Copyright forbes
Gathering spaces and walkability enhance neighborliness. Silverwood / DMB Development When you think about the features homebuyers are prioritizing in their searches, great neighbors may not cross your mind but they definitely are a top consideration, according to an August survey of 1,000 adults. While the National Association of Realtors lists features like patios, energy efficient appliances and a full bath on the first floor as among the most desirable, having “Mr. Rogers” in your new neighborhood is top of mind too, says real estate platform Clever, whose Anytime Estimate conducted the survey. “Americans value good neighbors so much that 82% say having them is just as important as price or location when buying a home. This ranges from an overwhelming 88% of boomers to 77% of millennials and 70% of Gen Z,” the survey reports. “Americans' feelings about their neighbors can have a significant impact on their overall happiness in a neighborhood,” the survey reveals. So what makes a good neighbor, and why would roughly one in five surveyed Americans (19%) say they’d pay $10,000 or more above the price of a comparable home if they knew they wouldn’t have bad neighbors? What makes a neighbor good or bad? Good Neighbor Traits You might think a neighbor worth $10,000 above asking price would be someone who “looks like you,” but that response barely registered (6%). It does show up indirectly in proximity to specialized services. Fadi Matti, a broker in the very culturally diverse San Diego area, points out, “Clients often prefer locations with easy access to familiar markets, restaurants, and services (and staff who speak their language).” This is completely understandable, especially if you need to be walking distance to your house of worship or an easy drive to religiously mandated food, (e.g., Kosher, Halal). “That said,” Matti clarified, “many don’t prioritize living next door to others from their exact community; some actually prefer a more mixed, ‘all-American’ feel and a bit of distance from close acquaintances, which they view as better for privacy.” (It’s not just celebrities who crave privacy!) “Someone I can trust” ranked highest (65%) on the good neighbor traits survey. Someone who would be helpful when asked (42%) and someone who could be considered a friend (38%) showed up too. To see if these Mr. Rogers types live around your prospective home, Clever’s managing editor and former real estate agent, Steve Nicastro, suggests, “Get a feel for the neighborhood before making an offer: talk to the neighbors, walk around at different times of day, and see how the area changes. A place that’s quiet midafternoon might have a completely different energy at night or on the weekends.” MORE FOR YOU "What makes someone a ‘bad neighbor’ is subjective,” Nicastro adds. “It really depends on how a buyer feels about the community and what kind of environment makes them feel comfortable and proud of where they live.” He notes that it could be behavior like neglect and noise, but sometimes, “it’s simply an unfriendly or hostile neighborhood.” There’s a movement afoot in real estate to prioritize belongingness and positivity as intrinsic values to their communities. Neighborhood Values Silverwood, a new 15,000 home community from DMB Development in California’s Inland Empire (about 80 miles east of Los Angeles), is one of them. It was created on a “culture of kindness.” What does that look like? General manager John Ohanian points to staff and neighbors being helpful to residents, community-based charitable giving programs and celebrations, school and park partnerships to encourage acts of kindness, and an aspirational “Kindness Pledge” presented to all buyers prior to closing. Kindness enabling also shows up in the design of the community itself. “The first thing we did was make sure we created spaces where people could gather and get to know one another,” Ohanian says. Every neighborhood has a “Village Green” gathering space for concerts, movie nights and other community-wide celebrations designed to provide positive social opportunities. “We also are striving to make this a walkable community, embracing our beautiful natural surroundings. When you get out and walk you will meet neighbors and create bonds. All this makes for a safer community,” he suggests. Silverwood’s Ohanion hopes that the kindness movement will go viral. I think it already has! “It’s the sense of belonging that differentiates one place from another,” wrote Diane J. Hoskins, global co-chair at Gensler, in a recent LinkedIn post. “Connection – not capacity – has become an important indicator of whether a place thrives,” she explained. “Real estate is evolving from a static investment into a living asset, one defined by its ability to adapt and create meaning for the people it serves,” the Gensler executive shared. Despite this, most real estate models overlook human connection, she pointed out. “Ultimately, human connection is not an ancillary benefit of real estate — it is the core value proposition,” Hoskins declared, adding, “The places that thrive in the years ahead will be those designed to build relationships, inspire belonging, and foster togetherness. In a world increasingly defined by separation, designing for connection isn’t optional. It’s essential.” Silverwood already gets that. Does your neighborhood? Will your next neighborhood too? The good news is that kindness and neighborliness are features we can cultivate in our own communities right now. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
