| Highway access | 44% |
| Trails | 36% |
| Sidewalk on both sides of street | 28% |
| Park areas | 26% |
| Shops within walking area | 19% |
| Lake | 16% |
| Near public transportation | 15% |
| Day care center | 14% |
| Business center | 10% |
| Basketball courts/Soccer fields | 9% |
| Card-operated gate | 7% |
| Baseball/softball fields | 6% |
| Club house | 6% |
| Golf course | 6% |
| Security guard at gate | 5% |
| Tennis court | 4% |
| Equestian facilities | 3% |
| Sources: NAHB and The National Association of Realtors |
In a mail survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors and the NAHB in April, respondents from 2000 households, who purchased a primary residence within the last two years, ranked the importance of features they considered when deciding on a community.
By Iris Richmond
Published in BIG BUILDER Magazine, June 2002