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.

1
Water Resource Education for Real Estate
Professionals
Water Resource Education Program for Real Estate
Professionals and Appraisers
Puget Sound Region, Washington
Karen Janowitz, Washington State University
Extension
Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
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.
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.

• 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

Number of attendees per courseFebruary 1998 to
April 2004
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

Low tide for the nearshore
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.
Method

• 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.

Washington State
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.
Puget Sound
Seattle
Olympia
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

• 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)

Field trip transportation for adults!

• Instructional strategies
• Diverse presentations
• Relaxed setting
• Engage through humor
• Experiential learning (field trips)

Number of times attendees share course
information with clients
Objectives

• 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

Further Discussion

• 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.

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.

• 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
Number of times attendees share course
information with colleagues

• Course Titles
• Environmental Regulations
• Landscaping
• Low-Impact Development
• Salmon Streams
• Septics Groundwater
• Shorelines
• Soils
• Wetlands
• Woodlands

Karen Janowitz WSU Thurston County Extension 720
Sleater Kinney Rd. SE, Ste Y Lacey, WA
98503 janowitz_at_wsu.edu 360-786-5445 ext 7918
Visit to a landslidePriest Point Park, Olympia,
WA
Course Title