Julia O. Beamish

Not a Trailer Anymore: Perceptions of Manufactured Housing

Abstract Manufactured housing, commonly called mobile homes or trailers, offers an affordable housing alternative for many low‐ and moderate‐income households. Although such housing is built to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development standards, local communities and states often regulate placement. This article reports on a statewide study that profiled Virginia residents of single‐section and double‐section manufactured housing and compared their perceptions of that housing with the perceptions of other community residents. Double‐section residents had more education and higher incomes and were more likely to own their home and the land it was on than single‐section residents. Community residents had persistently negative opinions about the impact of manufactured housing on their community. Given the many challenges communities and the manufactured housing industry face in using these units to provide low‐cost housing, negative impressions, such as poor design, aging units, and “trailer” parks, must be addressed to improve acceptance.

Influence of Lifestyle on Housing Preferences of Multifamily Housing Residents

Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify the housing preferences of multifamily housing residents as determined by their lifestyles. As a lifestyle measurement for this research, 59 housing activity, interest, and opinion statements were developed. A total of 206 usable questionnaires were collected through a mail survey of residents of nine apartment communities in Charlotte, North Carolina. Four lifestyle factors (Well-being, Social, Spaces, and Envirotech) were derived, and the respondents were grouped into four lifestyle clusters (Community Cluster, Basics Cluster, Home Cluster, and Environment Cluster). The relationships between the lifestyle clusters and their housing preferences were tested and the major findings were: (a) households in the Community Cluster had a strong downtown orientation and the weakest perception of homeownership, and preferred to have security features; (b) households in the Basics Cluster had the weakest preferences for apartment home and community features and the second weakest perception of homeownership; (c) households in the Home Cluster had the strongest perception of homeowner ship and relatively strong feature preferences, including preferences for upscale interior design features; and (d) households in the Environment Cluster had a strong suburban orientation and preferred to have outdoor parking spaces in front of the building, plant watering service, and an on-site car care center. These findings can be applied to the design and management of apartment communities and to marketing strategies that are sensitive to lifestyle concepts.

Lifestyle Influences on Housing Preferences

Abstract This paper explores influences on housing choice and proposes a conceptual framework that examines the influence of lifestyle as an intervening factor in housing choice. Influences on lifestyles include age, family type, family size, stage in the life cycle, social class, income, occupation, education, and values. The impact of housing norms on housing choice is also examined. A set of study questions, learning activities, glossary, and resources is provided to assist the instructor, facilitate discussion, and meet the learning objectives.

Predictors of Housing Satisfaction in Abuja, Nigeria

AbstractThe study examined the relationships between housing satisfaction and structure types, building features, housing conditions, neighborhood facilities, management, and demographic characteristics among a sample of 1,089 households, randomly selected from residents living in public housing in five districts in Abuja, Nigeria. The public housing units were constructed by the federal government and supervised by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). The data for the study were collected through self-administered questionnaires, which measured residents ‘ level of satisfaction on a five-point Likert scale. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance and multiple regression.The majority of the households were larger than four persons, headed by males from 31 to 40 years of age. Most of the residents were renters, educated, and employees of federal agencies. Significant positive relationships were found between housing satisfaction and the various housing characteristics, and housing ma...

Location Preferences of Multifamily Housing Residents

Abstract Choosing the location of one’s home is an important decision not only for homeowners but for renters as well. The purpose of this study was to identify demographic and lifestyle influences on location preferences of multifamily housing residents. Two research hypotheses were tested using a modified model of influences on housing choice: (a) there are relationships between demographic and lifestyle characteristics and preferences for an ideal apartment home location, and (b) there are relationships between the location preference and specific apartment home and community feature preferences. Mail surveys were conducted with residents of high-end multifamily housing communities in Charlotte, North Carolina, and data from 202 usable responses were analyzed. As a result, both research hypotheses were supported. Major findings were as follows: (a) some individual demographic and lifestyle characteristics or combinations of these were found to have influences on location preferences; (b) when lifestyle characteristics were combined with demographic characteristics, location preferences were best explained; and (c) location preference had significant relationships with preferences for some specific parking, security, and exercise features, and the relationships were consistent with common expectations of the locations. Apartment developers, owners, and managers have identified lifestyle factors as important to attracting residents. This research provided empirical validity to that practice.

