Table 6. Percent of housing units lacking all or some plumbing in the coun- 

 ties of Southwest Florida in 1960 and 1970 (U.S. Department of Commerce 1961, 

 1971). 



County 1960 1970 



Charlotte 12.5 2.3 



Collier 23.9 5.4 



DeSoto 36.8 13.5 



Hillsborough 18.9 4.4 



Lee 17.3 3.9 



Manatee 13.6 3.9 



Monroe 18.9 5.0 



Pasco 19.9 4.2 



Pinellas 6.5 2.3 



Sarasota 8.0 1.2 



Southwest Florida 13.0 3.4 



Price Range of Housing Units for Sale 



Census data for 1980 on the median value of housing units for sale are 

 not yet available. The data would be helpful because a review of the general 

 price range of housing units for sale provides potential residents with an 

 idea of what proportion of their income must be allocated to housing. This 

 would be of particular interest if any of the counties in Southwest Florida 

 were to have residential development caused largely by OCS oil and gas 

 exploration and development. The concern is greatest in the rurual or less 

 populated counties than for Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties, which have a 

 broader and more ample range of housing. 



Although Table 7 does not contain information for 1980, it does provide a 

 comparison of the trend in median value of housing units for some counties and 

 a comparison of the 1970 median values among the counties. In 1970, the high- 

 est median value was $30,700 in Collier County. Other median values were 

 $21,600 for Lee County, $17,800 for Monroe County, and $12,000 for Pasco 

 County. DeSoto County's median value was the lowest, near $5,000. 



In the 1980's, housing costs undoubtedly will continue to rise, particu- 

 larly in fast-growing Pasco, Hernando, Lee, and Collier Counties. Contributing 

 to increasing costs are high interest rates and also impact fees, which are 

 flat sums paid by purchasers of new housing units to offset costs of new 

 public roads, sewers, water systems and other facilities or services. This 

 method of covering the costs of public services has been adopted by a number 

 of local governments throughout south Florida. 



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