Home buyers search for a playground for Fido

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - A playground for dogs is one of the hot items on the "must have" list for house hunters, according to a survey on emerging housing trends.

Dog parks have become a popular request in new home searches, often tipping the scale in decision-making, said Chicago-based author, columnist and real estate broker Mark Nash.

He reported the trend in his annual survey of what's in and what's out with homebuyers based on information from 480 real estate agents from across the United States and Canada.

"It could give a green light to a home that someone may not be absolutely in love with if there is a dog park and they are a dog owner," said Nash in an interview.

In addition to providing a place to exercise the pampered pet, owners often view dog parks as a way to integrate and interact with other dogs in the new neighborhood, he added.

The trend has grown most in major urban centers like Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York, where more dog parks exist, but Nash believes the word is spreading.

In Clearwater, Florida, Bay Park Condominiums offer a gated and well-lit dog run in each building, according to internet advertisements.

Nash predicted that having a dog park as a community amenity could shorten the amount of time a home is on the market and potentially increase a property's value.

Pooch owners are looking for a quiet park within reasonable walking distance that Is two to four acres, well-lit for evenings, has latched gates to allow for off-leash runs, paths for rainy days, trees and benches for shade and rest, said Nash.

Sites like www.dogpark.com, which will open a virtual park in the online world of Second Life, provide an extensive country-wide dog park list for owners looking for that perfect location.