Responding to points from Troy's last two posts: 1. I didn't mention anything about job centers because all I did was post a link to a program that WPR had produced and broadcast. If anyone listened to it or followed the links, the program covered more than just land use issues. They also talked about the social and psychological aspects of suburban living.
2. Troy is of course correct that Realtors may or may not follow the lead of suburban developers. They have specialty niches just as we all do. Some have no clue how to show and sell an urban unit, nor do they have any desire to do so. Others show and sell almost exclusively urban units. And, of course, some do mostly commercial real estate, and never have anything to do with residential housing choices. However, I have heard too many stories from friends and colleagues in other areas of Wisconsin and the US about trying to buy a place in the city that is walkable, bike-able and transit friendly, and being shown only houses with no sidewalks, a predominance of cul-de-sacs, and no access to regular transit service. This especially seems typical when a professional family is moving to a new city. The agent sees/hears a certain professional class, and assumes that the family will want to live in the 'burbs. My friends have repeatedly said, "No, I want to live where I can walk to the store!" or, "Don't show me anything without sidewalks!" and yet the agent shows them places on the edge of town with all the uses and economic classes segregated. Of course, what happens is that the buyer gets incredibly frustrated with the agent, and they both waste lots of time going to unsuitable houses. Several friends have dumped their agent because there was such a lack of communication. Sadly, some buyers are less forceful than my friends, or they simply lack knowledge of the city where they are relocating, and they end up buying in an area they don't really like, or that isn't suitable for them. What they want is a nice house in the city. The agent, however, shows them only typical doctor/lawyer/executive houses. Because they have so little time to look, or don't know the city well enough to know what neighborhoods they would enjoy, they buy what they don't really want. As I said, this is a story that comes back again and again. I just had the same conversation with a number of professional couples in Stevens Point. Robbie Robbie On Feb 4, 2008 12:23 PM, Troy Thiel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Matt, > > Thanks for posting! Your earlier post seemed to suggest that my industry > is in lockstep with pro sprawl developers...which is of course simply not > true. Everyone has their opinion and many of are strong proponent for > appropriate infill...it's not just about housing though of course...there > are other pieces of the puzzle to help drive market demand! > -- Note that I am consolidating email addresses (personal and work.) Except for City of Madison business and correspondence, please send all email to the address above.
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