tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4417650879197788875.post3289343974505410178..comments2023-11-02T06:00:04.897-05:00Comments on Sjodin Dream Home: Financing, appraisal concerns for green homes...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4417650879197788875.post-37137047687590820122008-04-11T12:48:00.000-05:002008-04-11T12:48:00.000-05:00We got a great appraisal! This was largely due to ...We got a great appraisal! This was largely due to the fact that our appraiser specializes and appreciates green building so he hunted down similar green homes around our area. Make sure you interview your appraiser before you get him-her to do the appraisal! Make sure that (s)he knows how to evaluate green features and that (s)he can search for other homes with alternative building methods. This is important. I will post my appraisal once I get the last bid so you can see how it's done (or e-mail me and I'll send you our appraisal). I want to help as many people I know build green.Myleen and Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05469541880830953814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4417650879197788875.post-72148650253882519202008-03-27T21:06:00.000-05:002008-03-27T21:06:00.000-05:00Dany, it's unfortunate to hear your story, but I a...Dany, it's unfortunate to hear your story, but I am glad you stuck in, because it's not going to be easy for the first pioneers in green building! I really wish the government would give even more incentives to people like us, but there's always something making it even harder. Good luck with your construction! Please let me know if you have a blog up of your home too.Myleen and Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05469541880830953814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4417650879197788875.post-76534998444888285392008-03-25T19:19:00.000-05:002008-03-25T19:19:00.000-05:00We're in the middle of our construction loan build...We're in the middle of our construction loan building an off-grid home in VT. When we got financing, they told us that they can't assess the real value of "green" homes because plenty of people are building them, but no one's selling them. That's not our problem! And, the appraisal we received was reduced by the amount it would cost to bring power to our home. So they took the total value and MINUSED $40,000 (we're a half mile from the nearest pole). So yes, I could have written this post too ... and they won't let us get a fixed mortgage rate because of all this! We agreed only because it's fixed for the first three years of the mortgage part of the loan (that we're not into yet) and we figured we'll just refinanced once we get it done. I'm so glad I found this site, we don't feel so alone anymore!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4417650879197788875.post-90097850787301739412008-03-18T13:55:00.000-05:002008-03-18T13:55:00.000-05:00Thanks Laura, I know I'm not alone. Luckily, I fou...Thanks Laura, I know I'm not alone. Luckily, I found an appraiser who is up on green building methods and has accounted for our green features! We got a pretty good appraisal, in fact. Now, we're just having to reduce our budget by a bit and find the right loan program. I will visit your blog. Congradulations on building your home!Myleen and Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05469541880830953814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4417650879197788875.post-28923929616482305022008-03-13T17:18:00.000-05:002008-03-13T17:18:00.000-05:00I could have written this entry - our numbers were...I could have written this entry - our numbers were pretty similar, and we were counting on our land equity as well. alas, SIP built means NOTHING to the assessor...the only thing that matters is the square footage. after much frustration, we closed on our 30 yr fixed this monday...a relief. now if they'll just use that low assessment for our property taxes! <BR/><BR/>laura<BR/>tillsnewhome.blogspot.comLaura Tillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16238051177039240755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4417650879197788875.post-61979496318346944592008-02-15T17:34:00.000-06:002008-02-15T17:34:00.000-06:00Paul, thanks for the light at the end of a long tu...Paul, thanks for the light at the end of a long tunnel. I really hope we will get that appraisal at where we want it. Do you know which appraiser you used? <BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/>MyleenMyleen and Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05469541880830953814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4417650879197788875.post-78732678669041290122008-02-15T14:08:00.000-06:002008-02-15T14:08:00.000-06:00you might be surprised to see the appraisal. our ...you might be surprised to see the appraisal. our plans did appraise so we had the 20% equity and did not have to put $ down for the construction loan. and that was w/o trying to get the bank's appraiser to understand our green plan. in fact, there was no mention at that stage that we would have solar and geothermal etc. <BR/><BR/>and when the bank did send an apraiser out to close the construction loan, he DID make a special note of all the high efficiency systems that would give the home a higher value over traditional construction.austinmodhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14494496380071653204noreply@blogger.com