Northern VA Real Estate & Green Home Living Tips

Osmotic Energy Continues the Green Commitment.

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:46:00 -0600

Exciting news released today from Norway concerning another source of renewable clean energy being harnessed. Osmotic Energy, which is produced by different concentration levels of liquids. When freshwater and seawater meet on either side of a membrane, and a thin layer that retains salt but lets water pass freshwater is drawn towards the seawater side. The flow puts pressure on the seawater side, and that pressure can be used to drive a turbine, producing electricity.

Walking in Arlington VA.

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:38:36 -0600

There is no doubt that walking is good for you, and the environment. With this thinking in mind and there constant commitment to the environment, Arlington County have created a program called WalkArlington, which is designed to promote health, environmental, commuter, financial, and community benefits of walking.

The WalkArlington website has information for parents and kids walking to ................................

Read further about WalkArlington VA

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Use Tax Credits to Buy a Green Home or Make Green Home Improvements

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:16:05 -0600

A few months ago we talked about how easy it was to find a Green Home in Northern Virginia, or even Green Real Estate in Arlington VA. Adam Gallegos founder of Arbour Realty Northern Virginia’s first environmentally friendly Real Estate Company stated that there were not that many pre-built green homes in Northern Virginia but eco-friendly homes and Green Building in Northern Virginia are becoming more popular.

Read more about Tax Credits to Buy a Green Home.

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Thinking about Buying a Home in Northern Virginia?Check out the HomeBuyers Tax Credit Bill.

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:10:22 -0600

If you are thinking about starting a real estate search in Northern Virginia or already looking for homes in Arlington VA or the surrounding areas, last weeks extension of the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit bill will be of interest to you.

The Home Buyers Tax Credit which was extended by President Obama last week gives an $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, and a credit of up to $6,500 for qualified.......................

Read more about the First Time Homebuyers Tax Bill.

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Reduce & Reuse, & Recycle Green Tips from Arlington County, VA.

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:38:04 -0600

Arlington County website is a wealth of knowledge. Featuring Arlington VA Homeowner information, Arlington Neighborhood events, Arlington VA school updates, it also has in-depth information on environmental issues and many green facts and tips.

This week, Arlington County’s environmental tip is reduce, reuse, and recycle, which I think is an important motto to apply to aspect of your life. Next time you are at the store, consider whether you really need to buy the item............

Read further about Arlington County's Green Tips.

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What Makes The Arbour Realty Office Green?

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:16:40 -0600

We’ve integrated a number of green actions into our daily operations to lessen our environmental impact. In fact, we received a GOLD rating for our greenGreen Living Consulting Gold operations from Green Living Consulting, which assesses businesses and organizations on the greenness of our operations. Want to know what we’ve done to be green? We continue to look for ways to get even greener, but here are the actions we’ve taken to date:

Read further about what makes the Arbour Realty Office Green.

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Arlington Virginia Home's Leaves to be Recycled.

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:06:15 -0600

Fall is officially here in Arlington County, and you really don’t need a calendar to identify the start of fall, the huge leaf piles in the Arlington Virginia Neighborhoods are a good enough indicator.

Arlington County will be collecting your leaves starting November 2nd through to January 15th 2010. There are two ways Arlington, VA Homeowners can have their leaves collected,............................

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A 1925 Mission Style home gets re-purposed

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:47:23 -0600

When a home buyer or homeowner is looking at design elements to remodel, build or purchase, it is a good idea to understand the way that you live your daily life from the workspace you need in your kitchen, to the layout and design of your living room. Having a better understanding of the "way you live" will give you and your builder/architect/real estate agent a better direction of which to help you create a more livable space and even reconfigure what you already have to make it more efficient for you and your family.

Read further about 1925 Mission Style Home Gets Re-Purposed

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Exciting News for Home Buyer Tax Credit.

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:06:54 -0600

Today’s news that Congress has extended the Homebuyers Tax Credit which was set to expire on the 30th of this month is wonderful news not only for First Time Homebuyers but also for existing Homeowners. The Home Buyer Tax Credit has been extended by Congress until April 30th, 2010 with some exciting modifications to the new Home Buyers Tax Credit Bill.

Click on the following link to learn more about the Home Buyers Tax Credit.

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Read more about the Homebuyers Tax Credit Changes.

