Edina Realty Incorporates “Walk Score” on all Online Property Listings

Edina, Minn. – June 17, 2010 – A Walk Score, which rates a home on a scale of 0 to 100 depending on the walkability of the home’s neighborhood, is now attached to every online property listing in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Fargo, N.D. on the Edina Realty website, http://www.edinarealty.com.

Walk scores help home buyers assess the walkability of the homes for sale they are considering, and it can also help home sellers market their home depending on how walkable their neighborhood is.

“Walk Score is a great new feature for home buyers who value the health and environmental benefits of living in a walkable neighborhood,” said Bob Peltier, president and CEO of Edina Realty. A study by the National Institutes of Health found that the average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs seven pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.

A high walk score can also translate into higher property values, according to a study by CEOs for Cities. This study found that homes for sale with above-average levels of walkability in the metropolitan areas studied commanded a premium of $4,000 to $34,000 over houses with just average levels of walkability.

Walk Score uses Google Maps to find stores, restaurants, bars, parks and other amenities within walking distance of any address. Using a patent-pending algorithm, Walk Score establishes neighborhood boundaries using data from Zillow, calculates the distances from the home to amenities in the neighborhood via Google Maps, and weighs in population density information from the 2000 census.

Based on these criteria, Walk Score ranks an address with a score between zero and 100. The most desirable scores are between 70 and 100: a score of 90-100 is considered a walkers' dream where residents don't need to own a car; 70-89 is very walkable and residents probably don't need a car. A score of 50-70 is assigned to neighborhoods that are somewhat walkable but probably necessitate a car, bike or public transportation for getting around. A score of 25-50 means the community is car-dependent, and a score below 25 means residents need to drive everywhere.

For more information on Walk Score, to view homes for sale and property listings, or to find a Realtor® who specializes in your community, visit http://www.edinarealty.com.

Edina Realty, a subsidiary of HomeServices of America, is one of the nation’s largest real estate companies with more than 60 real estate offices throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and western Wisconsin and nearly 2,450 REALTORS®. Edina Realty’s family of companies includes Edina Realty, Edina Realty Title, and Edina Realty Mortgage. Edina Realty handled more than 28,000 transactions and $5.8 billion in sales volume in 2009. For more information, visit www.edinarealty.com.