Permaculture and Seattle Real Estate

What is permaculture? According to Larry Santoyo, founder of Earth Flow Design Works,  "Permaculture is the art and science that applies patterns found in nature to the design and construction of human and natural environments. Only by applying such patterns and principles to the built environment can we truly achieve a sustainable living system."

Let's face it. Many of us live in the city and what do we love to do? We love to get out and immerse ourselves in pristine nature. Whether it's on a scenic lake, or on a mountain trail, the experience is renewing, refreshing and invigorating. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why?

A while back I posted and article here on Lake at Home about Rain Gardens and why we should try to incorporate them into our yards. Rain Gardens take the rain water that falls on our building roofs and other impermeable surfaces like driveways and guides it back into the local soil rather than diverting it to sewers systems to be dumped unnaturally in a waterway miles away.

I hadn't ever heard the word permaculture until last week, but I took an immediate interest. What else can I do in my life, or on my property to make for a more sustainable ecosystem in my neighborhood, in my city, in my world. A good place to start, is just say no to lawns. That's right. The green, green grass of home is so last century it should not even be allowed in the landscaping vernacular.  Of course this means saying no to all of the poisons that people put on the lawns to make them weed free. Say no to roundup. Say no to weed and feed. Say no to grass period.

But permaculture goes much further than this. Permaculture involves all aspects of our lives. David Homgren has come up with 12 principles of permaculture.

1.       Observe and interact

2.       Catch and store energy

3.       Obtain a yield

4.       Apply self regulation and accept feedback

5.       Use and value renewable resources and services

6.       Produce no waste

7.       Design from patterns to details

8.       Integrate rather than segregate

9.       Use small and slow solutions

10.   Use and value diversity

11.   Use edges and value the marginal

12.   Creatively use and respond to change

Print this list and keep it in mind whenever you are thinking of making some kind of change or adding a new dimension to your life or your real estate. Make your life more the way nature would shape it, if nature had the chance, and get a little of that renewing, refreshing and invigorating feeling we get when we get out of the city and enjoy nature at its best.

In 1990, King County, Washington realizing that the ever-burgeoning population would need a larger more efficient sewage treatment system instituted a Sewer Capacity Charge for all new construction.

As Realtors, we get a lot of questions about the charge and who is supposed to pay for it. The reason  the charge was put only on new homes was because it was the new growth in the county that caused the need for the larger sewer system.  A case of government and good sense going hand in hand.

A home owner could pay the fee at one time, or have it amortized over fifteen years and have the amount added to their normal sewer bill.  Because it was a part of the monthly bill it was often forgotten as a separate charge. Sellers of homes built since 1990 often did not disclose that there was this extra charge attached to the property. A few years ago the NWMLS Forms Committee added a clause to the Purchase and Sale Agreement specifying that:

Charges and Assessments Due After Closing would either be assumed by the buyer , or would be prepaid in full by the seller at closing.

That calls attention to the Sewer Capacity Charge, as it is an assessment that is due after closing and escrow companies will handle the matter according to the choice of the parties to the agreement.

Ask your Realtor to research the sewer capacity charge on a property you might be interested in if it is less than 15 years old. Getting the seller to pay for it may save you a few thousand dollars.  The charge is $49.07 per month if paid over the 15 year term.  There is a discount if you can pay the Sewer Capacity Charge off early.  There is an online method to do so. Just follow the link above.

If you have any other questions any Lake and Company agent will be happy to help you. Just give one of us a call.