November Green Giveaway

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:31:31 -0600

Household energy is one of the leading causes of harmful emissions of carbon dioxide. The energy efficiency of your home could not only be damaging the environment but costing you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary utility charges each year. Having a Home Energy Audit can identify energy efficiency improvements, which often are very low cost to implement and will provide you with a great rate of return

During the month of November Arbour Realty is giving one lucky person the chance to win a Home Energy Audit and Efficiency Gold Package (a $1250 value!) courtesy of Access Green. Simple become an Arbour Realty Facebook Fan or recommend a friend to become a fan and you will be entered to win this exciting prize. Simple click on the Facebook link below to enter. The lucky winner will be announced December 15th.

Learn more about Access Green

Arlington Reed School & Westover Library.

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:34:18 -0600

Arlington Residents and students welcomed the opening of the new Reed School & Westover Library last Friday. They celebrated this $22.5 million joint facility with a 2 day celebration which featured a Halloween community open house, live music, a WalkArlington neighborhood walkabout and green tours of the building.

Click on the following link to read more about Arlington Reed School and Westover Library.

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NVR- The Evolution of three decades of luxury building

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:16:12 -0600

The average lay person doesn't understand that most new homes are more energy efficient by default. When I worked for a luxury custom home builder, I liaised with the Austin Energy program to get all of our homes rated with the City. It is interesting to know that, in general, the concepts that an architect will institute in their plans are concepts that enable a home to be more energy efficient. Design concepts such as creating 2 foot eves over windows for shading, creating livable outdoor areas such as screened in porches, placing the home on the lot "just so" to make the most of any shade trees and orientation of windows towards the sun for optimal heating and cooling depending on the season. By building tighter homes, an architect has implemented elements of "green design" into their plan.

-Genevieve

Click on the following link to read more about NVR- The Evolution of three decades of luxury building

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Have a Green Halloween

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:59:07 -0500

As Halloween approaches everyone is busily decorate their homes, buying bags of candy and selecting which costume to purchase for themselves or their children. Halloween really is a fun holiday, and there is nothing more exciting for me than to walk around the Arlington neighborhoods and see all the spooky decorations, and Halloween lights.

Are you still digesting all of the information from the 2009 DC Green Festival™?

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:52:25 -0500

I know that I am. It has been nearly two weeks and I am still trying to wrap my brain around all of the deliciously informative details that I soaked up while trolling the aisles of the DC Convention Center on October 10th through the 11th at the Green Festival™.

The sixth annual Green Festival™, a joint project of Global Exchange and Green America, was again, an astonishing hit! Walking into the event center, dozens of helpful volunteers patrolled the vastness seeking out those of us with the ever-present deer-in-headlights look of sheer overwhelm. There was so much to see and so much to learn! The convention center, which I am sure, usually does not have the aroma of a whole food store but did for this particular weekend, was buzzing with thousands of like minded individuals seeking knowledge and- let's just come right out and say it- they were there for the gratis loot!

-Genevieve

Click here to read more about 2009 DC Green Festival™

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fresh new look... same superior standards

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:57:23 -0500

Northern Virginia's first and fabulous green realty company has a new look on their website! At first glance of the refreshingly simple and user friendly site, one would be amazed at all of the incredibly useful information that is so easily accessible at www.ArbourRealty.com! From the homepage, you can do an in-depth home search, check out relevant real estate news, and contact Arbour all at the click of the mouse. You can even follow the community news via their posts on Twitter and Facebook, or check out the latest and greatest on the blog. Know what is absolutely fabulous?! Arbour Realty posts their preferred vendor list! How awesome is it that you can hop on their site and utilize it as not only your one stop realty shop, but also as a valuable resource and research tool?! Arbour Realty loves to educate their community and it shows in their updated site.

This new site is easy on the eyes and down to earth, just like the team and their ideals. There they go again, staying true to their essence. The new site offers simple, straightforward information at the end of your internet connection. Take a look for yourself- remember to read their story and get familiar with the whole team: www.arbourrealty.com.

-Genevieve

Click here to learn more about Green Real Estate.

Popcorn for Packing!

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:33:31 -0500

Last week I was having a conversation with a friend who is currently living in Turkey. She is worried about sending gifts home for the holidays without them being broken. Like me she is concerned with environmental issues and the impact that our everyday decisions have on Mother Earth’s well-being.

Click on the following link to read further about Popcorn for Packing.

Power to Choose Green Power in Virginia

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:01:13 -0500

Dominion Power now allows you to support renewable energy. By simply filling out a form with Dominion Power you will be ensuring that green energy is delivered directly to the grid.

Dominion’s Green Power option works simple by Dominion purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (REC) in the amount that the Virginia Dominion customer specifies.

Department of Defense Going Green

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:12:34 -0500

The Department of Defense is the nations largest consumer of energy. So it is no surprise that in a time when environmental issues are paramount that they need to start making some energy efficiency changes.

