More and more, I find buyers are taking walkability into account when choosing a neighborhood…asking about proximity to trails, parks, libraries and coffee shops in addition to basic services such as grocery stores and other shopping.
Walkscore.com is a fun site where you can type in an address and it pulls up nearby services to come up with a walk score with a range from 1 to 100. Unfortunately, it doesn't take trails into account but it is a useful site if you are looking for the ability to live a car-lite lifestyle…or just to get to know what is in the neighborhood.
When buyers are searching neighborhoods, and even more importantly when they are considering buying a specific home, I often recommend that they get out of their car and walk. There is no better way to get a good sense of the neighborhood.
A couple weeks ago I was out walking with our grandson in St. Louis Park. Their address rates a 71 walk score…not bad for a first-ring suburb. And that doesn't even take into account the nearby trails and pedestrian overpasses, which make for great walkability…and bikeability.
Did you know that Minnesota has more paved rail-to-bikeway trails than any other state? And even though many suburbs don't score high on walkability to services, many have great recreational trail systems!
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results – Email - St. Louis Park Realtor
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