Paige is a wonderful realtor! She was very patient with me in my buying process - buying your first condo can be a very stressful time but Paige wasn’t pushy & was always quick to point out things I wouldn’t know to look for. Very trustworthy! Thank you for making my first time buying experience a good one!
Nancy Moro
Real Estate and Going Green
Real Estate & Going Green
“Going Green” are new buzz words creating a stir in the real estate industry. More and more people are looking to energy efficient homes that can offer cost savings and be friendly to not only the environment but their families as well.
As the number of home buyers and sellers interested in a greener lifestyle increases, so does the green building market. A US study suggests “true” green homes—which the report defined as containing a specific green building element in at least three of five categories (energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water efficiency, resource efficiency and site management) will be worth $60 billion by 2010 up from $2 billion in 2005. A Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation survey found that when asked to rate a list of housing features they would consider when buying a home, 89% of respondents said energy efficiency was the most important.
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Walk Score helps people find walkable places to live. Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc.
Why go green?
Homeowners and buyers have all kinds of reasons to go green. Although the most common reason seems to be about saving energy and money given the astronical rise in fuel prices over the last few years. Another thing people are more and more aware of is air quality and pollution. Compared with outdoor air, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted. A major cause: volatile organic compounds (VOCs) commonly found in paints, stains and glues. When these products dry, they release chemicals and continue to do so for years. This can exacerbate allergies and asthma, and cause headaches and nausea.
WILL IT PAY OFF?
If you were to build a house as green as you possibly could, it might cost you 20 percent to 30 percent more than traditional construction. But that would imply an extreme sense of environmental duty. Most “green” homebuilding projects however add only 2-4% more than standard construction according to local builders. There are also some significant grants and incentives that can help pay for those “green” improvements. (see below: GOVERNMENT GRANTS)
In terms of resale value, green homes have come a long way. These days most eco-friendly homes don’t look different than any other house on the block. Buyers however, do look for items such as energy efficient windows and geo-thermal heating. Flooring that doesn’t emit chemicals like those from carpets are another huge draw. In general terms your “green” home features will likely help it sell at the upper end of price range and quicker than the non-eco-friendly competition.
CURRENT & INFORMATIVE GREEN ARTICLES:
Built Green Canada
Green Toolkit
Let’s Go Green Canada
Vancouver Green Information
GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND INCENTIVES FOR NEW HOMES & RENOVATIONS:
EnerGuide Rating Service
Green BC Building Code: First Steps
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