Jim Simcoe, Author at The BiggerPockets Blog

Archive of Jim Simcoe

I help real estate investors increase profits and property values through a variety of green strategies. I help clients find hidden rebates, tax incentives and credits to maximize returns on any property. www.JimSimcoe.com

Jim has written 56 articles for The BiggerPockets Blog.

Real Estate

7 Impacts of Green Real Estate Investing

by Jim Simcoe October 1, 2011

It’s easy to think of green real estate as only being a channel of profit. Increased revenues, decreased rehab costs and other factors are all easy to understand. However there are other groups (outside of Investors) who benefit directly from green real estate projects. Let’s take a look at each and what they potentially gain [...]

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Real Estate

Boosting Appraisal Values on Green Homes

by Jim Simcoe September 16, 2011

It’s football season (Go Pats!) and time to re-visit the topic of boosting appraisal values on green homes. In the past I’ve advocated using the Energy Star guidelines to boost appraisal values. After working with different appraisers over the US over the past 9 months, I found an easier way. Instead of throwing into double [...]

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Real Estate

Paulina Porizkova, Small Towns and Green Money

by Jim Simcoe July 16, 2011

There’s an old wives tale that says the prettiest girl at the dance is the one that never gets asked out. Most guys are too afraid/scared/intimidated to approach her. The ones that do can often be surprised when she says yes. Thus explaining the Ric Ocasek and Paulina Porizkova connection. Small city governments are the [...]

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Real Estate

Green Appraisal Trends for Real Estate Investors

by Jim Simcoe June 17, 2011

Almost half the year is over and some exciting green appraisal trends are emerging. Here’s what’s going on: Appraisers are realizing they need to address the value of green for the future of their business. We’ve reached a tipping point of sellers/investors who have green features in their listings and the need to be able [...]

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Real Estate

Home Energy Audits Explained

by Jim Simcoe June 4, 2011

Over the last several months I’ve talked about the importance of using energy audits in your projects. However, I’ve not (my apologies) ever really explained what they are and what the goals of doing them . . . here goes: The goals of an energy audit Determine the overall efficiency in the energy usage of [...]

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Real Estate News & Commentary

Add Value to Your Investment Properties with Organic Gardens

by Jim Simcoe May 27, 2011

I am about the furthest you can get from being a green thumb. Even as a vegetarian I categorize veggies as ‘green’ or ‘not-green’ colored. I was a meat three times a day guy until I gave it up 10 years ago. Although I’m a green guy I am pretty far from those elitist only-eat-organic-god-forbid-I-have-a-carrot-that-wasn’t-grown-fair-trade-by-Uraguan-farmers-within-10-miles-of-my-house [...]

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Real Estate

4 Tips on How To Value Green Property Improvements

by Jim Simcoe May 13, 2011

If you’ve added green features to a property you’re selling, its key that you have a process to quantify the value of those features. Without it, you cannot gain the maximum additional profit increase from that feature. Here’s what to do to Value Green Property Improvements: Research your neighborhood and get a monthly average [...]

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Real Estate

Six Steps to Green Any Property

by Jim Simcoe May 7, 2011

As an investor, you may be very interested in green but do not know how to start or how to audit potential properties from a green perspective. That said, here is a step-by-step approach to audit and green any investment property in the six major areas of any property. This is exactly what to use [...]

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Real Estate

How to Raise Money for Green Real Estate Projects

by Jim Simcoe April 29, 2011

Raising money may be the most invaluable skill for any real estate investor. Without it you”ll spend all of your own money and take all of the risks. Finding money is as important (if not more) than finding deals. [This is probably obvious to everyone reading] Traditionally, investors look in two places for money: Friends [...]

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Real Estate

What Colin Powell and Mark Cuban Can Teach You About Green Real Estate Investing

by Jim Simcoe April 15, 2011

Now is the time. Now is the time to do something about green in your real estate investing business. There are tons of reasons to do nothing and three major reasons to push forward. They are: Make more money – Earn more money, more profit on all of your deals. Land bigger deals, gain favorable [...]

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Real Estate

Green Real Estate Investing Trends Q2 2011

by Jim Simcoe April 8, 2011

The world of green real estate investing changes fast. Below are some of the latest trends I’m seeing nationally. Green companies that sell ‘guilt’ (buy this/do this because it’s your responsibility to the planet) are getting crushed. Green companies selling on value are thriving. Customers buy value, not to suppress guilt. Some things don’t change. [...]

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Real Estate

Green Questions from a Real Estate Investor Like You

by Jim Simcoe April 1, 2011

Justin Velthoen is a real estate investor in Southern California. His company is probably just like yours in that: 1. He has no experience with green real estate investing. 2. He’s curious about green but doesn’t know where to start. That said, I thought I’d post and answer his questions here for you as my [...]

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Real Estate

Marmoleum Green Flooring: Benefits

by Jim Simcoe March 25, 2011

In an effort to keep you up to speed on the latest green materials I’ll occasionally write about various green items so you can get a real world perspective on them (e.g. cork). Today, the topic is green flooring and marmoleum specifically. Marmoleum is a lot like linoleum but better. Now before you reach for [...]

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Real Estate

Successful Traits and Actions of Green Real Estate Investors

by Jim Simcoe March 21, 2011

Green investors all over the US are making money right now. They sell their properties faster, for more money and reduce their expenses through rebates, incentives and discounts. They all share some common traits that can be learned. Below are four of their common traits and some high value actions for you to take to [...]

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Real Estate

Green Real Estate Certifications Explained

by Jim Simcoe March 11, 2011

Welcome to the world of green certifications. This is a post I have been putting off writing for over a year. Why? Well, while I don’t put much stock into the different certifications, there IS some value to them. By gaining certain certifications you automatically open yourself up to different grant and funding opportunities, etc. [...]

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