Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – September 4, 2013
GREEN HOME BUILDING ON THE RISE
In spite of the rather sluggish home building market in general, “green” home construction and remodeling is growing dramatically. According to the latest National Association of Home Builder’s “Home Builders and Remodelers Study”, 17% of residential construction was green last year and is expected to increase to 38% by 2016. There was an even bigger increase in home remodeling. Many home builders have shifted their focus to remodeling homes because of the drop in housing starts since 2008. 34% of remodelers surveyed expect to be going all green by 2016. That’s a big jump from 8% last year. This year, 90% of the builders surveyed said that they already incorporate green and energy efficient features into their work.
This eco-friendly trend is a good indication of where the housing market is heading. Energy efficiency and green features are moving to the top of home buyers’ lists. So home sellers should consult their REALTORS® about which “green” upgrades will give their property a real competitive edge.