Rail-Trails, Smart-Growth, and…Realtors?

Key Learning Points — Rail-Trails, Smart-Growth, and…Realtors? Engaging Your Local Real Estate Professionals into the Debate:

1. How to "Borg" some realtors to come to see the benefits of trails

2. How the MLS works and how to use it to advance trails in your community

3. Walk score for housing prices

4. Economic impact of livable communities with active transportation options

WEBINAR OUTLINE

1. How to "Borg" some Realtors and other untraditional allies to come to see the benefits of trails

Back in the 1990s, there was an old television show called STAR TREK: The Next Generation where a recurring character, the Borgs were humanoids who were half human and half computer. If they touched you, you were “Borged”. You then did their bidding. But seriously, development of every trails is about the politics. Building allies. And in many places the best place to find allies is in places you might never thought of. You might not actually “Borg” people to become supporters, but getting allies from non-traditional sources is critical. I’ll teach you how to do this. “Resistance is futile.”

2. How the MLS works and how to use it to advance trails in your community

The Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network [MLSPIN] in Massachusetts is one of the most sophisticated in the U.S. I’ll teach you how to use it to build rail trails. In my earlier portion of the webinar, I’ll teach you how to get Realtors involved in trail development. Here’s where the rubber meets the road and how to get realtors involved.

3. Walk Score for housing prices

WalkScore.com measures the walkability of any address using a patented system. For each address, Walk Score analyzes hundreds of walking routes to nearby amenities. Points are awarded based on the distance to amenities in each category. Amenities within a 5 minute walk (.25 miles) are given maximum points. Study by CEO’s for Cities shows one point of Walk Score worth up to $3,000. I’ll talk a bit about how trails add to WalkScore values.

4. Economic impact of livable communities with active transportation options

Millennials are the drivers of not only real estate in the 21st century, but how communities are built. They wish to live in places where biking and walking are not unusual or dangerous. Trails advocates and REALTORS® attending this webinar this will learn why this fundamental shift is important, and most importantly how to help make their communities more walkable and bikeable. It has been said many times that the indicator of life in a coal mine is the canaries. If you don’t see them there and thriving you know it is time to get out. The same holds true for a community and or downtown area. If you don’t see walkers/bicyclists as being common-place, it is time to either get out, or fix the problem.

Trail Competencies

Relevant Trail Types

• Rail-Trails