The Green Real Estate Guru in Thomasville & South Georgia

Standing Tall: A Modern Seattle Remodel

2011-10-06T07:10:00.000-07:00

Through my weekly readings I ran into this article and it sounds like other parts of the country professionals are having the same issues this hillbilly town has. The specs low quality, cookie cuter and mammoth type of homes going up in neighborhoods where quality construction homes coexist. This is my opinion and my right to free speech for those that want to talk about my opinionated views.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence
September/October 2006

Seattle’s historic Magnolia neighborhood sprawls across a peninsula just south of the Ballard Locks, offering sweeping views of the Cascade Mountains and the busy shipping canal connecting Lake Union to Puget Sound. Architect David Vandervort has lived atop a hill in this community for 22 years, and he’s watched with some trepidation as massive homes have gone up on lots where much smaller houses once stood, shifting the neighborhood’s character and scale. So when the generic post-war house next door went on the market, Vandervort saw an opportunity. He could showcase his firm’s commitment to solid, sustainable design and help preserve his neighborhood’s character and integrity.

READ MORE

Mortgage rules put recovery at risk

2011-10-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

A plan to jump-start housing
By Jack Guttentag
Inman News™

This Editor's note: This is the first in a three-part series.

Policy proposals for dealing with our current depressed economy are largely at an impasse. Monetary policy has gone about as far as it can go, while fiscal policy is hamstrung by political constraints on any measures that enlarge the federal debt.

Housing policy, in contrast, has enormous expansionary potential that can be released merely by revising or eliminating some of the many unproductive rules governing how home loans are granted.
These rules originate from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and in some cases from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). In combination, these agencies touch the vast majority of all home loans being written today.

Most of the rules apply to who is and who isn't qualified to borrow and, for those who are, how much extra they have to pay for deviations from pristine status. The liberalized rule changes would reduce expected losses to the agencies because the additional housing demand that resulted from them would stabilize home prices.

READ MORE

International buyers "gobbling up" U.S. real estate

2011-10-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Real Estate Roundabout
By Mary Umberger
Inman News™

International buyers of residential properties are an increasing presence in U.S. markets, according to numerous reports.

They're a big driver in a slightly revived luxury market across the country, according to Barron's. Although Russians, Indians and Europeans continue to have a strong presence, Chinese and Brazilians are the newest on the scene, it said. Wealthy Chinese investors are looking for a place to put their money, while the Brazilians are enjoying a surge in the exchange rate and are here looking for "mega-homes," according to the report, which quoted one executive at Halstead Properties in New York: "They're gobbling up New York, Miami and Nevada."

READ MORE

Jennifer Lopez takes on real estate agent role

2011-10-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

The Real Estate Roundabout
By Mary Umberger
Inman News™

This J.Lo takes on role as real estate agent

Picturing Jennifer Lopez as a real estate agent is admittedly a bit of a stretch. But as a "matronly" one? Apparently so, according to several celebrity websites commenting on her character's costume (some used the word "frumpy") during the recent filming of "Parker," a thriller in which "J.Lo" portrays a real estate agent who partners with a thief who steals from the wealthy. Photos of the actress on the set show her clad in what to most mere mortals would appear to be simple business attire -- a long-sleeved, tailored blouse and A-line skirt.
READ MORE

Better credit score doesn't guarantee cheaper loan

2011-10-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

By Jack Guttentag
Inman News™

One of the unusual features of the U.S. mortgage market is that borrowers are obliged to select a lender before they know the price. They have a price quote from the lender they select, and the quote may be instrumental in their selection decision, but the price is preliminary. It is not final until it is locked by the lender.
Before the crisis, it was common to lock on the spot, which meant locking the quoted price. Today, that is the exception, reflecting tighter underwriting requirements and the increased risk to lenders of closing a loan that does not conform exactly to the rules. Locks are usually delayed for some days, sometimes for weeks.

READ MORE

Financial Incentives for Solar Electric Systems: Federal Tax Credits, Utility Rebates and More

2011-10-04T13:39:00.000-07:00

By Dan Chiras
July 2011 Web

Solar electric systems are a great source of clean, reliable electricity. Solar electricity can be stored in battery banks for use at night or on cloudy days. Or it can be “stored” on the electrical grid. Remember, even though initial costs may be high — from $5,000 to $40,000 or more, depending on the size and the type of system — the fuel (sunlight) is free, abundant, and clean, and it’s not under the control of some powerful multinational corporation. Financial incentives discussed (see below) and good net metering laws help make this venture more cost-effective, too.

READ MORE

Builders of Hope: Rescued Homes Build Solid Communities

2011-09-29T05:59:00.000-07:00

By Wanda Urbanska
January/February 2010

Americans demolish some 250,000 homes annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and many of them are more solidly built than the new structures that replace them. Though in recent years developers have increased efforts to salvage reusable items such as bathtubs, light fixtures and mantels, mountains of demolition debris still clog our nation’s landfills.

READ MORE

Salvaged Homes: Renovating Old Buildings into Unique Houses in Reno, Nevada - Green Homes

2011-09-29T05:54:00.000-07:00

By Jessica Kellner
September/October 2011

In Reno, Nevada, HabeRae Homes is the brainchild of Kelly Rae and Pam Haberman, two home renovators and landlords who became fascinated with the idea of living better with fewer resources when they built a rural getaway home for themselves. “The impetus for building small and sustainable came to us when we bought a remote lot,” Rae says. “The builder who built our little cabin—we were living in New Mexico at the time, near Mammoth—said, ‘You have to go off the grid.’ I said, ‘What is that?’ This was in 1994.” Their builder, Don Berenati of Sweetwater Building, was experienced in off-the-grid, sustainable living, and he explained how the couple’s home could generate its own resources. “He said, ‘You can power it with solar panels; it works! And there’s a spring we can tap into with a line that goes to the cistern.’ So I said, ‘OK, I have to see that,’” Rae says.

READ MORE

Save Water, Save Energy: How Reducing Water Use Can Save Electricity

2011-09-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

By Alex Wilson
January/February 2011

While the amount of energy needed to treat and deliver clean water varies tremendously by region, roughly 4 percent of the United States’ total power generation is dedicated to pumping and treating water—the largest single electricity user in many cities and towns. In southern California, for example, drinking water is pumped either from the Colorado River and its assorted reservoirs (including the nation’s largest, Lake Mead, which is now half empty) or from northern California. On a per-capita basis, energy use for water varies from about 350 kilowatt-hours a year in the South Atlantic states to more than 750 kilowatt-hours a year in the Mountain states.
READ MORE

Small-Scale Green Roofs

2011-09-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

Green roofs reduce stormwater runoff, aid natural cooling and attract native birds and pollinators, as demonstrated by this small green roof on a North Carolina garden shed.

READ MORE

The Benefits of Natural Swimming Pools

2011-09-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

By Michael Littlewood
June 2011 web

Imagine a swimming pool, and what do you see? A slab of sterile blue water, surrounded by tiles? It doesn’t have to be like that: imagine instead a pool of fresh, clear water, fringed by native plants and visited by dragonflies. Plenty of people are doing just that: the upsurge of interest in natural swimming pools, which I introduced to Britain in 2000, has convinced many owners of conventional pools to aspire to a natural one. The good news is that converting a conventional pool is usually possible – and much easier and cheaper than starting from scratch.

READ MORE

Jewel Box: A Venice Beach Home Combines Modern Design and Sustainability

2011-09-21T11:13:00.000-07:00

By Kelly Smith
July/August

Architect Andrew Mangan knows one way to spread the word about sustainable design: Build a can’t-miss-it, Technicolor, ultramodern home just blocks from the Pacific Ocean in Venice Beach, California. Built on a small lot, the colorful jewel box is a model of smart, green thinking.

We know the members of our editorial advisory board are on top of their fields, but recently their ...
Green Insulation 101: Cellulose, Fiberglass, Spray Foam and Cotton

Choose natural forms of insulation for your home.... Mangan designed the home’s colorful façade to attract attention. “Once it caught their eye, I knew people would want to learn more about it,” he says. “This opens up doors to learning more about its green characteristics.”
READ MORE

Compost Bin Made of Shipping Pallets

2011-09-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

By Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen
July/August 2011

Composting is the ultimate form of recycling, so shouldn't the container used for composting also be made from reclaimed materials? One of the most ubiquitious castoffs in our cities is the humble wooden pallet. It takes just a few minutes to hook together a few pallets to make a phenomenal compost bin.

You'll need:

3 wooden shipping pallets, all the same size (find them behind stores)
Attachedment hardware: your choice of screws, nails, bolts, teist-ties, or wire
Scavenged boards to act as slats for the front of the composter (2x6s, 2x8s, etc.)
12 to 16 total feet of 2x4 lumber (You can piece together scraps, if necessary.)
Chicken wire,hardware cloth, and/or flattened cardboard boxes (optional)

READ MORE

Loan Requests Pick up as rates hit new lows

2011-09-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages flirting with 4%

By Inman News
Inman News™

This Mortgage rates continued to inch downward into new record territory this week as worries about the European debt crisis continued to make Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities that fund most home loans look like safe bets to investors.

Borrowers finally seem to be responding to lower rates, with demand for purchase mortgages and refinancing picking up last week.

Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.09 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending Sept. 15, a new low in records dating to 1971, Freddie Mac said in releasing the results of its latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey. That's down from last week's record low of 4.12 percent, and a 2011 high of 5.05 percent seen in February.

Read More on Mortgage rates

Water-Wise Oasis: A Tucson Desert Garden

2011-09-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

By Marsha Scarbrough
September/October 2005

Not far from downtown Tucson, at the home of permaculture teacher Brad Lancaster, sun-baked sidewalks disappear into the feathery green foliage of a thriving oasis. Even more surprising than this welcome change of scenery, however, is the source of its sustenance. In one of the country’s most arid climates, this lush garden is irrigated entirely with harvested rainwater and graywater.

Brad transformed a barren yard on a blistering city block into an award-winning showcase for sustainable home horticulture through simple, inexpensive, low-tech strategies that can be effectively applied anywhere. He implements his philosophy—“just get the rainwater into the soil”—using basins, swales, berms, sunken beds, raised pathways and other water-harvesting earthworks to “plant water before you plant plants.”
READ MORE

Extreme heat leads to higher utility bills

2011-07-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here is were considering in investing in buying an Energy Star labeled product which also includes an Energy Star labeled home is worth the extra initial price. Some new homeowners buying large square footage homes may not mind paying the utility companies for their homes utility bills usage but can be certain that eventually it will affect their pockets.

By Stephen Abel

Extreme heat leads to higher utility bills - Live, Local, Late Breaking news, weather, and sports: "THOMASVILLE, GA (WALB) - Over the next few days folks will be opening their utility bills, and they may not like what they find.
The extreme summer heat is causing bills to be $50 to $100 more than last month for some customers. 'We've had higher than normal temperatures this summer, we've set some new records. The units simply aren't designed to take care of those temperatures. They're going to run longer,' said Waller Store Manager Ted Aimes.
There are some low cost steps people can take to lower their energy costs. 'If people are conscious of a few things they can do just to save a little bit of energy than it helps them out in the long run,' said Customer Care Supervisor Mark Parillo.
Ted Aimes from Waller Heating and Air says the first thing you should do is check the insulation of the home. 'The house will also loosen up as it gets a little bit older just keeping the windows tight, doorways caulked and sealed helps a lot. Keep the cool inside where it's supposed to be.'
One woman we spoke with said whenever she leaves the house she completely turns off her air. Aimes says the most efficient thing to do is just turn up the thermostat a few degrees.
Aimes says sometimes saving money starts with a new unit. 'So the unit that may have been properly sized for that house when it was put in now is struggling to keep up which means the unit runs more, the utility bill gets higher.'
Other things you can do to save money are turning off lights when you leave a room, turning down your hot water heater, and unplugging appliances when not in use.

Copyright 2011 WALB. All rights reserved."

Small Home Savings Benefits | Benefits Of A Small Home | HouseLogic

2011-07-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

Small Home Savings Benefits Benefits Of A Small Home HouseLogic:

By: Terry Sheridan
Published: January 21, 2011

Living in a small home has the benefits of lower insurance rates, less hassle, and less overall cost to own.ProgressK

"There's plenty to love about small homes--they're easier to maintain, and the price tag is generally lower. Image: Ross Chapin Architects/www.rosschapin.comA small home packs plenty of perks, and generally means a lower asking price. But entry price is only one factor—they’re easier on the pocketbook in a host of ways."
READ MORE

Can You Afford to Go Green? The Cost and Savings of Residential Renewable Energy Systems

2011-07-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Can You Afford to Go Green? The Cost and Savings of Residential Renewable Energy Systems:

If your home already has good insulation and efficient windows and doors, alternative energy may be the way to go.

