American Housing Survey, 1985: National Core File

This data collection provides information on the characteristics of a national sample of housing units. Data include the year the structure was built, type and number of living quarters, occupancy status, access, number of rooms, presence of commercial establishments on the property, and property value. Additional data focus on kitchen and plumbing facilities, types of heating fuel used, source of water, sewage disposal, heating and air conditioning equipment, and major additions, alterations or repairs to the property. Information provided on housing expenses includes monthly mortgage or rent payments, cost of services such as utilities, garbage collection, and property insurance, and amount of real estate taxes paid in the previous year. Similar data are provided for housing units previously occupied by recent movers. Indicators of housing and neighborhood quality are also supplied. For housing quality, indicators include such things as privacy of bedrooms, condition of kitchen facilities, basement or roof leakage, breakdowns of plumbing facilities and equipment, and overall opinion of the structure. For quality of neighborhood, indicators include exterminator service, boarded-up buildings, and overall quality of the neighborhood. In addition to housing characteristics, some demographic data are provided on household members, such as age, sex, race, marital status, income, and relationship to householder. Additional data are provided on the householder, including years of school completed, Spanish origin, length of residence, and length of occupancy.