In a 2011 article in the journal Urban Ecosystems, researchers reported that there may be a link between a slight increase in house values and robust bird species diversity. In the article, authors compared homes that were similar in sale price, size, lot
size, and age in 17 neighborhoods in Lubbock TX. After surveying for various bird species, the authors found that homes surrounded by areas where less common birds are found sold for about $30,000 more than homes without these types of birds. I found this study to be fascinating and a great demonstration of something most of us greenmomsters already know – it’s pleasant to live in areas with lots of green spaces and wildlife. I’d love to see the same question asked regarding butterflies – would there be a correlation between less common butterflies and housing prices? My one question for the authors is (it’s a question that probably crossed the minds of other greenmomsters), did you consider school districts when comparing various homes?
To read this article, see: Farmer, M.C., M.C. Wallace, and M. Shiroya. 2011. Bird diversity indicates ecological value in urban home prices. Urban Ecosystems doi: 10.1007/s11252-011-0209-0.
Definitely, there was a slight increase in prices of houses.
ReplyDeleteReptile for Sale