Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

‘Alexa, open the blinds’: Virginia real estate firm to offer Amazon Alexa-enabled smart homes

Add as a preferred source on Google

Brookfield Residential, a real estate company based in Virginia, announced this week that it’s gearing up to begin offering brand new homes powered entirely by Amazon’s voice-activated platform, Alexa. Unveiled during AWS re:Invent 2016, Brookfield Residential’s Smart Home — as the firm is calling it — serves as the very first domestic home to feature a fully integrated voice-enabled automation platform once it hits the market. Headquartered in Virginia, the first batch of Alexa-enabled homes will launch in the Avendale housing community just outside Washington, D.C.

What’s particularly interesting about Brookfield’s venture into Alexa-enabled homes is how simple it will be for families to adopt cutting-edge home automation technology. Instead of researching the ins and outs of various smart home gadgets and devices, Brookfield does all the work for them. Furthermore, integrating this smart home tech with Amazon’s Alexa not only makes it an easy transition but one which doesn’t require a steep learning curve for entry.

brookfield2
Brookfield Residential
Recommended Videos

“This was the perfect venue, and we couldn’t be happier with the reaction,” said Brookfield’s division president, Robert Hubbell. “The developers are energized, and many already have great ideas for new technology that can be incorporated into the home. The best part about the Brookfield Residential Smart Home is that it will adapt as new technology appears. If the home buyer wants to incorporate the latest device in the months and years ahead, the home will immediately recognize it.”

Buyers of these innovative new Smart Homes can expect to operate a wide range of their home’s features with just their voice. From checking security camera footage and changing the thermostat, to unlocking the door, turning on the lights, or turning on their favorite music, Brookfield’s new houses are the definition of smart. Additionally, the company has included a series of custom actions which allow the homeowners to set skills and voice-enabled rules geared toward letting them tailor the home to their specific needs.

It’s unknown when exactly the first batch of Alexa-integrated homes will be available for purchase but considering the announcement boasted a clear path for what’s going to be offered, the Brookfield Residential Smart Home shouldn’t be terribly far off.

Rick Stella
Former Associate Editor, Outdoor
Rick became enamored with technology the moment his parents got him an original NES for Christmas in 1991. And as they say…
Apple’s new smart home gear looks great. But that Apple tax is heartbreaking
Apple Home Collection cameras, doorbell, smart lock, and thermostats launched at Apple Welcome Home event

Apple is finally taking the smart home segment more seriously with its latest Home Collection. The company now has a compelling lineup of cameras, doorbells, locks, and thermostats that look right at home alongside its other products (HomeView and HomePod mini 2). While not everyone is a fan of the minimalist designs (often calling them too clinical), I do appreciate the clean aesthetics.

Of course, one of the key selling points is the integration, which looks incredibly polished, and there's plenty to appreciate about Apple's privacy-first approach. But Apple being Apple is making sure you pay every penny for it. Developed alongside LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, Apple's new accessories start at $199.95 for an indoor camera and climb to $399.95 for a floodlight camera. Add an outdoor camera, video doorbell, smart lock, and thermostat to the mix, and you're already approaching $1,300 for five basic smart home devices.

Read more
How to pre-order Apple HomeView, HomePod mini 2, and the new Apple TV 4K
Apple’s latest home hardware is up for pre-order now, with the first devices shipping later this month..
Apple HomeView, Apple TV 4K aand Homepod mini launched at Welcome Home event

Apple’s Welcome Home event introduced three pieces of hardware you can already order. HomeView is the biggest addition, giving Apple its first dedicated smart home display, while the HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K have both received substantial upgrades.

The release schedule is split across the next month. HomePod mini 2 arrives first on October 30. HomeView and the new Apple TV 4K follow on November 13. Apple also revealed a much larger Home Collection of cameras, locks, thermostats, and sensors, but those accessories aren't going on sale yet. Below are the prices, shipping dates, and options for each of the three available devices.

Read more
Everything Apple announced at its Welcome Home event today
Apple’s Welcome Home event brought a new display, speaker, TV box, and smart home accessories
apple-welcome-home-event-smart-home-lineup-announcement

Apple unveiled a fresh lineup of home devices at its 'Welcome Home' event, bringing entertainment and smart home management closer together. The announcements include Apple HomeView, a new HomePod mini, an upgraded Apple TV 4K, and connected accessories from LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

Siri AI is a major part of the lineup, with Apple pitching a more conversational assistant across its devices. If you've been waiting for Apple to take your living room seriously, today's announcements finally deliver on that.

Read more