One of the newest amenities builders are including in housing developments to attract buyers is electric vehicle charging stations. Learn more about this feature that’s growing in popularity among your clients.

Key Takeaways:

• Developers are including charging stations in new multifamily buildings to future-proof their investment.
• Even if they’re not installed in a new development, more builders are adding wiring to homes and buildings so charging stations can be added later.
• Options and costs vary so the amenity warrants good research.

As more car manufacturers add electric vehicles to their fleets, those who own or lease them know the value of having a charging station in their single-family house, multifamily condo, or apartment building. 

And their popularity is only expected to grow. A recent report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance(link is external) shows that by 2040, electric vehicles will make up the majority of new car sales worldwide and account for 33% of all light-duty vehicles on the road.

Another factor fueling numbers may be the increase in companies manufacturing charging stations, says Cassie Layton, senior director of marketing at El Segundo, Calif.–based EV Connect(link is external), a firm that develops software for the stations—what she calls the “brains behind the units.”

But exactly how important are charging stations to home buyers as they shop for their next home?

“It’s a plus but not a necessity—yet,” says real estate salesperson Stephanie Mallios, with Compass RE NJ(link is external) in Short Hills, N.J., who works with buyers of single-family homes, townhomes, and condos. Many equate it to a hip amenity like a Nest thermostat, wine refrigerator, or yoga room, she says. “It shows the homeowners are cool, and that future buyers will have one less thing to do,” says Mallios, who built two charging stations into her own home’s garage.

At the same time, it’s wise to share with buyers that the amenity’s appeal may be greater with cohorts of certain ages and certain geographic markets. For example, in San Diego, salesperson Ayush Vats with Willis Allen Real Estate(link is external) says he is seeing more first-time millennial buyers actively look for houses with charging stations.

It’s among the top five features 60% to 70% of these buyers want, in part because they own an EV or intend to purchase one in the next year or so, Vats says. But it’s also because of their ideology that they want to be green. As a result, he finds it’s easier to market a house with at least one station, he says. 

But Vats finds that if a house lacks a charging station but has everything else a buyer wants, it doesn’t kill the sale. Most stations he sees are located in a garage, but some are on the side of the house.

Architect Joshua Zinder, a managing partner at JZA+D(link is external) in Princeton, N.J., is among those who think a station is a good investment. “The developers and builders we work with are considering support for EVs for all residential projects, both single- and multifamily,” he says.

Zinder also finds that EV-ready homes command a premium in most markets. He added to his home a charging station with a 110-volt outlet, providing an overnight charge for a range of 30 to 50 miles, which suits most of his day-to-day needs.

However, salesperson Jeff Rosenbloom, with Red Oak Realty,(link is external) has found that buyers in his East Bay area of San Francisco rarely make a station one of their top five criteria. If a home happens to have green features, that’s good, but they’re not seeking them out, he says. “Maybe, they’ll add one once they own a house, but usually only if it has solar panels,” he says. 

When it comes to the multifamily housing market, charging stations seem to command a high level of interest, and more developers are including the feature or at least wiring buildings they’re constructing so they can be added. “It’s less costly to do so at the start of a project than as a retrofit,” says developer David Goldman, co-CEO of Chicago-based Belgravia Group(link is external), whose firm now designs all its multifamily buildings with stations. “It’s not even a question if we do it anymore,” he says. And Dranoff Properties,(link is external) in Philadelphia, included four at its One Riverside project and will have eight at its Arthaus development.

Another reason developers are installing stations is that they’re relatively inexpensive at the time of construction as long as the building or home has the electrical capacity. Then, it’s the cost of the system, plus an electrician’s hourly labor charge.

However, in an existing building, installation costs more. Architect Jay Szymanski, a principal at The Architectural Team (T.A.T.)(link is external) in Chelsea, Mass., says the cost to install a two-port charger in some urban areas can be as much as $20,000. That may include an upgrade in capacity for the electrical load, according to Seth Cutler, senior vice president of technical operations at EV Connect, who says the typical upgrade costs between $1,500 and $7,500.

