Schools

Neighborhood and school quality remain important to today's buyers. According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 buyer research, 59% of buyers consider neighborhood quality very important, while 34% of buyers ages 35–44 consider school-district quality very important. For growing families, being in a desirable school district can be a meaningful advantage.

Entertainment

Walkability continues to matter to buyers who want convenience and less dependence on a car. Zillow found that 43% of prospective buyers consider a high walk score very or extremely important, up from 37% the previous year.

Shopping

Being close to grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, and other everyday conveniences can make a neighborhood more desirable. Zillow's 2025 buyer research found that 41% of prospective buyers consider having supermarkets within walking distance very or extremely important. .

Outdoor Recreation

Access to parks, trails, lakes, and other outdoor recreation can add lifestyle appeal. NAR's 2025 research found that 20% of buyers consider proximity to parks and recreational facilities very important. In Minnesota, where outdoor recreation is such a big part of the lifestyle, this can be especially attractive to certain buyers.

Sought-After Views

Lake views, wooded settings, city views, and other attractive scenery can make a property more desirable. There isn't a universal percentage that a particular view adds to a home's value, but unique views can help a property stand out from comparable homes and attract buyers who are willing to pay a premium for that lifestyle.

Starbucks & Dunkin

We all love a good cup of joe in the morning, especially if you like to make a quick stop on the way to work. According to Forbes, homes that are within a quarter-mile of a Starbucks, have appreciated 96% while homes near Dunkin Donuts have appreciated 80%.

Power Plants

Aside from being an eyesore, toxic emissions released from power plants will not only decrease the air quality but the value of your home. In fact, the University of California at Berkeley has found that homes within 2 miles of power plants could be worth 3-7% less.

Busy Areas

Convenience isn't always an advantage. Being close to a highway, airport, railroad, or busy intersection can create traffic, noise, and other concerns for buyers. A 2025 National Bureau of Economic Research study found that, in the airport markets studied, each additional 1 decibel of aircraft noise was associated with approximately a 0.6%–1.0% reduction in home prices.  

Crime

Neighborhood quality has a major influence on buyer demand. If buyers perceive an area as less safe or less desirable, that can reduce the pool of people interested in the property and potentially affect its value. That's one reason 59% of buyers rate neighborhood quality as very important when choosing where to live.

Low-Rated Schools

As we said above, the top-rated schools are a big priority for some home buyers so homes located in areas with a low-ranking or closed down school could result in a home value reduction of up to 22.2%.

Cemeteries & Funeral Homes

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the thought of living near a cemetery or funeral home is a bit eerie. According to Realtor.com, homes with a cemetery close by could be priced 12% less than homes in other nearby areas.

Hospitals & Emergency Services
Being close to a hospital can be convenient, but living immediately next to one may also mean more traffic, ambulance activity, and noise. The impact depends heavily on the property's exact location and the buyer pool, so I wouldn't apply a blanket percentage to every home near a hospital.