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MEMPHIS-Whether they are renters or owners, single-family home types are a solid lot, wishing to stay in place rather than relocate when it's time to buy. That's just one of the findings of a new survey, a first-timer, from ORC International and locally based Premier Property Management.

In fact, single-home renters are 18% more likely to stay put than apartment dwellers, the report reveals, mostly with the intention of buying the asset they're renting. Some 26% of single-family types are planning to stay where they are for at least five years, compared to 22% of multifamily types.

“The housing crisis pushed them into rental status,” says Chris Clothier, at Premier. The firm currently leases and manages roughly 1700 single-family assets throughout the Southeast for investors and has sites on hitting more than 2,000 by the end of the year.

Home dwellers are a different breed than apartment renters, Clothier suggests. “Single-family dwellers tend to be older, more stable,” he notes, compared to the more transitionally minded younger set that rents in multifamily. For that reason, he notes, the trends uncovered by the survey are not likely to impact the “solid” multifamily market. The survey polled more than 1000 adults around the country, all at least 18 years old.

Short-term turnover rates for both multifamily and single-family rentals over the next two years are 56% for multifamily and 59% for single-family rentals. Apartments typically experience an annual 50% to 60% tenant turnover.

The survey also put into question the concept that renters are the victims of tough financing. The survey showed that lifestyle was the reason for 40% of those surveyed. Only 29% admitted it was the lending environment. Other findings of the survey include:

• Single-family renters make more money and are nearly twice as likely to have children as apartment dwellers. Median income for 66% of single-family renter is $75,000 to $100,000 versus $50,000 to 75000 (51%) for a multifamily tenant.

• Single-family households are larger; some 65% have three or more members compared to 32% of apartment households.

• Compared to apartment dwellers, single-family renters value neighborhood features important to children, such as parks and playgrounds (65% to 71%); good schools (72% to 82%); and safe neighborhoods (97% to 98%).