Hello, I have a great interest in environmental sustainability and have read a few books on green real estate development such as "Green Home Improvement," "A Contractor's Guide to LEED Certified Construction," "Green Building and Remodeling for Dummies," and others.I like the idea of starting out small with my rentals where it makes sense - energy efficient appliances, using recycled materials when doing upgrades, with the possibility of branching into adding solar panels/doing green new build construction once I gain experience and know areas where it will be profitable. 

We shoot for 15 seer and above and the most efficient water heaters we can find while the competition is putting in the cheapest units and most standard wh's. we put in all low flow faucets and showers.We replace non efficient windows and lighting fixtures with energy star rated items.We use non volatile or renewable materials such as lowVOC paint, eco carpets, cork and bamboo flooring.We hire a company or do it ourselves air sealing throughout the entire home.Ofcourse we properly document everything we do that we feel is above and beyond a typical flip and have a third person energy audit completed in order to justify to the end buyer and appraiser why our home is better than a comp home.We find that buyers love hearing from a certified professional that the home we are offering will cost them substantially less on their monthly bills than the competition, and that it was built with healthy and family conscious materials.

Hi,I am a new real estate investor and I was hoping experienced investors would be able to help me figure out how to set up a rehabbing business that focuses on going "green" and creating environmentally sustainable homes.

I know that this would mean more expensive rehab costs for materials, but I would think it would also mean the ability to ask more on resale, as more and more home buyers are becoming interested in green and eco-friendly properties that are both environmentally friendly and healthy to live in.Does this make sense from a resale value perspective, as well as standing out from the crowd in terms of marketing?

I also thought a "green" house was an environmentally friendly home that carried the Al Gore seal of approval, e.g., toilets that ran on rain water, central heating from mantle lava, appliances that could run on an AA battery if needed, etc.

Do what your conscious guides you

Even things that sound like sure bets like beach front property, water front property, or property in the path of development can be affected by future flood zone laws, future zone changes, future environmental laws etc.

I need a conscious collective of tenants grounded as communities staples, because honestly this town doesn't have much.

The point is: property appreciation is not guaranteed, because there are a myriad of economic, social, cultural, political and environmental factors that can affect property value--and it is very difficult to predict how these factors will interact and affect property value over the next 10, 20, 30, 40 years.I'm always surprised by how often I have to say it on the forums, but again:  if your plan hinges on future appreciation (i.e.; appreciation is a necessary requirement for your plan to work), you are not investing, you are speculating.

Our inner voice holds wisdom that our conscious logic tends to miss.