Chapter 4
Choosing a Place to Live
Housing Decisions
By Evelyn Lewis & Carolyn Turner
1
Location
2
•
When choosing a place to live, you will
need to carefully consider the following:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Region or area of the world, country or state.
Community-country, suburb, or city
Neighborhood or section of the community
Composition of the population
Site or lot within the neighborhood
3
Region
• A region is a specific part of the world,
country, or state in which your live.
Houston
4
Community
• A region is divided into communities.
• A community may be a large city, small
village, or rural area.
• Cities are high-density areas where many
people live together.
5
• Rural areas & the outskirts of towns and
cities are low-density areas.
• Some communities are for specific groups
(i.e.: retirement communities)
• Some are developed by businesses for
employees and their families.
6
Neighborhood
• Regions = communities
• Communities = neighborhood
• A neighborhood consists of a group of houses
and people.
• The buildings in a neighborhood are normally
similar in age, design, and cost.
7
Physical Neighborhood
• Physical neighborhood is determined by
the way the land and building are used.
• Some neighborhood are residential
(houses), commercial (shopping, stores,
businesses), industrial (factories,
warehouses and plants).
8
Zoning Regulations & Other
• Zoning regulations control land use in
certain areas.
• Housing developers subdivide land and
making improvements such as streets and
street lighting before building structures.
They set limits called restrictions.
9
• Planned neighborhood is usually in a zoned
area with restrictions.
• In a planned neighborhood, the size and layout
of individual lots are determined before
dwellings are built.
• All houses must fit into the overall plan.
• Construction & types of design are sometimes
controlled.
10
• Many planned neighborhoods include
recreational facilities.
• Parks & playgrounds are built in locations
that are convenient to the people living in
the neighborhood.
• Clubhouses are built for meetings/social
activities.
11
Planned Neighborhood
12
Population Composition
• Type of people in any neighborhood may
be quite varied = heterogeneous.
• If the residence are very similar to each
other, the neighborhood is =
homogeneous.
13
Site
• A location within a neighborhood is called
a site, or lot.
• A site is the piece of land on which the
dwelling is built.
• Each site has its own character (size,
shape, contour, soil type).
14
Natural Restraints
• Natural restraints are those that come
from nature.
• Topography is the configuration of a
surface including its natural and
manufactured features showing their
relative positions and elevations.
15
Topography
16
• Landscaping is altering the topography
and adding decorative plantings to change
the appearance of a site.
• Orientation is placing a structure on a site
in consideration of the location of the sun,
prevailing winds, water sources, and
scenic view.
17
Space Planning & Zoning
18
18
Public Zone
Is the part of the site
that can be seen
from the street or
road.
It is usually in front
of the house.
19
Service Zone
The part of the site that is
used for necessary
activities.
Like: sidewalks, driveways,
and storage (trash cans,
lawn equipment, firewood,
& cars).
Many, have this area
screened from view and
should be directly
connected to the indoor
service areas (i.e.: kitchen
/laundry area)
20
Private Zone
This is the part of the
site hidden from public
view.
It has space for
recreation and
relaxation.
Can be separated by
using shrubs, hedges,
screens, fences and/or
walls.
21
Types of Housing
22
Multifamily Houses
• Multifamily house is a structure that
provides housing for more than one
household.
• Examples:
a. High rise apartments
b. Low rise apartment
c. Triplex apartment (3 households)
d. Duplex apartment (2 households)
23
Rentals
• Vary in number and type of facility.
• Amenities (laundry, appliances, tennis,
swimming).
• Examples:
a. Penthouse…top of apartment building
b. Garden Apt… one story with landscape
c. Efficiency Apt…one main room,
kitchen, and bathroom
24
Condominium
• Ownership where the buyer owns
individual living space and also owns an
undivided interest in the common areas
and facilities of the multiunit project.
25
Single Family Home
Designed to house one
family. Can be rented or
owned.
26
Townhomes / Row House
• Have at least two
floors.
• Attached by a
common wall.
27
Freestanding House
• Not connected to
another unit.
28
• Contractor is a person who contracts, or
agrees, to supply certain materials or do
certain work for a special fee.
29
• Factory Built House…Constructed in a
plant and moved to a site.
• Modular Housing…coordinated in a series
of modules.
• Manufactured Housing…built in a factory.
30
Moving to a New Home
31
• Changes in lifestyle,
• Get rid of items you
occupation,
don’t need/want.
socioeconomic status, • Have a garage sale,
or other life situations
recycle, or donate to
also cause people to
a charity (good for tax
move.
deduction).
• Relocating family and • Use the moving
possessions is likely
checklist.
to cause stress.
32
Moving Yourself
• There are many good reasons for tackling
the job yourself.
• First the cost is about one-third that of a
professional mover.
• Second, you can move on your own
schedule.
• Third, you & your goods arrive at the same
time.
33
• Plan ahead.
• Estimate the amount of items to be
moved. This helps choose the correct
truck.
• Have on hand, furniture pads, dollies or
moving cartons.
34
Hiring a Moving Company
• Choose only licensed movers and obtain
at least three written estimates to
compare.
• Ask them about insurance. Read the fine
print. Ask about additional cost.
• Ask about discount moves and nonpeak
moving time.
35
• How much packing will
you do, if any.
• Cost of packing boxes
and the service of
packing & unpacking are
not included in the actual
moving expenses.
• Decide how you want the
furniture to be arranged &
supervise.
• Check for damages.
• Bill of landing, the
receipt of goods shipped.
• Make sure the dwelling is
clean and ready for
occupancy.
36
Assignments
• Chapter Notes
• Flash Cards for Types of Houses
• SAG: Activity E “Choices”, pg. 35
Homework Due: ___________________________
• SAG: Activity B “Evaluating a Place to Live”, pg. 31
37