Place-Making Survey Cluj Perspective
Data sources Survey of homes -MSU questionnaire - in eleven neighbourhoods in Cluj sold between responses (487 owners, 190 tenants). Face- to-face interviews.Random stratified sample the study to assess average home price for each neighbourhood was conducted in cooperation with Blitz Real Estate Agency, in March 2013, on a representative sample of 511 homes for sale with prices up to date from the eleven selected neighbourhoods
What Factor Influence Home Purchase Decisions?
Factors influencing people’s decision to buy a house Mid-WestCluj-Napoca 1Safety 2Commute timeStores nearby 3AffordabilityAccess to public transportation 4Walkability
How Far Are People Willing to Walk in Cluj?
Mid-West: min. Cluj-Napoca: min. How Far Are People Willing to Walk in Mid-West and Cluj?
Aesthetically-Pleasing & Safe Neighborhood How would you rate the overal look and feel of a walk in your neighborhood? FrequencyPercent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 1 (Very low)284,14, ,019,423, ,027,951, ,930,081,7 5 (Very high)11316,717,999,7 Not practical/Don't walk 2,3 100,0 Total63093,1100,0 MissingSystem476,9 Total677100,0
Safety How safe do you feel in this neighborhood? FrequencyPercentValid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid Extremely safe456,67,1 Very safe27540,643,750,8 Moderately safe28742,445,696,3 Slightly safe111,61,798,1 Not at all safe ,0 Total63093,1100,0 MissingSystem476,9 Total677100,0
Top 5 Safe Neighborhoods (perceived as very safe to extremely safe) 1.Andrei Muresanu (78,6%) 2.Centru (76,3%) 3.Marasti (57%) 4.Gheorgheni (57%) 5.Manastur (49,7%)
Home price explained Regression Model Description N = 487 (owners), R-squared = Dependent variable: home price Independent variables: structural and property characteristics that influenced a purchaser’s decision to buy a home, such as: Total square meters Walkability to nearby places Architecture
Preliminary results for Cluj (I) Higher property value is explained by the following structural and property attributes: Property attribute 1. Interior design 2. Ease of walking & biking to nearby places 3. Total square meters
Preliminary results for Cluj (II) Higher property value is explained by the following neighbourhood attributes: Positive relationshipNegative relationship Interior designClose supermarket Ease of walking & biking to nearby places Total square meters Closeness to bars and restaurants
Other property attributes that explain home prices Number of bedrooms & bathrooms Garage Porch
Conclusions (I) People from both Mid-West and Cluj walk often Destinations that are within a 15-minutes or even 20 minutes or walk of their home Walkability is one of the main factors involved in people’s decisions to purchase or rent a house
In order to raise house value in Cluj Similar to Mid-West, More bedrooms & bathrooms & square footage Presence of garage Nearby parks & recreation Ease of walking & biking to nearby places Safety
Next step Apply the study to an extended area in Romania (North-Western region)