Experts say a home’s eco-friendly features—and their selling points—can extend to outdoor spaces, too.

Real estate professionals nationwide have reported that home buyers are increasingly curious about houses’ eco-friendly features. When considering a home’s environmental friendliness, it’s natural to think first of Energy Star appliances and water-saving bathroom fixtures. But outdoor spaces can be sustainable, too.

Decks and patios already offer up to an 80% return on investment for homeowners, according to U.S. News & World Report. Learning to identify eco-friendly patios and balconies can help position you as an expert on the selling points of sustainable housing and, ultimately, help you close sales faster.

Understanding the Value of Green Patios

Eco-friendly patios help preserve resources and protect the environment. Not only does this appeal to today’s buyers—who are increasingly interested in sustainable living—but these features have practical value, too.

Homes with green patios offer several selling points:

• Sustainable patios boost buyers’ perception of the home.
• Sustainable patios with rainwater harvesting reduce water bills.
• Sustainable patios with passive cooling features minimize air conditioning use.
• Sustainable patios extend the livable area of the home without increasing energy costs.

5 Sustainable Patio Design Features to Know

These sustainable patio design ideas can help new builds stand out in crowded markets. They’re also helpful considerations for homeowners who want to renovate or add value to their existing patios. And finally, real estate pros who can identify the practical benefits of these features can help educate buyer clients on the actual value of eco-friendly listings.

Use sustainable materials

The most sustainable materials for any construction or renovation project are those that already exist. In other words, recycle and reuse.

“Existing deck boards may only need to be refreshed and can be brought back to life by sanding and staining or painting them,” says Corey Chetcuti, a designer and project director at Freemodel in Sacramento, Calif. “You can also ask friends, family or neighbors if they have leftover materials from a previous project and put those to use.”

If you can’t find local boards or bricks to reuse, opt for building materials known for their eco-friendliness: reclaimed wood or concrete for flooring and recycled glass for decorative mosaic tilework or inlays in heavy-duty concrete tables or benches.

Install a rainwater harvesting system

Adding a rain barrel is a great way to boost a patio’s eco-friendly factor, as long as it’s not completely sheltered.

Harvesting rainwater can save on water bills because the rainwater can be reused to water plants and for landscaping. But there’s also a potential money-making benefit for seller clients: Ten percent of homeowners saypdf landscaping that integrates energy conservation is “very important” to them. In competitive markets, this green patio feature could attract more buyers, especially if the rain barrel is beautifully integrated into the design of the patio.

Opt for sustainable lighting

Built-in deck lights, string lights, and lanterns, oh my! Beautiful lighting is often the difference between a lackluster patio and an inviting space that homeowners use for gatherings, summer dinners and more.

That said, good lighting is an investment. “Installing LED and solar lights will also help keep energy costs down,” says Chetcuti.

Solar lights work well in most places in the United States, but the U.S. Department of Energy emphasizes that outdoor solar light manufacturers’ estimates on the number of hours the lights will run vary according to outdoor conditions. The department estimates solar light operating times “may vary as much as 30% to 50%” in winter months.

Incorporate passive cooling elements

Many U.S. states have experienced record-breaking heat waves in the last few years. Incorporating passive cooling design into new or renovated patios can make a huge difference in the number of weeks per year that a homeowner can comfortably enjoy the space.

Passive cooling ideas for a patio include:

• Installing retractable awnings to control shade.
• Planting lush foliage around the patio or in pots on the patio helps absorb heat and offers pockets of shade.
• Adding a water feature can help cool the air directly around it.

“Limit the amount of hardscape—patios, paths, driveways—in the landscape,” Chetcuti recommends. “When the hardscape heats up, then it heats up the house, the neighborhood, and beyond. This is called the ‘heat island effect.’ Owners then turn on their air conditioning, which uses energy.”

Get selective about planters and greenery

Homeowners who want to beautify their patio spaces while also cashing in on the benefits of passive cooling should think carefully about which planters and plants they want to use. That may mean opting for plants that don’t use too much water. Another sustainable solution is using planters with water reservoirs, says Ashley Irene, the founder of Heirloom Potager, a boutique design firm creating bespoke gardens.

