ABSTRACT
In the context of the crisis condition of the Israeli housing market in recent years, it is of interest to examine the housing preferences for walking distance to land uses in Israeli neighborhoods. The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact of walking distance to shopping centers, public service facilities, open spaces and recreational sites, on the housing decision. A stated-preference analysis was conducted using a choice-based conjoint model, based on data collected from 184 respondents of a cross-sectional, online survey. The results indicate an overall preference toward apartments that are in a walkable distance from a commercial street, rather than a shopping mall. This finding alone is sufficient to indicate a demand for walkability, as shopping strips are generally pedestrian friendly. Based on the findings, the paper provides some policy recommendations with regard to efficient implementation, and discusses generalization of these findings to other countries.
