They say the dream of the older generation was to pay off a mortgage, while the dream of today’s young families is to get one. In this economy, that’s no joke. That dream is now taking on new dimensions that include managing the ever-rising cost of energy and water.

In today’s home market, a lot of variables go into determining the price of a home, but some of the most common “features” are often only cosmetic: granite countertops come to mind as an example. Typical real estate listings are so homogenized that each one looks nearly the same as the next. That’s understandable when most home builders use a formula designed to deliver a product that looks good, meets code and has all the basics that most buyers expect.

Continue reading Appraising Green Homes.