Families Giving Up 'Burbs for the Big City

Real estate agents are noting an increase in the number of families who are choosing to live in cities rather than the suburbs. They are joining young singles and "empty nesters" who appreciate the advantages of city life and condo living.

Observers believe that families are willing to accept the higher expenses of city life in exchange for greater cultural assets and the elimination of the daily commute (a particular advantage in this era of expensive gasoline). There is also the desire among many parents to send their children to exclusive private schools in the hearts of major cities such as New York. The trend, however, appears limited to upscale families who can afford to live in fashionable urban neighborhoods.