| I am not practicing real estate right now but even I | | | | understand how you can keep your utility bills low |
| see that the real estate industry and all affiliate | | | | and have a healthier indoor air quality. That agent |
| industries need market transformation and they need | | | | works with 2 or 3 ( GCHI's ) Green Certified Home |
| it fast. I can remember the days where life was | | | | Inspectors. They have 2 Green Certified Mortgage |
| good when I was a real estate agent. Working on 4 | | | | Professionals (GCMP) who know of ways to finance |
| and 6 active contracts a month. Attending 4 to 6 | | | | energy efficient upgrades or special loans for newer |
| home inspections, helping buyers with financing | | | | energy efficient homes. |
| options, meeting mortgage lenders and coordinating | | | | This agent likes working with buyers who also want |
| everyday 4 and 6 transactions a month. Then getting | | | | a utility bill that is only $500-$1000 a year. Sparking |
| paid. Then, in the middle of all of this I had 4 and 5 | | | | interest already? You hear that green building ideals |
| buyers to work with and 3 or 4 sellers who wanted | | | | offer healthier indoor air quality. Interesting. You find |
| market analysis on their homes. Who ever said | | | | a home that has an Energy Star, Environments for |
| agents in the residential and commercial markets | | | | Living, Green Build or LEED green certification. Priced |
| don't work hard? | | | | the same as other homes, that home has a low |
| Try a schedule like that. Now, try to picture all of this | | | | utility bill and energy efficient systems and utilizes |
| gone. Can you imagine a world where an agent | | | | solar and is in the perfect area too. What will you |
| shows a buyer 20 and 30 homes, and they don't buy | | | | choose? |
| or even with great credit the lender turns them | | | | You call a Green Certified Real Estate Agent, a |
| down? | | | | GCREP and say, what can I do to help my home sell |
| Try picturing the fact that agents are doing this for | | | | in a year or so? They come by, recommend you |
| 4-6 buyers? Can you imagine writing contracts and | | | | replace all light bulbs with compact florescent or LED |
| having back and forth communication on situations | | | | products that are much more efficient and paint with |
| that you know will not work? Sellers painting on the | | | | non toxic paint, add healthy and efficient insulation. |
| agents recommendation just to have a home sit and | | | | Aren't these suggestions a bit different than the |
| sit. Builders who have land that is not developed? | | | | normal advice. They also have that certification 6,000 |
| Paying taxes while you can't pay your contractors | | | | have across the country. |
| and your support staff is dwindling. Agents | | | | In the years to come, you may not want to sell now |
| advertising with their own money and houses just | | | | but that Green Certified agent, inspector or |
| don't sell? Did I mention you, as an agent, pay $2000 | | | | mortgage professional has taken his or her level two |
| a year to stay in the business, for incidentals such as | | | | certification to learn even more and offer advice that |
| license renewals, ads, association and MLS dues and | | | | you get an energy audit, and from the results they |
| continuing education credits? How about the loan | | | | suggest you upgrade the widows, insulation, the roof |
| officer who keeps trying to refinance people and | | | | and you don't want to get a second mortgage. They |
| can't get them a loan? Think of the home inspector | | | | begin to tell you about the state offering a program |
| who waits for the agents to write business. | | | | with PACE concepts. What is PACE you ask? |
| Everyone is hurting. | | | | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs |
| Is there any end in sight? Is there anything that can | | | | are designed to allow property owners to install |
| turn this around? YES! | | | | energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water |
| Now I have another scenario for you. You are a | | | | efficiency projects and repay those costs as a line |
| buyer or seller of real estate. You want an agent | | | | item on their property tax bill or utility bill (depending |
| who is green certified to help you understand green | | | | on state law and local options). Wow, half of my |
| attributes in homes. You want to put your home on | | | | family members are in the construction industry and |
| the market or buy and want your agent who is also | | | | out of work, what a great way for them to have |
| your friend or relative to help you. They tell you they | | | | work. Are we thinking job creation? You didn't even |
| have a certification 6,000 have and been green | | | | know about this. Thank you for green real estate |
| certified by Green Real Estate Education. They like | | | | education. |
| the fact that they only had to pay $99 to learn of | | | | Stimulating the real estate industry is possible. I do |
| what energy efficiency and green these issues have | | | | not feel this has anything to do with democrats or |
| to do with the home you may want to buy or sell. In | | | | republicans. A clean energy economy reduces our |
| the current economy, they didn't choose to spend | | | | dependence on foreign oil. Energy efficiency concepts |
| hundreds or thousands (and neither do you) to learn | | | | will create jobs. This is not new to other countries, |
| about energy efficiency so you respect their budget | | | | and we need an economic stimulation NOW. So I will |
| conscience mindset. Can you already see the value in | | | | ask again, can green education transform the real |
| working with this agent? This Certified Real Estate | | | | estate industry? What do you think? |
| Professional has been trained to assist you to | | | | |