We’ve all heard the mantra: “Drive ‘til you qualify.” As housing prices rise throughout the Portland region, many people are looking to the outer fringes of the region – and beyond – to find homes that they afford.
But as distance increases, so do transportation costs. In many cases, the combined cost of car payments, maintenance and gas required to make long commutes is enough to offset the savings of living further out.
Scott Bernstein
Scott Bernstein, President of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, has popularized the concept of using the Housing + Transportation index as a more comprehensive way of determining the true affordability of housing.
Scott will give a demonstration of the online tool that he created with the CNT that enables people to easily calculate their combined housing and transportation costs and gain a better understanding of the true affordability of their neighborhood. He will also share ideas on how communities can use the index and other tools to capture the economic value of sustainable development.
Co-sponsored by the Oregon Transportation and Growth Management program.
Part of the Regional Snapshots speaker series, checking in on issues that matter to people who live and work in the Portland region.