Every homeowner wants to see their value on the rise, and every home buyer wants to purchase a property that has the potential to go way up in price. Of course, buying a beautiful, big home in the best neighborhood possible will ensure that happens, and there are also countless blogs and articles that go over how to boost your home’s value by improving its curb appeal, remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, and the like.
However, there are some other, far more unexpected, factors that play into your home’s value. I assure you that although these factors may seem frivolous and even illogical at times, they are all based on credible data and studies into home prices.
Therefore, by paying attention to these fascinating home value “balloons,” you may be in for a value increase, too!
15 Home value balloons:
1. Access to public transportation.
The American Public Transportation Association has found that market values are higher on average for homes that are located near popular public transportation hubs. Although it’s inconclusive just how much these properties will rise in value, one estimate is that they’re worth 42% more than comparable homes that are not near public transport. While that number seems stunningly high to me, there’s no denying that homes with easy access to transportation are more attractive to buyers.
2. A good school district.
There’s much debate about the influence good or bad schools play on home prices, and some think that it’s actually good neighborhoods that make a school, not the other way around. But studies have shown that there’s a direct correlation between higher-priced communities and good school systems. In fact, it’s estimated that buyers will pay between 1 to 10% above their budget for a home in a better school district.
Likewise, research shows that if a school is named a National Blue Ribbon School, the surrounding homes have the potential to increase by up to 5%.
3. The Starbucks Effect.
The presence of a Starbucks coffee shop in your neighborhood is such a clear boon to home values, that there’s a name for it! It’s true – homes that are less than a mile from a Starbucks increase in value 30% faster than comparable homes further away.
4. Other coffee shops?
Does that home appreciation magic extend to coffee chains other than Starbucks? Maybe, but it’s certainly not as prevalent. For instance, if your home is within a mile of a Dunkin Donuts, it’s likely to appreciate faster than the national average – but nowhere near the Starbucks Effect’s 30%!
5. A Trader Joes or Whole Foods.
A study by a national real estate website found that proximity to a Trader Joe’s appreciated in value up to 40% faster than homes further out, and a Whole Foods could increase your values by 34%. Of course, this price appreciation doesn’t happen immediately when one of these establishments opens next door but exerts its positive influence over time.
6. Close to parks and outdoor recreation areas.
If you’re lucky enough to live within a stone’s throw of a nice park, jogging trail, or even golf course (Ok, maybe you don’t want to be TOO close to the driving range!), then you could be looking forward to rapid home appreciation. A comprehensive study found that homes in those locations are worth, on average, 8 to 20% more than similar homes that aren’t close to these outdoor amenities.
7. Mature trees and well-manicured landscaping.
If your neighborhood enjoys mature trees, your home value may increase by up to 3 -10% more than similar structures in neighborhoods that don’t have them. Additionally, well-maintained landscaping in yards and public areas is at a premium and may boost your home’s value by 3-15%!
8. Street names – not numbers.
Believe it or not, your street name may factor into your home’s value. A New York Times study concluded that homes on streets with names – not numbers (like 3rd Street) – went up in value 2% faster. Likewise, if your address contains “Lane” or “Place” instead of just “Street,” then your home price may increase at a faster rate. Furthermore, uncommon or unique street names can also boost values more than ordinary street names.
9. Privacy.
It seems that we don’t want nosey neighbors and passer-bys seeing what we’re doing at home, so we’re willing to pay more for privacy! In a study of home prices in 1,836 counties across the country, properties that rated higher privacy scores also had higher values.
10. A wide lot.
Often referred to as “frontage,” homes with particularly wide lots see a boost in their values in many markets around the country. However, country and suburban properties see the most prominent value gains by wide frontage, not city properties.
11. Backyard views.
Curb appeal and street views are important but don’t neglect the view from your backyard, too. In fact, a national study found that homes with larger view angles (no matter what they saw from that vantage point) routinely had higher values.
12. A down-sloping backyard.
One study measured housing prices cross-references with the slope of their respective backyards. They found that homes with downhill slopes in their backyards sold for significantly more than homes where the backyard sloped uphill.
13. Military base.
A study by a national real estate website found that homes near military bases went for a premium, as much as 34.8% higher than the median home average in those areas!
14. Drop in crime.
Of course, we can assume that high crime rates will drop a home’s value. But what’s interesting is that research shows as those same crime-blighted communities start to clean up their streets, property values will rebound accordingly.
15. Walkability.
Homeowners love being able to leave their front door and walk around their community, particularly to local restaurants, coffee shops, or other stores and amenities. Studies show that this “walkability” feature is so attractive that it actually improves neighborhood home values.
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A Better "Way" to Real Estate 
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