Shift to Urban Living Fundamental

Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2010,  the annual analysis issued by the Urban Land Institute and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, surveyed more than 900 industry experts who concluded that the prospects for investment are much stronger for smart growth than they are for sprawl. This is consistent with other data and analysis from the last couple of years. Here's an excerpt (provided by Kaid Benfield):

"Next-generation projects will ori­ent to infill, urbanizing suburbs, and transit-oriented develop­ment. Smaller housing units-close to mass transit, work, and 24-hour amenities-gain favor over large houses on big lots at the suburban edge. People will continue to seek greater convenience and want to reduce energy expenses. Shorter commutes and smaller heating bills make up for higher infill real estate costs."

Benfield's summary of the report is posted on his NRDC blog, and you can access the report in full here.