Move in Ready
• 1,395 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story "Contemporary" - 
MLS® $117,000 - Lots of new mechanicals
Seven Oaks, San Antonio - Great home for the first time buyer or those looking to downsize. The home features a nice size living room and a eat-in kitchen. There is ceramic tile through out the house and tile back splash behind the sink and under the cabinets (recently done). The hotwater heater is new as well as the HVAC system. This is complimented with a roof (new shingles) that is apprx 1 year old. The garage door and opener are also new. The covered patio has matching ceramic tile. The home is located in a small comunity with a mix of home styles. There is a large back yard to this home with greenbelt behind it.
Property information
If you are tuned into the green scene you will notice that there is a lot of buzz with prefab homes. It has been proven that this is one of the best ways to build homes, especially energy efficient affordable homes. I know some people are resistant to prefab homes and think of them as they would a Mobile or Manufactured home. While there are similarities they are very different also. Prefabs/Modular homes are always placed on a permanent foundation and are built to local code. These homes for the most part are (built) put together on site. The home may be shipped to the site in modular form or in prefabricated panels.
One of the main advantages of a Prefab/Modular home is it is vastly more energy efficient than a Mobile, Manufactured home and most site built homes. Most of the Prefabs/Modular Builders have moved to the green side of the building debate. Another advantage is you can have a unique design…not just another elevation on the same floor plan.
As I have stated here before it is much more efficient to build homes in a factory than to build on site. Just the reduction in waste is worth moving to a prefab concept. You can also achieve higher quality in the end product. You will also have less impact on the build site.
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
If you live in South Texas you know that it has been plain ole hot this past week with temperatures hitting record highs (a string of 103 days). We have also seen record amounts of rain in the Northeast while we are behind in our rain fall for the last couple of years. This kind of weather extremes are possibly a result of global warming. We do know as the earth warms there will be more and more extreme weather events.
What does that have to do with real estate? Look at your utility bill for the last month how much of an increase did you see. You can increase your comfort level and save on the utility bill by turning up your thermostat a few degrees and using fans to keep cool. This will also lower the demand for electricity and result in the utility not having to buy power from other suppliers’ keeping their cost down and our bills.
Also, any time you are considering a remodel or a new purchase look for the energy efficient solution. You can even apply this thinking to replacing appliance in the home, be sure to get Energy Star rated products.
Is your yard turning brown? Now is the time to rethink the type of grass that you have! Maybe you want to look at an alternative landscaping scene. One type of grass I like is Bermuda grass, it will turn brown when it does not get water but it will come back at the first substantial rain.
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
It looks like the home builders got out ahead of the rest of us on this one. If you have seen the advertising from builders lately they mention monetizing the tax credit so it can be used for upfront cost on an FHA backed loan. Buyers still have to have 3.5% stake (down payment) in the property but they can use the tax credit (monetized) to cover closing cost and pay additional money down.
There are two programs that are available to the first time buyer, the 90-Day Down Payment Assistance Program and the Mortgage Advantage Program. There are requirements that have to be met for each program and the money does have to be repaid. There is a $250.00 administrative fee charged for each program. The eligibility cutoff for this program is December 1, 2009.
If you are in the market for a home and feel this program could help you give me a call and let me get you in touch with a lender that is up to speed on this program.
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
Move in Ready
• 1,395 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story "Contemporary" - MLS® $119,900 - Lots of new mechanicals
Seven Oaks, San Antonio - Great home for the first time buyer or those looking to downsize. The home features a nice size living room and a eat-in kitchen. There is ceramic tile through out the house and tile back splash behind the sink and under the cabinets (recently done). The hotwater heater is new as well as the HVAC system. This is complimented with a roof (new shingles) that is apprx 1 year old. The garage door and opener are also new. The covered patio has matching ceramic tile. The home is located in a small comunity with a mix of home styles. There is a large back yard to this home with greenbelt behind it.
Property information
Interest rates are heading up!
If you have been watching interest rates lately you know they are heading up. There are a number of reasons for this but namely the bond market is driving the rates up as the Government needs to sell more to cover the cost of the stimulus package. I am not an economist so I can not explain all the details that are behind the rise in interest rates but I do know how you can get more bangs for your buck and a slightly lower interest rate. Would you take 1/8 of a point lower rate
? I know any reduction in rate is welcomed.
