Factors Influencing Perceptions of Climate and

Weather Effects on Property Ownership

Huili Hao¹, Patrick Long¹, and Scott Curtis12

1. 1. Center for Sustainability: Tourism, Natural Resources, and the Built

Environment, East Carolina University

2. 2. Department of Geography, East Carolina University

Tourism Impacts and Second Home

Development in Coastal Counties:

A Sustainable Approach

Study designed to help developers, elected officials, community planners,

business owners, public managers and property owners in high amenity

tourist-based communities, estimate, understand and manage the changes

their communities may experience. The results are intended to aid in effective

decision-making that will contribute to the long term economic, environmental

and socio-cultural sustainability of these communities.

Brunswick, Currituck, and Pender, North Carolina Counties

Today’s Presentation --- Objectives

Investigate the attitudes of property owners toward the impact of climate and weather on property ownership;

Determine what factors influence property owners’ attitudes toward the impact of climate and weather on property ownership.

Research Questions

1. Do differences in perceptions of climate and weather effects on property ownership exist between full time local residents and second home property owners?

2. What factors contribute to influencing property owners’ perceptions of climate and weather effects on property ownership?

Methodology --- Survey and Sampling

The Geographic Information System (GIS) Tax Records of Currituck County provided a list of the county’s housing stock from which a sample was selected of both resident and second home property owners.

2408 full time property owners and 2350 second homeowners in Currituck County were randomly selected.

607 were completed and usable (376 second home owners; 241 full time residents).

Sense of place

Effects of Climate and Weather on Property

Ownership

IV

Factor Analysis Regression Analysis

Variables

• Sustainable actions; • Sense of place; • Length of owning property; • Residential status; • Perceptions on extent that climate

considerations affect future property values (changes in temperature/humidity, availability of freshwater, sea level and coastal flooding)

• Demographics (age, gender, income, education).

DV

Positive Effects of Climate and Weather on Property Ownership

Negative Effects of Climate and Weather on Property Ownership

Sustainable Actions

Study Area

Study Area: Currituck County

• Known for its beaches,

nature and recreational

activities including kayaking,

fishing, and boating

• 24000 people, but

increases three-fold during

the summer tourism season

• In 2010 tourism

generated $117.12 million,

and 1,380 jobs were directly

attributable to tourism

• 43% of the single family

housing stock is considered

second home property

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Crawford Fruitville Moyock OceanSands

PopularBranch

Total

1769

473

1820

47

2053

6157

246

543

163

833

2802

4566

12% 53% 8% 95% 58% 43%

% Second Home

Second Home

Full Time Home

Currituck County Second Home

Currituck County Second Home

Results and

Discussion

Table 1 Descriptive Statistics for the Respondents

Characteristics Currituck County

Sample Size (n) 607

Percent Second Home Owners 60.9%

Percent Male 59.5%

Age Distribution

<35

35-44 years

45-54 years

55-64 years

65-74 years

75 and over

1.3%

9.1%

26.2%

37.0%

20.6%

5.8%

Income Distribution

Less than $24,999

$25,000 - $49,999

$50,000 - $99,999

$100,000-$399,999

$400,000 and over

2.0%

10.9%

30.5%

49.1%

7.6%

Education Status

High school, GED or less

Some college, technical or 2 year degree

Bachelor’s degree or higher

8.3%

26.0%

65.7%

1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Weather and climate conditions were important indeciding to own property in Currituck County.

Weather conditions have changed enough inCurrituck County that I would NOT consider…

I feel the climate conditions here are ideal toattract new property owners.