“The reservoirs allow the plants to drink at their own pace,” she explains. “Selecting high-quality planters with timeless styling in natural elements is also a verty eco-friendly way to transform a patio.” Irene says natural materials, such as stone or terra cotta instead of plastic, also wear well in bad weather conditions, developing a beautiful patina.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Multigenerational living is a sticky trend, though there’s not one solution to make it work. Families and builders are working to meet the needs with creative, flexible solutions.

Three key takeaways

• There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to making multigenerational living work, so homeowners and builders have to come up with myriad solutions.
• Right now, the United States is not ready to meet the demand of multigenerational living; individual communities, lawmakers, and builders will need to come together.
• Flexibility in the use of space and in the kind of space that’s needed helps make solutions viable for the long term.

Multigenerational living continues to gain popularity in the United States. Preservation of cultural traditions, burden of expenses and caregiving, and warding off loneliness all serve as reasons for the increase in this particular living arrangement. Aging in place maintains its appeal amongst the population, especially as people live longer.

In March 2021, there were 59.7 million U.S. residents who lived with multiple generations under one roof, compared with 58.4 million in 2019, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census data. 

Different Options for Different Needs

Personal needs vary, which means multigenerational living looks different from one family to the next. A bedroom and private bath might work well for one household, while a freestanding accessory dwelling unit (ADU) might work best for another. But there’s a common denominator of what matters most: proximity to family members.

Despite the need for homes that can accommodate more than one generation, Jennifer Molinsky, director of the Housing an Aging Society program at Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, says only a small percentage of America’s housing is accessible for those who have ambulatory difficulties, a need not limited to age. Needs outside of mobility—features that compensate for such factors as poor eyesight, hearing loss and mental challenges, among others—are also in short supply. The bottom line: One housing typology will not serve all, Molinsky says.

Architect Bob Zuber, AIA, partner at Morgante Wilson Architects in Evanston, Ill., agrees, adding that more of his clients are asking for some type of multigenerational housing due to different needs.

An Addition With Private Access

Associate broker Shannon Diiorio, with Compass in Ardmore, Pa., had a client—a retired widow—who sold her home and used the proceeds to build an addition onto her daughter’s family home. “It’s the equivalent of an apartment with a door to the outside and a door to the home. [The space] includes a living-dining room, small kitchen, bedroom and bathroom,” say Diiorio, AHWD, EPRO. “They all have a good relationship, but it also works because she travels and loves returning home to her family and grandkids.” Diiorio has other clients who have made or are planning similar changes, she says.

A Basement Apartment

A Denver-area homeowner whose son and granddaughters wanted her and her husband closer to the family found that a walk-out basement did the trick. The space offers the right balance of proximity and privacy, says Marian Anderfuren. The grandparents retrofitted the house’s basement into an apartment that “doesn’t feel like a dungeon but is also far enough away so the generations don’t feel they’re on top of one another,” Anderfuren adds. Her husband and son transformed the space with universal design features like a microwave at countertop height, white cabinets, and insulation with sheetrock to block each generation’s noise. “The home that resulted is less of a factor in our happiness than with whom we’re living, and we love that we can help out with our granddaughters,” Anderfuren says.

A Case for ADUs

Author Sheri Koones’ recent book, ADUs: The Perfect Housing, includes examples of why accessory dwelling units work well for multigenerational living. A big factor: Being customizable, they can meet myriad needs based on available land, building codes, budget and other familial criteria. In one case, grandparents can help with babysitting and may someday benefit from help from their grown children. “It’s a way for many older people to avoid having to go into an expensive assisted living or other facility as they age or stay in their own home, which may be too expensive or impossible to care for,” she says. As a result, everyone enjoys their time together while still having privacy. The grandparents’ space has, for example, their grandchildren’s train set, so they have a chance to enjoy quality time together. A porch between the house and ADU is a great place for all to meet. 

In another case, a family wanted an addition that preserved a heritage tree in the backyard. They came up with what Koones calls a hybrid plan for an ADU that met local zoning laws. There’s also a self-sufficient accessory apartment on the lower level of the house and a bedroom suite on the upper level that serves as a guest room or office for the apartment or the house. The separate addition is linked to the house by a bridge built atop piers, so it doesn’t disturb the tree’s roots. In this case, the ADU was built for the owners’ father and his wife. 

In a third example, additional living quarters were built above the garage. After a fire that ruined the original garage, the couple decided to rebuild it with an ADU to bring their parents closer. Since the stairs could be difficult for the parents, the couple installed an elevator. The ADU was built with many amenities to make it easier to live there, from easy handles on kitchen cabinets to a barrier-free shower in the bathroom. 

