Green Outlook

EcoBroker Green Outlook Spring 2007:

Industry Forecast In this sound bite society with bumper sticker philosophy, we often adopt a simple word such as “green” to abbreviate a complex concept. The danger is that we then begin to believe that the concept itself is simple, and in many ways the core elements are elegantly simple. “Green” is usually used as a proxy for environmental consciousness, but there are many shades of green and at times the term gets mixed up with the more extreme elements of the environmental movement. As real estate professionals attempt to deal with environmental consciousness, it is important to have a clear grasp on both the facts and the perceptions of green in the real estate market and in society as a whole. Buyers are increasingly aware that they can help “make a difference” and improve the planet we share. They just never thought of asking a real estate professional about how to do it. But in today’s market, that is changing.

The October 2005 Realtor^® Magazine described green homes and features as “…a business opportunity that you can take mainstream”. Author Christina Hoffmann Spira also commented, “… green homes aren’t just for the Birkenstock cohort.” A number of real professional real estate organizations are now beating the green drum. The press has been reporting energy shortages and increasing prices for years, but the prices have really caught the attention of the public this winter. Who can doubt that the green market is here and relevant? The green market is clearly a market trend and represents a great opportunity for those real estate professionals who are properly educated in “green.” Properly educated professionals have the opportunity to build business while also benefiting their buyers and sellers, and the planet. Green Humor...