The Green
Real Estate Market

What do all these numbers, taken from the Western North Carolina Multiple Listing Service (MLS) mean? The first column tells us how many homes are currently for sale, those that are actively listed. Very few of the homes listed are certified HealthyBuilt Homes. Just 130 compared to 3,303 - but, just a year ago that figure was 49, and the year before that there we no homes coded in the MLS. So healthy homes are on the rise and for good reason!

The second column tells us how many homes in the last six months had their listings expire. When a home is listed, a time limit is put on how long it will be actively listed. This is often six months. After that, the seller may or may not decide to list the home again. But if the home has not sold within the time limit, the listing expires. The home has not sold. Not all homes do.

The third column gives a ratio of the number of homes that have expired to the number actively listed. This shows that, by far, most HealthyBuilt homes sell.

The fourth column is the number of homes that have sold in the last six months and the fifth column is a ratio of the number sold to the number active. According to this percent, a much higher percent of all homes sold, compared to the HealthyBuilt in the last six months. Even though more in the all homes catagory are expiring, there are also more of them selling.

The sixth column tells us how many sales are pending. This is the period of time between when the contract is signed and the transaction closes or finishes. The number of HealthyBuilt Homes now pending is almost equal to the number that sold in the last six months. That must mean the market is growing - a good thing!

The last column shows the ratio of pending homes to active homes. The HealthyBuilt Homes almost have the same ratio as the all homes catagory.

Healthy, durable, sustainable, energy efficient homes - in other words, well designed and built homes - are beginning to seriously work their way into the market. They aren't taking over overnight, but they are gradually moving in, for the good of us all and the planet.