location Major impact = cost Personal preferences Practical concerns

Types of Locations Urban –A big town or city of more than 2,500 people, very busy, often over crowded, industry important Suburban –Region around a major city, neighbors considered strangers compared to urban Rural –Life in the country, population less than 2,500, agriculture is significant, limited jobs Convenient –Close to place of work, food stores, basic services important to a family/individual Slow-paced Neighborhood –Housing units are of similar design and price range –Large vs. Small

Assessing Community Services Services vary from community to community Utilities/Public Services –Trash collection, street repair, sewer systems, electrical power supply, gas, water, and phone services –Costs depends on area and can add a significant amount to housing expenses Public Safety –Well trained fire and police departments, number of staff, distance from your home, location of nearest hospital/ambulance service Education –Quality of schools in a community, size of classes, ratio of students- teachers, graduation rate, active parent group, school improvement plan, community college or university nearby Recreation –Ball fields, public parks, picnic/open areas, swimming pools, public library, museums, movie theatres, concert halls Tax Policies –Depends on community –Pay for better public services and neighborhood maintenance

Housing Alternatives Multifamily Units –Used by more than one household –Each has a private living unit –May be attached side by side or one above the other –Make the most economical use of land –Usually offer lower housing costs –Come in a variety of styles Apartments –High rises, low rises, garden, efficiency Town Houses –Several houses attached together –Identical floor plans –Two or more stories high –Private back yards/patios –Less maintenance –Limited parking Duplexes –One building of two separate living units side by side –One or two stories –Each has own exterior entrances –Less privacy than single family home Other –Triplex, fourplex Single-family housing –Detached, separated, large or small, new or old, privacy is main advantage, more maintenance