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Calling Green Builders and Developers

By Christa Ross

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Select Realty - REALTOR and Green Homes Specialist RS310271

August 24, 2011 10:25 AM

I wrote this blog over a year ago and have not seen much change in that time so I decided to repost it in the hope that I may get more response. Green and energy-efficient building is the way of the future and I'd like to see even more Pittsburgh builders embrace it....

grasshouse

As I build my business servicing clients that are looking for green and energy-efficient homes I keep bumping into the same problem…I have the interested client, they want a green home and I just don’t have much to show them.

This is especially true for those that are looking for truly green homes, not just energy-efficient homes. I’m talking about homes that use sustainable and low-VOC materials, homes that consider indoor air quality, homes that include ecologically sound features like rain barrels, native landscaping even attention to details like composting areas and recycling space. And of course energy-efficiency, water efficiency and daylighting to reduce energy consumption.

Of course many of these features are available in a custom build home and there are some great green custom builders in the area. But the affordable options are limited. A house here… a development there… but nothing on a wider scale.

When a clients says they are looking for a green home in a specific area most of the time all I can do is explain that the green homes that are available are in specific places in the city, but not in the one they are looking for.

The clients are there, everyday I have requests and no way to fill them. It’s frustrating and that’s why I am writing this post.

If you are a builder, developer and renovator in this city consider making your projects green. Specifically, I am looking for:

Older green renovated homes with character in walkable communities
Newer green homes that are priced from $150K to $300K
Affordable green homes with a more modern style
And I need them in locations all around the city and out into the suburbs.

If you are building these kind of homes let me know and if you are thinking about creating these kind of homes, I’d love to talk.

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Nicole Needham

Needham Realty - Winters, CA

SFR (530) 302-5478

Christa, The problem with a "Green" build is the increased cost. In a time when priced are falling it is imposable to raise the prices to cover the extra expense. I sell a builders homes who offers energy star as a standard feature at the present time,but unfortunately energy star is changing there requirements. These changes will add about $ 9,000.00 to the cost of construction. Unfortunately the present market will not allow us to raise the prices and the builder can not adsorb any more cost increases.

Aug 24, 2011 10:38 AM

Ruby Lee Sweeting

Darville Wong Associates Realty Bahamas

Your Bahamas Agent for Relocations & Second Homes

Christa this is an interesting dilemma...a few days ago I posted a listing of homes/vacant land for sale in a new green development...IN NASSAU (THE BAHAMAS)...BUT I guess your client wasn't thinking so far away (lol)!. This is a special interest area for me and I welcome further exchange on the subject.

Aug 24, 2011 10:51 AM

Christa Ross

RE/MAX Select Realty - REALTOR and Green Homes Specialist - Pittsburgh, PA

Helping you buy and sell Pittsburgh's Best Homes

Nicole - Actually many of the things that need to be done to meet Energy Star requirements here in PA are just a few additions to the building code, which is already requiring builders to improve their practices and giving buyers a better house that will cost them less to operate. It is requiring builders to change some of their practices, and I have heard grumblings, but the builders that have embraced energy-efficiency and green features have been rewarded for it with buyers looking for a healthier, more affordable home.

Aug 25, 2011 03:12 AM

TERI LINDSAY

Reno, NV

STAGELIGHT HOME STAGING CO.

Christa, better to suggest a building lot and find a green Gen. Contractor that can get all the details right! I am looking into HUD with Project Rebuild monies to be allocated soon. Renovate properties to "green", using wind, solar, xeri-scape, rain barrels, and recycled materials for construction.... Reno, NV, home of the Windspire!

Sep 16, 2011 03:49 PM

Calling Green Builders and Developers

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