The key to getting that lower rate is to buy an energy efficient or green built home. You will need to find a lender that offers an EEM (Energy Efficient Mortgage) or enlist the aid of an EcoBroker®. There are lenders today that will shave an eight of a point off your interest rate for the life of your loan if the home you buy is green built or certified energy efficient. This adds up to considerable savings over the life of the loan on interest payments.
If you bundle the savings on interest payments, the lower utility bills and health benefits* isn’t it time to go green? Also for you first time home buyers add in the $8000.00 tax credit and it looks like a pretty good time to buy.
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
*It is my belief that you will see lower health care cost as a result of living in a green built home. A lot of the health problems we have are a result of environmental triggers, our home environment should be as healthy as possible.
I was having a conversation with a potential client that was questioning the need for and emphasis on green building. He was keying in on the energy aspect of it and made it clear to me that he believes there is no shortage of oil and gas to be pulled form the earth. He also said he did not think we had to worry about global warming as we can adapt to any climate changes.
I told him man can adapt, but what about the other life forms on the planet? If we do not have plants and animals that survive we may run out of food sources. He replied “evolution.”
So, on the couch sleeping was his grandson if I remember correctly 11 months old. I ask the potential client how much whiskey he could drink without getting sick. He said maybe 5 or 6 shots. I asked him how many could the baby drink without getting sick. He ask what was my point? I told him it would take years for the baby to be able to consume that much alcohol without getting sick and so it is with evolution. I told him the thing with evolution is it takes hundreds of years and a slowly changing environment. We do not have the time for plant and animal species to evolve.
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
Just got back in town from a short vacation in the Texas Hill Country a chance to recharge and renew. One of the main things I like about the location we stayed in is that there was no phone or television service. You have to pay attention to your significant other as there are no distractions.
You also quickly become more attuned to the environment around you without the background noises, sights, smells and sounds of the city. Spend a couple of hours hiking in a national or state park and notice when you get back in your car there is a distinct smell to it, or when you get back to your cabin does it smell like the breakfast you cooked?
A real eye opener for me was when I entered my own home; I was greeted with the smell of sandalwood. Yeah, I know it could have been worse but I had not noticed my home smelled that way. I knew where the smell originated from (essential oil used for aroma therapy) but, it still caught me off guard. If you had asked me what was the identifying smell of my home before I went on the trip I would not have been able to identify one.
My point is this we often live with offending noises, smells, sounds and sights because we become use to them. However, they still take their toll on our health. A shoe that does not fit well may develop a blister or a callous and over time lead to farther foot problems; a home that does not fit well will cause both mental and physical problems for its owner. Buy the home that is right for you!
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
That is the question I was asked by a gentleman, who had enquired about the name of my real estate brokerage. I had given him a brief explanation of one aspect of a green home, better indoor air quality. His remark “Will it kill me?” was in response to me mentioning in some cases the air inside our homes is more polluted then the outside air.
I just laughed and told him no, but the combination of poor air quality mixed with other background chemicals such as pesticide residue on food and an over aggressive use of it on our lawns can lead to trouble. I told him to look at what he spends on medical care and then make a decision on if it can kill you. I am not sure if he comprehended where I was coming from or not but the smile left his face and I could see he was thinking about something.
As I have mentioned before a lot of the illness we experience is from environmental triggers. Doing what we can to improve our local environment where we live goes a long way towards improving our individual health and our national health too. A green home is only park of the equation, awareness of what is in our local environment and the food we eat can mitigate illness cause by environmental triggers
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
I do not know if any of you made it to the Green Camp, but if you did not you missed a cool event. It was great to see so many people who have woke up and realize we cant continue our wasteful ways when it come to the ecology of the planet earth.
Yeah, I know some of you are saying enough with the Green already! I have to tell you we are only at the beginning of the true green revolution. There will come a day when you will have to have a green pedigree to be competitive in the market place. More and more of new construction include green features and developers in the know are designing communities and not subdivisions.
The next step is a change in the American Dream…No more as much square footage as I can get for the money…More along the lines of what do I need for my life style.
Alternative energy is not just a concept any more but a reality. The days of banning Photo cells on roofs are numbered. You will soon start to see small wind turbines being used for residential homes. Electrical cars are here now, there was a prototype built here locally that gets 50 miles on a charge.
