Going green, connecting to nature and creating cozy spaces are just a few of the trends CRSs are seeing in 2015. By Daniel Rome Levine
Reprinted from The Residential Specialist. See the complete article >>>
In the Los Angeles area, today’s homebuyers are looking for properties that are as technologically savvy and environmentally friendly as they are.
When James Chen, CRS, president and managing broker of 13 East Realty, in Torrance, California, meets with prospective buyers these days, the topics they are most interested in are green features and technology updates. “Tell me about the impact we’ll be having on the environment if we live here?” is a question he often hears.
Green Buyers
Most of Chen’s buyers are in their 30s and 40s and are purchasing their first home. They are putting their money where their mouth is, he says, insisting on green features such as a high-efficiency, tankless water heater; an artificial turf lawn or desert-friendly landscaping that doesn’t need watering; and energy-saving dual-paned windows.
Chen’s clients are not alone. Across the country, homebuyers are increasingly concerned about the impact their living space has on the world around them. The National Association of REALTORS® 2014 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that environmentally-friendly features are important to buyers. Nearly 70 percent of survey respondents stated that energy-efficient appliances and lighting were either very or somewhat important to them, while nearly 90 percent said the same about a home’s heating and cooling costs.
What else are today’s buyers looking for in a home? How else have their tastes changed over time? To find out, The Residential Specialist asked a handful of CRS members across the country to share what they are seeing.
By Daniel Rome Levine
Reprinted from The Residential Specialist. See the complete article >>>