Universal Design in Residential Spaces

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to identify features for universal design recommendations that are appropriate for residential design. The recommendations are based on previously developed criteria for people with disabilities and for the elderly, as well as traditional space-planning standards. Specific recommendations are categorized as the following: exterior, general interior, kitchen, bathroom, laundry/utility, living/dining, and bedroom/storage. Some items are more universal by their placement, while some features can be made more universally usable by being made adjustable. The recommendations presented herein would be useful to educators and designers who work with the concept of universal design.

Residential Satisfaction of Older Adults in Age-Segregated Facilities

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the residential satisfaction of town home residents of an independent living facility. Twenty-one residents of a private-pay retirement facility with an assisted living facility on site participated in focus groups to explore themes of residential satisfaction. Seventy-nine residents responded to a follow-up mail survey. Results show that residents expected safe and supportive environments and stability in the environments they had chosen. These older residents valued good design and construction, friendly neighbors, privacy, efficient handling of maintenance concerns, and accessible management. The residents were most satisfied with neighborhood and housing characteristics and least satisfied with maintenance and management. Residents of nonsubsidized housing, who have more housing choices, may have high expectations of quality and maintenance. Managers should be aware of residents’ expectations of responsiveness and friendliness. Loss of control to management may be an ongoing concern.

Acceptance of Housing Alternatives for the Elderly: Consumer Perspectives

AbstractMany housing options for the elderly are being developed and promoted that could help older persons avoid premature nursing home care. Elderly person’s acceptance of four of these options was examined through a survey of Virginia Extension Homemaker Council members. These options were: ECHO housing, accessory apartments, shared housing, and board and care homes. Respondents had limited awareness of the ECHO housing, though they were somewhat familiar with the other options. Although they had not sought information on any of these options to any degree, a large proportion (37% - 47%) of the sample would consider living in them. Multiple regression was used to determine demographic and personal innovativeness characteristics which affect overall acceptance of the four types. Education, income, and age were significantly related to the Housing Adoption score. However, the innovativeness variable, Willingness to Take a Chance, was the strongest predictor in the regression model. The analysis indicates...

Housing, Equipment, and Design Research and Scholarship: A Family and Consumer Sciences Perspective

Periodic reviews of research in the housing, equipment, and design specializations within family and consumer science have occurred in the past, documenting the status of research topics, methods, and theory. This article addresses research and scholarship in the housing, equipment, and design disciplines over the past 16 years by analyzing relevant publications with a family and consumer science perspective. Articles from three journals were analyzed to determine the number, university affiliation, topic, purpose, type, data collection, data analysis, and use of theory. Results indicate a decline in the total number of articles in these journals related to housing, equipment, and design. About one third of the articles utilized theory, and these articles used three theories frequently. Scholars in housing, equipment, and design should continue to publish in family and consumer science-related journals to continue the expansion and further the depth of these disciplines within the broader field.

A Casual Model of Barriers and Incentives to Affordable Housing in Southern Rural Communities: Housing Quality

AbstractHousing quality was one of three dependent measures used to examine a model of housing affordability in rural communities. Often adequate or quality housing is not available at costs that are affordable for low-income families. Data from the S-194 Southern Region Research Project, “Barriers and Incentives to Affordable Housing” were used to examine the housing conditions in 28 Southern communities and to determine factors related to problems in housing quality. The dependent variables used to measure quality were taken from the 1980 Census: percentage of units built before 1959 and percentage of units which were crowded and lacked plumbing. Most of the communities had a large portion of old housing stock and a small portion of units that experienced both plumbing and crowding problems. A series of stepwise regression procedures was performed with the various independent variable sets utilizing each dependent variable. In the final modeling, the variables, median age, and number of educational inst...