Here are four of the best reasons
for selling ENERGY STAR qualified new homes:
How can I, the REALTOR, use the
HERS rating?
You can help stretch your
buyer's purchasing power by arranging an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) or
an Energy Improvement Mortgage (EIM). If you are selling an energy rated
home, you can include the rating in your fliers, in classified ads, and on
signs.
You can
also truly compare the energy efficiency of two or more homes. also
your client might be able to obtain a larger loan (larger loan = higher
commission)
The
Energy-Efficient Mortgage: A Realtor's Tool
You can use EEM's to qualify some prospective home
buyers for homes they could not otherwise afford. Buyers of energy efficient
homes can also qualify for higher mortgages, which means higher commissions for
real estate agents. With EEM's a buyer has access to a 2% stretch in the
debt-to-income ratio (or more) used to decide monthly mortgage payments. This
2%+, made up in utility savings, equates to thousands of dollars in added buying
power, giving the buyer the ability to purchase a more expensive home.
As a Realtor, you can encourage homebuyers to seek a residence with
energy-efficient features.. The concept is that reducing fixed operating
expenses (energy costs) allows the homeowner to transfer those savings to other
fixed expenses, such as a mortgage payment. Energy enhancements also can
increase a home's market value.
Example: A buyer with about $50,000 in gross income would qualify for $150,000.
With an
EEM, that buyer could qualify for about $163,000.
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