Longevity has become a popular buzzword in anti-aging conversations, including those related to real estate. Simply put, this approach asks how the places where we live can help us stay young, energetic and vibrant. The key, according to a recent study conducted by the University of Southern California’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, may lie in real estate’s long-standing mantra: Location, location, location!
“People in neighborhoods that experience more days of high heat show faster aging at the molecular level than residents of cooler regions,” reported gerontology and sociology professor Jennifer Ailshire, the study’s lead author. So, what should you look for when selecting a new neighborhood for your ‘forever’ home, particularly if you’re looking in the Sunbelt?
Living in an area with more heat days ages you faster on a biological level, the study reveals. These changes could happen relatively quickly – maybe your first summer in your new neighborhood – and could accumulate over time. “This correlation persisted even after controlling for socioeconomic and other demographic differences, as well as lifestyle factors such as physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking,” the study’s co-author, postdoctoral student Eunyoung Choi, noted.
The study team looked at 3,600 participants aged 56 and older from across the country over a six-year period. Using blood samples, they looked for changes in how individual genes impact biological age at each time point, comparing them to their location’s heat index reports 0f “Caution” levels (80°F to 90°F), “Extreme Caution” levels (90°F and 103°F), and “Danger” levels (103°F and 124°F).
Location Still Matters
Sunbelt states have long attracted older adults, both for their warmer weather, more affordable housing prices and, frequently, tax advantages and family proximity. According to the Census, this trend continues, with Texas and Florida experiencing the largest numeric gains from 2023 to 2024. Arizona, Georgia, both Carolinas and Georgia are also in the top 10 for numeric growth in that timeframe. While high heat can (and does) hit many areas in the country, you’re likeliest to experience more of it in the regions chosen for their historically warmer weather.
So, what should you do if San Antonio, Sedona or Sarasota are your relocation ideals? Look for neighborhoods with plentiful trees and vegetation, experts suggest. These have a cooling effect and can reduce the impact of heat. A real estate professional with deep neighborhood knowledge can guide you to these areas. Also look at community and home amenities with an eye toward coverings, fans, misting and water access. If they’re not present currently, what would adding one or more of them to your property cost?
Building Solutions
These features should also be factored into any new construction or remodeling projects you have planned. As outdoor living has boomed across all home levels, from production to custom, covered spaces have dramatically increased too. Motorized louvered roof systems are one of the most popular approaches, giving flexibility to address heat with opened and closed options. Awnings and fixed coverings can help too if a louvered system isn’t feasible. So do window coverings that can be automated to close during the hottest times of day to keep the home’s interior cooler. In July 2022, I shared a “Beat the Heat” article with Forbes.com readers offering more solutions that are still relevant.
If you’re building a new home, adding on or replacing a roof, the Environmental Protection Agency suggests using a cool or green roof. Cool roof materials are highly reflective and emissive. Green roof systems use vegetation. Writing on its website, the agency says: “Both cool and green roofs provide benefits of lower surface and air temperatures, and decreased energy demand.” It notes that a green roof costs more upfront but typically lasts longer.
With specific regard to green roof benefits, the EPA cites improved human health and comfort, “Green roofs, by reducing heat transfer through the building roof, can improve indoor comfort, and lower the incidence of heat stress associated with heat waves.”
Landscaping Solutions
You can – and should – create a cooling landscape for your home to beat the heat. You’re definitely going to want to use native plants that are adapted to the local environment and reduce water use and maintenance. Moana Nursery with three locations in Nevada, suggests planting shade trees around your home, using shrubs and ground covers to reduce heat reflection from hard surfaces like pavers and minimizing hardscape, layering your plants to trap cool air and provide shade at different height levels, creating planted windbreaks to direct cooling breezes toward your home, adding water features, and offering a range of other helpful ideas on a beat the heat section of its website.
Last Words
It turns out that those charming older neighborhoods with canopies of shade trees that have long attracted home buyers have longevity benefits as well. They may not exist where you’re home shopping, or where you currently live, but creating cooler shade areas outdoors on your property and keeping your home’s interior cooler can increase both your comfort and lifespan.
Read the full article here
