Bicycle Realtors: The Next Generation in Real Estate Marketing?

They're mean. They're green. And they're going to help you buy your next house. There are a growing number of realtors who are taking green home buying to the next step and using bicycles to show their clients potential places to hang their helmets.

If you're looking for environmentally friendly home resources, a cycling enthusiast or even just someone who is dreading a day in a hot car, driving from house to house, a cycling realtor may be right for you. This group of realtors are not only using an eco-friendly way of connecting you to the right house, they are also aware of the issues facing the environmentally sensitive home buyer. Casually cycling from home to home can be a lot more relaxing than a tense time in the car, and it's healthier for you, too.

In a search for bicycle realtors, you find that most of them aren't just into cycling for the health benefits; they are concerned about their community's environment. They may use a car in bad weather, but they believe that using a bicycle when at all practicable is the ethical choice for today's realtors. Along the way, you'll find that a realtor who bicycles as part of his job is also cognizant of the environmental impact of real estate on the earth. For the person looking to buy a house that is energy-efficient and is less of a burden for the earth to carry, a realtor who believes in bicycles is a good one to consider.

For cycling enthusiasts who have to find a home, the bicycling realtor would be the obvious choice - after all, this person will know what to look for when you say you want safe storage for your $3000 touring bike or even a decent area for your $50 commuter bike. They'll understand when you say that you need a decent workshop with easy-in, easy-out access. And, of course, they'll make sure that you are alerted to available houses situated near cycling trails and designated bicycle routes in the city.

For those who are not die-hard cyclists, the bicycle realtor may still be a good choice. You would be surprised at how much less stressful a house-hunt is if you spend a good part of the day leisurely cycling from one house to the next. Even if you're determined to use the car to get around, that's okay. Just don't be too surprised if your realtor gets there before you on two wheels!

Finding out more: Chris Chopik, the pedaling force behind BicycleRealtor.com is one force behind this campaign, being a both car-free realtor and an environmental activist. The website BicycleRealtor.com is currently taking registrations from realtors who want to market themselves as BicycleRealtors. It is the goal of the website to become a resource for those who are interested in this new breed of real estate agent.

A New Approach to Suburban Home Marketing

The American dream is changing, and real estate professionals are doing their best to keep up in order to sell homes. Many buyers still want a big house in an uncrowded neighborhood, especially if they have a family, but there are conditions attached now. Long commutes into the city are more of a deal breaker now than ever before, and areas without a nearby business community, parks infrastructure, or future-proof layout are generating less interest. Realtors working in the suburbs must now learn to identify and market smart growth, and a well-rounded lifestyle, as well as the old ideals of comfort and privacy.

Soaring gas prices have made the suburban commute a tough sell, but rail lines are a cheap solution in many metro areas. Cities with long-established commuter rails have upgraded their routes to accommodate growth, while cities that expanded rapidly during the mid-20th century are building new commuter lines. One example of a large center with a newer commuter line is Vancouver, BC, Canada, where an extensive line called the West Coast Express opened in 1995. An area like suburban New Jersey offers well-established commuter railways, but here too the traditional routes are augmented by new routes, such as the Morristown Line which runs 40 miles between Hoboken and Hackettstown. Real estate agents who know the rail routes in their area, and stay on top of development plans, can help more buyers find a suburban home suited to their needs.

The high-tech bio-tech industries have brought another marketing angle to the suburban home market in recent years. Many companies in these rapidly expanding sectors operate at the outskirts of large metro areas, where they can develop large campuses and research facilities employing thousands. High-tech and bio-tech professionals can live in low-density neighborhoods, and avoid a lengthy commute altogether, if they find a home near their campus. Realtors sensitive to the high-tech market will find these home searches easy to accommodate.

Other new marketing angles for suburban real estate can include high quality school districts, parks systems, improved inter-municipal planning, outdoor shopping plazas, cheaper home prices, and a larger new home inventory. Knowing what makes these areas attractive to buyers will help real estate professionals close more deals, and promote smart growth where they live.