In still other cases, when a family member can’t live independently, an extra bedroom and bathroom in the house may be the best option. This is what salesperson Lisa Rhodes, with Keller Williams Cedar Creek Lake Properties near Dallas, did for her mother-in-law. “We had her come live with us when she was 87, and we remodeled our first-floor bedroom suite for her and built another on the opposite side of the house,” she says.

Though ADUs are gaining popularity in municipalities across the country, the specifics vary greatly, and in many communities, residents balk at the idea of ADUs altoghter, says Jean-Marie Minton, SRES, a broker associate with Keller Williams Realty Evolution in Beverly, Mass. Some builders, however, are catching onto the trend.

Built-In Solutions

More builders are developing new plans or adjusting existing ones to offer solutions from the ground up, so homeowners don’t have to retrofit their quarters, Rhodes says. This can add to resale potential as the numbers of these households grow, she says.

For example, Cruz Companies, a family-owned construction, development and management business near Boston, is adding three- and four-bedroom homes in a new development in the Roxbury, Mass., neighborhood where it constructed affordable rental townhouses. “Some will be multigenerational homes, and down the road we will add condos to fill this need, too,” says Justin Cruz, the company’s COO.

In Glenview, Ill., Lexington Homes recently sold out a luxury single-family community where some of the units had been designed for multigenerational living. The homes include one or more bedrooms on the main level and more bedrooms upstairs, so the layout could work for several generations to live together, says principal Jeff Benach. At the company’s newest townhome community, Metro on Main in Morton Grove, Ill., the builder is offering a new home design with an optional private fourth bedroom and third bath on the lower level, and many buyers purchased the plan for this feature, says Benach.

Metro on Main complex

To be sure that any designs labeled as multigenerational really are and will work, real estate professionals and homeowners should verify that they include a good number of universal design features, says Nikki Buckelew, founder and CEO of Seniors Real Estate Institute in Oklahoma City. If space is converted to meet a family’s multigenerational needs, the family should have some idea of how they will use it going forward, since grown children move away and elderly parents pass on, says architect Diana Melichar, president of Melichar Architects in Lake Forest, Ill.

Before a solution is finalized, full approval must be in place to construct or remodel it, Koones says. Though more communities have approved ADUs, regulations vary, and there are still many areas that balk at the idea of accessory dwellings, says Minton.

To encourage more communities to get on board with solutions, Minton says, the profession should become involved in their local associations and governmental affairs committees. They should talk with builders, lawmakers and universal design experts to know what options might work best. “We need to find more solutions, especially affordable, accessible rentals for long-time homeowners,” she says. “The standards are higher than for an ordinary investment rental.” 

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

SentriLock, the Cincinnati-based lockbox, showing service, and experience management solution, has long put sustainability at the forefront of its manufacturing and operations. Company founder and CEO, Scott Fisher recently talked with REALTOR® Magazine about how Sentrilock puts sustainability into practice. The company, founded in 2002, is a subsidiary of the National Association of REALTORS®.

What do you mean when you say SentriLock has a longstanding commitment to sustainability?

Our product has always been about reducing impact on the planet. It’s simple: SentriLock lockboxes reduce agents’ trips to pick up and drop off keys, and therefore carbon emissions. Features like our One Day Codes and FlexCodes let non-members participate in reducing extra trips, too.

Every SentriLock lockbox since our launch has had a user-replaceable battery providing exceptional product life, in many cases exceeding 15 years. We want you to be able to use your lockbox as long as possible.

How does sustainability factor into your business practices or influence the materials used in the manufacturing?

SentriLock’s business philosophy is innovation. We design and build new devices to delight our customers with the latest technology as well as drive out waste. Our new SentriGuard lockbox is the pinnacle in our product sustainability efforts, with highly reusable and durable materials such as stainless steel and recyclable plastics and the ability to completely disassemble the internal components. The three R’s—repair, refurbish, recycle—are key to our business sustainability practices.

When customers are ready to upgrade their lockbox, they can feel good knowing that SentriLock often refurbishes old lockboxes for a second life in other markets. Lockboxes that can’t be refurbished are either harvested for repair parts or sent to a recycler for recovery of their reusable materials.

Has user demand played a role in driving sustainability?

