The fact that gas prices are high is not news. They just keep going up.
However, the fact that more Homebuyers are now taking more than Granite Countertops in to consideration before committing to a home is still growing news. I have read many posts on and off of Active Rain about people looking more in to Urban Areas to reduce the amount of Gas they are using and maybe even be able to walk or bike to places around the area.
Well, I ran across a Neat Tool for Agents AND Homebuyers to find out exactly how 'Walkable' a Community is. The Website is called Walk Score. If you put in an address, it calculates the Walkability on a Google Map of all of the Amenities in the area, it shows everything from Parks to Grocery Stores to Movie Theatres. Cool! 'The Score' is from 1-100.
I put in 2 addresses to share here. One is smack in the middle of what is Happening near The Galleria which is on the West side of Houston. You can find just about anything there. The other address is one in the Suburbs which has all of the necessities near by but not a whole lot of shopping or movie theatres within a few miles. You can see the difference in the score.
Just thought you all may want to see how it could help with that question that has so many different "So, how's this location?".
This one here is for the Suburbs:
This one is for The Galleria area, Urban Style:
What I like about Walk Score is that it not only gives 'The Score' but it also shows what all is nearby. If the Home Buyer is not interested in having Malls or Movie Theatres nearby, they can take that in to consideration and only look at Restaurants, Parks or whatever they want.
Feel free to share your WalkScore below. :) Especially, PLEASE, if you know of an address in a New Urbanism Type Community.
Wow that thing IS cool!
Thanks for the tip.
Dr Adam
Hi Adam, You are welcome! :) Glad you like it.
Ok Everyone, I have tried and tried to fix the text...but can't sorry. :(
Stephanie, Very interesting tool. Thank you for sharing.
Stephanie,
Thanks!!! Now I'm really miserable from gas prices AND my walk score...an 11...I can only walk to my car conveniently!!! :) Thanks, Fran
P.S. Neat tool, however!
Hi Mana, You're Welcome. :)
Hi Fran, LOL. Sorry. Atleast your car is close by. :) Imagine living in an area with a score over 90! I would invest in a Segway. Cruise my way around town. :)
Stephanie... Pretty neat tool.... Guess it's safe to assume I can run and double my score! :-)
That is a pretty neat tool. It kind of points to the fact that urban living can be better suited to green living?
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for the reminder of this wonderful tool! I had first read about this on AR about 3 months ago and have been meaning to put a little post onto my blog for local readers... I hope you don't mind me using your post as a reminder to post on the same thing..!?! This is definitely a cool little widget.
Hi Steph,
Wow, I love this, I've not seen it before myself.
I checked out 2 addressesf, my office and my home. Good news, I found a bar located 1.53 miles from my home that I wasn't even aware of, (lol). Then again, maybe it's that kid place and they just changed their name, yep that must be it.
Thanks again!
Yes, walk score is real a good idea! But why only walk score?How often do we walk nowadays? More and more people drive cars.I have also tried one more service at http://drivescore.fizber.com/. It is called Drive Score.With the help of it you can see how close establishments
are by car. Try! It's really a perfect idea!
Great website Steph to evaluate your neighborhood or places a person is looking to move to. Rising gas prices are creating an awareness and and added benefit is that as more people get moving down the sidewalks and out of vehicles they get to know their neighbors and are more aware of happenings....I imagine that will help crime rates decrease also!