Does Living Near a Costco Boost Your Home Value? It Depends on Where You Live

Few brands have the kind of legendary devotion that Costco has cultivated over the past few decades. Shoppers love the bulk deals, the store’s Kirkland Signature products, and the cheap hot dogs—which is why any given Costco parking lot is likely to look like a zoo whenever you visit, especially in this economy. A Costco run can be good for your wallet, if you like buying honey by the bucket or gumballs by the hundreds. But the benefits may go beyond that: According to research from the Vancouver School of Economics, Costco openings can have an impact on nearby property values, especially in already densely populated areas. That’s some great potential upside for homeowners and potential buyers. Just keep in mind that living close to any high-traffic amenity comes with its own trade-offs, such as more cars, more noise, and more foot traffic on the weekends.What Costco means for home valuesIn the abstract, living within a short driving distance of Costco is a good thing. But can you put a number on it?Silas Kwok at the Vancouver School of Economics conducted research on this question. It turns out that the overall impact of living near a Costco is negligible.In looking at Costco open...