By Deborah Huso
January/February 2011

If your home has consistent wind from 6 to 40 miles per hour, it may be prime for home wind power.

" The economy, rising utility rates and growing concerns about carbon emissions are causing more homeowners to consider alternative energy sources to power their homes. James Quazi, energy efficiency operations director with SolarCity, which rents photovoltaic panels to more than 1,000 communities in California, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and Texas, says he always advises clients to “start with the easiest things first.” But if your home already has good insulation and efficient windows and doors, alternative energy may be the way to go. Companies are increasingly finding ways to offer lower-cost options such as the photovoltaic leasing option that SolarCity offers." READ MORE

Live Well in Less than 1,000 Square Feet: Living in Small Homes

2011-07-20T06:53:00.000-07:00

Live Well in Less than 1,000 Square Feet: Living in Small Homes:

Meet your needs, emphasize quality and delight, and discover how less stuff leads to true wealth. Three very different houses show how.
By Carol Venolia
November/December 2010

This 450-square-foot British Columbia cabin is so comfortable its owners decided to make it their full-time home rather than a vacation retreat.
Photo By Stuart Bish

"During the past 60 years, the size of American homes has exploded, but the trend is now moving in the opposite direction, proving once more that bigger isn’t always better. In 1950 the average American home size was 983 square feet; by 2009 the average home was 2,343 square feet—even as family size shrank. Finally, it appears people are rethinking housing size. In 2010, average home size is down 9 percent, and many communities—such as California’s Marin County and Georgia’s DeKalbe County—have enacted laws limiting new home size." READ MORE

Homeowners Go Green Now, Pay Later

2011-07-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

February 22, 2010
By Julie Schmit

Putting solar or other green upgrades on homes and businesses is getting less painful in more cities that are rapidly launching programs to enable owners to pay back upfront costs over years.

The programs let property owners borrow money for upgrades, then pay it back over up to 20 years as a special assessment on property tax bills.

The long payback removes a hurdle to going green: big initial costs, especially for solar panels, that can take years to recoup in lower energy bills.

The idea “seems to be catching on like wildfire,” says Ann Livingston of Boulder County, Colo., which started its program last year.

READ MORE

Pipe Dreams: The Basics of Graywater Systems

2011-07-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

Pipe Dreams: The Basics of Graywater Systems:

Use nutrient-rich graywater to irrigate your yard and take advantage of nature's ready-made wastewater filtration system.
By Carol Venolia
March/April 2011

A gray water system reuses water from sinks, showers, tubs, dishwashers and washing machines to water gardens and landscaping.

"Though 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered with water, only about 1 percent of that is suitable for human use—and we are gulping this precious resource at ever-expanding rates. As world population grows steadily, our water use doubles every 20 years. Water tables are falling and pollution renders more water unusable."

READ MORE

Dual agency disclosures fail homebuyers

2011-07-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

Dual agency disclosure fail homebuyers

"A look at some of the worst-offending states"

By Steve Bergsman
Inman News™

Although some states ban the practice, called dual agency, in which the same real estate broker represents the buyer and seller in a real estate transaction, most states have settled for a kind of disclosure Band-Aid that doesn't work well for consumers.
It's a little like the warnings on cigarette packets about the dangers of tobacco that really don't make much difference to those who really want to smoke.
I'm told that more states used to ban dual agency, but real estate associations lobbied hard for the passage of regulations that permit this 'double-ending' as it is also referred to, in some form. So what we have ended up with is a kind of cigarette packet of regulations: 'Yes, you can have dual agency (or some variation of it), but here's your warning' -- which is most often ignored." READ MORE

Green on the Greens: Sustainable Suburban Living in the Texas Hill Country

2011-07-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

Green on the Greens: Sustainable Suburban Living in the Texas Hill Country

Through my weekly readings, I wanted to share this article simply because in my local market there are some agents that consider sustainable homes to be comparable to bare minimum code homes. This only shows the lack of knowledge these agents have. This article proofs that a homeowner that implements high performance features into their homes would ultimately determine their home selling price. I believe for a real estate agent to blur out the words" overpriced" without analyzing why the difference in price is mind boggling to me. Everybody loves a bargain but consumers have to question themselves with this: What such a bargain in comparison to other homes on the market that actually tell you what the difference is. Remember this "If it sounds to good to be true guess what it is not" there is always a hidden because. Food for knowledge.

Local limestone and reclaimed wood beams helped the home earn points for LEED Platinum certification.
Photo By Paul Bardagjy

Natural Home's Show House in Boerne, Texas, is a shining example of just how sustainable suburban housing can be.

By Kim Wallace
July/August 2010

Karen and Griz Adams’ Craftsman-inspired stucco and limestone home fits right into its golf-course community outside San Antonio—with a few exceptions. Designed by Boerne, Texas, architect Ben Adam, the 3,526-square-foot home takes full advantage of its site, with natural ventilation and south-facing windows overlooking long Hill Country views.

The roof sports a solar hot water heater, and a detached three-car garage is equipped for future photovoltaic panels. Hidden underground, a vertical, closed-loop geothermal system quietly heats and cools the home, while two buried 20,000-gallon rainwater harvesting tanks keep it completely off the water grid.

The home’s many forward-thinking features have it on track to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum certification, the highest award given—a first for this Texas town. “It’s not the place where you would look for something like this,” Adam says of the home’s very traditional surroundings. “But we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be neat if we did this another way?’”

Putting the pieces together

Living in a small town made finding talented local contractors easy. “There is a great cabinet maker, a standout concrete guy, and many local craftspeople,” Karen says. Once they assembled their team, Adam and the Adamses conducted a pre-construction charrette—an intense period of design collaboration—to devise an efficient homebuilding plan that considered every discipline involved. “The most important lesson we learned was that collaborating with other professionals during the planning phase is essential,” Karen says.

The Adamses’ builders used advanced-framing techniques, such as two-stud corners and wider spacing for studs and rafters, which saved wood and allowed for additional insulation. Instead of traditional plywood, the Adamses chose commercial-grade exterior gypsum and fiberglass sheathing. “It’s a wood-sparing approach and is used extensively in commercial buildings,” Griz says. They chose native reclaimed limestone from a nearby quarry for the house’s façade, backyard retaining walls and indoor fireplace.

When their budget allows, the Adamses plan to install photovoltaic panels over the pre-wired garage. For now, their solar water heater and ground source heat pump, which warms and cools the house efficiently, keep their utility bills low. “The electric bill here consistently runs around $200 per month, so it’s significantly cheaper to operate,” says Griz, who was paying $450 per month for utilities at a much smaller rental before he and his family moved in. “It’s one of the huge advantages of green construction.”
Read more:

SAVING MONEY ON HOME UTILITY BILLS.

2011-06-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

Homebuyers across the country as well as homeowners are becoming more concern on finding ways in saving money on their utilities bills as well as making their homes more comfortable and healthier to live in.

Yes, many real estate agents are not aware of the financial incentives now available at the federal, state or local levels for homeowners contemplating on upgrading their properties or buyers looking into buying a green qualified home for that matter. Many agents misrepresent their listing without even knowing exactly if the features they are calling as green (energy efficient) really makes a difference. They only do this because of the vast demand by buyers wanting these features on the homes they are looking to buy. These real estate agents just want to jump on the bandwagon without having the education to make them knowledgeable in this fast growing home market.

An Ecobroker Certified agent would be able to assist these consumers wanting to incorporate green features in their homes or point out false features advertised on property listings that they are interested in buying in hopes to keep more green in their pockets.

The economic stimulus bill is the most generous credit for investment in alternative energy systems for houses, already extend through 2016 and likely to play key roles in homeowners' housing choices in upcoming years. Energy guzzling houses just like clunker cars will command lower prices and less attention from buyers than those minimize energy expenses.

Most retailers and manufacturers should be able to certify for homeowners whether the product or systems are considered to meet or exceed federal requirements to qualify for a tax credit.

Homeowners' claiming and homebuyers' looking to buy homes with such features should be able to verify the claims through manufacture documentations. For example: how do you know that you are buying an appliance that is Energy Star? This is the simplest thing to do. The Energy Star seal is embedded on the appliance. Well if anybody is claiming green (energy efficiency) in a home their should be documentation for the product being advertised as doing so. If the homeowner or real estate agent is unable to produce this documentation you can pretty much assume advertising gimmick. Word of caution.

Energy Efficient Improvements

Even though in certain part of the country green houses are more popular than others does not mean that the homeowners can not make the improvements. Eventually, homeowners' that have made their homes more energy efficient will acquire the return in their investments. Simple energy efficient upgrades are upgrading exterior windows, doors, including sliding glass doors and skylights. These upgrades must conform to 2 key energy-efficient standards and product must be certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). Homeowners, homebuyers and real estate professionals do not need to be energy experts to figure this out. Energy Star states that the NFRC is the only Federal recognized organization for determining the energy performance of windows, doors, and skylights.

So, when a claim is made of energy efficiency in a home and you have not hired an Ecobroker Certified agent to assist you just request the manufacturer or retailers documentation of the upgrades and see the rating given by the NFRC.

Look for the Energy Star blue seal

U-factor usually ranges between .20 and 1.20 and SHGC of .30 or below you will pay a good penny to obtain the lowest end of the scale. This will not come cheap. So, when you see a home that has these features do not expect to buy them at a rock bottom price because a seller will not pay top dollar to put in these high-end products to just turnaround and sell it at a discount price.

Roofing- asphalt and metal are eligible for credits of up to 30% of the cost of the materials, but not of the installation cost to a maximum of 1,500. Materials must be Energy Star certified and rated for a useful life of at least 5 years or come with a 2 yr warranty from the manufacturer.

Insulation carriers a maximum credit for installation of 30% of the material cost up to $1,500. Labor & installation expenses are not eligible. To be able to qualify for the credit the material must meet efficiency standards set by the International Energy Conservation Code and be expected to have a 5 year useful life or come with a 2 year warranty from the manufacturer.

You should also check with your state for tax credits available for energy efficiency home construction or for retrofitting s home.

Just remember to get the proper documentation to rightfully claim a home with the energy efficient improvements and avoid GREENWASHING or legal ramifications. This is why it is so important when a home for sale advertises energy efficiency there must be documentations to the claim. If the property is advertised by a Realtor it is their responsibility to verify the claims.

If you find yourself overwhelmed with what energy efficiency home improvement to begin with contact your local Ecobroker Certified Agent to provide you the guidance for your improvements.

What to expect when selling home at a loss | Inman News

2011-04-25T04:29:00.000-07:00

Thomasville,GA communite here is a confirmation that I am not that way off from my previous post. So, when reading other articles within our communite about how our real estate market is doing and you read something that sounds to good to be true think again. Come and read from my blogs and get the true picture of real estate and less of the fairy tales.

What to expect when selling home at a loss | Inman News

Green MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Gaining Popularity

2011-04-18T06:57:00.001-07:00

Through my weekly readings on Real Estate trends and marketing strategies gaining popularity changing the way Realtors list properties. I found the following link Home listings note green quotient interesting to read how the GREEN real estate market is gaining popularity in ways properties are being listed on MLS's around the country. This is something that I have been advocating in my local market and ignored by committee's in charge of these advertising venues.

This only proves more my campaign against properties being misrepresented by real estate agents. The residential construction is gearing to provide buyers with verifiable claims of energy efficient features that buyers can enjoy in their homes on a monthly basis while at the same time being eco-friendly. MLS's around the country are making a stand in order to provide documentation backing properties claiming to be green. By MLS's taking responsibility on a database that should provide the utmost accuracy in its information in respect to each property being uploaded claiming to have some sort of green feature. We must always remember that paper holds a lot of meaningless words if they are not backed up with qualifications.

Not only is the MLS (Multuple Listing Service) providing the options for Realtors to pre-select properties that have some type of verifiable green features but also allows real estate agents with a better property selection incorporating the green features that a buyer maybe looking for. With an MLS that maintains their green features verified also allows lenders and appraisers with the necessary data to provide a correct evaluation of value for the energy efficiency enhancements.

I find this article very relevant to my local real estate industry simply because I see so many listings on our MLS being misrepresented by their listing agents, our MLS has a green initiative at a certain level, but denied by many agents and boards until a need to list a property that may or may not have a green feature that an agent wants to highlight. The use is merely a marketing gimmick for the agent and creating the greenwashing effect.

Although, I have addressed this issue with the appropriate individuals over seeing the MLS and even provide guidelines issued by our own organization being NAR (National Association of Realtors) nothing seems to change in the way real estate properties are listed but yet many agents as well as brokerages flood the web with articles about how GREEN conscious they are and even provide some sort of ways on how to become energy efficient but neglect to be responsible enough to take a stand and follow the green MLS guidelines . This only proves that this green initiative is used only to deceive the consumer.

My professional advice to buyers&Sellers is to be an informed consumer. Want to know more about Thomasville real estate without the fairy tales? contact me. I am an Ecobroker Certified agent @ Rose City Realty, Inc. Green homes is my forte. Call Rose City Realty, Inc. at 229-225-9225 or email me at Info@EcoHomesGA.com for more green real estate information.

Thomasville, GA does have the first and only TRUE Energy Star Qualified built home listed by Rose City Realty, Inc. and listing agent is an Ecobroker Certified Agent trained in the benefits of owning a verifiable green home. MLS# 902243 It just does not get any GREENER than this.

I ask this question to all of you in the real estate industry. What green initiative does your MLS implements?

Little GREEN Thomasville Home

2011-04-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

As sellers continue to lower their home prices in order to attract buyer interest, sellers will put on hold all upgrades due to the lack of return in their investments especially with green features. It is safe to say that a logical person cannot think a seller will pour money into upgrading their homes with green features and not increase their home prices. Buyers as well as some real estate representatives do not have the knowledge or training to distinguish between a standard upgrade to a green upgrade. That's were an Ecobroker Certified agent like me comes in to explain to both the seller and the buyer what the differences are. As I say, you get what you pay for; buyers cannot expect to buy TRUE energy efficient upgraded homes at rock bottom prices. Buyers will find homes that are misrepresented as green homes that merely mention one or two green features that may or may not save them money but yet are quickly listed as green features with no validity to them leaving the consumer with the burden of researching the features for what they are buying into.

I disagree with statements that tell sellers to upgrade one or two things in their homes in order to list their properties as green properties. This is called GREENWASHING and unethical and simply jumping on the bandwagon and bad advice. My beef is not with the green upgrades it's the fact that one component alone does not make an entire home green. Unfortunately, the real estate industry in Thomasville has not change much what sells is not the features and characteristics of each home on the market but how big and cheap a home is. Here is a link on how a home buyer should approach a home they are buying http://massrealestatenews.com/price-per-square-foot-is-misleading-for-real-estate-values/

So, it is interesting to read articles where supposedly sellers are pouring money into green features and green material upgrades to their homes without any price increase and how our local industry is so geared towards green homes is just mind bugling, funny and just insane and far from the truth I just cannot help it in setting the record straight.

I know, I know I will be hated by others in the industry for being so forth coming and talking negatively and some will even try to hush me but am just calling it as I see it and consumers need to know the truth and not be filled with fairy tales about the real estate market. Do not get me wrong, sellers can make green upgrades and I encourage it because the seller will enjoy the savings while the house sits on the market and contributing towards the environment until the energy hogs of big homes are sold out but there is a procedure in doing these upgrades and when done right the value will be there.

People……… adding energy efficient features and green materials to a home will increase the building cost and to retrofit a home you will pay for those upgrades it will not come at a cheap price. In a new construction energy efficient windows come standard in itself it is not an upgrade unless you go into a triple pane window or a lower U-Factor window. I can tell you that you will pay a price for these upgrades that will ultimately reflect on your selling price. Who in their right mind thinks that these upgrades do not affect the home price? A seller will think twice before investing in energy efficient upgrades if they are not able to get a return from their investment.

I read so many articles advising sellers to incorporate one or two green features in order for sellers to misrepresent their homes and attract buyers to their listings. Sellers are mislead with the wrong advise and are used as another marketing gimmick and buyers are smarter than that. I can tell you this as a seller myself of the first and only true ENERGY STAR QUALIFIED home in Thomasville that incorporates not only one or two features but many verifiable energy efficient features providing me with an amazing energy&water savings (my pot of gold) and to tell you it does not get any greener then this and yet this home sits like every other home seller. You may ask why? And I will tell you the God honest truth. Large spec homes built to the bare minimum code standards at rock bottom prices is the order of the day.

My professional advice to buyers be an informed consumer and Sellers am one of you and understand your position. Want to know more about Thomasville real estate without the fairy tales contact me. I am an Ecobroker Certified agent @ Rose City Realty, Inc. Green homes is my specialty. Call Rose City Realty, Inc. at 229-225-9225 or email me at Info@EcoHomesGA.com for more green real estate information.

Top Merchant Award from Merchant Circle

2011-03-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you Merchant Circle for this recognition. I value my clients, network partners and my community and do what I can to provide my exceptional service, valuable information to consumers and my clients in order for them to make intellengent decisions.

Thanks you!

Marlene Bienes - Ecobroker Certified @
Rose City Realty, Inc.
The NUMBER #1 Elite Team

Bye-Bye Fannie, Freddie? What It Could Mean

2011-03-02T07:38:00.000-08:00

The Obama administration announced on Friday plans to reform the housing finance market, including winding down government-controlled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and turning most of the market over to the private sector, as well as requiring larger down payments. The White House proposed three approaches to replacing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rather than offering up one final plan.

The administration’s proposal is expected to reshape the way Americans buy and own homes.
Among the plans outlined in the administration’s “white paper”:

▪ Shrinking the size of the portfolio of mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by at least 10 percent a year.
▪ Creating an insurance fund for mortgages, supported by premiums paid by lenders.
▪ Winding down government subsidies of mortgages by raising the fees charged to cover the risk of default.
▪ Raising fees for borrowers and requiring larger down payments for home loans.

The administration also recommended measures to make government-backed mortgages more expensive in order to allow the private-sector to better compete in the mortgage market. For example, it called for reducing by this fall the size of mortgages Fannie and Freddie may purchase from $729,750 to $625,500.

Raising Rates?

Some critics of the proposal are concerned that the administration’s overall plan would raise mortgage rates.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said that mortgage costs likely will rise in the coming years, as government support is withdrawn and the private sector takes on a bigger role. Credit Suisse has estimated that rates on a 30-year fixed mortgage may rise as much as 2 percentage points if the government withdraws its backing of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Higher borrowing costs could be a thorn for a recovering housing market, since interest rates greatly affect how much buyers can afford, experts say.

“Reducing the government’s involvement in the mortgage finance market is necessary for a healthy market, but should not be done at the expense of the economy or home buyers,” NAR President Ron Phipps said in a public statement in response to the Obama administration's plan. “Any proposal for increasing fees and borrowing costs beyond actuarially sound levels will only make it harder for working, middle-class individuals to achieve home ownership, and only the wealthy will be able to achieve the American dream.”

NAR’s economists estimate that a retreat of capital from the housing market will negatively impact the economy too. For every 1,000 home sales, 500 jobs are created for the country, NAR notes.

Geithner estimates that reducing the government’s role in the mortgage market may take five to seven years for the transition.

“Most people in Congress understand that this is a very political, contentious issue,” says David Berson, a former Fannie Mae chief economist. “It’s going to be a very volatile ride as we move toward what ultimately will be the future of Fannie and Freddie. It’s hard to know what that’s going to be.”

Source: “NAR: Secondary Mortgage Market Needs Improvement," National Association of REALTORS® (Feb. 11, 2011); “Winners and Losers in the Obama Housing Plan,” Reuters News (Feb. 11, 2011); “White House Wants Fannie, Freddie to Go,” MSNBC (Feb. 11, 2011); and “Obama Report on Fannie, Freddie Plan May Boost Mortgage Rates,” Washington Post (Feb. 11, 2011)

New Lead-Paint Renovation and Repair Rule Effective April 22, 2010

2010-12-16T05:49:00.000-08:00

(click to view)Lead Paint Rule Video

(click to view PDF Disclosure Booklet)provided by Contractor.

A new rule will go into effect this month requiring renovation and repair contractors to be EPA-certified to work with lead paint hazards if they will work on a residential property built before 1978 in which lead-based paint may be disturbed. HUD estimates that this could be as many as 35 million properties. The rule also applies to places where children under 6 spend large amounts of time, such as child care centers and schools. The certified contractor must provide the occupants (owner or tenant) with a new information booklet and must follow lead safe work practices.

There are several important exemptions to this rule:
1. Homeowner occupants or tenant occupants may do the work themselves without certification.
*Due to the potential hazards, EcoBrokers would recommend that these individuals be provided with the booklet mentioned below to avoid exposing the occupant families to lead hazard.
2. A residence where there are no children under 6 and no pregnant women as regular residents is a possible exemption.
3. If the area disturbed is less than 6 square feet indoors or 20 square feet outdoors, the project is exempt. Because lead paint was so prevalent on window frames in pre-1978 houses, window replacement on these homes is never exempt.
4. If a qualified lead test specialist certifies that no lead paint will be disturbed, the project is exempt.
5. There are a few additional less likely exemptions.

Courtesy of Ecobroker

Home Trends: Americans Want Smaller, Smarter Homes

2010-10-07T05:56:00.000-07:00

Home Trends: Americans Want Smaller, Smarter Homes

NATURAL HOME LIVING

Home Trends: Americans Want Smaller, Smarter Homes
9/23/2010 12:43:59 PM
by Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Editor-in-Chief

Homeowners are switching their focus from frivolous to functional and paying special attention to energy-efficient features, according to a recent American Institute of Architects survey. As home size has decreased in the last year, homeowners have showed less interest in special-function rooms and focused instead on rooms and features that will maximize their home’s small square footage.

Recent home trend surveys show that Americans favor homes with small square footages, such as this 275-square-foot home in Reno, Nevada. Photo Courtesy HabeRae Properties.

Special-function rooms such as fitness, media and game rooms have declined in popularity. Meanwhile, architects have seen increased demand for home offices, outdoor living rooms and mudrooms. Outdoor living rooms can extend a small home’s living space, while mudrooms provide storage, a key element in well-designed tiny homes. Home offices are appealing to those who work exclusively from home and can double as a kids’ study room or even an entertainment room.

Outdoor living rooms expand a home's living space, making small homes feel bigger. Photo By Michael Shopenn.

A new mood of frugality hasn’t affected demand for energy-efficient home improvements. According to the AIA, insulation, solar panels, double- and triple-glazed windows, tankless water heaters, and geothermal heating and cooling systems have grown in popularity.Homeowners have also taken an interest in reclaimed and salvaged materials, water-conservation products and renewable flooring.

For more information on smart, energy-efficient products for your home, check out NaturalHome’s Resource Guide.

Real estate agents get eco-friendly training, help buyers and sellers find ways to live sustainably

2010-10-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

Home of your green dreams

By Christian Toto
Special to The Denver Post
Home of your green dreams - The Denver Post

Lindsey Kruger knew she wanted to live green before buying a house, so she hired Brad Sandler an EcoBroker who is trained to advise people on sustainable living. Companies that specialize in environmentally friendly real estate for sellers and buyers, such as Sandler s Green Door Living in Denver, are gaining popularity, especially as more people consider energy efficiency a priority in homes. (THE DENVER POST | HELEN H. RICHARDSON)
Highland resident Lindsey Kruger knows a thing or two about living green.

The 29-year-old works in sustainable interior design, but she still is grateful she turned to a real estate professional who specialized in environmental concerns before buying her home.

Today's real estate agents are boning up on how they can merge their real estate savvy with the latest green innovations. "EcoBrokers" or Realtors with a "Green Designation" can help homeowners tweak properties to attract environmentally focused buyers or even connect homebuyers with resources to make their new homes more environmentally friendly.

The EcoBroker Kruger chose, Brad Sandler of Green Door Living in Denver, "steered me to people who would do work on my house

In her new house Kruger installed bamboo floors and added cellulose insulation, which sharply reduced her energy bills. (THE DENVER POST | HELEN H. RICHARDSON)in a sustainable way," she said.
Kruger installed bamboo floors — the material is known for its rapid growth — and added enough insulation to shrink her energy bills dramatically.

Evergreen-based EcoBroker International started instructing real estate professionals in the latest environmental stewardship techniques in 2002.

Green mission

John Beldock, EcoBroker president and chief executive, said his group has since grown to more than 5,000 members worldwide.