Still, there are other reasons developers add them: In some municipalities and states, for example, it’s become a requirement that new buildings include some, says Layton. Keith Gillan, president of Maryland-based Murn Management(link is external), part of Murn, which also does development and construction for multifamily communities, says that’s the case in Howard County, Md.

Szymanski of T.A.T. says some cities and towns in Massachusetts are also mandating that developers include them in new multifamily properties, whether in Boston’s historic Beacon Hill, mixed-use rental complexes, suburban settings, or senior and assisted living buildings. “We’re now seeing projects where our team is asked to build in capacity and infrastructure for adding more stations in the future as well,” he says.

Manufacturers and utilities are also offering reimbursement incentives to make it enticing for building owners and homeowners to buy a station, though their programs differ, Layton says. Many developers take the attitude of maximizing savings for capital expenses and provide them to future-proof a building, she adds. “It’s also a way for them to gain a competitive advantage in the same way individual washer-dryer units do in many markets,” Layton says.

Even some homeowners who don’t yet own an EV gravitate to buildings and houses that have charging stations. “They want to know they can have one if they buy an electric vehicle,” Goldman says.

Calculating the number of stations needed for a multifamily building can require some experience and data. Goldman’s firm is installing 12 spots with EV stations in its Triangle Square Condos development in Chicago, which will have a total of 72 units. The designated EV spots will cost $30,000. But the building is being designed so its electrical system can handle more if needed, even though Goldman anticipates that only 5% to 10% of buyers will opt for one, based on prior developments.

Apartment building developers are hopping on the bandwagon. Gillan of Murn Management includes one station for every 20 apartments. “Younger renters aren’t willing to pay more to have one but expect it,” he says. “We include it as an amenity, not a profit center.”

When guiding home buyers or renter clients, advise them to do their research. The biggest differences between varied charging formats are the voltage and the connection interface, says Szymanski. “With this kind of new and emerging technology, it’s important for developers, owners, and operators to build in as much flexibility and adaptability as possible,” he says. Gillan says it’s also important to know what software a station uses, the rate at which it provides electricity, and how it’s billed.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

More than a third of survey respondents ranked these two colors as their least favorite.

America’s least desired colors for home decoration: orange and pink.

This is the result of a survey of more than 1,500 consumers by Modsy, an online interior design service. More than a third of survey respondents ranked these two colors as their least favorite, Apartment Therapy reports on the findings.

“We associate orange with things that need our attention—traffic cones and construction signs—which can sometimes be overstimulating in a home,” Lindsay T. Graham, a social psychologist at U.C. Berkeley, told Apartment Therapy as a possible reason for the orange distaste in the survey.

Pink may be a calmer hue but “pink has become very gendered,” Graham adds. “We’re conditioned to think of pink as denoting something demure and feminine, and that association is so strong that it feels like a big statement to use it in a space.”

Purple and yellow also were low on the popularity list of consumers using them in home design. However, people who did use these colors tended to report positive associations with the space they live in, the report notes.

Overall, homeowners favored the color blue in home decoration, often attributing a calming effect to the color, according to the Modsy survey. The top five favorite colors to use in home decor are white, green, black, and brown.

Read more about color trends in a home:

Hot Home Trend: Paint it Black

2021’s Most Popular Paint Colors in Pictures

Choices for 2022 Color of the Year: Green Is Gold

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Landscape designer Michael Glassman(link is external) started his fall yard and garden work shortly before Halloween. Late October to mid-November is the perfect time to weed, prune, and mulch to prepare for chilly winter and then the spring growing season. Even those homeowners who live in a warm climate have their work cut out for them, says Glassman, whose eponymous firm is based in Sacramento, Calif.

The goal is to take care of flowers, shrubs, trees, herbs, vegetables, and the lawn to ensure they remain healthy as temperatures dip and the plants come back robust in spring.

