“ Green ” Transactions — Technological advancements , the growing “ green movement ,” and the knowledge that each real estate transaction eats up an average of 70 pages of paper are driving the trend toward paperless transactions .
Growing Interest In Green by Marta Dinsmore , Realtor
www . MartaDinsmore . com
Awareness of global warming , renewable energy sources , and high fuel costs is driving consumers ’ interest and desire for “ green homes .” Homes equipped with solar panels , tank-less water heaters , low-flow toilets , Energy Star appliances , and rain collection systems are becoming mainstream . The government is also on board : In California , a new program is bent on getting solar rooftops onto one million new homes , and in North Carolina loans are being allocated to help subsidize solar systems on 3,000 homes over the next three years .
It ’ s not just a residential trend . The National Association Of Realtors four-year-old headquarters building in Chicago incorporates many green features , including the use of interior lights that are equipped with daylight sensors ( which automatically adjust as natural light dims or increases ), reflective Energy Star roofing materials , and a roof terrace with concrete pavers that help cool the building .
Nationally , the number of green homes is expected to grow to between five and 10 percent of all housing starts by 2010 , up from 2 percent in 2005 , according to a National Association of Home Builders report .
“ Green ” Transactions — Technological advancements , the growing “ green movement ,” and the knowledge that each real estate transaction eats up an average of 70 pages of paper are driving the trend toward paperless transactions .
Lambert Jemley , vice president of marketing at Seattle-based Docusign , Inc ., says a Xerox survey found that 15 trillion sheets of paper were fed through office machines last year .
“ That ’ s an awful lot of trees ,” says Jemley , who sees the paperless real estate transaction ( which uses PDFs instead of faxes and electronic filing methods over the traditional filing cabinet ) as a viable way for today ’ s eco-conscious Realtors to go green . “ Realtors will save paper and the fuel that it took to shuttle that paper around ,” says Jemley . “ It ’ s a win-win deal .” Forest Stewardship Council :. www . fsc . org / en / or www . fscus . org / Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design : www . nrdc . org / buildinggreen / leed . asp .
Quick Statistics
GILROY Single Family Homes Condos / Townhomes
Current Inventory |
377 |
32 |
Median List Price |
$ 635,000 |
$ 360,000 |
Median Sale Price |
$ 625,000 |
|
Average List Price |
$ 816,000 |
$ 375,000 |
Average Sale Price |
$ 765,000 |
|
Average Days on market |
144 |
70 |
Closed Sales |
37 |
0 |
Conforming |
|
|
30 Year Fixed |
5.875 % |
0 points |
5 / 1 ARM Interest Only |
5.875 % |
0 points |
Jumbo |
|
|
30 Year Fixed |
7.375 % |
0 points |
5 / 1 ARM Interest Only |
6.875 % |
0 points |
( December 2007 Data )
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2008 GILROY TODAY 5