Madison Wisconsin Real Estate News

Lake & City Homes is proud to announce the addition of its new Walkable Madison homes page. Now, in addition to being able to search by WalkScore, you can also instantly access a list of Madison homes for sale that are considered "highly walkable". What is a "highly walkable" home? Homes with a high degree of walkability are homes located in neighborhoods within close walking distance to businesses, shops, places of worship and dining. Although walkable homes are typically located in the older sections of cities, villages, and towns and may therefore have a smaller overall footprint, walkable homes are often more expensive to buy. A recent national study by CEOs for Cities states that walkable homes command a premium of anywhere between $4,000 and $34,000 over comparable homes located in neighborhoods where residents have no choice but to drive to amenities. Walkable homes may also have the potential to increase in value more quickly than homes that are car-dependent due to the excitement that homes in walkable communities typically generate. In recent years it has become clear that many of today's buyers value community more than privacy.

Judging from experience, the demand for Madison homes in highly pedestrianized or walkable neighborhoods is unlikely to abate anytime soon given the desire of many home buyers to live in smaller more manageably sized homes, to live "greener", or simply to incorporate more exercise into their daily routines. Living in a highly walkable neighborhood not only allows one to reduce one's carbon footprint by walking to shops, restaurants, schools, and Farmer's Markets, it can also facilitate a more healthy lifestyle. In some Madison neighborhoods, such as Findlay Park or Dudgeon-Monroe, many people get by with one car, opting instead to ride their bikes, take the bus, or carpool with friends or neighbors. Walkable neighborhoods also strengthen local communities because homeowners see each other frequently, talk to one another more often, and patronize local neighborhood shops on a regular basis.

Jolenta Averill is the owner of Madison real estate brokerage Lake & City Homes Realty which specializes in lifestyle, lakefront, and luxury homes. For more information about Madison area homes for sale, please fill out the form below or contact Jolenta directly at 608.628.9701.