REALTORS® and Smart Communities: Build Better Communities April 2007
Source: National Association of REALTORS®
Who could have missed the Honolulu Advertiser headline on Sept. 19: “60,000 New Homes Planned for Oahu.” Sprawl and uncoordinated growth affects the quality of life of all residents, at all levels- rich and poor, young and old, employed and unemployed - as well as families, employers, farmers, and others. As REALTORS ®, we witness this struggle every day. And because we are part of the community where we work and play, we experience these challenges along side of our neighbors, friends and ohana. We are not just selling homes, we are a part of this community.
REALTORS® believe that we can build better communities by supporting quality growth, seeking sustainable economies and housing opportunities, embracing the cultural and environmental qualities we cherish, and protecting the rights of property owners. We believe in Smart Growth. The Hawaii Association of REALTORS® (HAR) recognizes the need to sustain and enhance the quality of life enjoyed by our kama’aina.
Smart Growth is really about planning for high-quality growth in order to improve our communities. Smart Growth can mean many things - using land more wisely, building in a more compact way, redeveloping old neighborhoods, building better new neighborhoods, and providing transportation options to alleviate congestion.
“Communities can be shaped by choice, or they can be shaped by chance. We can keep on accepting the kind of communities we get, or we can start creating the kind of communities we want.” HAR’s 2007 legislative goal is to recommend and support policies based on five principles that both REALTORS ® and ohana believe are important.
Smart Growth: A Toolkit for REALTORS® - GET INVOLVED
To address every aspect of smart growth, REALTORS® need a host of flexible solutions. That’s where Smart Growth: A Toolkit for REALTORS® can help.
NAR training materials help educate REALTOR® members and leaders about growth management issues and how they may affect real estate in your area. Issues training on Smart Growth also is presented at NAR meetings such as the annual Convention, the AE Institute, and the GAD Institute.
