National Association of REALTORS® Survey Finds Americans Value Neighborhood Walkability

Louisiana REALTORS® • July 14, 2026

NAR Community and Transportation Preference Survey reinforces need for housing choices and shows support for community design to easily access daily destinations.

A new survey by the National Association of REALTORS® shows that Americans value walkability, mixed-used neighborhoods and a broad range of housing choices. Demand for smart-growth features such as access to parks, shops, restaurants, schools and workplaces, is real, and many Americans are willing to pay more for them.

 

“In Louisiana, like across the country, we’ve seen continued interest for housing located in walkable communities,” said Norman Morris, CEO of Louisiana REALTORS®. The availability of data like this will give valuable insight to Louisiana REALTORS®, and it will help local lawmakers make decisions about land use and transportation policies that can help our region meet this demand.”

 

“It's clear that Americans place a high value on making sure the place they call home has the amenities they need to lead a happy and healthy life,” said NAR Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn. “NAR members know this intuitively, but having hard data like this is an asset in our advocacy efforts at the federal, state, and local level.”

 

Among noteworthy findings of the survey:

 

Walkability remains a top priority for homebuyers and residents.

  • 89% say sidewalks and places to walk are important when deciding where to live.
  • 82% said that being within an easy walk of shops and parks is important when deciding where to live.
  • 74% say having a place to walk or exercise a pet is important.
  • 71% percent say that the places they need to go are too far to walk. The weather (41 percent) and concern about safety because of traffic (39 percent) are other major barriers to walking.

 

Walkability has real market value.

  • Nearly two-thirds (63%) say they would be willing to pay more to live in a community where they could easily walk to parks, shops, and restaurants.
  • When presented with a choice between a larger home site requiring more driving and a smaller lot in a walkable neighborhood, 59% preferred the walkable option.

 

There is meaningful support for reducing driving trips through community design.

  • 46% of respondents say it should be a high priority for local governments to make it easier to develop communities where people do not have to drive long distances to work or shop. 39% say it should be a middle priority.
  • Only 15% of respondents think community design that reduces long drives should be a low priority. Support is strongest for practical housing solutions that expand choice.
  • 63% say small-lot single-family homes are a good idea for their communities.
  • 51% support townhomes, duplexes, and other attached housing options.

 

NAR’s Community and Transportation Preference Survey is a triennial survey of 2,000 residents in America’s 50 largest metropolitan areas to assess their preferences related to NAR’s Smart Growth principals. The complete results can be found here.

Consumer Guide Update: Teen Financial Literacy

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 9, 2026
Want Your Teen to Own a Home Someday? Start Talking Money Now Teens may not be thinking about mortgage rates or down payments just yet, but the money habits they’re building now can follow them for years. And 88% of teens surveyed by Fannie Mae and Junior Achievement said they want to own a home someday. This week’s Consumer Guide: Talk to Your Teens About Money and Homeownership makes those conversations a little easier, covering everything from credit scores and budgeting to debt, renting versus owning and saving for that eventual down payment. So yes, you may have to interrupt the doomscrolling. But helping teens get smarter about money today could put them in a much better position to get the keys to a home of their own down the road. Download all of NAR’s Consumer Guides in English or Spanish at facts.realtor. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Teen Financial Literacy Fraud Red Flags Helping Family Members Become Homeowners Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season Condominium Insurance Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. The next Consumer Guide, scheduled for publication on Oct. 21, will cover winter cold and storm preparedness.

Constitutional Amendment Positions for November 3 Election

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 9, 2026
Homeownership Is on Louisiana's November Ballot

Cookbook for the REALTORS® Relief Foundation On Sale Now!

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 8, 2026
After months of gathering recipes from across our Louisiana REALTORS® family, the cookbook is ready! This 200+ page collection is filled with Louisiana flavor, REALTOR® heart and recipes contributed by our members. We launched sales of the cookbook at the Fall Governance Meetings. You can now purchase your copy for $30 directly from the printer and shipped to you! Additionally, we will have copies available at the RRF booth at NXT . After NXT, we will carry a limited stock at the LR office for you to purchase through the LR Merch Shop and pick-up from the office or at an LR event, as stock is available. Even better, $15 from every cookbook sold will be donated to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) to help provide housing-related assistance to REALTORS® and their families following disasters. Pick up a copy for yourself, grab one as a gift and enjoy a taste of Louisiana while supporting a great cause!
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