Solar Homes Help Revive Slow Housing Market

Just three weeks ago, we told you about the sluggish general housing market and how it hasn't been affecting the green building industry one bit. Thanks to a new article from the Los Angeles Times, more info has come to light, proving that solar panels and other green features are preferred by most home buyers.

With foreclosures rising and home prices diving, there is a bright spot in California's residential real estate market: Solar-powered homes are starting to outsell traditionally electrified new homes in several markets, and developers are stepping up their use of the technology.

State and national discounts make it more affordable that ever to had a solar system to your home, whether you plan on selling in the near future or not. In less than five years, the system will pay itself off and continue to save you money for many years to come.

"The last time we saw interest in solar that was anything close to this was back in the 1980s, the first time there were federal tax credits for solar energy," said Julia Judd Hamm, executive director of the Solar Electric Power Assn. and co-chair of the Solar Power 2007 conference underway at the Long Beach Convention Center. "But the numbers then aren't even comparable to what we're seeing now."

How much of a priority would you put on green home features? Would you sacrifice other elements that you find important, such as: neighborhood, schools, commute ... etc.?

[via The Daily Green]