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From renting to buying a home, more and more Americans are preferring to live near a Costco because they can quickly buy food, get gas, and eat cheaper. As a result, a “Costco effect” has appeared in the housing market.
When most renters and home buyers look for a home, they come up with a familiar list: great school district, safe neighborhood, short commute, lots of bedrooms. But for some Americans, another priority has come out on top: living close to a warehouse store.costco (costco ) is located just a few minutes away.
USA Today reported that Adam Staley is an example of this. His love for Costco has reached another level; He visits local stores at least four days a week to taste the food, score discounts, and enjoy value-for-money hot dog burgers. Staley’s wardrobe full of pridecochrane (Kirkland Signature) select merchandise, he also admitted that Costco is his favorite place in the world.
So when Staley and her family needed to find a place to rent in Kansas City, Missouri, they chose a house just five blocks away from their “mecca.” He said this was one of the primary reasons he chose this house; “It’s a big advantage” to be able to leave the house, get in the car and be there in three minutes.
The appeal of kitchen towels, large packages of rotisserie chicken and low gas prices has led to what real estate experts call the “Costco effect,” in which proximity to the wholesale giant becomes an important factor for people in deciding where to call home.
On the social platform Reddit, users discuss how to get closer to Costco. One user who repeatedly compared real estate website Redfin’s map with Costco locations asked, “Is anyone else only looking for homes that are close enough to a Costco?” Another home buyer who moved to Austin also included a column in her spreadsheet to record the distance to the nearest Costco.
A third shopper, weighing the pros and cons of two communities in a state with only one Costco, said he was a little embarrassed to say it, but distance from Costco played a big role in his consideration.
For members, there are many benefits to living nearby, like filling up for gas before the crowds clear out before closing time, or enjoying a cheap and convenient dinner at the food court on weeknights. In Los Angeles, one builder is taking advantage of this trend by building hundreds of apartments right next to a Costco.
While living close is a dream for some people, living too far can also bring disappointment. Kathy Spangler lives with her husband in a golf community in Pinehurst, North Carolina, more than an hour’s drive from the nearest Costco. The retired couple makes a special trip to Costco as a day trip two or three times a year.
During these rare visits, Spangler coined the term “Costco envy” to describe the jealousy she felt when she was pushing two jam-packed shopping carts past locals who were simply stopping by for a quick purchase.
Spangler said she gets “Costco envy” whenever she goes there and sees someone walking out with just a rotisserie chicken or a few rolls of toilet paper, because those people apparently live close enough to make the trip to buy just one or two items.
Real estate agents say the ideal distance is usually between a five- to 15-minute drive, close enough to make a quick purchase but far enough to avoid the noise of traffic and delivery trucks.
While proximity to Costco rarely replaces traditional considerations like school districts, it has become a powerful selling point. Arizona real estate agent Lisa Bayless said that when buyers are considering an area, they ask where the nearest Costco is.
