The Foreclosure Life Raft (And How to Get Your Cast Away Business Back on the Mainland)

By Ryan Moehring

If you are reading this, congratulations are in order! You have managed to survive one of the worst housing crises in several generations—a crisis, many believe, is beginning to subside. If you are like most of your fellow survivors, you have likely managed to carry on by subsisting on an unwholesome diet of foreclosures, short sales and real estate owned properties (REOs).

I liken the situation to Tom Hanks in the movie Cast Away. In the film, Hanks’ character, a Federal Express employee named Chuck Nolan, is stranded on a deserted island after his plane crashes while flying over the South Pacific. Chuck too, resigns himself to a less than ideal diet of crabs, fish, and coconuts.

Chuck remains on the island for more than four years, eventually becoming remarkably adept at spear fishing and other island survival skills. He even befriends a fellow crash survivor, a volleyball he affectionately names Wilson. Chuck grows accustomed to island life, eventually accepting the fact that he will never be rescued. However, of the few things he was able to salvage from the plane crash, one constantly reminds him of his home and his life—a single, undelivered FedEx package.

The metaphor is not sophisticated, but it is well-timed. Many of us who work in the green real estate industry have been side tracked over the past 2+ years just trying to keep our real estate businesses alive and profitable. Unfortunately, in order to do this, many have not been able to focus on green properties. Now that the market is turning around in many locations, it is time to focus once again on delivering our package—our goal to green the real estate industry.

This refocusing effort need not cause a 180° shift in your business plan. Just as Chuck didn’t transition from a sushi and coconut diet right into a Big Mac his first day back in the states, foreclosures and bank-owned properties will likely continue to be a part of your real estate “diet” for some time to come. The question is can you somehow combine your necessity and your ideology to make money and make a difference?

The port town of St. Lucie, Florida provides a hopeful example. The town, which has the 10th highest foreclosure rate in the country, received more than $13.5 million dollars in federal stimulus money to purchase some of its 10,000+ foreclosed properties. The Mayor of the town has decided to use some of the money to retrofit the homes to make them more energy efficient before putting them back on the market for purchase by low-to-mid income, first-time homebuyers.

The ingenious plan provides economic stimulus in at least three ways: 1) it takes bad notes off banks’ balance sheets, thereby contributing to the “thawing” process of the nearly arctic credit market; 2) it puts affordable housing within reach of thousands of new homebuyers, which ensures long-term economic activity in St. Lucie communities; 3) it creates jobs for the companies that provide insulation, windows, and other energy efficient building services.

All of this green activity embeds itself into the community, making green an integral part of the city’s identity, and laying the groundwork for even more green activity in the future. The last time I checked the city of St. Lucie still needs licensed real estate professionals to help them sell these retrofitted properties. I imagine that holding a green designation like EcoBroker® might make the difference between landing these listings and spear fishing for dinner. Your city is probably working on a similar program, and if not, they would likely entertain the idea if a motivated professional like you pitched it to them. There is a world of possibilities—what is needed is a shift back to our pre-Cast Away, aggressive mentality that we are going to transform the industry, no matter the obstacles.

I understand, really I do. You’ve been stranded on a 100 acre island for a couple of years. You’ve been exposed to the elements. You’ve had to hunt for your own food. You’ve survived in ways you never thought you’d have to. You will be forever changed by what has happened to you, and your industry will certainly never be the same. You’ve had complex discussions with volleyballs about the meaning of life, for goodness sake.

You will undoubtedly have to eat a coconut every once in a while just to keep your belly full, but you are back on the mainland. Houses are selling again. Life is good. And you have a package to deliver.

Sources:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2009/04/26/a18a_swartzcol_0426.html
http://digg.com/business_finance/Greening_Foreclosures_Buy_a_Home_in_Detroit_for_40?FC=PRCS4
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2009/04/11/real_estate/index.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162222/

Daniel Island Mortgage Becomes the Nation's First myEnergyLoan Local Provider

Submitted by Michelle Salater • March 18, 2009

Responding to the growing demand for a sustainable, local economy in Charleston and all of South Carolina, Daniel Island Mortgage has become the nation's first myEnergyLoan local provider.

CHARLESTON, SC - March 17, 2009-Committed to providing a new green mortgage product that builds value in homes, saves clients money, and facilitates a healthier environment and sustainable economy, Daniel Island Mortgage announces it is the nation's first myEnergyLoan local provider.