Flowers and foliage can still look attractive as the season changes. For example, branches should be pruned rather than remain scraggly. Beds should be mulched with a layer of wood chips, tree bark, leaves, or other organic material. Taking the time to do these things also helps keep up a yard’s curb appeal. It’s also the neighborly thing to do.

Here are eight garden tips homeowners should pursue before winter arrives.

1. Plant. Fall is a good time to plant in many locations, says Jenny Rydebrink, CEO and founder of Gardenize, an app and website(link is external) that helps gardeners organize, track, and share projects and photos.

“Even if plants don’t look very nice in the store, it’s the roots that need to be healthy, not the leaves or flowers,” she says. “Go shopping for ugly but healthy bargains.” 

What’s good to buy now, Rydebrink says, are small herbaceous perennials that are a few inches tall with roots still young and sensitive. “But there is absolute no rule regarding size. The idea is if you have plants, you are not sure will survive the winter, it might not be worthwhile planting them in their final spot,” she says.

If you plant them in pots, you can keep them in a sheltered place where you will see them on a regular basis, Rydebrink says. “Keep an eye on them—that way you remember to water them if the plant gets dry.”

She defines a sheltered place as somewhere not too windy or sunny. “Depending on where in the country you live, it’s normally good to keep the plant on the side of the house where it gets some sun during the day, but not so much that it dries out too fast.”  

Another advantage of keeping plants in pots is that it buys homeowners time to decide where to plant them in the ground if they’re not sure. You can even plant bulbs in pots in layers, she says. “Start with the bigger bulbs like tulips and plant smaller bulbs such as snowdrops on top.”

Most shrubs can also be planted safely in fall because they won’t experience surface growth that could be killed by freezing temperatures, or damage their root development, says Glassman.

Shade trees, such as maples and gingkoes, can also be planted in the fall, and doing so allows a homeowner to know what colors they will turn. Even two of the same kind of tree may change to different colors, Glassman says.

Katie Ketchum, an offsite farm coordinator for the nonprofit Community Food Share food bank(link is external) in Boulder, Colo., says she planted her last crop—garlic—on Oct. 21. She also continues to do some cover cropping of winter rye.

“Instead of leaving the ground soil bare, the seeds help to fix the nutrients in the soil and stop the soil from eroding,” she says.

2. Transplant. For those whose plants or shrubs have grown too large for their spot, or they simply don’t like where they are, fall is a good time to transplant deciduous materials, again if the soil and weather cooperate. Glassman says it’s important to wait until leaves have fallen, which signals the plant or shrub is dormant.

3. Weed and cut back. Glassman cuts back his perennials in fall so they don’t look overgrown or wild and topple over. He leaves only new growth showing and removes everything else. When it comes to weeds, he suggests pulling them out by the root to be sure they’re fully removed. “Do so on a day after it’s rained to make it easier since the soil will be softer,” he says. But weeding is also something that can be done all year as the need arises. By removing weeds in the fall, they’re less likely to survive and come back next year, Ketchum says.

4. Prune trees. Generally, November through March is a good time to prune since most trees are dormant by then and less susceptible to insects and other diseases, Glassman says. If branches aren’t pruned, snow may weigh them down and snap them, he says. Rydebrink, however, prefers to trim roses in early spring and trees like cherry in winter. For big bushes like crape myrtles and weeping redbuds, Glassman recommends waiting until leaves have fully dropped off and the tree or plant has gone through its changes of colors and absorbed food.

5. Mulch. Mulching adds a tidy around garden beds and trees. It stops weeds from growing, insulates roots during colder months so they don’t freeze, and prevents nutrient loss. But there are caveats homeowners should consider. Too much mulch can add excess moisture that may rot roots. Too little mulch lets sunlight in to nourish weeds. Glassman likes to layer more mulch by roots, often 3 to 4 inches, and less than or about 1 inch around the crown and stems. He also prefers to use fir, redwood chips, or other organic material and likes a black color that pops in the landscape. Rydebrink uses pine mulch as well as leaves and dead plant materials. For her, the amount depends on how compact the mulch is. Ketchum likes shredded leaf moss, straw mulch, compost, or a combination. Remulch as needed.

