# Effect of Orthodox Synagogue on Property Values **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800 "2012-09-15T17:26:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/1 "2012-09-15T17:26:27Z")
If a big fancy orthodox Jewish synagogue is built within walking distance of your house, does it generally cause property values to go up (on the theory that there is increased demand for houses within walking distance of the synagogue) or down (on the theory that a large orthodox Jewish population will undermine the local public schools)? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/2 "2012-09-15T19:08:04Z")
Good question. Depends - does every strict orthodox family live within walking distance of their synagogue? I suppose, OTOH, if so and if they are strict then you won’t have the traffic jams normally associated with a place or worship (of any denomination) or other large establishment in the immediate area. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/3 "2012-09-15T19:24:28Z")
Why would they undermine the local public schools? (I admit I don’t know a whole lot about orthodox Jewish communities, but if they don’t send their kids to public schools, presumably they would have no effect on the schools, and if they do, I’d guess that kids from a strict and close-knit religious community are, if anything, likely to be better-behaved than the general population.) ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/4 "2012-09-15T20:29:33Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > I suppose, OTOH, if so and if they are strict then you won’t have the traffic jams normally associated with a place or worship (of any denomination) or other large establishment in the immediate area. Not true. Orthodox Jews certainly drive to services during the week, and I can tell you from personal experience that traffic and parking around certain synagogues during the week can get quite congested. > [@brazil84](#): > > If a big fancy orthodox Jewish synagogue is built within walking distance of your house, does it generally cause property values to go up (on the theory that there is increased demand for houses within walking distance of the synagogue) or down (on the theory that a large orthodox Jewish population will undermine the local public schools)? Undermine how? Orthodox Jews still pay taxes, even if their kids don’t attend the local public schools. You do realize, of course, that you asked this question while it’s still Shabbat for many of the orthodox posters on the board? (I’m in Israel, where Shabbat has already ended.) ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/5 "2012-09-15T20:34:18Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Depends - does every strict orthodox family live within walking distance of their synagogue? Kinda has to. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/6 "2012-09-15T20:42:26Z")
If its a big one, doesn’t that imply the neighbourhood already has a high proportion of attendees already in residence? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/7 "2012-09-15T20:52:40Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > Undermine how? Orthodox Jews still pay taxes, even if their kids don’t attend the local public schools. The speculation is that they will vote against making public school funding a priority. Yes, this is just speculation which is why I asked the question. > [@](#): > > You do realize, of course, that you asked this question while it’s still Shabbat for many of the orthodox posters on the board? Yes of course. So what? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/8 "2012-09-15T20:54:34Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > If its a big one, doesn’t that imply the neighbourhood already has a high proportion of attendees already in residence? In the situation I am asking about, the synagogue is about to be dramatically expanded. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/9 "2012-09-15T21:48:51Z")
I’m curious how likely this is. Most orthodox synagogues, where most people walk, tend to be small, neighborhood affairs. Every few blocks might have a small shul. I’ve lived around many orthodox communities, and grew up going to an orthodox synagogue and I’m not familiar with any being big at all. Maybe my experience was unique. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/10 "2012-09-15T23:07:01Z")
I’m familiar with some Orthodox families, and they all tell me that homes within walking distance of Orthodox synagogues are very expensive. They are a captive market – they MUST buy a house within walking distance, which pushes up the price. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/11 "2012-09-15T23:27:51Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Yes of course. So what? Meaning they probably won’t be online. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/12 "2012-09-15T23:40:34Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > The speculation is that they will vote against making public school funding a priority. Yes, this is just speculation which is why I asked the question. That’s an interesting speculation. All the orthodox I know are big fans of the public schools of America, very much a “the more education, the less anti-Semitism” attitude. Also they want their own children well educated which often means using the available public schools. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/13 "2012-09-15T23:49:24Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Meaning they probably won’t be online. No internet goy? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/14 "2012-09-15T23:50:42Z")
My recollection of Sim City is that the conventional wisdom was to bulldoze all the churches. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/15 "2012-09-15T23:51:59Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Meaning they probably won’t be online. Again, so what? I don’t need a fast answer to the question. ETA: Besides which, it’s not like the question is aimed at Orthodox Jews. ---
**Author:** ![Anchuldigs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anchuldigs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anchuldigs)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/16 "2012-09-16T01:56:24Z")
A synagogue opened on my parents block in Brooklyn. The value of their house went from $800K’ish to just under $2 million. The synagogue belonged to a particularly wealthy community of Jews though. Most synagogues probably would not produce such a large bump. As for local schools: it would depend on how large the Jewish community is relative to the rest of the community. For example, in Lawrence NY where the Orthodox community dwarfs the non-Orthodox, school funding has been cut. To be fair, comparatively very few children attend public school in Lawrence (in fact the school began accepting students from other school districts just to keep their classrooms not empty). In Brooklyn NY, which probably has the largest Orthodox community in the world, school funding has not been affected because the Orthodox don’t make up a large proportion of NYC. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/17 "2012-09-16T02:57:32Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > Orthodox Jews certainly drive to services during the week, and I can tell you from personal experience that traffic and parking around certain synagogues during the week can get quite congested. Orthodox Jews have large families with lots and lots and lots of children.This means lots and lots and lots of happiness, with lots and lots and lots of weddings and bar mitzvah celebrations. A wedding can easily have 600 or 1000 guests. Check the parking lots around the synagogue. The local government (zoning board?) has the architectural plans, which are public record. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/18 "2012-09-16T04:45:45Z")
> [@Anchuldigs](#): > > A synagogue opened on my parents block in Brooklyn. The value of their house went from $800K’ish to just under $2 million. I would be all over a HELOC, if that happened to me. Get a 3% APR on that baby, invest the money, and get paid. Or just sell and move somewhere where the housing’s cheaper. Either way, you’re paid . ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-orthodox-synagogue-on-property-values/634800/19 "2012-09-16T19:11:36Z")
Your potential house values will driven primarily by comparable sales. Speaking from a real estate perspective for most people it’s not the faith issue nearly as much as the perception there will traffic and associated noise issues. If the temple settles in and is a demonstrated good neighbor there will probably be no issues. If parking is insufficient and spills onto the streets and nearby neighborhoods during the weekends that will potentially be a big turn off to home buyers who often tour in weekends. That will lead to (relatively) deceased property values over time. The ironic thing is that this happens when you have a charismatic religious leader and membership blows up far beyond expectations. I’m not sure if this happens with Temples as much as it does with Christian churches. I have never heard of an “overwhelming the schools” argument or concern presented by anyone looking for real estate re Temples. I’m assuming they would not be building a big temple if there was not a healthy Jewish demographic in place so on practical religious proximity grounds you will probably gain as many who want to be near the temple as you will lose those who do not so it’s a wash.