Appraising Green with Mark Buhler

Mark Buhler is a Certified Residential Appraiser with over 25 years of experience in California.  Mark has found a niche in the valuation of resource efficient, ‘green’ homes; which are becoming increasingly common. Mark has recently presented on the valuation of solar and green property at Appraisal Institute conferences and state coalition meetings. Mark is also presenting the ‘Accredited Green Appraiser’ continuing education course for Build It Green, and a new course called, ‘Valuation Resources for Solar Photovoltaic Systems’.

Mark shares that “green appraiser” means that an appraiser is educated in “pillars of green” – which are site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, material selections, and indoor air quality, and is able to identify those elements in the properties that they appraise.   He also discusses the different ways that appraisers would verify the green elements such as the rating systems and certifications.  There are a number of studies done to discern how the green homes affect the values of properties, which shows of premium of 2~9%.  It really comes down to a collaborative effort between the , homeowners, realtors, lenders and appraisers. 

Also discussed was the new building code in California as of January 2020 where newly built homes will have to be net-zero and how it may affect the values of homes. 

Mark Buhler can be found at https://www.cmpappraisal.com/  or https://appraisesolar.com/