Western Washington state is rich in natural resources, including estuaries and shorelines, wetlands, forests, and abundant wildlife. The economic viability of the region depends on these resources.

Increased population growth and development of natural lands stress the health of these precious resources. Of particular concern is pollution from stormwater runoff and on-site sewage system failure, which can be traced in part to individual land-use practices.

A 1998 needs assessment of environmental educators in Thurston County identified the real estate community as a high priority for water resource education. Real estate professionals influence individual land-use practices, yet tend to have poor knowledge of environmental issues.

• Educate real estate professionals and small-scale developers in Western Washington about water resource issues so they can make environmentally suitable decisions regarding development and land-use practices

• Educate real estate professionals so they can transfer information to their clients about land use and water resource issues

Method

Course Titles:

• Environmental Regulations

• Landscaping

• Low-Impact Development

• Salmon & Streams

• Septics & Groundwater

• Shorelines

• Soils

• Wetlands

• Woodlands

614 people have attended 44 courses from February 1998 to April 2004. These 614 individuals have accounted for 1167 course attendances – over 35% have taken 2 or more classes.

Water Resource Education for Real Estate Professionals

Puget Sound Region, Washington

Karen JanowitzWSU Thurston County Extension720 Sleater Kinney Rd. SE, Ste YLacey, WA 98503janowitz@wsu.edu360-786-5445 ext 7918

Karen Janowitz, Washington State University Extension

Generalized characteristics of real estate community members:

• Work independently

• Skeptical of environmental bias

• Concern about bottom line of buying & selling property

Education principles and strategies are chosen to address these characteristics.

Instructional strategies:

• Diverse presentations

• Relaxed setting

• Engage through humor

• Experiential learning (field trips)

Adult education principles used in program:

• Problem & experience centered

• Nonthreatening and objective presentation materials

• Based on participants’ life experience, knowledge, and needs

• Promotes inquiry

• Shows how concepts fit together (“the big picture”)

Introduction

Objectives

Discussion

Further Discussion

Conclusion

Although a method has not been determined to correlate this program to water quality protection and improvement, it is nonetheless extremely successful in educating the real estate community about water resource issues.

Two other county extension offices in Washington state also offer real estate education courses. The program can be used as a model elsewhere in the country, furthering water resource education.

Acknowledgement is given to Robert Simmons of WSU Mason County Extension and L. Katherine Baril of WSU Jefferson County Extension.

A couple of evaluation questions ask how often attendees share course information with clients and colleagues. Extrapolating the given responses, one can estimate between approximately 900 to 1800 clients and 900 to 1900 colleagues have received water resource information to date.

Motivation for participation:

• Real estate agents and appraisers receive continuing education credit toward their biennial professional license recertification.

• Increased knowledge leading to greater ability to assist clients.

Course characteristics:

• Typical course agenda includes scientific concepts, regulatory and policy information, case studies, and field trip

• Presentations by expert professionals

• Field trips for experiential learning

• Lunch, resource binders, and field trip transportation provided

• Detailed class evaluation for each speaker, and the overall class

Course Title # of Attendees

Environmental Regulations 26

Landscaping 122

Low-Impact Development 108

Shorelines 134

Salmon & Streams 134

Septics & Groundwater 272

Woodlands 77

Wetlands 294

Total 1167

Sample of post-course evaluation questions

More knowledgeable of land and possible problems

Able to better value a property

Able to pass on course topic information to clients

Able to give contact information to clients

Knowledge gained from course generated new clients

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Landscaping Low -ImpactDevelopment

Shorelines Salmon &Streams

Septics &Groundw ater

Woodlands Wetlands

Never Seldom (1-4 times) Some (5-9 times) Often (10-20 times)

Program is successful due to:

• Large amount of information transferred from attendees to clients and colleagues

• Genuine increase in knowledge about water resource issues by real estate professionals

• High number of repeat attendees (over 40%)

• Favorable response to evaluation questions

• Occasional participants who attend for no credit

• Program self-supported with registration fees

Puge

t Sou

nd

Washington State

Seattle

Olympia

Number of times attendees share course information with clients

Visit to a landslidePriest Point Park, Olympia, WA

Low tide for the nearshore

Field trip transportation for adults!

Course Title

Water Resource Education Program for Real Estate Professionals and

Appraisers

Number of attendees per courseFebruary 1998 to April 2004

Post-course evaluations are sent to attendees at least 6 months after attending. The average return rate for these is 30.3%.

97% of attendees who responded said they would recommend the course to colleagues.

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Landscaping Low-ImpactDevelopment

Shorelines Salmon &Streams

Septics &Groundwater

Woodlands Wetlands

Never Seldom (1-4 times) Some (5-9 times) Often (10-20 times)

Number of times attendees share course information with colleagues

Course Title