Do not get left behind learn about all that is green now it starts with the home you purchase!
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
Wow, I almost missed another week’s post! I guess it is good I am busy but I have to admit it is not all real estate that is keeping me busy. I am one who gets bored easy so I am usually working 2 or 3 different venues at a time. That way I stay fresh and interested in what I am doing and it never becomes just a routine.
So, are you ready for some news on the Green scene? There is going to be a Green Camp this Saturday at the historic Pearl Brewery. The camp is going to be in the un- conference format, in other words the only agenda is the one the participants make. I have not had the pleasure of attending one before so this will be my first. As I understand any topic on Green is fair Game.
I commented a few weeks back on the size of the new garbage cans for the automated trash pickup. I have to admit there is a real positive side to them…I have seen people recycling that had never done it before when we just had the bins we set out on the curb. I am amazed at the amount of recyclables people are finding to fill the cans. Looks like some folks are still consuming at record levels!
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
Wow! Another week has gone by and it is time to blog! I am going to be short today and do a promo for Earth Day April 22, 2009. I hope all who read this will celebrate the day in some manner. It could be as easy as planting a tree or attending an Earth Day event. Now is the time to get involved, you do not have to embrace the green mantra to do the right thing for the earth. Contrary to the build a bigger pie crowd, the earth has a finite amount of material resources; once we use them up they are gone. Leave the Hummer in the driveway and take the Focus you’ll save gas and do Mother Earth a favor.
I do not want to give the impression we need to go back to the stone age, energy from the sun and the wind can meet a great deal of our energy needs. Look for ways to reduce reuse and recycle and you will in tune with earth day.
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
Automated trash pickup comes to Northeast side of town. Wow, have you seen the size of the new cans? It would take our household 2.5 to 3 months to fill one of these cans. As I have stated previously we have one bag (like they give out at the grocery store) of garbage a week; the rest we recycle. I agree with the can for recycling being large but I think the other can encourages people not to take recycling seriously.
I think Austin has the right idea with cans of different sizes and charging accordingly. I believe if people see they can save some money by recycling they will make more of an effort to do it. We also get an added bonus of doing less harm to our environment.
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
Wow! The news programs are really running with the buzz on indoor air quality. I have been talking about it off and on since I started this blog. Finally people are waking up and realizing our homes can make us sick! If you already own your home you might be thinking what can I do now about indoor air quality?
First let me say I do not recommend you tear it down and start over. You can mitigate the risk of poor air quality by ventilating your home (open a window) with outside air. You can also purchase a HEPA air filter; I use one in our master closet since it does not have a window that opens. HEPA filters do a good job of removing very small particles from the air (really cuts down on the need to dust). The one I brought include a charcoal filter screen too to help remove odors and gases from the air.
There is also a more natural solution and that is to use plants to clean the air in your home. I found a list of plants on MSN that are recommended for the job of removing some really bad gases from the air.
Top 10 plants for removing formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air:
1. Pot Mum -- Chrysantheium morifolium
2. Bamboo Palm -- Chamaedorea Seifritzii
3. Chinese Evergreen -- Aglaonema Modestum
4. English Ivy -- Hedera Helix
5. Gerbera Warneckii -- Dracaena "Warneckii"
6. Daisy -- Gerbera Jamesonii
7. Peace Lily -- Spathiphyllum
8. Janet Craig -- Dracaena "Janet Craig"
9. Marginata -- Dracaena Marginata
10. Mass Cane/Corn Plant -- Dracaena Massangeana
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555
I hope it is evident now that I am totally into green building and sustainability. Some think they are one and the same and if done correctly green building is done in a sustainable manner. I title this week’s post “How much square footage is enough?” because one of the tenants of green building is to reduce the size of a home to the space actually needed. With some of the advances in insulating and energy use some larger homes are as energy efficient as older homes with less square footage. But, the question of how much is enough is still there!
I came across a website that features green pod homes. These homes range in size from 300 to 800 square feet. Okay before you say no way that is smaller than your closet take a look at them. Also you can put them together if you need more room. I think they would be excellent as vacation homes or for singles or couples with no kids. Couple could add pods as the family grows. Okay here is the website www.greenpoddevelopment.com/index.php Go take a look and let me know what you think!
Energy efficient is good, green is better! Thinking of buying a home, talk to an Ecobroker® and make an informed decision. 210-316-4555