Members must take three days of classes to complete their certification and then four additional hours each year to retain their status.

Part of the EcoBroker's mission is to make sure clients can afford to go green. Members advise buyers and sellers toward the latest rebates, grants and other monetary incentives, Beldock said.

Lara Williams, a Fort Collins-based EcoBroker, said EcoBrokers must get to know the different grants and program available in their own backyards, such as a Fort Collins program encouraging homeowners to trade in their old porcelain toilets for water-saving models. The toilets are recycled by a local nonprofit for no charge and crushed and combined into an aggregate used as road base.

Williams said local buyers and sellers often look to her to help reduce their carbon footprint. "Now, that's taking a back seat to the energy-efficiency side of it," she said.

Real estate agents can opt to study with the EcoBroker program or take classes with the National Association of Realtors. That group began offering its own Green Designation program last year, according to Kristen Short, managing director of business specialties for the trade group.

Realtors must complete 18 hours of training to gain the certification. The Green Resource Council confers the designation, Short said.

The designation helps Realtors understand what makes a property green, and they can inform clients of both the costs and benefits of green building features. Realtors with the green designation can also tap a network of peers, from contractors to homebuilders, who work with sustainable techniques.

"What does sustainability mean in real estate? Smart growth, new urbanism, a more focused look at green consumers," she said.

Steven Caplan, an EcoBroker and green builder based in Boulder, said the environmental real estate field experiences daily technological advances. That means even EcoBrokers must diligently follow industry trends and stay connected to green builders to be of the most service to their clients.

"The EcoBroker designation, it's just letters. It's about going ahead and taking it to the next level," Caplan said.

Retrofitting advice

Ken Deshaies, an EcoBroker and owner of SnowHome Properties in Silverthorne, said EcoBrokers don't necessarily point homebuyers to the homes of their green dreams. To do so would reduce the number of available homes by a drastic number, Deshaies said.

Instead, they meet the homebuyer halfway, showing them homes that have potential to be upgraded in an environmentally friendly fashion. The same holds true for the sellers.

"I advise sellers how they can green their houses a little bit and showcase the green amenities already in the home," he said.

Sandler said he tries to tell his clients about not just the major renovations needed to go green but the subtle changes to defray energy costs.

He advises installing programmable thermostats, swapping out shower heads for low-flow models and being aware of phantom loads — the energy lost by having electronics and other appliances plugged in around the clock.

His best tip often involves taking an existing home and retrofitting it for maximum green impact. Older homes, with their thick walls and secure structures, offer a pretty good start for would-be retrofitters, he said.

Kruger has a few tips of her own for those seeking out an EcoBroker or green designated Realtor.

"Come up with a few questions to test how knowledgeable they are . . . and make sure they're really good real estate agents," she said.

All the green knowledge in the world won't matter, she said, if they don't intimately know the neighborhoods in question.

Read more: Home of your green dreams - The Denver Post

Government-backed loan programs for our men & women in the military

2010-09-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

"This post comes to you from James Kelley of VA Benefit Blog. A law school student at the University of Missouri, James Kelley works to educate the public on government financing options for home purchases. He is a co-founder of Military Basebook, a facebook application that helps connect military members based on where and when they served."

Active duty service members and veterans living on http://www.moody.af.mil can fulfill their dreams of homeownership with government-backed loan programs.

There are still programs out there that offer credit and financial leniency in this economy—USDA and VA loans. These mortgage programs provide low monthly mortgage payments to help low to middle income families.

The VA Loan

Qualified lenders of the VA loan around the country love approving these loans for veteran homebuyers. Why? Statistically, veterans are not so quick to default. Also, if a borrower does default for some reason, the Department of Veteran Affairs covers most of the cost for lenders. In other words, they lose very little money when compared to conventional programs. The upshot is that http://www.fatwallet.com/blog/4-ways-to-save-money-when-buying-your-first-home borrowers can save a lot of money on their first home purchase by utilizing a VA Loan.

Because lenders take little risk in approving these loans, the VA mortgage program comes with great rates for eligible veteran homebuyers. Those rates are lowered even more when buyers factor in that they do not have to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI). There is also a no down payment option, which saves service members tons of money.

For eligible veterans, VA loans can be used in any vicinity—large cities, small ones, rural areas and suburbs. The loan guarantee amount varies according to county. The maximum VA loan amount is $417,000. However in http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/docs/2010_county_loan_limits.pdf high cost areas, loans as high $1 million have been given
To get a VA home loan, one must fill out a certificate of eligibility and an application. A VA loan counselor can help with the process fast and easy.

The USDA Loan

The http://www.usdaloans.com/lending-guide.html USDA loan is a only for qualified rural areas. Like the VA Loan, it boasts some great benefits for families.

There is no down payment required. A potential buyer can get 100% financing within eligible areas. Closing costs can be paid along with monthly mortgage payments, which reduces the upfront costs of buying a home. In addition, there is no prepayment penalty.

Local USDA offices are the ones that make final decisions on eligibility. They look at credit history as opposed to credit scores. They will also want to see a decent income to debt ratio. An applicant can visit the http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/common/indiv_intro.htm USDA website to see if he or she meets household income limits.

Which one do I choose?

Deciding which loan is best can be complex and difficult. However, sitting down with your family and a lending counselor can make the process a lot easier. A lending counselor can look at your financial history and present and guide you on the right path.

"The End of the Big Houses" from the Expert of Real Estate

2010-09-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Realtors' With A Lot of Listings-Good For Realtors, Not Good For Home Owners

2010-06-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

Realtors' With A Lot of Listings-Good For Realtors, Not Good For Home Owners
Posted by Renee Porsia at 5:29 PM

Sad that most people don’t really get the concept of what a Realtor does. Everyone thinks they know and most will even make comments like “my Realtor didn’t do anything for me. They didn’t bring anyone by to see my house” “oh, use so and so, they are a good Realtor, I see their signs all over my neighborhood.” “Its a great time to sell but not a good time to buy.” “The real estate market is horrible right now.” Oh, and they ask questions like “are you going to have open houses once you list my house.” And they will make demands such as “you will be here whenever there is a showing!” Seriously? Fact is, if people really understood the real estate market or what a Realtor’s role really is, such comments, statements and demands would never be made.

It’s funny because I talk to people all the time and I ask them questions to get an idea and an understanding for the way people think and know about Realtors and what I have found is that most people know nothing about what a Realtor is, does, doesn’t do, why we do what we do, why it’s important to hire one and what is most disturbing to me is that most do not care.

I asked the question, “do you think a Realtor is good if you see a lot of their for sale signs in your neighborhood?” What I found out is that, yes, people equate “for sale” signs to mean “good” Realtor. I also asked what people thought about the Realtor who has a lot of listings? What I found is that people equate lots of listings to mean “good” Realtor. This saddens me because the public has been deceived for years and brainwashed into this type of thinking.

Fact, a Realtor who has a lot of for sale signs in an area or neighborhood means that they know a lot of people, take a lot of over priced listings because they just do not know how to say “no” when faced with confrontation from the seller who thinks their home is worth more than anyone else’s which also means they are not a good negotiator which means they won’t be doing you any favors when faced with an offer from a buyer. Why? Because they can’t say “no.” It means that they can’t get rid of the homes they already have. Now I know that a lot of Realtors who have a lot of for sale signs in an area or neighborhood like to tell people that it’s great advertising for you and other listings will help sell your listing. Ok and if you believe that, I have some swamp land I’d like to sell you. The only person who it’s good for is the Realtor because their phone rings and they get more business which means that they take more listings to add to their already big black hole of listings they can’t sell. How is the fact that a Realtor who has two listings on the same street going to help them sell each other? What it’s going to do is force one owner to take a lower offer because I’m sure one of those two over priced homes doesn’t have something the other does so a buyer will compare, and choose the lessor of two evils and once the one home sells for less, what do you think the other owner will eventually have to do, right, lower their price the longer it sits. Come on now, how does this not make sense? How can people not get this or understand this? What is that Realtor going to do differently with your listing that they haven’t been able to do with all the others? Wake up people.

The goal is to hire the Realtor who knows what they are doing, has a plan to get your home sold quickly, for the highest price the market will allow. Not guess at a price, not give in to a price, not wait for a price.
What needs to happen is for people to stop this “old school” way of thinking, ask questions of the Realtor who you are considering hiring and when you ask those questions, take time to listen. If you want to seriously sell your home, you need to be motivated to sell and none of this “oh, we have some time.” What time? Time for your home to sit in the abyss of all the other over priced homes of that Realtor with all the other owners who also said they had “time” and eventually become just another statistic? We all have time people but it’s what you do with that time that matters most because the one thing you can’t do is get time or money back once it’s gone. Time is money people. This all makes sense if you really take some time to think about it.

So, the next time you see a lot of for sale signs in your area, ask yourself if you want to be that Realtor’s next advertisement or do you want to be some other Realtor’s sale?

Posted by Renee Porsia at 5:29 PM

Buying and Selling a Green Home in Thomasville

2010-05-03T05:38:00.000-07:00

A greener world is not just a dream like some people in the real estate industry seem to think. Building codes have changed and continue to change towards a more energy-efficient method that includes the way a home is constructed, type of windows and even the type of insulation used. Consumers, now more than ever are more aware on what amenities are available to them besides just buying the biggest home on the block.

The problem arising in the real estate industry, especially in small towns like Thomasville where a limited amount of knowledgeable Green professionals realize how the real estate industry has changed. Real estate agents and firms that once thought that the introduction of green, energy efficiency, and smart home technology construction by Capital Home Builders, Inc. ( a local builder) was just an outsiders sales gig. This innovative and insight of an unheard type of construction was not well received by the local real estate industry.

Nevertheless, as overwhelming news media embraced the necessity of a more sustainable way of life came to light these real estate agents and firms find themselves now jumping on a bandwagon they know nothing about or care to admit is a reality. But in order to be competitive, and with the gaining consumer knowledge on green or energy efficiency of a home these agents & firms are resorting to (GREENWASHING) by misrepresenting their property listings calling them energy-efficient when in reality they are not in order to compete with a true green Energy Star home which is only being built by Capital Home Builders, Inc. But what is the advantage they are trying to push? The answer is simple, square footage, square footage and more square footage with misleading claims.

What does this all mean to buyers looking for energy-efficient homes in Thomasville?

Simply this: Buyers looking for green or energy-efficient homesin Thomasville soon will be surprised to find limitations to their request because only one home is truly Energy Star Qualified in Thomasville, GA. With this limited selection, buyers are presented with larger square footage homes that are misrepresented by their listing agents and real estate firms as energy-efficient when in fact they are not. Buyers are being misled by their agents that are not qualified to advise their clients of the difference between the two.

Professionals lacking the knowledge of the meaning of energy-efficient homes will argue that qualified green or energy efficient homes should be comparable with other homes, and why would they be?

This is the simple analogy: For every $1.00 saved annually by the homebuyer results in a $20.00 increase in home value. So, how in the world would an Energy Star Qualified home be comparable to any standard run of the mill spec home?

Energy-efficiency and green homes are not a fairly new market like some people seem to think. Home efficiency has been around since 1996. It has only become popular in recent years because the United States has encountered astronomical energy price increases on a daily basis and has become a hot news topic and a major concern for consumers. So, this market is by no means considered new or a niche.

An Energy Star Qualified home affect prices because qualified homes are worth more than a standard spec home and appraises higher and qualifies buyers with more buying power by large lenders. Spec homes and existing homes that only offer consumers heavy millwork and more square footage are priced at a lower rate, and appraise lower.

Green Buyers

Buyers find themselves with a dilemma in their search for a green home in Thomasville. With the lack of availability of qualified green or energy efficient homes, buyers end up with the untrained real estate agent pushing (steering) a home that is misrepresented as energy efficient at a lower price with more square footage and fewer amenities in order to compete with the Energy Star Qualified home. Agents will soon convince buyers that their investment would be better spent on a larger home because buyers get more for less but neglect to tell buyers that on resale they will loss between 10-20% from their purchase price simply because the only thing they have to compete with is square footage like every other house on the market.

Sellers will hold firm on their price for their Energy Star Qualified homes and the educated buyers will recognize the benefit that comes with the prestigious blue label logo because they will enjoy the following:

Lower utility bills
Stronger construction,
Healthier indoor quality
Lower maintenance
Quieter homes
More amenities
And most of all higher resale value because contrary to what other local real estate professionals may believe or think they know about green or energy efficient homes they are oblivious to the fact that qualified green or energy efficient homes do appraise higher and lenders will provide for higher buying power. You just need to talk to an Eco Certified Agent and with a lender that provides these types of mortgages for example like Bank of America.

