Greenhabbing, or green real estate investing, is the future. It’s so new, I should probably describe it to you.
Greenhabbing is the idea that a property is more valuable if it is more energy efficient and healthier. For the average investor, it can mean making simple changes that make things work better and emit less toxic chemicals. There are some simple rules for greenhabbing a property.
The materials that you use should be from sustainable sources that don’t emit toxic vapors.
The property, once you have it all completed, should cost at least 30% less to operate than a comparable property.
It should have less environmental impact than a “normal” property.
Making these changes can be as simple as installing a new heating a cooling unit. You can replace the carpet with natural fiber products or from sustainable sources, like bamboo. New windows made from sustainable products can make the home much lass expensive to operate.
So how will you choose a good greenhabbing investment? Simple. Here are the basic guidelines:
•30% less to operate
•Nontoxic, sustainable products used in construction
•Reduced environmental impact
•Healthier living environment
•At least a 10% return on investment
Here’s what I believe – I think that if the whole world was greenhabbed away from the inefficient designs of the past, if everyone took the time to take the toxins out of their houses, we would all be better off.
A greenhabbed home costs less to operate. The people inside will be healthier. This could change a lot of things. Energy cold be less expensive. Health care costs could go down.
As an investment, greenhabbing can provide massive returns. If you change a house to being greener, you will be able to sell the house for significantly more than you bought it for. You can also expect to see lots more potential buyers.
One of the best ways to get money out of a greenhabbing project is to look for the rebates, tax credits and incentives that are offered by governmental bodies and corporations to build a green world.
So, how can you choose a good house to work on? Start by looking for homes that are a bit older but not ancient. Make sure that the house is structurally sound. Before you buy the property, you should figure out which parts of the home you are going to greenhab. You will want to make sure that you can greenhab the property well and quickly enough to get your return on investment.
Learning to turn a profit on greenhabbing can potentially be nothing more than keeping your eyes and your mind open. Most importantly: you need to bring as much passion to your project as you do construction know-how.
Greenhabbing is all about building a better world while we are building better individual homes.
Good luck and think green!