Our customers have shared that our recycling program is a key differentiator in the lockbox market and is of growing importance to their business values. They recognize there isn’t one silver bullet to addressing climate change; it’s going to take looking at everything.

How do you plan to improve on what you’re doing?

We’re striving for a future where we can build new lockboxes from recovered components and significantly reduce the need for raw materials and the energy needed to produce them. A pleasant side benefit is keeping pricing in check in a world where material costs are rising rapidly.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Partnering with Food Recovery Network, NAR fights hunger by minimizing food waste at meetings.

Sustainability isn’t just about ensuring the future. Reducing waste can serve the needs of others in the here and now. A case in point: the REALTOR® organization’s partnership with the Food Recovery Network(link is external). The nonprofit recovers unserved, perishable food from meetings and events for use by local hunger-fighting groups. Since 2019, the National Association of REALTORS® and participating state and local associations have donated nearly 5,000 meals.

One food recovery participant, the Kansas Association of REALTORS®, was able to recover and donate 130 pounds of surplus food from its 2022 legislative conference in February, “equivalent to 108 meals,” says Jennifer Wright, KAR’s director of member engagement.

To amplify the effort, KAR held a companion food drive with Harvesters Community Food Network, a Kansas food bank. “We placed bins throughout the conference, and far exceeded our goals,” Wright says. “Some members teamed up and went on a shopping trip to make a larger donation together. It was competitive and fun.” The food drive brought in 1,055 pounds of food, or 879 meals, she says.

Last year, NAR’s research team shined a light on the link between housing costs and food insecurity. The Affordable Housing and Food Insecurity Report relied on data from the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey for June 23 to July 5, 2021(link is external). In it, 46% of households reported difficulty paying for the usual household expenses over the past 7 days; 8.1 million households said they sometimes or often didn’t have enough food, and 6.6 million said they weren’t current on their mortgage or rent.

“No one should have to choose between putting food on their family’s table and putting a roof over their heads,” says NAR CEO Bob Goldberg. “We’re proud of our ongoing partnership with the Food Recovery Network, which does such wonderful work fighting hunger in America, as we continue to pursue policies that will generate more affordable and accessible housing options in communities everywhere.”

Want to get involved in food recovery? Talk to your brokerage and your association about implementing a plan with FRN. Get more information, including a link to donate, at nar.realtor/frn.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Kama Burton provides a safe space for troubled youth in California to express themselves, build camaraderie and chart a more positive path forward in life.

Kama Burton heard that girls were getting into fights at school. The fights were so frequent that they disrupted the school day for most of the students, many of whom came from low-income backgrounds. Some were foster kids; others were caregivers to younger siblings while their parents worked multiple jobs to make ends meet.

School should be a safe haven, thought Burton, AHWD, SFR, C2EX, broker-owner of CMB Realty Services in Moreno Valley, Calif. So, she launched Girls Club through her nonprofit, Loving Me 1st(link is external), to give young girls a safe space to express themselves and connect with each other. Time to themselves without stressful obligations helps them to regroup and consider what they want for their lives, Burton says. She uses inspirational speakers and relationship-building exercises to help instill a sense of self-worth and confidence in Girls Club participants.

“[School] principals found that the number of [violent incidents] decreased, which allowed all students to attend school stress-free,” Burton says of the impact of her program on the community. She adds that Girls Club helps youth “become more aware of who they are” and realize their potential.

Since its inception in 2015, Girls Club has expanded to serve 15 area schools and girls in fourth through 12th grades. It’s also grown in its offerings from an in-school session to conferences, learning sessions and field trips. The events are free for the girls to attend. “This year, we had our 1st Annual Entrepreneurship Conference and our 7th Annual Girls Conference,” Burton says. The theme of this year’s Girls Conference, which drew 225 young participants and their families, was “I Matter.”

Ultimately, Girls Club aims to give a dose of confidence to girls who don’t necessarily realize their potential or what’s possible for them. They need a helping hand from someone who cares and sees their worth, Burton says. She’s seen participants stop fighting with each other and set their sights on helping each other create brighter futures for themselves. Her proudest moment, Burton says, is watching young members of the club grow and go off to college.

Learn more about Burton and other REALTORS® who are doing extraordinary things to give back to their communities on the REALTORS® Are Good Neighbors Facebook page(link is external).

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission