News and Insights

When the market is fast and hot like it is this spring, it can be hard to find the time to work on your business and not just in it. 
 
But enhancing relationships, building skills, and staying abreast of trends and topics that affect the industry and your community are essential to creating a vibrant, sustainable business. 

By Cynthia Adams, co-founder and CEO of Pearl Certification

How well do you think you know what the average buyer wants in a home? Elevate Energy recently hosted four focus groups of Chicago homeowners and real estate agents to better understand what features they prioritized when purchasing a home and how Pearl Certification’s materials impacted their view of the home. What they learned was surprising!

Jesse Barraza, who leads the Barraza Group of Surterre Properties®, has worked to build a team in a "league of its own." 

His secret weapon? All the team members have the NAR Green Designation, which gives them a competitive advantage, believes Barraza. In addition, their wide-ranging experience with green real estate, building science, and home energy labeling helps them navigate the complex ins and outs of the luxury Orange County real estate market. 

How well do you think you know what the average buyer wants in a home? Elevate Energy recently hosted four focus groups of Chicago homeowners and real estate agents to better understand what features they prioritized when purchasing a home and how Pearl Certification’s materials impacted their view of the home. What they learned was surprising!

In mid-February, architects, builders, prospective buyers, and REALTORS® were among those who came out to learn about and see progress on a net-zero development, Array, that Jodi Bakst is developing in Orange, NC. 

The event was the culmination of nearly four years of work on Bakst's part that included assembling the land, establishing a vision, and choosing a design and construction team.