Eco-Friendly and Off-Grid Living

In an increasingly environmentally aware society, people are turning more and more towards alternative forms of housing. The range of options is extensive from miniature dome-style houses to full blown mansions equipped with solar panels and wind turbines. As the technology for eco-friendly sources of energy improve, more and more people opt out of traditional homes and seek housing that provides monetary relief while also helping preserve the earth.

A recent article in CNN Money highlights just how available off-grid housing is becoming. The article features the House Arc, a modular 150-square foot home that can be shipped in a crate and assembled by anyone with basic carpentry skills. Architect Joseph Bellamo, who helped design the House Arc, was focused on creating a quick housing option for displaced communities after natural disasters. Though this home option is still relatively pricey at $55,000, it's helping to pave the way for more innovative forms of housing.

Many people choose to build their own off-grid homes rather than attempt to modify an already existing structure to meet their needs. There are a variety of companies that specialize in such homes including the International Dome House Company, Hybrid Homes and many others. Off-grid living often includes homesteading practices, which is why many people choose to purchase acreage so that they have space for a farm or garden. In Michigan, we have a growing community of small family farms making the popularity of vacant land on the rise.

If you are considering an eco-friendly home or simply some environmentally conscious updates, you have a lot of options. Simple changes might include efficient light bulbs, energy star appliances and non-toxic furniture. If you want more advanced updates, you can purchase solar panels, create a rainwater collection and distribution system, or add passive heating and cooling options such as skylights, ceiling fans and adequate insulation.

The type of home that you need when living off the grid varies by your location since these homes are created to consider the environment, the weather and the natural terrain. For instance, Michigan sees rather cold winters so homes must be well insulated and equipped with some form of heating option for those snowy months. A 2010 article in the Michigan Daily spotlights one such Michigan homeowner. Joe Trumpy of Grass Lake, Michigan resides in a two-story adobe house that he built himself, which features solar panels, straw insulation and stone flooring to retain heat.

If you're searching for an eco-friendly home in the Lansing or East Lansing areas or are thinking about purchasing vacant land to build your own, feel free to contact me at MyRealtorRob. As an East Lansing realtor, I can also assist you in the sale or purchase of a new home.

Hot House Trends

Like fashion’s morph from bell bottoms to skinny jeans, housing trends are constantly changing. You can stick with your orange shag carpeting circa 1970 – in fact I think it’s making a comeback – or you can stay on top of the current fads and possibly be adding value to your home.

This is especially true if you’re intending to sell your home in the near future and want to make it as marketable as possible.

What are the hot housing trends of 2012?

• Easy Access: Okay it sounds hot, but actually it’s pretty tame. Accessibility is all about making your home a viable living option for the aging baby boomer population. Many boomers are moving into smaller homes or their families are purchasing homes that they intend to share with aging parents. For many of these individuals, certain elements such as wheel chair ramps and bathroom grab bars are simple updates that make the home more livable for aging peoples. Single story homes and those with less stairs are also gaining in popularity. According to a Home Trends Survey conducted by the American Institute of Architects, more than half of the architects surveyed noted accessibility as a major design factor.
• Kitchen Technology: Technology is not merely isolated to our workplaces, cars, home offices….hmmm actually technology seems to have infiltrated everything so why not out kitchens too? According to a blog post on House Logic, a myriad of kitchen tech improvements have begun to show up in newly built homes. A few of these include appliances with digital screens and USB ports, induction built-in cooktops and lights controlled by smart phones and tablets.
• Non-Carpeted Floors: Homes are increasingly bidding farewell to carpeting as home builders and buyers prefer something more bare. These may include hardwood floors, laminate flooring, cork or tile. There are eco-friendly options here as well, which is also an increasingly popular trend. For instance, the material used to make cork floors is a natural by-product of tree bark that sloughs off every fifteen years naturally thus no trees have to be destroyed to create cork flooring (Deseret News).
• Productivity Space: These small areas or alcoves are all about offering homeowners a spot to work within the functional space of their home. Rather than being tucked away in a den or office, resource centers might be located in the kitchen or living room and often include a desk, cubby holes and other tools for work and organization. 

If you're planning on selling your home sometime in the near future, you may want to consider incorporating a few of these trends. Utilizing trends can help set you apart from other more traditional homes that aren't offering what new families are looking for in the 21st century. As an East Lansing realtor, I can attest to unique touches often being the difference between a home that sells in a month or sits on the market for a year. If you need tips on buying or selling a house in East Lansing or the greater Lansing area, get in touch with me at MyRealtorRob.