I think that the paper (or the summary of it) misses the point.

The realistic comparison would be between those who have long commute, and those who have not commute at all - because they are unemployed.

Almost no one that I know who has a very long commute bought a house with that in mind. Most people I known bought a house with a reasonable commute and then were let go, and had to find a new job.

Almost every one that I know who is stuck with a long commute has had to balance a number of factors - selling/buying a house, moving the kids to a new school system, price of real estate closer to work, etc. Every one of them would love a shorter commute, all of other factors being the same. But they never are. :-)

Mike