• Home
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google +
  • Flickr
  • You Tube
  • Nick Bastian

Rail Life

Phoenix Light Rail News and Information

  • About RailLife
  • Events
  • Homes Near Light Rail
  • Phoenix Light Rail Map
You are here: Home / Homes Near Light Rail / Find Your Housing + Transportation Affordability Factor

Find Your Housing + Transportation Affordability Factor

April 17, 2010 by Nick Bastian 4 Comments

This past week, I attended part of the sustainable living conference at the Tempe Transit Center where some true transit geeks talked policy, lifestyle, and awareness of a more green world. One of the more interesting topics to me was the study on housing and transportation costs here in Arizona and across the country. There was a lot of discussion on the amount of energy consumed and money spent on transportation by individuals living in outlying areas. I remember well the times when people would “drive until they qualify” for a mortgage. In essence, many people were told that driving further from town, they could lower their housing expenses. That’s all well and good until you factor in all of the costs of the fuel, maintenance, time, and lifestyle.

When people qualify under this idea, they tend to forget the overall cost of living 50 miles from the city. As fuel prices rise, their cost of living tends to rise, as well. I recall one of the speakers saying that many people end up spending more than half of their income on housing and transportation costs because they failed to figure in the additional costs of travel and vehicle expenses. One study of annual household gasoline expenses showed that people living closer to the city had less than a third of the gasoline expenses as those living in outlying areas.

5th St / College Ave Light Rail Station

As we sat in the Tempe Transportation Center with light rail cars driving by the windows, it was an interesting topic, indeed. Their “Housing + Transportation Affordability Index” comes from a study done in over 330 metro areas, and it found, among other things, that 69% of the communities were considered affordable when using the standard measure of 30% of income towards housing payments. When factoring in the Housing +Transportation Affordability Index, they said the number was drastically reduced.

“Seven in ten communities (69%) in the 337 metro areas are

considered affordable under the traditional definition of housing

costs at 30% of income. This shrinks dramatically to four in ten

(39%) when housing and transportation costs are combined using

the H+T measure of 45% of income. This produces a net loss of

48,000 communities where a typical family can afford the average

cost of housing and transportation.”

Much discussion centered around the number of cars needed by households living near transportation lines as well. People living and working near transportation are able to “give up” a car, reducing expenses and contributing less greenhouse gasses. Another point made in the presentation was that, in addition to transportation, a good thing to consider is the characteristics of the neighborhood. While Arizona may have a long ways to go in comparison to some cities, we are beginning to see demand for a convenient lifestyle and for homes near the light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. There was also discussion of “green mortgage” programs to help people live closer to transportation. Once we can get any of our mortgage buddies off of their butts, I’m sure we will have more information on that here in the near future.

In choosing where you live, do you factor in transportation costs? Does it make $ense?

** Update 5/7/2010** Great article in the paper today by Sean Holstege titled, “Can you afford to live in your house?” Take a look!

Skip the car, buy a house

Filed Under: Homes Near Light Rail Tagged With: Homes Near Light Rail, Metro Light Rail, Rail Life, tempe

About Nick Bastian

Nick Bastian is a 29 year veteran of the real estate industry and can be reached at 602-803-6425. You'll also find him sharing real estate info on his web site and hanging out onTwitter.
Family man, lover of life, maker of friends. A bit of a geek, long time Tempe real estate guy just havin' some fun. What's your story?

Comments

  1. Sean S says

    April 17, 2010 at 10:20 am

    I chose where to live based solely on livability. Unlike the incorrect predictions of most suburbanites who think that quality of life is based on sqft and lot size, I knew that quality of life is based on accessibility, community, and people. That’s why I’m literally 1/4 mile from a light rail stop. I actually increased my transportation costs by doing so, since I work in Chandler, but it’s worth it to live in an environment that provides transportation choices (walk + bike + transit + car). Maybe someday I’ll be able to work Downtown too. Then I’ll be able to get rid of the massive burden of a car!

    Reply
  2. BB says

    April 19, 2010 at 7:59 am

    Phoenix area is cheap car free people. Transportation is what makes it expensive. My last year expenses 2009 were $85 dollars to move me around in the valley. I rode 320 days and learned how to fix my own bicycle.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RailLife

Thanks for visiting RailLife.com! We want to be your resource for all that is light rail in Arizona. Here, we share information about “life along the line.” Feel free to cruise around and to bookmark the site as information is added or changed often!

RailLife Uber Code

Good for $20 off your first ride with Uber! Use Promo code: RAILLIFE OR click here to get an Uber account: RailLife Sign up code

Search RailLife

Search for Homes

Looking for a home? Search NickBastian.com for your future home.

Homes Near Light Rail

38 Listings
156 W ELM Street, Phoenix, AZ 85013

$984,000 156 W ELM Street
Phoenix, AZ 85013

150 W Pierson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85013

$589,000 150 W Pierson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85013

511 W COOLIDGE Street, Phoenix, AZ 85013

$422,000 511 W COOLIDGE Street
Phoenix, AZ 85013

602 W TURNEY Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85013

$629,000 602 W TURNEY Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85013

Front Elevation

$475,000 2010 W HAZELWOOD Street
Phoenix, AZ 85015

Front of home

$1,595,000 23 W PASADENA Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85013

previous next

MLS IDX Listing Disclosure © 2023

Copyright 2023 Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved. Information Not Guaranteed and Must Be Confirmed by End User. Site contains live data.

Lakeside Living

8 Listings
945 E Playa Del Norte Drive, 1015, Tempe, AZ 85288

$485,000 945 E Playa Del Norte Drive, 1015
Tempe, AZ 85288

140 E RIO SALADO Parkway, 1005, Tempe, AZ 85281

$460,000 140 E RIO SALADO Parkway, 1005
Tempe, AZ 85281

420 W 1ST Street, 217, Tempe, AZ 85281

$440,000 420 W 1ST Street, 217
Tempe, AZ 85281

945 E PLAYA DEL NORTE Drive, 2007, Tempe, AZ 85288

$449,900 945 E PLAYA DEL NORTE Drive, 2007
Tempe, AZ 85288

140 E RIO SALADO Parkway, 203, Tempe, AZ 85281

$1,050,900 140 E RIO SALADO Parkway, 203
Tempe, AZ 85281

420 W 1ST Street, 323, Tempe, AZ 85281

$460,000 420 W 1ST Street, 323
Tempe, AZ 85281

previous next

MLS IDX Listing Disclosure © 2023

Copyright 2023 Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved. Information Not Guaranteed and Must Be Confirmed by End User. Site contains live data.

RailLife Posts

Looking For A REALTOR To Rock The Rail Life

Nowhere To Eat In Downtown Mesa

Could Coyotes Help Expand Tempe Streetcar?

Scott Smith Remaining as Valley Metro CEO

Banta Lawyers Up – Sues Valley Metro for $1.65 Million

© 2023 · RailLife · Developed by Marketing Press