An impressive solar-energy array at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., is saving money for the Air Force and decreasing the service’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Click on the following link to read more about DoD Going Green.

Click here to learn about Green Real Estate.

Floating Sustainable House that Generates its own Power

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:25:27 -0500

As global warming continues and water levels rise, more and more homes will become displaced, or threaten by water damage due to hurricanes. This is also a major problem for homes located in areas such as New Orleans, and other low level cities on coastal areas prone to hurricanes and tropical storms.

Click on the following to link to read more about Floating Sustainable Houses.

Click here to learn more about Green Real Estate.

Australian Town Bans the Sale of Water Bottles.

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:16:36 -0500

Water bottles have received much criticism, they are frankly a waste of resources, environmentally unfriendly and fill landfill sites. Using a reusable bottle seems to make more environmental, financial and health conscious sense.

Click on the following link to read about the Ban of Water Bottles.

Click here to learn more about Green Real Estate

Federal Tax Credits and Virginia Rebates For Energy Efficient Home Improvements

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:42:07 -0500

As promised, our CPAs, Kositzka, Wicks & Company have lent their expert advice and today’s blog includes details of the federal tax credits and Virginia rebates that await taxpayers who make energy-efficient improvements to their properties.

New Expanded Federal Credits:

Up to $1,500 Credit for Qualified Energy-Efficient Home Improvements in 2009 and 2010

For improvements to your principal residence (expenses incurred building a new home do not qualify for this credit) located in the U.S. placed in service in 2009 and 2010
30% of qualified expenditures up to a maximum total cumulative credit of $1,500
Qualified Energy-Efficient Home Improvements include the following if the improvements also meet specific energy-efficient guidelines noted below:
- Metal and Asphalt Roofs
- Insulation
- Exterior Windows (including skylights) and Doors
- HVAC
- Water Heaters

30% Credit for Qualified Residential Solar Water Heaters, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Wind Energy Property, and Solar Electric Generating Property

For improvements to your residence located in the U.S. placed in service through 2016 (second homes qualify for this credit)
30% of the equipment’s cost (including onsite labor costs) with no capped limit.
Expenditures related to swimming pools or hot tubs (e.g., solar equipment to heat water or run electrical pumps) do not qualify for this credit

In Order to Claim the Federal Tax Credits

One must have a Manufacturer Certification Statement
- Before making energy-efficient improvements to your home, check to see if the manufacturer has certified the products as qualifying for the energy tax credit
- You can also go to energystar.gov/taxcredits for information on whether your planned improvements will qualify for the credit

Just Announced - Virginia Rebates

Virginia Energy-Efficiency Rebate Program

For qualified energy-efficient products and equipment purchases made after June 25, 2009
Rebates will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis. $15 million is dedicated to this rebate program
Residential consumers are eligible to receive up to $2,000 per household and up to $250 of the cost of having an energy audit conducted by a certified energy auditor.
Commercial consumers are eligible to receive a maximum of $4,000, but not to exceed 20% of the total cost.
Virginians can also receive For a list of qualified purchases and to sign up to be notified when applications are available visit the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy (DMME) website http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/eerebates.shtml.

Renewable Energy Rebate Program

For installation of renewable energy generation systems, such as solar or wind systems, made after June 25, 2009. $15 million is dedicated to this rebate program
Rebates are based on capacity of the generating system, for example:
- Residential consumers can receive rebates for $2,000 per kilowatt of the photovoltaic system up to 10 kilowatts in size. Residential and commercial consumers can receive a $1,000 per kilowatt rebate for solar hot water systems.

For additional information on the tax credits and rebates contact your tax adviser.

Kositzka, Wicks & Company (KWC), certified public accountants, is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Formed in 1983, KWC was founded with a commitment to provide quality, personal service in a timely manner. For over 25 years, the staff has grown to more than fifty people, all dedicated to this founding principle. Visit us at www.kwccpa.com.

Circular 230 Disclaimer: Any tax advice contained in the body of this material was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by the recipient for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code or applicable state or local tax law provision

10 Ways To Green Your Home Sale or Purchase

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:59:21 -0500

More and more buyers and sellers are adding environmental features to their buying and selling criteria. Arbour Realty is the first environmentally friendly real estate company in Northern Virginia and has created the following list to help buyers and sellers green their home sale or purchase.

1. Utility Records
Selling: Ask your utility company to provide you with the last 24 months of utility records. You can mark out the account number and provide the report as part of the information booklet at your listing. This will help potential buyers understand the monthly costs involved in owning this particular home. Without this information, buyers may over-estimate the monthly utility costs.

