American Housing Survey for the United States: 2007 Appendix a A-1

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American Housing Survey for the United States: 2007 Appendix a A-1 Appendix A. Definitions The definitions and explanations given here are, to a con­ plumbing fixtures, such as sinks or bath tubs; insulation; siderable extent, drawn from the AHS questionnaire and wall-to-wall carpeting, flooring; paneling or ceiling tiles; the AHS Field Representative Manual. The definitions are air conditioning; built-in heating equipment; septic tanks; alphabetized by the titles used in summary tables. Some water heaters; dishwashers, garbage disposals; driveways cross-references are provided. If a specific definition is not or walkways; fencing or walls; patios, terraces, or located, try related definitions. The definitions apply to detached decks; swimming pools, tennis courts, and other summary tables and also to the computer files (‘‘micro­ recreational structures; sheds, detached garages, or other data’’), unless they are marked ‘‘not applicable.’’ buildings. Academic comparison to other area elementary The microdata file also includes information about schools. The respondents were asked to rate the public whether the household got a low interest loan or grant to elementary school attended by the child or children of the pay for the work and the amount spent in a typical year household. This rating was made in comparison to other on routine repairs and maintenance. elementary schools in the area. Adults and single children under 18 years old. See Access to structure. The purpose for asking members of the definition ‘‘Household composition.’’ the household if they enter or exit their home by climbing up or down steps or stairs is to find out if they have Age of householder. The classification refers to the age wheelchair accessibility. Respondents were asked ‘‘Is it reported for the householder as of that person’s last birth­ possible to enter [your/this] home/apartment from the day. outside without climbing up or down any steps or stairs?’’ Age of other residential buildings within 300 feet. Additional central air. See the definition ‘‘Equipment.’’ The respondent was asked to describe the age of other Additions, alterations, remodeling, repairs, and residential buildings within a half block. For this survey, a replacements. half a block is about 300 feet in length. The responses were then classified as: ‘‘Older,’’ ‘‘Newer,’’ ‘‘About the Publications. Not available. Some tables are available at same,’’ or ‘‘Very mixed.’’ ‘‘Very mixed’’ indicates that the <www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/ahs/nationaldata ages vary. If there are no other residential buildings within .html>. 300 feet, ‘‘No other residential buildings’’ is indicated. Microdata. The statistics are restricted to owner-occupied Air conditioning. See the definition ‘‘Equipment.’’ units. The respondents were first asked if, in the last 2 years, a major disaster, such as an earthquake, tornado, Alterations. See definition ‘‘Additions, alterations, remod­ hurricane, landslide, fire, or flood, required them to make eling, repairs, and replacements.’’ extensive repairs to their homes. Replacements and addi­ tions were counted as disaster-required repairs only if the Amenities. See the definition ‘‘Selected amenities.’’ damage involved at least 2 rooms or a majority of the Annual taxes paid per $1,000 value. home. Publications. Real estate taxes paid per $1,000 value of The microdata file also shows the total number of the house (and lot, except for manufactured/mobile replacements/additions reported by all households, and homes) are presented. Medians for taxes per $1,000 value the total cost of these replacements/additions. Each are rounded to the nearest dollar. household could name as many as 47 jobs done in their home. Microdata. Not applicable, can be calculated from taxes Questions were asked about where the work was done, if and value. any rooms were created or attached, and if the bathroom Bars on windows of buildings within 300 feet. The or kitchen had been remodeled within the last 2 years. respondent was asked if any of the buildings within 300 Respondents also were asked if they added or replaced feet of the sample unit have metal bars on the windows. their roofs, siding, interior water pipes; electrical wiring, For this survey, a half a block is about 300 feet in length. fuse boxes, or breaker switches; doors or windows; The condition of the windows has no bearing on this item. American Housing Survey for the United States: 2007 Appendix A A-1 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Census Bureau The windows might be in perfect condition, but the bars the publications, to obtain a count of all units lacking cars might be there to protect against vandalism. Windows that specifically, the lines ‘‘no cars, trucks, or vans’’ and ‘‘other are boarded up or covered with metal sheeting are not households without cars’’ must be added together. included in this category. Included are pickups and small panel trucks of one-ton Bathrooms. See the definition ‘‘Complete bathrooms.’’ capacity or less, and small vans that were owned or regu­ larly used by one or more members of the household and Bedrooms. The number of bedrooms in a housing unit ordinarily kept at home. Company trucks and vans are includes those rooms that are used mainly for sleeping or included if used regularly for nonbusiness purposes and designed to be a bedroom, even if used for other pur­ kept at home. To obtain a count of all units lacking trucks poses. A room reserved only for sleeping, such as a guest or vans, the lines ‘‘no cars, trucks, or vans’’ and ‘‘with cars, room, even if used infrequently, is considered a bedroom. no trucks or vans’’ must be added together. A room built as a bedroom, although not used for that purpose, such as a room meant to be a bedroom but used Except for units falling in the category ‘‘no cars, trucks, or as a sewing room, is counted as a bedroom. On the other vans,’’ all units will fall into two categories. For example, a hand, a room designed and used mainly for other pur­ unit with one car only would fall both in the category ‘‘1 poses, such as a den with a sleep sofa used mainly for car with or without trucks or vans’’ and ‘‘with cars, no watching television, is not considered a bedroom. A hous­ trucks or vans.’’ ing unit consisting of only one room, such as a one-room Cash received in primary mortgage refinance. An efficiency apartment, is classified by definition as having owner can receive cash from a mortgage lender by refi­ no bedroom. nancing the primary mortgage. This increases the out­ Bodies of water within 300 feet. These questions standing balance of the loan. determine the proximity of the respondent’s property to Census. See the definition ‘‘Comparability with Census bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, rivers, or ocean. 2000 of Population and Housing data.’’ Swimming pools and temporary pools of water are not included in this definition. The respondent was also asked Central cities. if the property is waterfront property and whether the Since 1985, the National AHS has used the official list of property is on a flood plain. central cities published on June 27, 1983, by the Office of Building and ground maintenance. Renters were asked Management and Budget as OMB Bulletin 83-20. That list their level of satisfaction with the maintenance of the was developed from definitions published January 3, grounds and building in which they lived. The responses 1980, in the Federal Register, Volume 45, pages 956–963. could have been ‘‘completely satisfied,’’ ‘‘partly satisfied,’’ AHS still uses these 1983 boundaries for data in the 2007 ‘‘dissatisfied,’’ or ‘‘landlord not responsible for ground national microdata file to measure change consistently maintenance.’’ over time. However, AHS uses the 1990 census-based geography for the data in the 2007 national publication. Building neighbor noise. Respondents in multiunit buildings were asked about noise heard through floors, Most metropolitan statistical areas had at least one central walls, or ceilings of their units. Respondents were also city, which was usually its largest city. In addition, any city asked about the frequency of noise. The survey also asked with at least 250,000 population or at least 100,000 the respondents’ opinions of the loudness of noise as well people working within its corporate limits qualified as a as whether it was bothersome or not bothersome. central city. Smaller cities were also identified as central cities if they had at least 25,000 population and (1) had at Buildings. See the definitions ‘‘Bars on windows of build­ least 75 jobs for each 100 residents who were employed, ings within 300 feet,’’ ‘‘External building conditions,’’ and and (2) 60 percent or fewer of the city’s resident workers ‘‘Year structure built.’’ commuted to jobs outside the city. Finally, in certain smaller metropolitan statistical areas, there were places Business. See the definitions ‘‘Income,’’ ‘‘Other activities with between 15,000 and 25,000 population that also on property,’’ and ‘‘Rooms.’’ qualified as central cities because they were at least one Cars and trucks available. Included are passenger cars third the size of the metropolitan statistical area’s largest and station wagons owned or regularly used by one or city and met the two commuting requirements. more household members and ordinarily kept at home. See also the definitions ‘‘Place size’’ and ‘‘Urban and rural Company cars are counted (if used regularly for non­ residence.’’ business purposes and kept at home), as are taxicabs (if they are owned by a household member and kept at Change in housing costs. For the householder and home). The total number of vehicles is not published, those who moved with the householder, a comparison is since cars are counted separately from ‘‘trucks or vans.’’ In made between the share of the housing costs paid in the A-2 Appendix A American Housing Survey for the United States: 2007 U.S.
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