I feel I am adequately prepared for a severeweather event (e.g. hurricanes, floods, heavy…

Climate change will have a noticeably negativeimpact on my property values in the next 25 years

Changing climate conditions will make CurrituckCounty NO longer attractive to new residents

Impacts of climate change are evident in CurrituckCounty

Full time Second home

p

.739

.599

.045

.000

.385

.026

.000

Factored Items Factor Loadings I feel that I can really be myself here 0.825

I really miss it when I am away too long 0.892

This is the best place to do things I enjoy 0.864

Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin = 0.703 Sig. = 0.000

Cronbach’s alpha = 0.823

Table 2. PCA for property owners’ sense of place

Table 3. PCA for property owners’ perceptions on importance

of sustainable development in their community Factored Items Factor Loadings

Reducing and managing greenhouse gas emissions 0.759

Managing , reducing, and recycling solid waste 0.735

Reducing consumption of freshwater 0.694

Managing waste water 0.792

Being energy efficient 0.826

Conserving the natural environment 0.725

Protecting our community’s natural environment for future generations 0.745

Protecting air quality 0.794

Protecting water quality 0.757

Reducing noise 0.601

Preserving culture and heritage 0.654

Providing economic benefits to local communities 0.447

Purchasing from companies with certified green practices 0.766

Training and educating employees on sustainability practices 0.753

Full access for everyone in the community in tourism development

decisions

0.557

Cronbach’s Alpha: 0.920; Variance Explained: 49%

Kaiser-Meyer_Oklin: 0.920; sig.: 0.000;

Table 4. PCA for property owners’ perceptions of climate and

weather effects on current property ownership

Factored Items Factor Loadings

Negative Effects of Climate and Weather on Property Ownership

(Cronbach’s Alpha: 0.518; KMO: 0.758; sig.: 0.000; VE: 58%)

Weather conditions have changed enough in Currituck County that I would

NOT consider buying property here in the future

0.571

Climate change will have a noticeably negative impact on my property

values in the next 25 years

0.866

Changing climate conditions will make Currituck County NO longer

attractive to new residents

0.862

Impacts of climate change are evident in Currituck County 0.822

Positive Effects of Climate and Weather on Property Ownership

Weather and climate conditions were important in deciding to own

property in Currituck County

0.676

I feel the climate conditions here are ideal to attract new property owners 0.785

I feel I am adequately prepared for a severe weather event (e.g. hurricanes,

floods, heavy rainfall)

0.480

KMO --- Kaiser- Meyer-Oklin ; VE --- Variance Explained

Table 5. Regression analysis for factors influencing property owners perceptions of

climate and weather effects on property ownership (standardized coefficients)

Variables Negative

Perceptions

Positive

Perceptions

Socio-demographics

Gender -0.012 0.091

Age 0.071 0.098*

Residential status 0.019 0.048

Income -0.032 -0.010*

Education 0.012 -0.036

Sense of Care

Length of owning property 0.057 -0.098*

Sustainable actions 0.231* 0.057

Sense of place -0.227* 0.318*

Extent that climate considerations affect future property values

Changes in temperature and/or humidity 0.289* 0.029

Availability of freshwater -0.115* -0.044

Sea level and coastal flooding 0.173* -0.017

Distance -0.066 -0.161*

Adjusted R² 0.258 0.133

F value 13.477 (sig. 0.000) 6.527(sig. 0.000) Note: * p< 0.05

Conclusion --- RQ1

Differences exist in the attitudes toward the impact of climate and weather on property ownership between full time residents and second home property owners.

Second home property owners indicated a greater level of agreement on: “weather and climate conditions were important in deciding to own

property in Currituck County”; “climate change will have a noticeable negative impact on my property in

the next 25 years.”

Full time residents indicated a greater level of agreement on: “I feel I am adequately prepared for a severe weather event (e.g.

hurricanes, floods, heavy rains)”; “weather conditions have changed enough in Currituck County that I

would NOT consider buying property here in the future.”

Conclusion --- RQ2

Negative Perceptions

Positive Perceptions

Sustainable actions; Sense of place; Changes in temperature

and/or humidity; Availability of freshwater; Sea level and coastal

flooding

Age; Education; Length of owning property; Sense of place; Distance

Limitations and Future Research

Limitations:

Low R²

Full time and second home property owners separation

Future research: multilevel scale including individual, neighborhood and possibly regional levels

Policy Implications

Information helps stakeholders recognize their vulnerabilities to climate change, adjust their property ownership practices, and develop adaptation strategies.

Information can set the stage for communication and education activities with property owner groups.

Opportunity to engage different property owner groups in

the future planning and decision-making of land use and tourism for their county.