A house in the country will always have its appeal. But lately more homebuyers are preferring the city, for reasons ranging from the sheer excitement of the surroundings, to the rescue of impoverished areas and the preservation of shrinking green space.
One prime area of urban housing growth is the type of site known as “brownfields.” These are often-abandoned commercial and industrial spaces that have outlived their original uses but, with the right environmental cleanup, can be converted to housing or even entire neighborhoods. Older suburban homes and large new developments have lost none of their popularity, but for the right buyer the urban option is one worth exploring.
Clearly, urban living is not for everyone – it usually attracts single professionals and couples without children. But the lifestyle has aspects that would appeal to anyone. Two major attractions are cutting down on a long daily commute to city employment, and taking advantage of the area’s cultural scene.
Continue Reading May 28th, 2008
Energy costs are on everyone’s mind, and alternatives are a hot property – though many homebuyers aren’t sure how to find and evaluate them. There are a number of technologies to choose from which can help make your next house the home of the future.
Alternative energy gives new meaning to the real estate mantra of “location, location, location” – what works in sunny California may be different from what works on the windy plains. But just as there are many styles of homes for buyers’ diverse tastes, there are varied options in energy systems – with more than one sometimes working hand-in-hand for the same house.
Wind Power
Wind power – an ancient energy source now seen in high-tech “windmill farms” with tall propeller-like turbines – has come down in the cost for generating electricity by over 80 percent since 1981. Geothermal energy – home heating powered by underground steam warmed up by the temperature of the earth itself – is a source getting more attention in the American West.
Relocate
Relocating homeowners can choose to move to areas where wind generation is lowering electricity costs, while geothermal energy has applications for both large-scale power plants and individual homes. There has also been progress in residential settings with fuel cells, power systems that convert natural gas fuel to electricity through a chemical reaction with hydrogen, producing just water as a byproduct.
Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
Perhaps the most familiar and popular source of renewable alternative energy remains the sun itself. Photovoltaic (PV) systems, which convert sunlight to electricity, have shown great energy-bill savings and homeowner satisfaction. These systems, which have been likened to a car that makes its own gas, are now available in the form of roof tiles that can integrate attractively with regular roofing.
Households that use roof tiles have found some 80 percent of their electricity needs supplied by them. The homes can remain on the conventional power grid for the rest; at sunnier times when the home produces more energy than it can use, it goes back into the grid and credits the homeowners’ account, literally turning back their electric meter. Across the country rebates from utility companies and tax credits from government are available for such setups. It’s a way of contributing not only to the global community by using up less nonrenewable energy, but also to your own neighbors by freeing up conventional power.
Solar tiles are growing in popularity with home-development builders, and are seen as paying for themselves in savings and simplicity of maintenance. The savings increase considerably in combination with energy-efficient appliances. For example, in Sylmar, California’s Village Green complex, this mix is a standard feature and the average resident has been shown to pay one-tenth in monthly utility bills what other town residents pay.
Your local real estate professional can help advise you on what energy alternatives are most available and may work best in your area. A little shopping around may shed light on options that make yesterday’s technological dreams today’s homeowner dream-come-true.
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Solar Panel Photo credits: clownfish (My Urban City)
May 28th, 2008
