Green Covering Real Estate Industry

March 31, 2008

A swath of green is covering the real estate industry. An increasing number of Realtors are taking special courses to learn about geo-thermal heat pumps and success-proven techniques home buyers can use to qualify for grants and tax credits for energy-saving improvements. They then market themselves as eco-friendly "green" Realtors.

New housing developers are also hopping on the green wagon, realizing this will give them a positive marketing boost. An example is The Cherokee Lofts, a new mixed-use project in Los Angeles. "The Lofts is a unique green project that carries forth the current environmental effort to benefit the community and the planet," a spokesperson for the development said. "It solidifies the existing symbiosis between `green’ and `interior design’ by offering green-minded consumers a greener urban living alternative while preserving a refined design and sense of style."

Realtors who are taking up the green mantle are listing and selling eco-friendly, energy-efficient properties, featuring them on their Websites and blogs. They also consult with owners of newly listing homes on ways to make their property greener, thus more appealing to prospective buyers. Realtors say their knowledge of environmentally friendly designs and materials can help clients in the marketing process. Buyers are attracted to homes built with eco-friendly features such as solar power and energy-efficient appliances. If the property is old and lacks such features, green Realtors can walk buyers through possible retro-fits that will lower their energy bills or improve indoor air quality.

The number of educational courses, leading to green certifications, is growing. A major course currently is EcoBroker International, based in Evergreen, Colorado. It has certified about 2,600 agents over the past year, it was reported.

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