But more importantly, it's the people that drive it. Without jobs we have no money. Without money we have no economy. Without both, we don't exist. The world is changing. We are in an amazing era of awakening. It is said that the jobs that our Middle School Age children will have when they graduate from College do not even exist today.
I often get asked why I am so passionate about Green Real Estate. Preceding that question is why I am in Real Estate. While that is a long story, I will sum it up in just a few sentences.
Real Estate is a Major driving force in our economy. Real Estate is an investment. Real Estate and Homeownership is not only a dream in America but across the Globe. How it differs from Location to Location is not the dream, it is the design. Some Cities grow up, others grow out. Regardless, I find it fascinating on many levels.
To build a single Community, let's take in to consideration how many people it takes.
It starts with a Vision, probably from a single person. We then have an Architect or maybe even a team of architects. Electrical Engineers, Plumbing Experts, HVAC Contractors, Landscape Architects, Transportation Engineers - Teams of people that figure out how in the world to get Electricity and Water to all of these people.
The list could be a blog post in itself. But that is not the purpose of this.
The purpose is the People. The purpose is how Real Estate alone can single handedly drive an economy and why it is time to stop ignoring it. More specifically, how GREEN Real Estate is KEY to a Future Sustainable Economy. I do not mean Sustainable as in Eco Tree Hugger like Economy, I mean a Sustainable Economy in which we thrive and flourish. This post is the first of a Series about how Real Estate is often overlooked in the larger picture. Actually, the people within the Industry. It's not about CEO's that want bailed out because they made extremely poor decisions on how to handle their money. It goes way beyond that.
We hear about Foreclosures, Short Sales and lack of Financing available. But it goes so much further than that also. Think about the whole picture. The people. How many people that have gone in to Foreclosure have jobs directly or indirectly related to Real Estate? Most of them.
Engineers that design Commercial Buildings, Bankers that Finance those projects. The people that are actually out there swinging the hammers to build all of the above. All the way down to people that work in the Retail stores that sell products to our Communities and our Baristas at Starbucks that are working in buildings that are on...Real Estate.
But, enough of what is happening now. What is going to happen in the future? The Economy will turn around eventually. And while we are all suffering in one way or another we should be careful to NOT be hasty and make rash decisions on how to fix the Economy right this second. I said the other day on my Facebook that:
"I am offically redefining the term 'recession' as Get off your butt and think outside the box"
The key to Real Estate and it directly being a driving force in our Economy is not just about the Real Estate Agents. It's not just about the Homeowners or even the Banks that give the Financing.
The key is the number of jobs that it can create. Specifically the number of jobs it can create with a Sustainable and Forward thinking approach. We may be losing jobs, we may continue to lose jobs for another couple years. Do we just sit around and watch it happen? Personally, I do not like to think about what is wrong, I prefer to think about how to fix the problem. Every Business likely has a Business Plan. Our Economy is one large Business. Shouldn't it have a Business Plan also?
What we need is to combine another driving factor in our Economy with Real Estate. Education - Job Training.
Education is looked at most often as for children. Our Future. And while the jobs that our middle school children will have when they grow up do not exist today, that does not fix right now. I believe that we will see a surge in the number of College Students that will pursue Engineering and Architecture degrees. But the term Engineer and their job profile will change dramatically over the next 15 years. The people that will educate and train our children are right here today in the work force.
Again, Real Estate being a driving force behind that. I believe that we, as an industry, will be forced to raise the bar in professionalism, knowledge and expertise.
The next post will be regarding possibly the absolute most important part in the Future of Real Estate.
Architecture.
Architects hold the expertise to help make our future flourish and create jobs. More specifically they are the key to a Sustainable Economy - and this time I mean in the way that most people would consider Tree Huggerish.
But looking at the larger picture, its not about being a Tree Hugger. It's about Smart Growth. It's about not making a quick decision on how our future is going to work and how our economy will continue to thrive day in and day out. It's about the people. It's about us and our children. Working. Living. The Dream that most of us in the Real Estate Industry are so passionate about. Our Homes.
Stephanie--One of my kids came home from school and told me that many of the things we have always done are good things for the environment. Not running a half empty dishwasher, donating used items to charity, reusing bags, shutting off lights and appliances etc.
We do these things because it made sense. Common sense and thinking about what changes can be made need to be the mantra in our changed economy. I like your slogan:
"I am offically redefining the term 'recession' as Get off your butt and think outside the box"
Hi Teri, and that is so true. What used to be a way of life for our families in the past WAS environmentally friendly. What changes was our growth. Our population has doubled and we have not taken in to consideration the future, just the present.
Glad you like my slogan. :)
Stephanie- Great post! You are right that real estate is a huge factor in our economy, which is certainly evidenced by the current housing market crisis. On the bright side, real estate has the power to lift our economy too. Thanks for the nice post.
Thanks Ilyce, That's precisely what I'm getting at. I think we should consider putting money directly related to real estate...instead of bonuses for people or increased salaries for people that already have jobs.
How about job training and education for people that got laid off? There are so many possibilities.
Thanks for the input.
Stephanie,
Just as there is 'Smart Growth', there is 'Smart Green'...and of course there is the antithesis of the two...!!! Thanks, Fran
Thanks for this post. Good observations. I am going to reblog it in hopes that a few more folks will see it.
You pose some really wonderful ideas, questions, answers and theorys. This is a blog that really makes you think and want to be part of the solution. Here's to being proactive.
Stephanie--I agree that Realtors & others involved in real estate need to be the catylst for change. Thanks for getting the message out there. Mary
I think that more Realtors need to become part of the green movement and view it as a responsibility rather than a burden. Since we are so integrated into this sector of the economy we need to make it point to become cheerleaders for green building and green renovating. I would go so far as to say that NAR should integrate some green issues into the new agent orientation that most boards require.
Stephanie--Great post! It says over & over how passionate you are about real estate & the importance of being green. I look forward to your next post. Mary Yonkers
Here, here, Stephanie! As a small business owner in Issaquah, WA, I am a member of a very Green community in a green state. In addition to being a Realtor, my husband and I are general contractors. We build custom homes and do major remodels and we build green and energy efficient properties. Washington's regulatory environment pushes the cost of building and developing out of reach of the average person. Some jurisdictions are worse than others. There really needs to be more balance. Everyone needs a place to live. I don't think the powers that be understand the connection between the onerous rules and regulations that they put in place and the cost to the public of the finished home.
The key to the vitality of any City is balancing the three elements of sustainability which include sociological, economical and ecological elements. Being green is critical. Still, as you say, it is important to acknowledge the need for balance among the sociological and economical aspects of growth and development, too. Without progress and development, there will be no money or jobs to support the beauty of local parks and the people to enjoy them. Communities need to work together to establish how to achieve the balance in the business activity, the social support and the environmental protection.