Daniel Island Mortgage is leading the way for Charleston and all of South Carolina to shift from a carbon-based economy to a sustainable economy. Teaming up with myEnergyLoan, the nation's top green mortgage program, Daniel Island Mortgage is well positioned to be the market leader in green financing throughout South Carolina and the nation.

myEnergyLoan provides a simple and reliable way to get closing-cost discounts and lower interest rates for energy-efficient homes and buildings. Unlike traditional loans, which are limited in size and scope, myEnergyLoan works with all property types and all loan types, allowing it to serve a much larger segment of the real estate market. The greener the project, the larger the energy-credit rebate back to the consumer.

All property owners, who are increasingly interested in building or renovating using energy-efficient features, now have a mortgage product that recognizes and rewards them for going green. Homeowners who choose green typically capture tremendous savings through lower energy bills while adding value to their homes and lowering their environmental impact.

"One of the most important aspects that led me to partner with myEnergyLoan is that, at its core, it is truly committed to supporting sustainable financing and green real estate," says Gary Harwyn, president of Daniel Island Mortgage. "It has long-standing ties to some of the top green building programs in the country, such as the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED, EcoBroker, Energy Star, and EarthCraft. Not many financial institutions or builders can offer these types of green credentials, and this is what makes myEnergyLoan more genuine and authentic in the eyes of builders and consumers."

"Continuing with our sustainable mission, we also want to try to circulate dollars back through our local providers and businesses. Local dollars are said to circulate about six times more through the economy than if you did business with a large bank or store, where much of that money essentially gets exported," says Harwyn.

Daniel Island Mortgage has already received tremendous support from notable green builders and developers in the Charleston metro area. Hunley Waters, Battery Island Row, and Mixson, to name a few, have all added Daniel Island Mortgage as the preferred lender for their respective sustainable developments here in Charleston. Those developments alone represent over $400 million in projected sustainable developments in the Charleston market.

Daniel Island Mortgage is also fielding calls every day from green developers and homeowners all across the state interested in finding out more about green financing options. "We are very proud to help serve this green market while providing real value and green financial leadership in the South Carolina economy," adds Harwyn.

About Daniel Island Mortgage:
Daniel Island Mortgage is a SC licensed mortgage broker serving the Charleston market and all of South Carolina. Recognized for exceptional service and superior mortgage rates since 2004, Daniel Island Mortgage specializes in a full range of residential and commercial mortgage products and is proud to promote a triple bottom line focusing on profitability, the environment, and the community. Their experienced, licensed mortgage brokers stay up-to-date with the latest market conditions, trends, and available programs, bringing clients closer than ever before to experience the ultimate personal mortgage service at the local level.

EcoBroker Announces Alliance with Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) to Benefit Consumers

The Association of Energy and Environmental Real Estate Professionals (AEEREP.org) and EcoBroker International (http://www.EcoBroker.com), proudly announce a partnership with the Residential Energy Service Network (RESNET). The partnership links AEEREP’s and EcoBroker’s real estate professional members to the industry’s most trusted source of energy raters, further helping consumers evaluate and make energy improvements to their homes in the face of mounting energy costs.

“With renewed interest in residential energy efficiency driven by consumer demand for economy, comfort, environmental sensitivity and performance, now is a perfect time to create this consumer-focused partnership,” said EcoBroker CEO Dr. John Beldock. “EcoBroker and RESNET share a mission to improve energy efficiency and the environment, and both organizations offer consumers the experts they need to assist them in achieving these goals.”

This partnership enriches the competitive offerings of both memberships, introducing even more of EcoBroker’s real estate members to the innovative energy rating programs used to help consumers evaluate and make energy-efficiency improvements to their homes and qualify for the financing to pay for the upgrades. RESNET members gain access to new business opportunities and a strong referral network. EcoBroker educates its membership on the key benefits of RESNET through its core curriculum, web site and newsletters.

“As an industry leader in energy efficiency, we are proud to partner with EcoBroker who has done so much work to educate real estate professionals on this important topic,” said RESNET Executive Director Steve Baden. “We believe our memberships and the consumer will benefit greatly from this alliance.”

EcoBroker is the first and largest provider of green real estate training for real estate professionals. Through their unique and award-winning energy and environmental curriculum, real estate professionals acquire the knowledge to become a Certified EcoBroker® then assist clients in their pursuit of greener homes. Since 2002, EcoBroker has grown to 5,000 members across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and New Zealand.

In 1995, representatives of the national mortgage industry, the National Association of State Energy Officials and Energy Rated Homes of America founded RESNET to develop national standards for home energy rating systems and energy-efficient mortgages. In 2002, RESNET became a nonprofit and is guided by a board of directors.

Contact Us

You can reach EcoBroker International at 1-800-706-4321, online at http://www.ecobroker.com/.

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EcoBroker is the premier provider of green designation training for real estate professionals. Founded in 2002, the company has built a solid foundation of environmental education and outreach helping consumers and communities take advantage of energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive design in real estate properties. Through EcoBroker’s unique energy and environmental curriculum, real estate professionals acquire the knowledge and resources to become Certified EcoBrokers®. These real estate professionals assist clients in their pursuit of properties that provide affordability, comfort and a healthier environment, all the while reducing carbon footprints. EcoBroker has thousands of members in all 50 states and internationally.

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The Use of UV Ozone for Environmental Restoration

By Dr. Halden Shane, (The Ozone Man, Inc.)

Over the past decade, literally all service restoration companies have utilized traditional destructive methods to deal with indoor contaminated properties. Such methods include the use of potentially toxic biocides that are applied by fogging, spraying, or hand wiping on floors, walls, counters, furniture and HVAC systems. The theory is that the biocides will kill a wide range of microbial organisms that include fungi, bacteria and viruses. Few if any claims are made regarding the efficacy of biocides against biofilms a polysaccharide adhesive matrix that protects most bacteria and many fungi from outside influences. In addition to biocides, most traditional restoration companies employ portable HEPA units to scrub the air of fugitive spores and other fragments. Both biocides and portable HEPA have limitations that even after their deployment may still render the property uninhabitable.

The use of biocides is akin to chemotherapy for a property. That is, the use of a toxic material to destroy another organism, where, in fact, the cure may be worse than the microbe or cell that it is trying to kill. For many individuals, entering a property after the application of a biocide results in irritation and respiratory distress. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, produced by many biocides linger for days, and few restoration companies ventilate properties after biocide application. Portable HEPA, while somewhat effective for elevated airborne spores, often miss organisms and fragments that have settled to the floor or furniture, and as such, are no longer airborne.

A novel use of ultraviolet-generated Ozone properly sized and placed within an indoor environment in the absence of humans, pets, and plants (with elevated levels of bacteria, fungi, allergens, viruses and VOCs) provides an effective method to kill a significant percentage (79-97%) of these organisms within four to twelve hours of application. Additionally, UV-generated Ozone at levels of 10-12 PPM will penetrate biofilms and destroy bacterial and fungal-protected colonies. UV-generated Ozone also has the added advantage of reducing or eliminating offensive odors created by a wide variety of indoor conditions.

Proper use of UV-generated Ozone includes proper placement of the units to ensure total saturation of O3 throughout the property (including the furnace air intakes). During the application of UV-Ozone, measurements are required to ensure that sufficient levels have been reached. Following the application, the property is ventilated and air testing is conducted to ensure that the Ozone levels are below the TLV. In properties that have microbial contamination, spores, fragments and particles will drop to the floor or furniture due to gravity, attachment to dust and through the application of Ozone. It is necessary to HEPA vacuum the entire property after an Ozone application to remove all dead or damaged particles.

Environmental laboratory samples should be taken to establish the baseline (pre-Ozone application) and post-application to measure the effectiveness of the treatment.

For more information about the use of UV-generated Ozone to improve indoor air quality, visit http://www.theozoneman.com/.



Sources:
“Treatment of Mold and VOC-contaminated Residential Homes with UV-Generated Ozone”, with Donald J. Schmidt and Marshall L. Lowen, in Proc. IOA/PAG Annual Technical Meeting, Lake Lanier Islands, GA (Oct. 2005).

“Fungicidal Efficiency of UV-Generated Ozone Against Stachybotrys Chartarum and Aspergillus Versicolor Molds”, Ozone News 33(3):17-22 (2004).

Environmental Science and Technology, May 25, 2005

Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics: Pediatrics 2001; 107;505-51

GenGreen and EcoBroker International Announce Partnership

Today, two Colorado-based companies, GenGreenLife.com and EcoBroker International, announced an innovative partnership that will provide home buyers and sellers with easy access to energy and environmentally-trained real estate professionals across the country. As a result of the partnership, these EcoBroker Certified® real estate professionals will be connected with a national audience of conscious consumers interested in buying and selling green homes.

“Green building is one of the fastest growing industries in the country right now,” said Charisse McAuliffe, founder and CEO of GenGreen LLC. “We feel this partnership will support this trend by increasing our users’ awareness that there are qualified REALTORS® out there who can help them find an environmentally sensitive home.”

GenGreen chose to partner with EcoBroker International because their certification program has been the industry standard of green designation training for real estate professionals since 2002. “The company has built a solid foundation of environmental education and outreach,” said McAuliffe. This helps consumers and communities take advantage of energy efficiency and sustainable design in real estate properties.

As part of the relationship, the Certified EcoBrokers® listed on GenGreenLife.com will be able to display their designation logo on their listing, improving visibility in the search results and allowing users to compare them to competitors who haven’t undergone certification. Likewise, EcoBroker will host the GenGreen API on their Web site, meaning that visitors to EcoBroker.com will be able to find and support tens of thousands of local eco-friendly businesses directly from www.EcoBroker.com

“We’re pleased to offer our members this tremendous opportunity to connect with the GenGreen community,” said EcoBroker founder and CEO, John Beldock. “The EcoBroker program was founded on the belief that licensed real estate professionals are the ideal candidates to connect homeowners with high-quality green products and services, as well as high-performance homes. Our relationship with GenGreen strengthens our ability to further these activities, which is fantastic.”

Those interested in learning more about the partnership and how to contact EcoBroker International for their real estate and designation needs are encouraged to visit the EcoBroker endorsement page on GenGreenLife.com (http://gengreenlife.com/endorsements.php).

About GenGreen LLC
The mission of GenGreen is to help people learn how to live more sustainable lives by making them aware of the environmentally conscious businesses, organizations and people in their local communities. We accomplish this through our Web site, GenGreenLife.com, which is the most comprehensive and diverse resource available for people looking to live a locally focused, environmentally conscious lifestyle. Currently, we offer a directory of over 35,000 business and organizational listings, and hundreds of green events, green-collar job listings and volunteer opportunities across the U.S.

About EcoBroker International
EcoBroker International is the premier provider of green designation training for real estate professionals. Founded in 2002, the company has built a solid foundation of environmental education and outreach helping consumers and communities take advantage of energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive design in real estate properties. Through EcoBroker’s unique energy and environmental curriculum, real estate professionals acquire the knowledge and resources to become Certified EcoBrokers®. These real estate professionals assist clients in their pursuit of properties that provide affordability, comfort and a healthier environment. EcoBroker has thousands of members in all 50 states and internationally.

EcoBroker®, Patrick Canavan previews a built green home under construction. Vol 2.: Insulation

EcoBroker®, Patrick Canavan shows us interior and exterior insulation techniques in home construction.

Order Your EcoBroker® Shirts, Totes, Mugs, Stickers and More at EcoBroker's New CafePress Store

Order Your EcoBroker® Shirts, Totes, Mugs and Stickers at EcoBroker's New CafePress Store Just in time for the holidays, EcoBroker has opened its CafePress store. At the EcoBroker Store, you can get all of your custom EcoBroker gear. From shirts and caps to bumper stickers and more, we've got the gear you can proudly display wherever you go!

Please visit the store at http://www.cafepress.com/ecobroker. These items make great closing gifts, tradeshow and event giveaways, and are just a great way to spread the word about EcoBroker and making green choices in real estate.

Not finding what you're looking for? Send us an email at customerservice@ecobroker.com

and chances are we'll be able to find it or add it!

Brooke Rundle becomes Central America's first EcoBroker®

Brooke Rundle, sales representative with Coldwell Banker Nicaragua, recently became the first accredited EcoBroker® in Central America under the program “Ecobroker International.”

Scoring another first for the region, she's also been working hand-in-hand with developer Tim Kelly on building an Earthship - an innovative green home built almost entirely out of recycled materials.

A green real estate momentum is rapidly building here in Nicaragua. Just last month, the Association of Nicaraguan Investors and Developers (ANID) hosted its first green real estate seminar in Managua. The turnout was huge and the excitement contagious.

Reporter Blake Schmidt was at the event and wrote an article for the Nica Times on what he heard. It was there that he met Brooke Rundle and learned about our green real estate tours showcasing the very best in green investment opportunities in the country.

Original Posting: http://www.cbnicaragua.com/blog/brooke-rundle-becomes-central-americas-first-eco-broker/

GREEN: A Recession-Proof Industry?

GREEN: A Recession-Proof Industry?
By Ryan Moehring


If you flip through any of the broadcast news channels or publications these days, you undoubtedly will be greeted with a barrage of headlines surrounding the current state of the U.S. economy. (For those of you who haven't been paying attention, it's not good.) Terms like "financial bailout," "recession," "inflation," and "the worst financial crisis since the great depression," do anything but conjure pleasant images in the minds of Americans and, unfortunately, they now dominate our daily news.

Yes, times are tough, and the constant media coverage seems to amplify the uncertainty we all feel, but are things really that bad for us as green real estate professionals? I'm going to propose that there is a silver lining to this dark cloud. Fortunately for EcoBrokers®, the bright spot in this dark time is the enduring stability of green building.

A study released this summer by McGraw-Hill Construction and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) found that over the past three years more than 330,000 "market rate" homes with green features were built, making green building a $36 billion per year industry. Of that number of homes, an estimated 60,000 earned third-party property certifications through LEED or another certification program.

The study also surveyed existing owners of green-certified properties in an effort to gauge their attitudes about their homes. An overwhelming 83 percent of respondents stated that their new green home will lower operating costs. Seventy percent of those surveyed said that they would be "more" or "much more" inclined to buy a green home over a conventional home in a down market like the one we face today. The study also found that 78 percent of lower-income consumers (those who are most affected by a market downturn) would be more inclined to purchase a green home.

While these numbers paint an optimistic picture for green buildings, a cynic might point out that the findings were released before today's economic meltdown had completely matured. Now that we more fully understand the gravity of our economic woes, is green building really as strong as this summer's study reported? Are LEED and other property ratings going to go the way of the Starbucks® Venti Triple Mocha Latte—a luxury consumers might have to have to do without until things improve?

Michelle Moore, senior vice president for policy and public affairs at USGBC, doesn't think so. "So far, we haven't seen any slow down," Moore said. "Our green buildings numbers are really strong, our membership numbers remain strong. In fact, we're at record levels across the board, from registrations and certifications of projects to the number of people taking the LEED AP test. They're all way up."

At the Greenbuild conference in Boston this month, Nancy Floyd, founder of the clean tech venture capital firm Nth Power, echoed Moore's sentiments. "The economic downturn will actually be good for this sector," Floyd said, "because the market meltdown is accelerating innovation. There are opportunities now because builders and decision-makers have more time to consider new ideas. There also is more competition among builders; so some will differentiate by adopting green building products and practices."

So, if more and more green buildings are being built, and consumers are increasingly satisfied with green buildings, the logical conclusion is that green real estate professionals should have more opportunities to help facilitate these transactions. While your EcoBroker® training ideally positions you as the most qualified real estate professional to handle these kinds of deals, you can't possibly expect deals to just fall into your lap. So how can you capitalize on the continued vitality of green building?

Maybe the time has come to revisit some of the concepts you studied in the EcoBroker Green Market Advantage™ course. Perhaps you should take another look at the online marketing materials that became available to you once you earned your designation. If you haven't completed your training, the rapidly approaching holiday season may be the gift of time you need to finish, setting you up to hit the ground running in 2009. Maybe you could get more closely involved with your local USGBC chapter and its builder members. Regardless of which path you take, a variety of opportunities are out there for you to build business and make a difference in your community.

Another piece of the green housing pie that the USGBC believes will be full of opportunities during this recession is green home retrofits. "This is an incredible opportunity for the industry to turn its focus to existing buildings," Moore said. "In any given year, new construction makes up only 10 percent of the overall building stock. But now, there will be fewer people building but just as many people wanting sustainable living or working environments." While helping a client retrofit their home may not result in a commission check, it is yet another way to provide real value to your clients, which will always create loyalty and referrals.

The fact of the matter remains that more green properties are being built every year, and the occupants of those buildings are increasingly satisfied with their purchase. Green building and remodeling is truly hitting critical mass, even in one of the most challenging economic times of our generation. Someone is getting hired to sell these properties and it might as well be you. Certainly no one is more qualified and more deserving than an EcoBroker®.


Sources:

http://www.fypower.org/res/news/green-homes.html
http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/11/nancy_floyd_greenbuild.php
http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/News/Green%20Homes%20Affordable%20and%20In%20Demand%20-%20Press%20Release%20for%207-24%20am.pdf
http://greensource.construction.com/news/080725GreenHousing.asp

http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=2950