Going green has become a necessity in the real estate industry the passed few years and will only increase.  Fortunately, homeowners can do simple improvements to their property that will be cost efficient and generate the highest return on their investment.

As of April 2018, these areas have the highest likelihood of having at least one sustainable living feature in their homes:

Fort Collins, Colorado

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara, California

Make Your Garden Your Get Away

Homes with nice landscaping are likely to see sale prices that are 4 percent to 5 percent higher compared to similar properties in the neighborhood, according to the Guide for Plant Appraisal, published by the International Society of Arboriculture. Making this area more eco-friendly can be done in multiple ways. For Instance, Growing your own vegetables, composting food scraps and lawn clippings and collecting rain water to water the plants.

Here are the top 5 garden features that can add value to your property:

Decent Sized Shed

Good Quality Patio / Paving

Secure Fencing / Walls / Gates

Adequate Outdoor Lighting

Sturdy Decking

Solar Panels Making Their Way Through California and Arizona

California dominated seven of the top ten markets with the highest concentration of listings featuring solar panels and Arizona follows closely behind. Luckily, most markets showed that prices of solar panel homes were the same or less than the median home price. The average home owner spends about $1,430 a year on electricity alone. Although the initial cost of a solar system is quite the investment, it pays off big time in the long run.

Ditching Bottled Water Is Not Only Better For The Planet, But Your Health And Your Wallet!

On average, Americans spend about $100 per person each year on bottled water. For larger households, the cost can easily add up to several hundred dollars each year. Making bottles to meet America’s demand for bottled water uses more than 17 million barrels of oil annually, enough to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year. One water filter can effectively replace as much as 300 standard 16.9-ounce bottles. So you can get great-tasting water without so much waste.

For more information on how to increase the value of your home by going green, contact one of our mortgage specialists today!