The Link: Gas and Land Values

Gas and land. Don't think they're linked? Think again. If, say, you live in the suburbs and commute into the city how do you feel about your gas guzzler today? The New York Times' Thomas Friedman has a interesting food for thought column on our collective relationship with gas usage. What he has driven at in past columns is the ultimate relationship between dollars paid for gas, and US foreign policy with those who produce oil (Petroauthoritarians is his term). Read his column today and note that he visited his Toyota dealership to trade in his old hybrid for a new one and was interested to see the number of unsold SUVs on the lot. We'd like to point out his dealership is in Bethesda, MD - a Washington, DC suburb. If hybrids are looking REALLY good these days (and they are), then we say what about living in the city? One of the authors of this website walks to work, the other takes the metro or the bus. Homes prices have fallen to be sure, but as we've pointed out the percentage depends on the market. Those markets best insulated? If you've been reading this site then you've seen our links to stories showing that the insulated markets have been the "urban core" of cities. We can't help but think that the more expensive commutes get, the better our homes in the city look. Still don't think that gas and land aren't linked?