6. Turn off the water. Remind homeowners to turn off their outside water sources, including the lines to their in-ground sprinklers, so piping and other parts won’t freeze and burst. Empty all water hoses and watering cans, Rydebrink says. Glassman also advises covering a pool during winter in cold climates. In his area, excess water is drained from pools.

7. Care for the lawn. The final cutting should leave grass 1 to 2 inches high. Leaves can be raked away or cut into small pieces, so they don’t create a slippery surface. Then, let the lawn rest in fall and sleep during winter, Rydebrink says.

8. Store furnishings. Lawn and patio furnishings also need to be protected during winter. Bring in cushions and other items susceptible to damage from nature’s elements, from umbrellas to wood furniture, ceramic and other pots, and any pool toys or wooden croquet sets. “You don’t want anything to get moldy,” Glassman says.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Your clients who are relocating across state lines may be surprised at the requirements for pets that are coming with them. Consult this state-by-state breakdown.

Many home buyers keep their pets top of mind when shopping for a property, with 43% of pet owners saying they’re willing to move to accommodate their furry friend, according to research from the National Association of REALTORS®. But once buyers have decided on the perfect home, they’ll want to make sure their pets are ready for the move, particularly when relocating to another state. Many states have requirements around bringing pets across borders.

The majority of states require, at a bare minimum, that cats and dogs have a valid health certificate and a current rabies vaccination upon arrival. But some states require more. Hawaii, which hasn’t recorded a case of rabies in more than a century, is the strictest state when it comes to new residents moving with animals, according to a new study from HireAHelper, a marketplace for finding professional movers. In Hawaii, dogs and cats are required to have two rabies vaccinations and an antibody test—conditions that must be met within five days or less of arrival. If the pet owners fail to meet those requirements, the pet has to be placed in quarantine for 120 days.

New York and Nebraska require health certificates from a veterinary inspection issued within 30 days of travel, according to the study. Also, a rabies vaccine is required for any animal that is at least three months old and must be administered at least 30 days prior to entering the state. Further, “there is a cluster of states in the Northeast—namely New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts—that have some of the strictest rules for certificates of veterinary inspection that every cat and dog coming to the state needs to have,” the study notes.

On the other hand, North Carolina may be the easiest state to move to with a cat or dog, according to HireAHelper’s analysis. North Carolina doesn’t require animals to have a certificate of veterinary inspection when they enter the state. Also, animals at least four months old can enter the state without a rabies vaccine, but they will need to get one within a week of arrival. Check out the chart below from HireAHelper, which ranks the 10 strictest states when moving with pets.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

While more homeowners have been interested in gaining space during the pandemic, the market for tiny homes is still appealing to certain segments, particularly investors and first-time home buyers.

The affordability of these homes is one of the biggest draws. Many tiny homes cost between $30,000 to $60,000. For comparison, the median price for a starter home is $233,400, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

IPX1031, a 1031 exchange transaction firm, recently analyzed home listing data to examine the tiny home market by state. Researchers found that Mississippi is the most affordable state to purchase a tiny home ($30,000), followed by Nebraska ($34,000), North Dakota ($34,333), New Hampshire ($34,950), and Kentucky ($35,000).

The states with the priciest tiny homes tend to mostly be located in the West, led by Hawaii ($93,333), California ($74,917), and Nevada ($71,963).

The Tiny Home Market Is Still a Big Draw

IPX1031 researchers identified the best overall states for tiny homes by factoring in the average cost to purchase a tiny home, median income, cost of living index, and livability factors like the average annual temperature and the percentage of state and local park land.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission