| Demand for environmentally friendly buildings has | | | | theme at these events is how to stay ahead of the |
| grown considerably in recent years, and Realtors are | | | | curve, and ensure green developments don't go out |
| making a lot of money helping investors buy and sell | | | | of date as new technologies emerge. |
| them. As this market grows, it's up to savvy agents | | | | Green buildings are also having an impact on the |
| to follow new green technology, and the changing | | | | buy-sell cycle of many real estate markets, because |
| interests of buyers. Government green building | | | | their owners act differently than other buyers and |
| incentives and international treaties are also a big | | | | sellers. Many green building owners and renters keep |
| factor, and agents who know what policies are next | | | | their homes for longer before selling them, a trend |
| can often anticipate demand. | | | | running counter to the common practice of buying |
| Part of the reason green buildings took so long to | | | | and flipping in many high-end markets. With |
| attract demand was the lack of knowledge on the | | | | sustainable value comes higher overall prices, and the |
| subject. Many developers assumed building costs | | | | demand for better construction and longer lasting |
| would be inaccesibly high because of standards that | | | | buildings. |
| had to be met, and materials required. But in recent | | | | The benefits of environmentally friendly construction |
| years the opposite has happened - buyer awareness | | | | are now well known: these buildings have a smaller |
| has helped expand the market, and many developers | | | | demand on power and plumbing, resources resulting in |
| have found green buildings to be much less | | | | fewer greenhouse gases and less resource |
| expensive than they assumed. As green buildings | | | | extraction, heating and cooling cost savings, and |
| become more common, construction materials, such | | | | more comfortable living spaces. They're also generally |
| as insulative glass, and public information, have | | | | more attractive and complementary to the cityscape. |
| increased dramatically. | | | | Realtors who understand the benefits green |
| Realtors looking for the latest information and | | | | construction, and know how to talk about it with |
| industry perspective on green buildings can attend | | | | buyers and sellers, will profit considerably as demand |
| now attend regular conferences on the subject, | | | | for these buildings increases. Now's the time to learn |
| which are among the most popular events in the real | | | | all you can about this exciting new home market. |
| estate industry these days. The most common | | | | |