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Consumers Still Interested in Sustainable Home Features

Christine Edwards
Communications Director
Space Coast Association of REALTORS®
2950 Pineda Plaza Way
Palm Shores, FL 32940
321-242-2211

Consumers Still Interested in Sustainable Home Features

PALM SHORES, FL - August 16, 2018 - Sustainable home features and environmentally friendly neighborhoods are becoming an even more important factor for homebuyers when choosing a home.

According to the second annual REALTORS® and Sustainability Report, 61 percent of surveyed members of the National Association of REALTORS® reported that consumers have an interest in sustainability when it comes to buying a home. The report surveyed REALTORS® about sustainability issues facing consumers in the real estate market and ways REALTORS® are setting their own goals to reduce energy usage.

“As consumer demand trends toward green and sustainable home features, REALTORS® continue to work to promote environmentally responsible features and better business practices," said Mike Artelli, president of the Space Coast Association of REALTORS®. "For the second year in a row, data has shown that more REALTORS® are marketing energy efficiency in property listings to homebuyers, with more information fields in the listing to identify a property’s green features.”

In order to keep up with the growth in consumer interest in green features, four in 10 Realtors® stated that sustainability and green data fields are included in their Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Among those that have green data fields, almost 40 percent use them to promote green features, 27 percent to promote energy information and 16 percent to promote their green education certifications.

"The Space Coast Association of REALTORS® has been a large part of the movement towards sustainability, implementing green features such as solar power, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Energy Star, and Home Energy Rating System (HERS) ratings as part of our MLS," said Danielle Bowden, chair of the Space Coast Association of REALTORS® Association's Green Committee. "In addition to our energy features, we also have yard features such as; Florida friendly yard recognition, pervious surfaces, and Florida friendly/native landscaping."

Consumers look hard at the transportation and commuting option in a community as important environmental considerations when purchasing a home. REALTORS® find that consumers want easy access to highways (82 percent), short commute times and distance to work (81 percent), and walkability (51 percent). Bowden recommends checking a community's Walk Score to learn how vehicle dependent a future home location may be. A Walk Score is assigned based on how pedestrian friendly a community is and how easy it is to get to amenities without using means of transportation.

“REALTORS® are growing their expertise in home performance and efficiency, as 39 percent are comfortable or extremely comfortable in the subject. Nearly half of REALTORS® say they are confident or extremely confident in their ability to connect clients with green home lenders,” Artelli said.

REALTORS® are also beginning to have a more in-depth dialogue about sustainability and commercial real estate properties with their clients. Seventy percent of agents and brokers indicated that promoting energy efficiency in their commercial listings was very or somewhat valuable. The top building features that clients specified as very or somewhat important are utility/operation costs (80 percent), efficient use of lighting (64 percent) and indoor air quality (62 percent).

“REALTORS® with commercial and residential expertise alike are building their understanding of sustainability as a greater wave of green properties and sustainable home features are hitting the market, Artelli said. "REALTORS® are leading the way to promote sustainable practices to better influence potential homebuyers and also communities across the country.”

NAR initiated the REALTORS® Sustainability Program as a platform for dialogue on sustainability for REALTORS®, brokers, allied trade associations and consumers. The program’s efforts focus on coordination and articulation of NAR’s existing sustainability resources, while also supporting a growing area of interest for consumers, helping REALTORS® to assist home buyers and sellers.

About the Space Coast Association of REALTORS®

Since 1959, the Space Coast Association of REALTORS® has been a professional trade association that provides services to our local REALTOR® community. Our membership base is comprised of more than 4,100 REALTORS® and Business Partner Members that service Brevard County and adhere to a strict Code of Ethics when working with one another and the general public. The Space Coast Association of REALTORS® takes an active part in community programs and pursues projects our members support to further real estate interests. The protection of private property rights is always our top priority.

For more information, contact Christine Edwards at 321-242-2211 or via email at christine.edwards@space321.com.