With the end of July, we are one month closer to a turnaround in the Pasadena California real estate market. The July sales numbers will be reported in a few days, but until then here are some closing thoughts for the month:

Eco Broker Certified

Congratulations to our very own Pasadena Real Estate Broker Deena Willis! She received her Eco Broker designation and has been busy lining up stories this week that will address things you can do around your house to reduce your energy bills. Think your home is energy efficient? Wait until you read her report and then answer that question again. She met with an Energy Rater this past week and watched him perform tests around the house along with discussing a few of the other calculations and analysis that are included in the inspection. As we previously stated, our opinion is that the Energy Rating will become as commonplace with the purchase of a home as the general home inspection.

Pasadena’s Newspaper

Did you happen to see the Pasadena Star News this past Saturday? The headline “Downturn Hits Pasadena” featured a quote from “yours truly” regarding the Pasadena real estate market. Although the recent news concerning Pasadena has not been very positive lately, I believe Dan Abendschein presented a great article along with the obstacles facing our city.

However it’s not all gloom and doom. There is one industry that seems to be thriving and you know what it is if you drive through town. Road construction is booming in the Rose City!

Pasadena Real Estate on the Rise?

Is there a reversal happening in the real estate market? Are prices going up? Actually the City of Pasadena seems intent on raising the price of real estate. The real estate required to park your car, that is. New meters are going up throughout town on what used to be free street side parking. Now you are going to be emptying that spare change you carry in your console. I’m sure everyone has seen the white jeeps that say “parking enforcement” and have witnessed the drivers as they hang their long stick outside the window and play parking polo, chalking your tire with the white powder of expiration.

Tags: pasadena eco broker, Pasadena news

While finishing my Eco Broker certification I thought I should expand my green contacts outside of Pasadena and the Pasadena Eco House. This led me to the Green Real Estate 2008 conference in Denver. It took place July 16th and 17th and was a wealth of information backing the claim that Green = Value. There were many vendors at the conference supporting the fact that Green not only makes sense, but dollars too!

I was eager to find out more about Energy Efficient Mortgages, water conservation, wind power, solar power, rebate programs and energy raters. These subjects have been spoken of for some time but have seemed off limits to people of average means.

This is what Eco Broker encompasses. It pertains to informing and educating home buyers and sellers about home energy usage. The more competitive the “Green” field becomes the more affordable “Green” products become. Bottom line is “It’s Easy Being Green”. I was amazed that with some education and effort you can make your existing home more energy efficient.  The US Building Council has even set new guidelines (LEED) for certifying existing homes, not just new construction. This is great news to the people of Pasadena since the majority of homeowners live in homes built in the 1920’s to 1960’s.

This is important because I believe selling your home in the near future will include the Energy Ratings, which will become as ubiquitous as the square feet and lot size measurements. Just two moths ago a bill authorized by former speaker Fabio Nunez was in front of the state assembly requiring an energy rating on each home sold. It was not passed at this time but other states are also claiming to be taking an energy conscious approach such as Colorado & Arizona, and possibly Texas. I believe we will see it is on the verge of passing in our near future. With the rise of energy costs, it will not be mandated by law, but by necessity. In the Pasadena Star News, So Cal Edison may possibly increase rates by 30% in the next year alone. This enforces my motto for selling your home “Go Green 2 Be Seen”.

This is a fascinating field. It will explode over the next  year and my job is to learn about all Green aspects and keep you Up2date. I will be writing a series of articles about Green technology, so stay tuned….

Pictured: Top, Dr. John Beldock, President & CEO of Eco Broker International with Deena Willis, Broker & Contributing author of up2date. Bottom picture: manning the booth at Vibrant Solar

Tags: green housing, greening your california home, pasadena eco broker, pasadena green realtor