Realtors peddle real estate to bike-happy clients

Some folks are predicting a mass immigration back to the cities from the suburbs. Living near work, school and play is becoming more appealing as gas prices rise and smaller properties are more efficient to heat and cool.

So it makes sense that some Realtors would jump on this trend by advertising the local transportation options, including my favorite - biking!!! A forward-thinking realtor in Oregon takes her clients out by bike, rather than by car. Totally makes sense - you're saying that this is a bike-friendly area... so prove it to your clients.

A few quotes from an SF Chron article, titled Realtors peddle real estate to bike-happy clients:

...Portland's Kirsten Kaufman is part of a new generation of agents eager to replace the stereotypes of hauling clients around in fancy sedans or SUVs.

The mother of three starting hosting bike tours earlier this summer...clients whose passion for pedaling weighs heavily in their choice of homes. Some are hard-core cyclists. Others are moving into the city to avoid increasingly expensive and onerous commutes.

"It's becoming more common to see families committing to driving less," said Kaufman. "I think it's a part of the market that will continue to grow as gas gets more expensive."

...a bigger trend — a fundamental shift in the way people think about buying homes.

Real estate agents and industry surveys indicate that home buyers are placing more importance on cutting their gas bills and commute times and that homes near urban centers, and subway, train and bus stops are selling faster than those in the distant suburbs.

...Matt Kolb, a bike agent who owns Pedal to Properties, a Boulder, Colo., firm. "People want to live, work and go to school within a six blocks radius — that's changing the way they look at property."

Pedal to Properties has five agents and a fleet of 48 cruiser bikes and big plans for nationwide expansion. Next year, the company will stretch into Oregon and Texas.

...As the popularity of bike commuting continues to rise, Kaufman says she's eager to see how far the wheels of her dark green Trek will take her.

"Ultimately I want to help people find a home that's going to work for them," she said. "This isn't about trying to green-wash real estate or profit from a niche market — it's about helping people make smart decisions, both for themselves and for the planet."