A Flood of Solar Events and The Weekend Poll

Solar energy just may be Topic A in the nation's capital for the next few weeks. The 19th Annual Metro Washington, D.C., Tour of Solar Homes and Buildings is scheduled for this weekend, Oct. 3-5. There are more than 70 local homes on this year's tour. Your admission ticket is the brochure you can download at no cost, except for the contact info you're expected to give up.

And the National Mall is in the process of turning into a temporary solar-powered housing development for the Energy Department's Solar Decathlon, which will be open to the public Oct. 9-18. (It's closed to viewing on Oct. 14 as the competition entries are judged.) Entries from a number of university teams from the United States and abroad are already being built on the Mall, and I'll be visiting occasionally, sharing updates with you here on the blog.

CHAT DAY: Don't miss the Real Estate Live chat at 1 p.m. today. But if you happen to get a better lunchtime invitation (hard to imagine), submit your comments early.

WEEKEND READING: The Post's Dina ElBoghdady reports some important statistics on what could be coming down the road when adjustable-rate loans reset. And the Post's Renae Merle cuts through the confusion over what's happening with appraisals these days.

The Weekend Poll