GREEN REALTOR NEWS | Vol. 40
Market Update | Decarbonizing Your Home | Rain Barrel Giveaway | Photo Contest
Lots of correct answers for this one but Abby Burton was once again the winner! This lighthouse is on the roof of the Fort Point National Historic Site, once called the “Gibraltar of the West Coast” and “one of the most perfect models of masonry in America.” Completed in 1861, the fort was almost destroyed in 1930 to make way for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Luckily, engineers recognized the architectural value of the fort and constructed a special arch to build the bridge around it. Want to visit? You are just in time! This weekend, August 3 & 4, is the free, semi-annual Living History Weekend where costumed actors recreate the sights and sounds of an active U.S. Army Fort during the 1860’s. Click the link for details. Fort Point Living History Weekend
Scroll to the bottom to see if you can guess the location of the July photo. The first person to email me with a correct answer wins a $25 gift certificate to local green business Sports Basement!
Market Update
This summer has seen a divergence between the real estate markets in Marin and San Francisco. In San Francisco, the median price for a single family home increased by 6% over last summer while the total number of home sales surged by 15.5%. In Marin, the median sale price has shown a modest increase of 0.6% while the number of homes for sale has increased by 22.8%, indicating a slower market. The number of price reductions has jumped by 50% compared to last summer, indicating that some sellers are adjusting their expectations to better align with what buyers are willing to pay.
Why the difference between San Francisco and Marin? We could still be in a post-pandemic correction, or it could be that San Francisco is on an upswing despite a slowdown in the larger real estate market. Our usually busy selling season that starts after Labor Day will be an interesting one to watch. Click the buttons below for the full market reports.
Bringing Decarbonization Home
According to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies, 2023 was the hottest summer on earth in the last 2,000 years. 2024 is shaping up to be even hotter. We here at the Green Realtor News believe in thinking globally while acting locally and that every little thing we do adds up to make a difference. As burning fossil fuels is the greatest contributor to climate change, decarbonizing your home is a good place to start. Luckily, Rewiring America recently created a helpful online tool, the Personal Electrification Planner, to provide information, cost estimates, decision making tools, and state and federal rebates for electrifying your home. The PCP asks for inputs - square footage, HVAC type, water heating type, appliances, etc. and also your motivation to make changes, like lowering energy bills, improving health and comfort or maximizing incentives. Based on your answers it generates a list of projects to do and explains them in terms of benefits, upfront costs, rebates and credits, a project’s difficulty and lifespan, energy savings, and climate impact.
Want to learn more? Click the button below or give me a call.
Another great way to learn about home decarbonization is to check out the Marin Green Home Tour! The free, virtual tour is on Thursday, October 24, from 6 - 8 PM. Click the image for tickets and information.
Alas, this benefit is only available to customers of Marin Water, but if you are, click this link to sign up for the DIY Recycled Rain Barrel Giveaway. EO Products, a Marin-based B Corp, donated these reusable barrels to Marin Water for residential and commercial rainwater catchment systems. With a few extra supplies and some provided instructions you can create your own system to supplement your regular summer irrigation. I picked up 4 barrels this week for my own use and we’re going to try setting them up before the rainy season starts. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Both Marin Water and the San Francisco PUC offer rebates for rain barrel and cistern catchment systems. Click the buttons below for details.
Photo Contest
All of the beautiful photos in our contest are provided by Green Realtor News’ Artist-in-Residence, Esther Vermeer. Esther is a Mill Valley resident with a background in branding and graphic design. Originally from the Netherlands, she moved with her family to Montreal, Canada for a while and came to the Bay Area 14 years ago, where she has since established herself in the world of interior design. She loves to journey around California and discover the lush natural beauty the state has to offer. You can reach her at esther@prevalentprojects.com.
If you know the location email me at lucinda@lucindaotto.com. The first person with a correct guess wins a $25 gift card to Sports Basement.
I hope you enjoyed the Green Realtor News! If you know anyone buying or selling, or if you are curious to hear more about the market, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to help you or your friends make moves. As one of my happy clients loves to say:
Everyone Needs A Lucinda!
