Conservation Tools

The authors examined whether a price premium seen in conventional versus smart growth neighborhoods in Maryland would be sustained over time. They found that between 1997 and 2005, the houses in the smart growth neighborhoods sold for 16.1%, and 6.5% more than comparable houses in surrounding conventional developments. During this period, the price premium for both communities was sustained or increased, indicating a strong and sustained market acceptance of single-family housing units in smart growth communities.