Unlike statements made by others that green or energy efficiency has no weight on appraisals or on lenders are mistaken and misinformed and incorrect on their statements.

They may be speaking of homes that are misrepresented as green or energy-efficient that will appraise lower because they are homes that are not documented as being true Energy Star Qualified homes and the reason why statements are made that these features have no weight.

In other words, is a Mercedes Benz equal to a Ford?

So, why would you the buyer think or expect for an Energy Star Qualified home be equal to a minimum standard spec home?

Green Sellers

A seller that owns a qualified home (by qualified I mean a home that has been rated by an independent third-party verifier) trying to sell these type of homes would contact an appraiser that has the training for appraising qualified green or energy-efficient homes in order to incorporate these values into the appraisal.

Like everything else, these qualified green or energy-efficient homes are treated differently than standard minimum spec homes. A regular run of the mill appraiser that has no training on these types of homes would not be called upon by any lender providing green or energy-efficient financing. This type of financing is called EEM (Energy Efficient Mortgages), FHA EEM’s and VA EEM’s for information log on to www.EcoHomesGA.com/mortgages.html

A lender providing buyers seeking EEM financing provide buyers with additional monetary incentives for their purchase and a larger buying power. Unlike, local lenders will soon tell buyers they do not have any idea of what you, the buyer, are talking about and that there is no such thing.

The only difficulty a green seller may encounter in a small town like Thomasville with their qualified home is hiring a real estate agent in an agency that lacks the knowledge on green or energy-efficient homes. These professionals will soon tell you their famous words “they need to be comparable” and soon tell sellers what standard square footage pricing is in the area. In other words, if you insist and provide support to the value of the home and demonstrate to them that you know more on the subject you will soon find out the hard way as your property will lack the showings oppose to other homes in your area.

Unfortunately, some real estate professionals and agencies still believe that the old ways they use to sell real estate 20 years ago still works in today’s market and sadly become upset and maybe even stumped when a specialized Realtor designation is introduced by their own National Association of Realtors as a sign that in fact this is the future of real estate and a new form of home construction.

If you’re looking for a green or energy-efficient home in Thomasville or trying to sell a home that has energy efficient features contact your local Ecobroker Certified Agent. An Agent that is certified on green and energy efficient homes and can verify for you, the buyer, claims of homes advertised as being energy efficient and for sellers the proper way to market the energy efficient features. Remember distinguishing between the both can eliminate the utility bill shock for the buyer once already in the home and the seller avoid possible litigation for false advertising.

If you’re trying to find an environmentally friendly home and why these homes are superior to standard spec homes contact Marlene Bienes Ecobroker Certified Agent @ Rose City Realty, Inc (229) 289-0139. Buyers and Sellers take the risk of being mislead and misinformed when dealing with an uncertified professional in the Green arena.

Marlene Bienes-Ecobroker Certified Agent @ Rose City Realty, Inc.
May 1, 2010

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Chinese Drywall Firm Ordered to Pay $2.6 Million

2010-04-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Chinese Drywall Firm Ordered to Pay $2.6 Million

Chinese Drywall Firm Ordered to Pay $2.6 Million
A federal district judge in New Orleans last week ruled against a Chinese drywall manufacturer, awarding seven Virginia families $2.6 million in damages.

The Chinese firm, Taishan Gypsum Co. Ltd., which is owned by the Chinese government, didn’t appear in court or even acknowledge the lawsuit. A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., said he hadn’t been informed of the specifics of the case and couldn’t comment.

It is not clear whether Taishan can be compelled to pay the judgment. Nevertheless, observers say the court’s decision will set the tone for dozens of similar pending cases.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, M.P. McQueen (04/09/2010)

2010: The Year of the First-Time Buyer?

2010-03-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

According to the Chinese calendar, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. But in real estate, 2010 may come to be known as the “Year of the First-Time Home Buyer.”

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, says there will be 1.84 million homes sold to first-time home buyers in 2010, compared with 1.73 million in 2009.

These buyers will invariably make some mistakes that they will come to regret a few years down the road, some experts say, including failing to use a real estate professional to help them manage the transaction.

Real estate professionals have the time and the knowledge to sift through thousands of listings, creating market analyses to judge pricing and other key features, points out Ray Boss Jr., a practitioner with RE/MAX Realty Group in Maryland.

"I would want someone who is going to look out for my interests first and foremost," says Boss. "Someone who knows the contracts, who has experience negotiating, and who can walk me through the entire process smoothly — step by step — and make sure I get the house that's right for me."

Source: U.S. News & World Report, Kimberly Castro (02/18/2010)
Realtor Magazine Daily News

The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit | WAHomeowners.com

2010-03-22T11:49:00.001-07:00

Watch the New and Improved Home buyers tax credit

Living Big in a Small Home

2010-02-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

After years of upsizing, Americans are enjoying the benefits of more modest living spaces
By Maggie Sieger | February 2010
With the average home size declining, owners are cleverly doing more with the square footage they have.

Years before house staging came into vogue as a sales tool, Howard Hoffman was helping sellers rearrange their furniture to maximize floor space and enhance a home’s beauty. Hoffman, GRI, SRES®, now owns Stage & $ell, a home staging and redesign company in Indianapolis.

Chances are he’ll have a lot more business in the years ahead from people needing to resize their lives. With baby boomers entering retirement, young adults delaying marriage, and the economy improving by fits and starts, Americans are starting to embrace the idea that less is more when it comes to their square footage. The average size of a new house decreased last year for the first time in nearly three decades.

"Home buyers have been changing," says Fran Litton, a planner with Evans Group, an architectural firm in Orlando, Fla. "They still want the luxury and toys, but they’re putting them into a smaller space."

Although the average square footage of a new house is still double what it was in 1960, in the last year, it decreased slightly to 2,215 square feet from a high of 2,277 square feet in 2008, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. While the decrease doesn’t approach mid-20th century levels, it is the first drop in house size since the recession of the early 1980s.

Smaller houses can mean bigger challenges for real estate professionals. "Eighty percent of people appreciate only what they can see," says Hoffman, who also works as a sales associate with F.C. Tucker Co. in Indianapolis. "You have to make sure you’re showing them what you’ve got." That means making sure each room is easily identified. "Get rid of that desk and computer in the dining room," he says. "Make sure buyers can see it’s a dining room."

Hoffman also advises clients to remove rugs to show off hardwood floors and take pictures off the walls. "The less the eye has to distract it, the bigger a room feels," says Hoffman. "People buy what they see. If they can’t see the floors or the walls, they won’t buy the house."

Interior designer Roberta Lathrop agrees. She tells her clients with smaller kitchens to clear the counters. "You can’t have all the small appliances sitting on the counter," says Lathrop, who runs Designs by Roberta in Belmont, Mich. "It will start looking very cluttered very fast."

Smaller houses require owners to rethink what they have and how they use things. "If you have a smaller house, maybe you don’t need half a dozen different pans," she explains. "Maybe a single flat griddle that you can put over a couple of burners will do."

One of the first tasks she assigns clients is to go through their stuff—ruthlessly. "We all have too much stuff," she says. "Get rid of it. If you’re attached to an item, or think maybe you’ll need it, put it in a box and store it somewhere for six months. Then go back through it.

Have you used it? Have you even missed it? If not, donate it. Get it out of the house." That goes for clothes as well, she says.

Assess Furniture Size

Removing clutter is only one aspect of getting a smaller house ready to sell—or just living contentedly in it. Some big pieces of furniture, for example, won’t fit in modestly sized houses.

"Take a look at the scale of your furniture, and don’t forget depth," Lathrop says. "Things can be a lot deeper than you realize, and all of a sudden, there’s no room to walk because that deep, comfy chair you love comes halfway out into the room."

Hoffman frequently asks sellers to remove furniture from rooms that feel overstuffed. "If you’ve got a huge china cabinet in a small dining room, it’s distracting," he says. "At least take the hutch off."

The color palette is very important in a smaller house, says Matthew McNicholas, an architect with MGLM Architects in Chicago. "Loud colors make a space feel smaller because they jump across the room at you," he says. "You want the walls and your furniture to recede." That doesn’t mean everything has to match.

"Eliminate the high contrasts," he says. Lathrop says the same colors should move throughout the house. "Blend colors in more medium tones," she says.

McNicholas suggests installing a single type of flooring throughout the house. "Using the same color carpet or the same hardwood pulls your eye along from room to room, and maximizes your perception of space," he says.

Strategic lighting is another way to create the illusion of more space, the experts say. "Use corner uplighting and a room will feel much more open," Hoffman says. In fact, he adds, make sure the house is flooded with as much light as possible. That means trimming bushes or trees that block windows and tying back or removing heavy draperies that close in a room.

Another way to maximize space is to install as much covert storage as possible, such as pressing the furniture into double duty. Hoffman encourages clients with children to buy large wicker baskets that function as coffee tables and toy storage.

When selling a smaller house, he tells clients to keep a couple of large laundry baskets handy. Then, if they have to leave in a hurry for a showing, they can pack the baskets and take the clutter with them to the car.

Room Mapping

Before purchasing any furniture or accessory, it’s critical to map out a room. "That way you won’t discover you can’t open the door to the storage compartment in your new end tables," Lathrop says. She recommends putting a small console in the entry or living room and buying bookcases with a cabinet section.

And then there’s the closets: Clean them out. Kay Courtney, CRS®, GRI, a broker in Grand Rapids, Mich., encourages her clients to remove half the items from their closets to get ready for showings.

"If the closet is overstuffed, it says to a potential buyer, ‘There’s not enough storage space in this house.’ "And just to live comfortably, she recommends storing off-season clothing somewhere other than the closet, such as under the bed. And don’t forget the basement.

Courtney says adding a few inexpensive cabinets, even to unfinished basements, can create lots more storage for off-season clothes and infrequently used items from the kitchen.

Hoffman reminds his sellers not to forget the outside of a house. High bushes, overgrown trees, lots of outdoor furniture, and other yard paraphernalia can make a house look smaller. "People want the ideal," he says. "If you don’t have it, create it." Installing flower boxes or hanging a swing on the front porch adds a touch of charm and coziness to a smaller house.

For the more adventurous, McNicholas offers a few easy structural changes that give the illusion of more space. Higher ceilings make a room feel larger. In an existing house, building out a small soffit along the edge of the ceiling, creating a tray effect, tricks the eye into thinking the center of the room is higher than the edges.

"It feels bigger," McNicholas says. And lowering the ceiling in a hallway makes the rooms off it feel bigger and grander. "Even a few inches makes a big difference when you walk into the room and get the sense of that extra height," he says.

Buyers also may need some extra coaching when looking at smaller houses. "You have to show them how they can repurpose rooms, like splitting that fourth bedroom they don’t need to accommodate a master bathroom and closet," Hoffman says. It’s not uncommon for him to bring along an architect or remodeling expert to help potential buyers see the possibilities.

"People want the perfect house immediately," he says. "When they’re buying a smaller house, you have to prep them. Let them know they may have to make a few changes, but that it’s not scary or overly difficult."

He also likes to highlight the benefits of smaller houses. "They tend to be closer to the city, which means easy access to public transportation," Hoffman says. "And they’re often single floor, too, which can be useful in so many ways, from cleaning to just getting around."

Another benefit of a modestly sized house is that it forces families to spend time together, says McNicholas. "When everyone has a room to be entertained in, you’re not interacting much," he says. "When you have a smaller space, it puts you together. You can rediscover your family."

But buyers do have to think differently. "It takes more thought and planning to live in a smaller space," Lathrop says. "You have to think about what you need, how you can be more efficient, and where can you add storage." The key is not to be afraid and to embrace the benefits, she says. "It’s much easier to take care of, and your electric bill will be lower. What’s not to love?"

Storage Smarts

If space is at a premium, home owners need storage that’s both functional and beautiful. These days, it’s not hard to find. "They’re coming out with wonderful furniture with storage built right in," says interior designer Roberta Lathrop. "There are storage ottomans, end tables—even chairs with places to store your remote."

When looking for pieces that can double as hidden storage space, pick designs that don’t skimp on the details.

"Traditional details like crown molding or base moldings make a room feel grander," says Matthew McNicholas, an architect with MGLM Architects in Chicago. The same can be applied to furniture. "A room is nicer when the details in it are nice," he says. "The trend in bigger houses is to use less expensive materials because you need so much of it." In a smaller space, it’s easier to upgrade the materials for a more elegant feel.

