The real estate route to better health
Homes can offer a lot more than shelter. Indeed, they can function like a miracle drug that enhances mood, eliminates loneliness and improves physical health.
The multi-beneficial wellness effects of housing were recently documented in a three-year research study of how residents of a new 196-unit community rated 83 variables. These variables related to satisfaction with their building and community, social connections, emotional health, and physical health before and after living in the multifamily development.
The study, by Colorado State University (CSU) in partnership with NAVA Real Estate Development, focused on the new Lakehouse community built to maximize natural light, air quality, social connections among residents and other elements. Still, “any home — multifamily or single-family” — can offer similar benefits, explains Jennifer Schill of CSU, who led the research.
Here, she provides pointers to home shoppers — or homeowners remodeling — to consider:
Look toward the light
Windows that maximize natural light, especially allowing winter sunshine in but not opening interiors to the hottest rays in summer, boost physical energy and mood. “When touring a potential home, buyers can analyze the home’s sun angles, asking ‘Where does the sun rise and set in each season?’ ”
Breathe deeply
An odor might indicate the presence of mold or volatile organic components (VOCs) from paints, carpets and interior vanishes, which can cause respiratory problems. Ask the builder or home seller if there are no or low VOC components in the home. Multifamily buildings should ideally have MERV 13 filters, which inhibit the circulation of contaminants.
Socializing opportunities
Schill quotes the U.S. surgeon general as saying, “Loneliness and weak social connections are associated with a reduction in lifespan similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day.”
For renters and condo buyers, Schill suggests asking about “community building,” explaining that community rooms and pools aren’t enough. There should be organized activities, such as classes.
Single-family homebuyers should “spend time in the public spaces in the neighborhood to gain a sense of how communityoriented the residents are.”