The Emerging 'Surban' Real Estate Market

A little less emphasis on the suburban, and a little more emphasis on the urban.

1 minute read

May 24, 2018, 2:00 PM PDT

Danielle Braff reports:

Newbies to Chicago’s suburbs are increasingly stowing cars and slipping into walking shoes.

No longer are McMansions, white picket fences and sprawling square footage topping suburban buyers’ most-wanted list. Instead, proximity to a suburb’s downtown and easy access to restaurants, schools and parks are priorities. For many, walkable suburbs reign supreme.

While that narrative might be familiar to many Planetizen readers, Braff's article coins a term that this editor hadn't yet encountered: "surban." John Burns, CEO of John Burns Real Estate, is credited with coining the term in the article, which he defines as "development that is bringing the best of urban to the suburb."

According to Braff's analysis of the market, developers and brokers have responded toward increasing demand for more urban suburbs.

FULL STORY: Chicagoland renters and buyers are itching for walkable suburbs. Enter 'surban.'

Thursday, May 17, 2018 in Chicago Tribune

Housing Infrastructure Land Use Urban Development United States Illinois Urban vs. Suburban Walkable Urban Places Surban Real Estate Market Housing Development Development Trends View More

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