Don’t forget "found" storage, or space that isn’t obvious. Home owners can install bed risers, which safely lift a bed five or six inches to create storage space underneath.

Another example: spice risers for kitchen cupboards. The bleacher-like devices create three times the space of a single cabinet. Many companies now offer heavy-duty shelving that attaches to the ceiling in garages, basements, and laundry rooms.

Stashed Away

Small closets call for big ideas when it comes to maximizing space. Some are simple and relatively inexpensive, such as adding a second hanging rod or storing off-season clothes under the bed. Experts suggest adding a shelf or two above the rods, hooks on the back of doors and bedside tables with lots of drawers. Decorative hooks on the walls can be used for purses or belts and ties.

Of course, the simplest way to create more closet space is to reduce what’s going into it. "When it comes to closets, we just don’t realize how much we really have," says interior designer Roberta Latham. She suggests trying on each piece of clothing to see what fits and what still works.

If it doesn’t fit, donate it. If something needs mending or is stained—and has been that way more than six months—get rid of it.

"Do an inventory and determine how much space you need for tops, bottoms, shoes, and purses," she says. "Then identify your living habits. Do you like to reach in and grab, or do you prefer everything neatly folded away?" That can help determine what type of storage you need.

Target the closet doors. Replacing a sliding closet door with a regular double door can add six inches of hanging space. Changing to bi-fold or pocket doors can add even more space, Lathrop says.

Architect Matthew McNicholas says to look for empty or dead space to add built-in bookshelves or cabinets.

Other than the bedroom, the kitchen is probably the room most in need of storage space. "There are so many new, more efficient ways of storing things," Lathrop says. "There are rollouts [in the cabinets], spice racks, all sorts of things."

In terms of design, Lathrop says the trend is toward "a European look" that has more efficient storage than the traditional American cabinets. "The kitchen is one of the main meeting areas in a house," she says. "You should think about how you’re going to use the space and what you need to store."

Keeping Order

Coat Rack A line of decorative hooks hung on the wall can neatly store coats, purses, and scarves. Many sets come with a shelf on top, creating even more space.

Trundle Drawers For storing off-season clothes, large or odd-sized toys, or anything else that will fit under the bed or under a table. Be sure to look for rolling casters.

Trunks Trunks made of metal, wicker, or canvas can function as coffee tables or end tables with loads of storage inside.

Corner Cabinets These shelves slide into corners to turn dead space into storage. They come in a variety of heights, widths, and finishes, and many have doors to hide what’s inside. Try open, hanging corner shelves for a more modern look.

You can contact the staff of REALTOR® magazine by e-mail at narpubs@realtors.org.

State of the Union: Building Infrastructure and Creating Jobs at Home

2010-01-28T16:25:00.001-08:00

This is our future. As a super power we should lead not follow. We waited 8 years to long.

Historic Thomasville

2010-01-28T07:04:00.001-08:00

This is our beautiful town. It is said that it is the most historic town in Georgia and you can see why.

NAR: FHA Key to Housing Market and Recovery

2009-12-05T04:50:00.000-08:00

The Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance program is a critical part of the American housing fabric and has never been more important than it is in today’s market, NAR President Vicki Cox Golder told a congressional panel this week.

Testifying before the House Committee on Financial Services, Golder said that the FHA program is fiscally sound with responsible underwriting, and needs enhancements not radical reform. She urged Congress and the administration to tread lightly before making changes to a program that has a profound impact on economic recovery and serves the nation’s families.

“With the collapse of the private mortgage market, the importance of the FHA mortgage insurance program has never been more apparent. Thus far in 2009, nearly 80 percent of all FHA insured purchasers are first-time homebuyers. And if you take a closer look at the numbers, you’ll see that program is doing exactly what it was designed to do—make more affordable mortgage financing available to homeowners,” said Golder, owner of Vicki L. Cox & Associates in Tucson, Ariz.

She pointed out that this year almost 50 percent of non-white Hispanic borrowers used FHA insurance or the Veterans Administration’s loan guaranty for home-purchase loans and 21 percent used the FHA or VA program to refinance a home loan. Last year, more than 60 percent of home-purchase loans and about 45 percent of refinance loans to black homebuyers were insured or guaranteed by either FHA or VA.

“As the leading advocate for homeownership and housing issues, NAR knows that without FHA mortgage insurance, our housing market could never start to recover,” Golder said.

FHA’s decline in reserves is in part a reflection of a projected change in home price values, and is not tied to excessive increases in defaults or unsound underwriting practices, she said. In citing the recent FHA audit, Golder said, “If FHA makes no changes to the way it does business today, the reserves will actually exceed 2 percent in the next several years. FHA has sufficient reserves.”

FHA cash reserves and capital reserves give the agency combined assets of $30.4 billion—enough to pay all claims over a 30-year period. Most banks are required to hold reserves sufficient to pay only one year of claims. “REALTORS® strongly believe that FHA is taking the necessary steps to assure its financial solvency,” Golder said.

“We look forward to working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. We have confidence that FHA Commissioner Dave Stevens will do what’s needed to ensure the financial health and stability of the FHA fund. We encourage FHA to take steps that will have the least impact on FHA borrowers who are such an important part of our housing and economic recovery,” said Golder.

NAR strongly opposes H.R. 3706, the “FHA Taxpayer Protection Act of 2009,” which would increase FHA’s downpayment requirement. The bill would not add anything to FHA reserves but would put homeownership out of reach for many creditworthy borrowers.

“REALTORS® believe that the best way to ensure FHA’s success is to strengthen it,” she said.

Golder also thanked Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and the committee for passing legislation to extend the higher loan limits through 2010, but urged the committee to make the higher limits permanent. “The higher limits are not just for a few states with high median prices. There are currently 245 counties in 28 states that have high cost limits—this is a national issue,” she said.

Source: NAR

Selling Smaller Homes

2009-11-28T04:39:00.000-08:00

In this economic climate, more buyers are being lured to the charms of small homes. Find out what factors are attracting them and how you can promote these listings to consumers.

For buyers trying to play it safe in the softening housing market, a smaller home may be the way to go. Smaller homes tend to not only be more affordable but more energy efficient.

"'Not so big' has almost become chic. Conspicuous consumption is no longer cool," says Susanka, who defines a small home as a third less space than the buyer needs. "It doesn't mean 'less than.'"

Maximizing Square Footage in a Smaller Home

As an architect, Susanka became frustrated when discussions with clients always began with square footage. "I really tried to change the discussions away from size into the things that really matter," she says.

Genevieve Ferraro shares a 1,800-square-foot house in Evanston, Ill., with her husband, two children, and a dog. "Long story short, my husband refused to move to a larger house and I couldn't find a professional decorator who could help me design the house," she says.

Ferraro launched a business, The Jewel Box Home, two years ago where she helps owners of small homes address storage, child-rearing, landscaping, and color choices. She works with various budgets and sometimes all it takes is just a simple rearranging of furniture to make a small space appear bigger and more cozy.

"A smaller space needs a certain type of flow," Ferraro says. "There's this conventional wisdom that bigger is always better and we have all sort of bought into that. There's a stigma that small homes are second-rate."

With a small home, you don't have to sacrifice design or functionality. For example, Ferraro offers some of the following tips for making a small home feel not so small:

•Decide on the room's primary function and let that guide your decorating.
•Keep color, furniture, lighting, and accessories in proportion. In other words, no large-scale pieces should be in a small room. Keep all the furnishings small and it will enlarge the space.
•Rearrange furniture so that the legs show on all of your upholstered pieces. This creates a feeling of space and light and allows the eye to travel across the room and see "through" furnishings.
•Keep tabletop accessories to a minimum. Have no more than three coffee tables and side tables. If you have a large collection of accessories, display them in rotating groups.

The Convenience Factor

In the historic districts and city centers of Maricopa County, Ariz., which includes Phoenix, smaller homes have only recently became affordable. A big part of their attraction is being within a short walk to restaurants, bars, shops, and other services.

"People can pick up foreclosures or flips and can spend their money on furnishings and fixtures … making it a luxury property on a better budget," says Heather Wagenhals of HQ Real Estate and Investment in Phoenix. "You can create your own paradise within four walls, and it doesn't have to be 10,000 square feet. We're seeing some really gentrified areas turning into charming places to live."

Tony Frantis specializes in selling homes in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City, near the University of Utah, the state's largest employer. Homes here—built between 1890 and 1950 and a mix of classic bungalows and Federal/Victorian style—range somewhere between 800 and 1,100 square feet and sell for $190,000 to $300,000.

"When people are looking for small homes, they're gravitating toward areas that are neighborhood-rich," says Frantis. "Most of these people could walk to anything they need."

Some new-development communities also think smaller is better. Diane Balciar sells homes in Westhaven, a development in Franklin, Tenn.

"It's like a Rockwell scene," she says, referring to beautiful streetscapes (along with a dedicated person who visits homes to help with gardening), monthly concerts, a town center with shopping and dining, and a 15,000-square-foot clubhouse with a fitness center. An elementary school is on the horizon. Home sizes start at 2,000 square feet (the average is 3,200 square feet), beginning at $280,000 for a two-bedroom property. But the most popular home purchase are the smaller houses, she says.

An Economic Decision

How home buyers arrive at the decision to live in a small home varies, of course. Kerri Campbell and her husband never thought they'd end up living year-round in a 480-square-foot house they built four years ago as a vacation getaway. In 2007 they sold their sizeable house in Kansas City and relocated to this rustic abode deep in the Ozark Mountains, an hour from Branson, Mo.

"We were ready for a change. Our intention was to either build onto the house or build another house," she says. They hadn't counted on building costs to double and being forced to accept a lower asking price on their Kansas City house. So they decided to make the small house theirs.

With the tighter corridors, they have less space to spread out.

"It's renewed our relationship and made us like each other again," says Campbell, who is writing a memoir about small-house living.

Indeed, many people are looking for a simpler life and a small home equates to that, says Gregory Paul Johnson, co-founder of Small House Society, which gets 25,000 visitors a month to its Web site.

He points to the New Urbanism movement (which promotes walkable neighborhoods) and that more people are using cafes as their living room. Plus, appliances—especially televisions—are smaller than they once were and no longer compromise space.

"People are getting stressed out and overwhelmed, and the economy's just part of that," Johnson says. "The bigger the house, the bigger the headache."

Source: By Kristine Hansen | December 2009/Realtor Magazine

Fannie Mae: New Affordable Housing Options

2009-11-28T04:37:00.000-08:00

Fannie Mae announced Tuesday that it has launched several initiatives designed to stabilize neighborhoods and promote purchases by owner occupants and low-income buyers.

Fannie Mae’s “First Look” initiative offers buyers who intend to live in the home, particularly low-income buyers, an opportunity to make an offer during the first 15 days the property is on the market. Investors can only make an offer after the first 15 days have passed.

Other programs aimed at stabilizing neighborhoods include:

Deposit Waivers. Fannie Mae will waive the earnest money/deposit requirement for public entities using public funds to purchase a Fannie Mae-owned property. Individual home buyers who have qualified for public funds and want to purchase a Fannie Mae-owned property do not have to meet the usual earnest money/deposit requirement either. Deposits for these buyers can be as low as $500.
Reserved Contract Period. Upon receipt of an acceptable offer, buyers have the ability to renegotiate their offer after obtaining an appraisal.
Extra Time for Closing. Buyers receive up to 45 days to close – 15 days more than is usually permitted for purchases of Fannie Mae-owned properties.

Source: Fannie Mae (11/24/2009)

Declining Dollar Brings Foreign Investors

2009-11-28T04:33:00.000-08:00

Falling prices for real estate and the declining value of the dollar are luring investors from all over the world to purchase properties for as little as half what they might have paid four years ago.

"This could be a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real estate investment," says Arthur Wong, whose Calgary, Alberta-based U.S. Real Estate Fund has invested $5 million in properties in the U.S. Southwest and plans to buy millions more.

Buyers from countries like Brazil, Canada, France, and the Netherlands, whose currencies are particularly strong against the dollar, are spending millions on luxury condos in New York City, Las Vegas, and Miami. Foreign buyers also find the warm climates of California, Texas, and Arizona attractive.

Peter Zalewski, a principal with Miami-based Condo Vultures, says he has sold foreign condo buyers seven bulk deals in downtown Miami alone, with investors coming from Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Italy, Norway, and Venezuela.

