Green Mortgages, though in a nascent stage, aim to help buyers qualify for larger mortgages while reducing the impact of housing on the environment. Will it work?
"First came green homes. Now comes a mortgage to match."
"So-called green mortgages are the latest innovation in the push to promote more energy-efficient houses, whose owners enjoy lower utility costs thanks to solar panels, improved insulation, thermopane windows, and other money-saving products. Also called energy-efficient mortgages, they allow home buyers to qualify for larger loans on the premise that they can afford higher monthly payments due to what they save on heat, water, and other utilities."
"In effect, the mortgages pass energy savings on to homeowners in the form of increased buying power."
"'It's the most efficient way to allow people to capitalize on the value that green homes create,' said Lisa Davis, development project manager for Olmsted Green, an energy efficient, 287-unit residential complex being built in Dorchester, 'and it has the potential to make places more affordable to people over the long term.'"
FULL STORY: 'Green mortgages' taking root
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