Green Real Estate Appraiser

Is a Home Windmill A Good Choice for You?

Posted on April 10, 2013 | Leave a comment

So maybe you’re thinking you want to generate your own electricity, and home wind power has crossed your mind. After all, who really enjoys paying a utility bill? Small wind energy is renewable, non-polluting, and, in the right circumstances, can save you money.

Will a windmill add value to your property? Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for your value questions.

But is home wind power a good choice for you? The answer may surprise you, because living in a windy area is not necessarily the most important factor. In fact, many properties are not a good fit for installing a wind turbine even if they have a lot of wind (for reasons we’ll get into). On the other hand, if you want to go off-grid and produce your own electricity, you almost certainly want to consider installing a home wind turbine, even if your location is not notably windy.

Off-Grid Residential Wind Power

Here’s the deal: For a home wind turbine to be worth your investment, you really need to live on an acre or more. That’s the guideline from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Guide to Small Wind Electric Systems, a free publication for homeowners. Living in a rural area helps, because if you’re in a residential neighborhood, you’re likely to run into conflicts with zoning and local homeowners associations. Additionally, you’re more likely to find a high average wind speed in wide open spaces far from windbreaks such as buildings and trees. Altogether, while installing a small wind turbine in a city or suburb is certainly possible, you’re much more likely to have the right conditions for home wind power if you live well outside city limits.

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

The “Worlds Greenest Office Building” Opens Later this Month

Posted on April 9, 2013 | Leave a comment

SEATTLE — When an office building here that bills itself as the world’s greenest officially opens later this month, it will present itself as a “living building zoo,” with docents leading tours and smartphone-wielding tourists able to scan bar codes to learn about the artfully exposed mechanical and electrical systems.

Have a green home that needs appraising? Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com

Tenants have already begun moving into the six-story Bullitt Center, in advance of its grand opening on Earth Day, April 22. With the final touches nearly complete on the 50,000-square-foot office building at 1501 East Madison Street, at the edge of the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, its occupants are about to embark upon an unparalleled — and very public — experiment in sustainability.

Once settled in, they will be guinea pigs in a $30 million living laboratory distinguished by its composting toilets, strict energy and water budgets and a conspicuous lack of on-site parking. To earn its environmental bragging rights, the Bullitt Center must complete a rigorous one-year certification process called the Living Building Challenge, which requires both water and energy self-sufficiency, among a list of 20 demands.

Mortgages Just for U.S. Military

Posted on April 8, 2013 | Leave a comment

With so many veterans in San Diego, it is incredible how underused VA housing loans are. The loans, organized by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, offer a wide array of benefits to active duty personnel, veterans and spouses.

Many borrowers do not need large down payments and can avoid insurance premiums, penalty fees and high interest rates. VA home loans make buying a home simple and affordable. Some applicants even qualify for no-money down, 100 percent financing.

Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com; they have VA Certified Appraisers that can assist you.

In many cases, it is easier to get a VA loan with a less-than-favorable credit score than a bank loan. In fact, Veteran Affairs does not require a minimum credit score, although lenders may have their own internal requirements. Unfortunately, many applicants do not take advantage of the VA loan system because they are not sure if they qualify or know how to start the process.

Most military members, veterans, reservists and National Guard members are eligible for a VA loan as well as surviving spouses of military members who died on active duty or as a result of a service-related injury.

Vahomeloancenters.org is one of the leading web resources providing information on eligibility requirements and home loan specifications.

Read entire article: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/20/veteran-affairs-loans-va-loan-mortgages-military/