Source: MSNBC (11/22/09)

Tax Credit Quandaries Answered

2009-11-28T04:29:00.000-08:00

The complexity of new home buyer tax credits leaves potential buyers with many questions. Here are answers to some of the most confusing:

How does a current home owner qualify for the $6,500 credit?Buyers must have lived in their homes for at least five out of the last eight years. The home they buy must become their primary residence, but buyers don’t have to sell their previous home. They can use the previous home as a rental or a second home and still claim the credit.

Does the new home have to be more expensive than the one the buyer currently owns?No. It is fine to use it to downsize. If the property sells for more than $800,000, the buyers don’t qualify.

Can buyers who are building a new home claim the credit? Yes, although the contract must be in place by April 30 and the buyer must move in by July 1.

Can buyers claim the credit if they purchase a home from a relative? No. The legislation prohibits taxpayers from claiming the credit if the sale is between “related parties,” including parent, grandparent, child, or grandchild.

Source: USA Today, Sandra Block (11/24/2009)

Obama MIT Green Speech: We Must Fight Cynics And Deniers On Climate Bill

2009-10-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — President Barack Obama said Friday that opponents of his energy bill are disputing the evidence of global warming in a cynical ploy to undermine efforts to curb pollution and steer the nation to greener energy sources.

Obama said some opponents "make cynical claims that contradict the overwhelming scientific evidence when it comes to climate change – claims whose only purpose is to defeat or delay the change that we know is necessary."

He also appeared to be taking on chief critics like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers, though not by name.

"There are those who will suggest that moving toward clean energy will destroy our economy, when it's the system we currently have that endangers our prosperity and prevents us from creating millions of new jobs," Obama told his audience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Using familiar refrains from his campaign and his administration as Congress mulls its next move on the climate bill, the speech was designed as a nudge for lawmakers to act on a top priority of the president's.

Next week, the Senate environment committee will take up its version of a global warming bill. The legislation would cut greenhouse gases by about 80 percent by 2050 – as the president called for in his campaign – and require more domestic energy to come from renewable sources such as wind, solar and hydropower. The House passed a similar bill in June.

The two business groups to which Obama alluded oppose reducing emissions by allowing companies to buy and sell permits to pollute, a system known as cap and trade.

With work still to be done on health care and deep divisions in Congress over the best approach to climate change, the chances the Senate will pass a climate bill by the end of the year are slim. That means U.S. negotiators are likely to not have firm targets set before 192 nations gather in Copenhagen, Denmark, to hammer out a new treaty to slow global warming.

"This should not be a partisan issue," Obama said, urging bipartisan answers on a day largely devoted to raising campaign money for fellow Democrats. "The closer we get, the harder the opposition will fight."

___

Associated Press writer Dina Cappiello contributed to this report from Washington.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/23/obama-mit-green-speech-we_n_331903.html

On Thursday, President-elect Barack Obama called for doubling production of alternative energy in the United States over the next three years as part

2009-10-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, President-elect Barack Obama called for doubling production of alternative energy in the United States over the next three years as part of his "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." In a speech officially rolling out the plan, he also set a goal of retrofitting more than 75 percent of federal buildings and 2 million homes to make them more energy-efficient.

"In the process, we will put Americans to work in new jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced -- jobs building solar panels and wind turbines; constructing fuel-efficient cars and buildings; and developing the new energy technologies that will lead to even more jobs, more savings, and a cleaner, safer planet in the bargain," he said. (He did not say, nor is it entirely clear, why jobs manufacturing turbines and cars can't be outsourced.)

Obama also pledged to make major investments in infrastructure, including not just road and bridge repairs but construction of a new, national "smart grid" that "will save us money, protect our power sources from blackout or attack, and deliver clean, alternative forms of energy to every corner of our nation."

Read the whole story here.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/08/obama-green-stimulus-will_n_156367.html

Prediction: Homes Sales to Rise 11 Percent

2009-10-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

Sales of existing homes will rise 11 percent in 2010, and sales of new homes will climb 21 percent over this year, Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Economist Jay Brinkmann predicted in a speech Tuesday at the organization’s annual meeting.

"We still see a concentration in the lower end of the market," Brinkmann said. "The entry level homes are in demand."

Brinkmann also predicted further declines in existing home prices, with the median falling to $164,200 in the first quarter of 2010.

David Stevens, commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration, concurred, adding that mortgage rates will rise to 5.6 percent by the end of 2010, though not enough of an increase to discourage a 12 percent increase in mortgage applications next year.

Source: Associated Press, Alex Veiga (10/13/2009)

Economists Predict Housing Recovery

2009-10-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

Economic forecasters predict that 2010 will be the first year since 2005 for housing to contribute to the growth of the U.S. economy, according to a survey released by the National Association for Business Economics.

Home prices are expected to rise 2 percent next year, but forecasters don’t believe the increase in prices will discourage homebuyers.

More than 80 percent of economists surveyed by the NABE think the recession is over and recovery has begun, but they expect the expansion to be slow because unemployment persists.

Source: Associated Press, Mae Anderson (10/12/2009

Home Energy Incentives Increase

2009-09-29T02:18:00.000-07:00

You’ve heard about all the great tax incentives for greening homes with new windows and insulation, so how can you get in on the action? The best place to start is the federal web site, DSIRE, which spells out incentives specific to your state. Existing homes are eligible for a series of efficiency measures that pertain to the home envelope, worth 30% of the cost of equipment. There is a $1,500 cap on the credit per home, including the amount received for heating, cooling, and water heating equipment.

“Features like properly installed insulation, high-performance windows and high efficiency heating and cooling can reduce home energy needs by 20 to 30 percent, saving American families thousands of dollars on their utility bills," according to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
source: Eco Hatchery

Analysis: Tax Credit Adds 357,000 Buyers

2009-09-26T05:26:00.000-07:00

A study estimates that 357,000 buyers have been motivated so far by the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.

The study by Campbell Surveys, a division of Campbell Communications, calculated the figure by comparing the number of first-time homebuyers before and after the tax credit was instituted. The percentage of first-time buyers rose from 32 percent in January and February to 43 percent for the rest of the year – except July when the rate fell to 42 percent.

Campbell’s Research Director Thomas Popik pointed out that this survey mirrors the numbers calculated by the National Association of REALTORS® and those from Moody’s Economy.com.

The data supports legislative efforts in both the U.S. House and Senate to extend the tax credit.

Source: HousingWire.com, Austin Kilgore (09/22/2009)

101 ways to improve your credit score

2009-09-26T05:18:00.000-07:00

You want to buy a house, a car, apply for a loan; pretty much anything these days require good credit.

So why not improve it? Even if you have good credit, excellent credit will get you better mortgage rates on your home loan, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.

Here are 101 tips to help you do just that - everything you ever wanted to know to be financially successful.

Pay your bills on time.
Keep your credit card balances low.
Don't close unused credit card accounts.

Learn the other 98 ways to improve your credit.
Source: Quicken Loans

The Fed meeting: what it means to you

2009-09-26T05:03:00.000-07:00

Just like the rest of us, the U.S. Federal Reserve wants the economy to get healthier. And while economic activity has slowly but surely started to improve over the past few months, the Fed has decided to help.

The Fed has just announced that it will purchase $1.25 trillion in mortgage-backed securities. This is great news if you're looking to refinance or purchase a home, because when the Fed buys large amounts of mortgage-backed securities, it helps to
keep mortgage rates low.

Here's the catch: The Fed says it plans to stop purchasing these mortgage-backed securities soon. And that means that the best time to take advantage of this opportunity to lock in to these historically-low mortgage rates may be right now.

Here's another way of looking at it: Because of these unprecedented Fed actions, you may never see mortgage rates this low again in your lifetime.
Source: Quicken Loans

New Plant Filtration System Turns Used Shower Water into Drinking Water

2009-09-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

Recycling and Waste Management, Sustainable Products, Water and Water Conservation | Wednesday 9 September 2009 by Katrina Pfannkuch

Water recycling efforts can go way beyond the basic methods used today, according to a team of eco-thinkers and scientists who have derived a way to create fresh drinking water from shower water using a variety of plants.

Designers Jun Yasumoto, Vincent Vanderbrouk, Oliver Pigasse and Alban Le Henry settled on the shower basin concept when searching for creative and practical ways to recycle water. The eco-conscious team graduated from French national design school Ecole Nationale Supirieure de Creation Industrielle, and were especially interested in finding a way to make practical use of shower water, something normally filtered outside the home.

How does it work?

The concept/design for this eco-shower is based on a natural filtration process called phyto-purification, and helps to turn a bathroom into a mini-ecosystem. As you shower, the wastewater passes down into a chamber below the shower floor, and travels through a maze of filters including; sand, reeds, rushes, a mesh filter, water hyacinths, lemnas and a final carbon filter. The plants grow up and around the edge of the shower floor, and the filtration takes place at the root of the plants. Chemicals from soaps, shampoos and other debris are removed, and then the water is recycled back up for use in your next shower, or for brushing your teeth, washing your face or drinking.

‘With this project, we tried to combine the pleasure of taking a shower with the satisfaction of recycling water. We wanted the recycling process to actually interact with the use of the shower,” said Yasumoto.

The team hopes the impact of their concept doesn’t just alter the way we bathe. ‘We thought that by conceiving this very intricate relation between the recycling of water and the user experience, we could get the users to also re-think the way they use water,’ said Yasumoto.

The concept of a self-contained water filtration system is stirring up a lot of interest now that the images have been made public. As a result, the team is continuing to fine tune the idea and currently working on ways to bring it to market.

Now the question remains, how many people will actually want to use it?

. . .

About the author: Katrina Pfannkuch is a writer, Reiki Master and entrepreneur who lives to write and create. She started Buzzword Communications to pursue her passion for excellence in communication and satisfy her entrepreneurial spirit.
source:GenGreen Life

Green Washing in Thomasville and South Georgia

2009-09-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Today as many builders rush to position themselves to participate in the green building wave it is important that homebuyers be aware of the “green washing” phenomenon currently present in the industry. Green washing is simply the tendency for builders or manufactures to apply the green label to their products with little to back it up. Today many builders seeking an edge in a slowing market are eager to adopt any practice they perceive may provide them an advantage in the marketplace. For home buyers this means that builders who haven’t changed their building practices in years are suddenly claiming that they have revolutionized their “best practices” overnight to adopt green building principles. Unfortunately the education and paradigm shift required to become a green builder is not an overnight phenomenon. The tendency for builders to claim to be green is likely to continue as the rush toward green continues to be one of the hottest trends in the industry.

As a homebuyer it is important to be aware of what green building is and isn’t and to know just what makes that new home you are considering green. Green building practices are more than just installing a few compact florescent light bulbs and calling a home green. Green building involves a spectrum of practices, not just product selections.

Below are a few helpful hints to consider when evaluating green builders and practices:

1.Documentation beats conversation – Ask your builder for documentation regarding the green building programs or standards they use when constructing homes. Does the builder follow a green building program that has defined standards and practices that are inspected and certified? CHB Custom Green Homes incorporates green building programs that adopt Energy Star standards and other nationally accepted green building practices through the Earth Craft or Energy Star House program.

2.Show me the money – Many established green building programs produce homes with documentable energy savings. Your builder should be aware of these and able to educate you in this area. Much of this information centers around the heating and cooling systems installed in your home as well as air sealing and tight building envelope practices. CHB Custom Green homes are inspected several times during the building process by certified green building experts to ensure that the standards of high performance, energy efficient homes are being met.

3.What am I getting for my money? – If it’s a green product it should be different than the home down the street built 2-3 years ago. Energy star appliances and high performance windows and doors should be standard. The trades and experts constructing your home should be trained and proficient in green building practices and high performance home standards. CHB Custom Green Homes employees in charge of building your home have all been trained and certified in green building practices. CHB Custom Green Homes employees directing green building practices regularly attend continuing education opportunities to stay current on the latest green technologies and practices. The trades performing work on CHB Custom Green homes are required to follow detailed scopes of work ensuring that your homes are built incorporating green practices in all phases of construction.

4.We will not forget some of the realtors in Thomasville Georgia That are also "Green Washing" and have no clue of what green building is!

For more information about how CHB Custom Green Homes delivers certified high performance green homes contact use.

Greener Homes For Thomasville Georgia Families

2009-09-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

Ranked #1 Custom Green Home Builder.

