\n\n \n\n\n","author":{"@type":"RealEstateAgent","name":"Michelle Kim","url":"https://mosaikrealestate.com/team","image":"https://media-production.lp-cdn.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=85,fit=scale-down,width=960/https://media-production.lp-cdn.com/media/vdtksgqfx4qdusvaihlu","telephone":"(415) 205-0742","description":"Meet Michelle, the top producer and founder of Mosaik Real Estate, who is a triple threat in the industry, known for her hardworking, knowledgeable, and trustworthy approach, which has earned her a stellar reputation among her clients. With a wealth of experience in sales and a background in the title and escrow field, Michelle is committed to providing a full-service experience that exceeds expectations and leaves both buyers and sellers totally satisfied. As a bilingual agent fluent in English and Korean, Michelle is a focused communicator, an able advisor, and a fierce-yet-fair advocate for her clients. From guiding first-time buyers with her market insights to helping Korean and foreign investors build their real estate portfolios, to using her strong negotiation tactics and seamless marketing offerings to assist sellers, Michelle consistently receives high praise from those who have traversed San Francisco’s complex marketplace. As a mother of three children and a Bay Area native, Michelle is passionate about the cultural, recreational, and social opportunities that San Francisco offers. Her firsthand experience raising a family in the Bay Area makes her an extraordinary resource for parents of young children. Overall, Michelle’s expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results make her an indispensable asset to her clients, who are consistently impressed with her unparalleled service and outstanding results.","priceRange":"$","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"580 4th Street","addressLocality":"San Francisco","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94107","addressCountry":"US"}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Mosaik Real Estate","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://media-production.lp-cdn.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=85/https://media-production.lp-cdn.com/media/ixpurfmka7zayzy64wag"},"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"580 4th Street","addressLocality":"San Francisco","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94107","addressCountry":"US"}}}
michelle September 9, 2020
Because we have been stuck in our homes for months, many people are thinking about ways to use these spaces to generate income. This in part explains why rental accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have become such a hot topic.
However, another way to turn your home into a financial asset is by investing in rooftop solar panels!
It’s true, however, that not all homes are equally well-suited to rooftop solar panels. And beyond that, there are a number of considerations to weigh first…
In general, California is a great state for rooftop solar! Still, a home’s suitability for solar panels depends on a number of factors; these include exact location, local weather patterns, roof slope and aspect, as well as any shading from nearby buildings or structures. A great resource to evaluate their potential effect at your address is Google’s Project Sunroof. This site estimates not only the financial and environmental efficiencies, but also provides more information on financing and selecting an installer. Also, if your roof is within 5-10 years of being replaced, it’s worth having it assessed before moving forward with a new system.
There are two types of rooftop solar panel systems: stand-alone, which means that energy your roof generates can be used only within your home, and grid-connected, which allows you to sell excess energy back to the grid. The process of selling excess energy to the grid depends on a local policy called a “Feed-In Tariff”, so visit the California Public Utilities Commission website to learn more.
To encourage wider adoption, the federal government and certain states have established tax incentives for purchasing rooftop solar panels. You can read more about those programs for California taxpayers here. Above all, the federal solar tax credit (or ITC) will fall from 26% in 2020, to 21% next year, down to 10% from 2022 onwards. This means you should act quickly to secure the maximum write-off for your rooftop solar panels!
While rooftop solar systems are designed to pay for themselves over time, the up-front costs can be high. Fortunately, homeowners now have the ability to buy outright, secure a loan for, or even lease rooftop solar panels. Be sure to discuss financing options with your installer. And if you don’t know where to start, EnergySage is a great place to find cost-effective installers and loan providers near you.
If you’re curious to learn more about how solar energy works, check out the U.S. Department of Energy website.
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