An analysis of the characteristics of the market for inner-city housing
Creators: name: Homewood, Craig
Publisher: name: University of British Columbia
Year: 2010

description: The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the market for inner-city housing in general, and specifically in Vancouver. The objective is not to identify the size or strength of the market. Rather the thesis objective is to answer the question "What are the characteristics of the market for inner-city housing?". To do this the answers to five sub-questions are sought, as follows: 1) Who wants to live in the inner-city? 2) Where do people want to live in the inner-city? 3) In what kind of housing do people want to live in the inner-city 4) How much are people willing to pay for inner-city housing? 5) Why do people want to live in the inner-city? The approach used is to review the findings of extant studies on the market for inner-city housing. The results of these studies are then compared with the results of a questionnaire survey conducted on the market for inner-city housing in Vancouver. Questionnaires were mailed to a systematic sample of 1587 inner-city and 531 suburban households in Vancouver. Within the inner-city sample were three sub-samples — one for each of Vancouver's existing inner-city residential neighbourhoods (the West End, False Creek, and Fairview Slopes). An overall response rate of 29% was achieved (496 inner-city and 127 suburban respondents). The questionnaire results were analysed with reference to frequency and cross-tabulation tables, using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Separate analyses are provided on the characteristics of households who want to live in the inner-city, the areas and kind of housing they want to occupy, the amount they are willing to pay for such housing, and why they want to live in the inner-city. However, it was found to be difficult to do any one of these analysis without considering the results of at least one of the other analyses. For example, it was impossible to identify the type of people who want to live in the inner-city without considering the type of housing they want to occupy and the location in which they currently live and want to live. Therefore, the conclusion to the study does not consist of a separate answer to each of the questions outlined in the statement of the study's objective. Rather, 11 conclusions on the market for inner-city housing are presented. Most of these conclusions apply generally (i.e. to any inner-city); however several are specific to Vancouver, notably those dealing with where households want to live in the inner-city. These conclusions, and their bases, are fully described in the concluding chapter to this thesis. Briefly stated the conclusions are as follows: 1) Only a small proportion of suburban households will move to the inner-city. 2) A relatively large proportion of inner-city residents will move within the inner-city. 3) Households who want to live in the inner-city are primarily those whose primary income earner is a "white collar" worker, a sales or service worker, or retired. 4) The effect of work location on the desire to live in the inner-city is not clear. 5) A primary reason households move within the inner-city is to obtain a larger unit. Other important reasons are to obtain better quality housing and for renters to obtain ownership housing. 6) Price of housing is an important factor in determining where inner-city residents live. 7) Access to downtown, to parks, to shopping, to entertainment/cultural facilities, and to a body of water are all factors influencing why people want to live in the inner-city. 8) The character of the inner-city neighbourhoods is an important determinant of why people want to live in Vancouver's inner-city. 9) The market for housing differs in each of the areas comprising Vancouver's inner-city. 10) Within Vancouver's inner-city False Creek appears to be the area with the broadest market. 11) On the basis of the incomes and expenditures of the households likely to move to or within the area, development in Fairview Slopes and False Creek would entail less risk than in the West End.