Community Self-Assessment Survey

Context

Communities across the nation are experiencing a significant undersupply of housing and an increase in house prices that is unprecedented. Many diverse housing markets share reasons for the undersupply that include a decade-long production shortage of new homes, but some also lost a number of houses due to age and deterioration as repair needs exceed market values and demand. As municipalities decides how to use limited resources to help achieve a diverse and balanced housing supply, this tool is intended to help community leaders determine how much of its limited resources, tax incentives and regulations the community should focus on preserving its existing privately-owned housing stock.

Instructions

Answer the 15 questions below for your community as best you can. Choose the option that most accurately describes your community. Results will be scored to help to define the importance of housing preservation for your community in achieving a balanced housing market and meeting affordable housing needs.

Community Type

City

Town

Village

Hamlet

Borough

State

County

Community Name

Does your older existing housing define the character of your community?

Absolutely, our houses give our neighborhoods a unique look and feel and define our community.

Somewhat, we have diverse housing styles, but the blend of housing is critical to the look and feel of some of our neighborhoods.

No, our existing housing is not critical to the look and feel of our community.

Is there a sizable difference between the cost of preserving one home vs creating a housing unit through new construction?

Yes, the difference exceeds $200,000 a unit. Fixing an existing unit is far less expensive than building new.

Yes, but existing homes need a sizable investment (i.e. more than $80,000 dollars) to repair and stabilize them.

No, the cost to build new basic housing is about the same as to rehabilitate an existing house.

Are houses in some neighborhoods being lost to deterioration and abandonment?

Yes, within several neighborhood markets older housing in disrepair risks being left long-term vacant or rented as substandard housing to vulnerable low-income tenants.

Somewhat, we have one or two neighborhood markets where vacancy and substandard rentals are a challenge.

No, houses are not being lost to deterioration and abandonment.

Are affordable houses in some neighborhoods being lost to conversion to more expensive housing by speculators and investor owners?

Yes, investors are buying up many available single family and multi-family properties for higher-priced rental.

Somewhat, investors are buying up single family and multi-family properties for higher-priced rental in a one or two neighborhoods.

No, our affordable housing supply is not at risk from the speculative market.

Do a significant portion of your homeowners lack the financial capacity to maintain their homes in good repair?

Yes, more than 20% of homeowners are low or moderate income and may not have the funds to maintain their homes.

Somewhat, 5-19% of homeowners are low- or moderate-income and may not have the funds to maintain their homes.

No, homeowners have income sufficient to maintain their homes.

Does your community have a substantial supply of developable land?

No, land supply is constrained and expensive.

Yes, we have a plentiful supply of developable land, but prices are high restricting the use of this land for the construction of affordable housing.

Yes, we have a plentiful supply of undeveloped and underdeveloped land.

Do you have laws or incentives to ensure a portion of new construction is affordable to low- and moderate-income households?

Yes, there is a mandate that all new construction must include affordable units.

Somewhat, there are incentives to encourage voluntary inclusion of affordable units.

No.

Do property owners in your community have ready access to loans and lines of credit to improve their properties?

Yes, loans and lines of credit are available to homeowners and investor owners and home improvement loan application acceptance rates are high.

Somewhat, lenders have been reticent to provide loans in some neighborhoods, to low value properties or for small loan amounts.

No.

How much of the supply of new homes built since 2000 are starter homes affordable to low- and moderate-income households?

0-9%

10-20%

Above 20%

Is there a difference in the income levels of the households who can rent or buy existing houses vs new construction houses?

Yes, low- and moderate-income residents are able to buy or rent an older home but new construction prices exceed their financial capacity.

Somewhat, there are newly constructed starter homes and subsidized homes being built that lower income residents can buy and a similar portion of existing homes are affordable.

No.

Is there public will to use public funding, tax abatements or incentives to help owners with a proven financial hardship to repair and stabilize their home?

Yes, in the past our community has dedicated funding for home repair and preservation programs.

Yes, while we have not done so in the past, we are planning to spend some of the recently appropriated federal funds on housing repair and preservation.

No, our community will not invest public dollars in privately owned residential properties.

Is there public will to provide subsidy to market-rate new construction to reduce the gap between the cost to build and what low-income households can afford to pay?

No, our community will not invest public dollars on the construction of privately owned residential properties.

Yes, while we have not done so in the past, we are planning to spend some funds on new construction of affordable units.

Yes, in the past our community has subsidized affordable housing construction.

Does your community have dedicated affordable housing units that come with legal restrictions ensuring they remain long-term affordable to low- or moderate-income households?

No, we do not have long-term affordable housing units.

Yes, we have an insufficient number of dedicated affordable units that fail to meet demand.

Yes, we have an inventory of affordable housing units that meet resident’s needs.

Has your existing housing proven resilient to climate change and natural disasters?

Yes, most of our houses have not experienced substantial damage by weather in the past 5 years.

Somewhat, some types of housing have repeatedly experienced damage from weather in the past 5 years.

No, our housing repeatedly experiences significant damage under extreme and changing weather conditions.

Is your community committed to energy reduction, reducing waste, and preserving open space?

Yes, green practices are a key goal for our community.

Yes, green practices are one of many goals for our community.

No, our community has no position on green practices.

Would like to receive updates on tools to preserve aging housing stock?If you click Yes, please provide your Name, Title, and Email on the next screen. Otherwise you can click Submit at the bottom of the survey.

Yes, you have my permission to contact me

No, I do not wish to be contacted

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