Our vision at Capital Home Builders is to provide you with a very special place to call home with luxury, efficiency and technology built, land preservation at heart. We take pride in being the cutting edge "eco green" home builders in Thomasville, Valdosta, South Georgia and Tallahassee Florida. We desire to serve our clients by keeping our commitments and staying flexible in the construction process to make your dream home a reality worth living in for many years. We provide an impeccable team that will effectively schedule and efficiently coordinate skilled contractors to provide you with the highest grade of construction materials and craftsmanship as desired. With energy prices skyrocketing, finding ways to cut down on your homes energy Usage not only helps the environment, but also makes great economic sense. No other national home builder matches CHB Custom Homes energy star standard features and commitment to energy efficiency and the U.S. Governments ENERGY STAR program. ENERGY STAR was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to promote the use of energy-efficient products and practices in the home. First Hybrid Custom Home Builders in South Georgia with Eco Smart technology. "The Only Custom Eco Green Builder in South Georgia"

EcoBroker Realtors

2009-09-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

Green Realtors

An Eco Green Realtor is a green professional that is certified as an EcoBroker®. Specializing in green building, we assist home buyers make smart decisions in choosing a healthy and environmentally friendly home. An EcoBroker also guide sellers in marketing the green or greenable aspects of their property.

I believe that living greener isn't just healthy for us, our families and our communities that we inhabit but for our planet. If that's not convincing enough, greening your home can also save you money.

The so-called green movement has sprouted a fresh crop of lawsuits: greenwashing claims, in which companies are getting sued for making bogus eco-friendly statements about their products. Realtor's should also be careful when stating their listings and claiming they are energy efficient without really knowing what those words mean. Greenwashing is more prominent in areas where there are little or no professionals that can point out the false claims landing them in greenwashing litigation this is a hot area of false advertising. Making sure that the claims are correct by proving it with scientific evidence is key.

An Energy Efficient Certified home have the ability to save residents money on utility bills and their potential to help reduce health problems like asthma, green homes in many ways are best-suited to those making less than an area's median income.

Robert Ivy, McGraw-Hill's vice president and editorial director, said the data show green homes as a bright spot in a tough housing market.

"Green homes are a shining area of growth in new housing construction," he said. "The housing market is literally, statistically, on the verge of a tipping point."

Do you know what makes a green home?

A green home incorporates smart design, technology, construction and maintenance elements to significantly lessen the negative impact of the home on the environment and improve the health of the people who live inside. No matter your location or living situation, the opportunities for living a greener life at home are limited only by your imagination.

Going Green 101

Living a greener life and making your home a greener place is a commitment to yourself, your family, your community and the planet. Going green is a learning process. As new technologies, products and scientific breakthroughs constantly emerge, staying educated on the how's as well as the why's - of maintaining a green home is the best way to ensure your efforts are as effective and beneficial as possible. That's why consulting with an Eco-Broker Realtor or green consultant can better your chances in your greener life.

Besides the health and environmental benefits of living in a green home, many local and state governments, utility companies and other entities across the country offer rebates, tax breaks and other incentives for adding eco-friendly elements to your home. These incentives are available for new and green remodels.

The City of Tallahassee, FL Utilities has many Energy Smart Plus savings programs designed to help their customers save energy and money as well to protect and improve our environment.

For Example:

Ceiling Insulation 80 Percent Grant -This program pays 80% of installation costs up to a maximum City contribution of $400.

ENERGY STAR Refrigerators -- $75 Rebate

ENERGY STAR Freezers -- $40 Rebate

ENERGY STAR Clothes Washers -- $100 Rebate

Central Air Conditioner - $100 or $350 Rebate

Central Heat Pump - $100 or $350 Rebate

$450 Solar Domestic Water Heating Rebate

Valdosta, GA as well provides their customers with valuable incentives to improve the energy consumption of their customers and help them save money.

So, where is our local utility company in all this?
sources: various

Grab the 'green' real-estate boom - MSN Money

2009-09-02T06:22:00.000-07:00

Grab the 'green' real-estate boom - MSN Money: "For investors who get a bit woozy at the thought of betting solely on the vagaries of the commercial-real-estate market, a mutual fund with green-building holdings might be the safer way to go. The Spectra Green Fund, unlike many of its socially conscious counterparts, has consistently outperformed the Russell 3000 for the past three years.
The fund, which among other things invests in clean-energy stocks, is putting a small percentage of its assets in green REITs. Rashid also likes to invest in the building segment through the back door, focusing on the supply and equipment manufacturers that green builders rely on, such as Johnson Controls (JCI, news, msgs), the maker of devices that measure and monitor energy output. At about $96 a share, Johnson Controls has jumped in the neighborhood of 40% in the past year. And that's a nice neighborhood to be in."

Grab the 'green' real-estate boom - MSN Money

2009-09-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

Grab the 'green' real-estate boom - MSN Money: "On average, green buildings save 10% of utility costs each year -- and sometimes much more. Genzyme's (GENZ, news, msgs) corporate headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., spends 42% less on energy and uses 34% less water than a similar traditional building would. Even more important, as sustainable materials and technology improve, green construction will become more cost-effective, says Charles Lockwood, an environmental and real-estate consultant in Southern California and New York."

Grab the 'green' real-estate boom - MSN Money

2009-09-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

Grab the 'green' real-estate boom - MSN Money: "Sustainable construction is one of the fastest-growing segments of the already-red-hot commercial-building industry. An estimated 5% of all new U.S. commercial construction received the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification last year. And by 2010, 10% of all new commercial construction will be sustainable, according to McGraw-Hill's (MHP, news, msgs) 2006 Smart Market report. (The green trend in home construction is still in its infancy, although that's bound to change.)"

REALTORÃÂ® Magazine-Daily News-Strong Gain in Existing-Home Sales

2009-08-21T16:10:00.001-07:00

REALTORÃÂ® Magazine-Daily News-Strong Gain in Existing-Home Sales

Shared via AddThis

Living Healthier at Home

2009-06-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

Living Green with an Energy-Efficient Labeled Home

Energy efficiency is a top concern for many homeowners because of rising energy costs and increased environmental awareness. A home that has earned the ENERGY STAR label must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-efficient improvements that deliver better performance, greater comfort, and lower utility bills then standard built homes. Buying a home is complex enough without having to worry about the details of energy-efficient construction. Instead, home buyers can look for the government-backed ENERGY STAR label to easily identify homes that are truly energy efficient.

Eco-Buyer Beware: Green Can Be Deceiving

Many consumers may not have heard the term "Greenwashing", but surely many have experienced it with misleading marketing about the environmental benefits of a product. In today's real estate industry more then ever contractors, suppliers and even realtors are noticing that the green market is here to stay and growing strong and what they thought at the beginning others bringing this movement to light would go nowhere now find themselves jumping on the bandwagon. More and more homes are being falsely advertised as energy- efficient by these individuals without knowing, realizing or understanding what those words entail. In reality the features incorporated in these homes really do not even amount to a great deal for anybody to notice the savings. This process is called "GREENWashing”.

As going green becomes big business--sales of true green products, and green certified buildings alone have sky rocketed and everybody is now to associate themselves with the environment, deservedly or not.

EcoBroker Certified Real Estate Agent

An EcoBroker Certified Realtor is the premiere green real estate professional that can help clients market properties with green features, save money, and live comfortably, through energy efficiency and environmentally-sensitive choices.

Ecobroker Certified Realtors are equipped with additional energy and environmental information and tools that help them provide added value to all of their real estate transactions. EcoBroker trained real estate agents can help address the newest topics in real estate, such as "green" home certification programs like Energy Star® Qualified Homes, energy-efficiency, and environmentally-sensitive design. EcoBroker Certified Realtors assist in working through issues that may arise in any real estate transaction, such as mold, radon, and poor indoor air quality, providing real solutions. EcoBrokers can provide the correct information, experience and knowledge to their green-minded consumers by providing valuable energy and environmental information to all types of clients. With expertise and Affiliate relationships, EcoBrokers are known for providing exceptional value to all of their relationships.

With the growing green real estate market, Ecobrokers help customers get the most when buying or selling energy efficient, environmentally friendly homes.

The only way an Eco-buyer is assured that the property they are buying are TRULY an Energy Efficient home is through an EcoBroker trained Realtor or by looking for the trusted Energy Star Blue Seal.

Finding the home of your dreams and enjoying peace of mind knowing that it also meets strict energy efficiency guidelines is a profitable investment now and in the future when you're ready to sell the features.

LOWER OWNERSHIP COST

Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering. Saving that can amount to thousands of dollars saved in utility bills. Buyers also have additional savings on maintenance that can be substantial. As well as financing their home purchase using an energy efficient mortgage can also lead to savings. Request more information from your local Ecobroker Certified Realtor.

BETTER PERFORMANCE

Properly installed energy-efficient improvements deliver better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution, and noise. Energy-efficient homes help ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms, improved indoor air quality, and greater durability.

SMART INVESTMENT

To date, nearly 940,000 ENERGY STAR qualified homes have been built and increasing in large numbers as consumers experience the difference. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide.

Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.

The Green Real Estate Guru in Thomasville & South Georgia

Standing Tall: A Modern Seattle Remodel

Mortgage rules put recovery at risk

International buyers "gobbling up" U.S. real estate

Jennifer Lopez takes on real estate agent role

Better credit score doesn't guarantee cheaper loan

Financial Incentives for Solar Electric Systems: Federal Tax Credits, Utility Rebates and More

Builders of Hope: Rescued Homes Build Solid Communities

Salvaged Homes: Renovating Old Buildings into Unique Houses in Reno, Nevada - Green Homes

Save Water, Save Energy: How Reducing Water Use Can Save Electricity

Small-Scale Green Roofs

The Benefits of Natural Swimming Pools

Jewel Box: A Venice Beach Home Combines Modern Design and Sustainability

Compost Bin Made of Shipping Pallets

Loan Requests Pick up as rates hit new lows

Water-Wise Oasis: A Tucson Desert Garden

Extreme heat leads to higher utility bills

Small Home Savings Benefits | Benefits Of A Small Home | HouseLogic

Can You Afford to Go Green? The Cost and Savings of Residential Renewable Energy Systems

Live Well in Less than 1,000 Square Feet: Living in Small Homes

Homeowners Go Green Now, Pay Later

Pipe Dreams: The Basics of Graywater Systems

Dual agency disclosures fail homebuyers

Green on the Greens: Sustainable Suburban Living in the Texas Hill Country

SAVING MONEY ON HOME UTILITY BILLS.

What to expect when selling home at a loss | Inman News

Green MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Gaining Popularity

Little GREEN Thomasville Home

Top Merchant Award from Merchant Circle

Bye-Bye Fannie, Freddie? What It Could Mean

New Lead-Paint Renovation and Repair Rule Effective April 22, 2010

Home Trends: Americans Want Smaller, Smarter Homes

Real estate agents get eco-friendly training, help buyers and sellers find ways to live sustainably

Government-backed loan programs for our men & women in the military

"The End of the Big Houses" from the Expert of Real Estate

Realtors' With A Lot of Listings-Good For Realtors, Not Good For Home Owners

Buying and Selling a Green Home in Thomasville

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Chinese Drywall Firm Ordered to Pay $2.6 Million

2010: The Year of the First-Time Buyer?

The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit | WAHomeowners.com

Living Big in a Small Home

State of the Union: Building Infrastructure and Creating Jobs at Home

Historic Thomasville

NAR: FHA Key to Housing Market and Recovery

Selling Smaller Homes

Fannie Mae: New Affordable Housing Options

Declining Dollar Brings Foreign Investors

Tax Credit Quandaries Answered

Obama MIT Green Speech: We Must Fight Cynics And Deniers On Climate Bill

On Thursday, President-elect Barack Obama called for doubling production of alternative energy in the United States over the next three years as part

Prediction: Homes Sales to Rise 11 Percent

Economists Predict Housing Recovery

Home Energy Incentives Increase

Analysis: Tax Credit Adds 357,000 Buyers

101 ways to improve your credit score

The Fed meeting: what it means to you

New Plant Filtration System Turns Used Shower Water into Drinking Water

Green Washing in Thomasville and South Georgia

Greener Homes For Thomasville Georgia Families

EcoBroker Realtors

Grab the 'green' real-estate boom - MSN Money

Grab the 'green' real-estate boom - MSN Money

Grab the 'green' real-estate boom - MSN Money

REALTORÃÂ® Magazine-Daily News-Strong Gain in Existing-Home Sales

Living Healthier at Home

REALTORÃÂ® Magazine-Daily News-Strong Gain in Existing-Home Sales