Oct 22, 2020
Quantum Quote: “The Green of The Dollar is just as important as the Green of the Earth for Solar Homeowners. As an industry, it’s time we empower them with the info they need beyond the solar installation.” - Christina Mathieson
Does solar add value to your property?
Solar on your home can be one of the best investments that a person can make. But representing clients in transactions for homes that generate their own power with solar panels requires a special kind of expertise. As more homeowners seek to get control of their energy costs and reduce the use of fossil fuels with sustainable energy sources, more solar-powered homes are coming onto the real estate market.
The rapid growth and the lack of education and real knowledge on how solar and solar project financing actually work can create a great deal of misunderstanding. Cristina found her passion and purpose when she realized that real estate professionals needed to be educated to the many positives - as well as some of the unique details - that need to be addressed when you buy or sell a home that has solar.
Christina Mathieson is an Educator, a Coach,a Residential Solar Expert, a GREEN Realtor and a vocal Clean Energy Advocate striving to help those who’ve gone solar overcome obstacles when selling their homes. She is known in the real estate world as “The Solar Lady of Real Estate”.
She is proud to be a part of the team of educators at Leap EDU and to continue to develop the Green EDU programs for real estate professionals as well as community education programs as part of a newly-launched partnership with Hofstra university.
Christina’s “Becoming A Solar Specialist” program is the first of its kind to educate on residential solar power and energy efficiency and how these upgrades affect a real estate transaction.
In this episode, Christina deep dives into how solar can add value to your property, the kind of tax breaks you can get from your solar property, and the process you need to have in place in case you want to sell your house with solar. She also shares her mission to make sure that before she leaves this earth, those people who should be applauded for going solar reap those rewards and are not penalized for having done so because real estate professionals .
Listen and be energized about The Solar Lady’s advocacy and why she is very passionate about solar.
Sign up for the free 90-minute AWESome EarthKind™ Clean Energy Demonstration to discover 3 simple actions you can take to start saving money and make the world a better place – without having to learn complex technology.
Supernova 1: “When you're going solar, the biggest piece of it is to determine whether or not you can use those tax credits. ALWAYS consult you tax advisor. Then decide on how to finance the solar in the way that makes the most sense for you.”
Supernova 2: “When you go solar, do your homework, ask for references. Many solar companies have done the door to door. And they're able to reach out to many people and help them go solar by bringing awareness. Even though that person comes to your door, check out the company just like you would with any other home improvement contractor.”
Supernova 3: “In terms of thinking of selling the house [with solar], you want a real estate agent that really gets it and that can really explain to you, you want them to guide you through the process and not for you to have to guide them.”
Supernova 4: “Whether you purchase the solar system for cash, included the purchase in your mortgage or home equity loan, leased it or have a Power Purchase Agreement - ALWAYS keep all your documents”
Supernova 5: “Read your solar agreement. It may request that you let that solar company or that finance company know 60 days before you intend to transfer that system over to somebody else. Sometimes that second generation home buyer has to be approved by the solar company. Those documents and understanding what you signed are really the key to a successful, simple transaction”
Book Recommendation: “Think and Grow Rich” by Napolean Hill
Important Links:
- https://www.leapedu.com/become-a-solar-specialist/
- https://therealdeal.com/tristate/issues_articles/bae-of-light/
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