Sustainable Construction: 5 Trends in Residential Real Estate

A residential real estate boom is happening right now. With too few properties to fill the market's needs, there's a lot of construction—especially custom homes. But construction companies are also increasingly looking toward sustainable construction trends, especially as many materials are becoming scarce. Additionally, as trends change towards sustainability, older homes should be updated to ensure a high return on investment. Read on to learn about sustainable construction trends that could be profitable to include in your new construction home.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Roof-Top Solar Panels

Many homeowners are already getting solar panels installed. Why not have a home that starts with them? Homes preemptively developed with roof-top solar panels can be designed to be more efficient from the outset. Many homebuyers find roof-top solar panels appealing. Even though they can increase the upfront cost of the property, they reduce the long-term cost of maintaining it. Additionally, they can make the home more appealing to future buyers.

Carbon Footprint-Calculated Materials

Rather than solely calculating the cost of materials, many residential builders are also calculating the carbon footprint of their builds. They can strive to make their residential real estate projects as carbon-neutral as possible by calculating the carbon footprint. As homeowners are increasingly conscientious of the environment, this can be a major selling point. Moreover, it's a part of corporate responsibility and an attempt to shift toward a more eco-conscious world.

When customizing their properties, homeowners can also be conscientious about the environmental cost of their materials. Cabinetry, for instance, is often being made with reclaimed wood products or naturally felled wood products rather than wood that has been artificially harvested.

Superior Insulation

Better insulation all-around improves a home's value. After overcoming the challenges of getting a mortgage, it's in every homeowner's best interest to maximize their home's value. Starting with top-of-the-line insulation is a great way to do that. Not only is it more energy-efficient, but it's more comfortable, too. The HVAC (air conditioner and furnace) doesn't work as hard, and people inside can stabilize the temperature more quickly. Doors, windows, and attics are all prime areas for better insulation. It also means that less extensive HVAC systems are required, which can, in turn, save money.

Insulation is always the best built-in; it's more cumbersome to add insulation after building a property. This underscores the importance of having well-insulated properties from the start.

Pre-Fabricated "Kit" Homes

More home builders are creating modular or pre-fabricated "kit" homes. These homes are of extremely high quality. Often, they're luxury properties. But by building some parts of the home somewhere else, the builder can benefit from efficiencies and economies of scale. It's simply easier to build everything on a "factory level" and then have things transported after being built.

There's another advantage: the build is faster. Pre-fabricated or kit homes aren't just faster to build, but they're also more affordable to build, and they're more eco-friendly. Many people even purchase an entirely fabricated home that isn't modular to get the layout and design they want with ease. It's important to note, people buying pre-fabricated homes should issue a home inspection before finalizing.

Native and Sustainable Landscaping

In the past, many people chose their landscaping purely by what was most attractive. But this led to many invasive pests, such as rampant bamboo that grows wild across many areas. Native and sustainable landscaping is designed around what grows naturally in the area, so only indigenous flowers and plants are used. Meanwhile, sustainable landscaping often tilts toward landscaping that doesn't require a lot by way of maintenance—particularly when it comes to water waste.

In areas of drought, residential real estate is moving toward drought-resistant yards, rock gardens, and other options that aren't as water-demanding as grass. These gardens are easy to maintain, attractive, and more sustainable for the environment. Wetter climates can benefit from rain gardens.

For homebuyers, it can be important to purchase from a sustainable property company. For home builders, it can be just as important to follow sustainable design. Ultimately, sustainable design is going to reduce waste and cost—and improve energy efficiency moving forward.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.