The results of this study suggest that affordable housing positively affects housing prices and crime rates decrease or essentially stay the same after affordable housing developments are opened. This conclusion contradicts commonly held beliefs about the effects of affordable housing and it is hoped that the study will encourage the development of affordable housing in Orange County.
The hedonic output revealed coefficients of -3% for contaminated homes without GAC filters and -2.3% for homes within the SWCA during the period from 1995 to 2002. However, only the variable for contaminated homes without GAC filters was significant at the 10% significance level. For homes that sold from 2003 to 2006, after the disclosure requirement was enacted, a 7.4% statistically significant diminution in value was observed for homes within the SWCA. In the after-disclosure period, the coefficient for contaminated homes without GAC filters was not statistically significant.
The regression output confirmed that airplane noise had statistically significant negative impact to SFR sale prices in Raleigh. For example, homes located within the 65–70 Ldn noise contour, sold for 5.1% less than unimpaired homes (control area transactions) within the one-mile control group area. Furthermore, homes within the 55–60 Ldn noise contour sold for 2.3% less than unimpaired homes.
Billings and Schnepel’s hedonic output presented evidence that lead-paint remediation had a sizeable positive impact to property values. Furthermore, lead remediated homes sold for approximately $26,270 (32%) more than un-remediated homes. When the authors controlled for home improvements associated with remediation, the estimated benefit dropped to $11,629, and equated to a 160% return on investment for remediation costs.
The hedonic output offered evidence that wildfires provided a negative impact to property values within 10 KM from a burned area. For homes located within 5 KM from a burned area, a 13.7% ($33,232) diminution in value was observed as compared to unimpaired homes. This damage estimate decreased to 7.6% ($18,924) for homes located within 5 to 10 KM from a burned area. Furthermore, the binary variable for view of a burned area revealed an additional $6,600 diminution.