Buying: Ask your agent to request the last 24 months of utility records from the sellers. Remember to take into consideration that homeowners have varying degrees to which they use energy. Sometimes they can be provided in electronic format.

2. EcoBroker or NAR Green Designation
Selling: You may want to seek a Realtor that can provide you with suggestions for how to prepare your home for sale in a way that will attract buyers conscious of saving money on utility bills, indoor air quality, improved comfort and environmental impact.

Buying: EcoBrokers and NAR Green Designees are trained on energy efficiency and cost savings of proper insulation, windows, appliances, heating and cooling systems and other home features that affect your comfort and your energy bills. Their network of green professionals can help you improve environmental aspects of a home including indoor air quality and ventilation.

3. Public Transportation
Selling: Provide a list and possibly a map of the local public transportation options for the home you are selling. This is one way of adding value to your home without having to spend a single penny.

Buying: Ask your Realtor to help you find the local public transportation options. Below are a few good places to start.

Alexandria - www.dashbus.com
Arlington - www.commuterpage.com/art
Fairfax - www.fairfaxva.gov
Falls Church City - www.fallschurchva.gov
Washington Metropolitan Area - www.wmata.com

4. Walk Score
Selling: Show potential buyers how walkable the area is where you home is located. You can input your address at www.walkscore.com and print out the results to leave behind for buyers. Or, save paper and include a link to your walk score in all of your web marketing.

Buying: When comparing homes it is helpful to input the address into www.walkscore.com and find out how walkable the communities are. You will also learn about local shopping options, parks, schools and workplaces.

5. Photos or Video Tour
Selling: We highly recommend providing an abundance of visual aids to go along with your listing. When evaluating listings agents for your home, ask about their plan to provide photos and/or video tours of your property. It will help your home stand out and is more likely to be considered by potential buyers.

6. Home Energy Audit & Green Living Consultation
Selling: If you have a home that is energy efficient and/or has features that improve the air quality, this may be a good way to showcase your investment. Home buyers are becoming more and more savvy when it comes to understanding the benefits of a home with green features so why not provide them with a third-party evaluation to back-up your claims.

Buying: A home energy audit will help you discover the areas of the home where you can get the largest energy efficiency gains and improve the air quality and comfort of the home. A green living consultation can help lead you in the direction of making choices that will benefit you and the planet.

7. HOA & Condominium Disclosure Documents
Selling: Most home owners association and condominium associations now offer the condo disclosure package in electronic format. It saves paper and is easier to distribute. Check with your association to see if they are offering electronic format yet. If not, they may just need a little nudge from you.

Buying: When filling out the Virginia Jurisdictional Addendum you and your agent have the opportunity to select that you prefer the HOA or condominium disclosure package to be delivered in electronic format. By simply checking this box, you are saving hundreds of pages of paper and saving yourself a trip to pick up the package.

8. Paperless Contracts
Buying & Selling: You can save hundreds of pages of paper and countless trips to meet your Realtor by using electronic signatures. This is an inexpensive option that your Realtor can choose to use. Electronic signatures are easy to use, secure and legally binding. They also help preserve the readability of the contract.

9. Preparing the Home For Sale
Selling: Many homes need a little freshening up before they are ready to go on the market. Why not make choices that will improve the air quality, energy efficiency or minimize your carbon footprint? Below are three suggestions to get you started on the right track.

* Simply using no-VOC paint will eliminate the offensive and potentially harmful odors left behind when painting the interior of your home.
* If you need to replace an appliance or HVAC system, look for a replacement that is EnergyStar certified.
* If you need to modernize your kitchen or bath, consider earth-friendly options for your counters, cabinets and plumbing.

10. Pick The Most Efficient Route
Buying: Whether you are enjoying a Sunday afternoon visiting open houses or getting ready to go out with your Realtor to see the homes you have narrowed down, it makes sense to follow the most efficient route between the homes you are visiting. Save time, gas and pollute less. There is a free online tool that you can use to enter the addresses you will be visiting and it will plan the most efficient route for you: http://www.idealroute.com/

To learn more about green real estate, please visit ArbourRealty.com

Wind Power for Businesses and Homes

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:01:08 -0500

Wind power is a renewable form of energy, produces no carbon emissions, and is not likely to run out anytime in the future. In an earlier blog I shared with you all the idea of creating your own home or residential energy by installing a wind turbine. Wind turbines are perfect for certain areas but may not be so ideal for a metropolitan area, plus they also require an initial investment and can come up against opposition.

Click on the following link to read more about Wind Power for Businesses and Homes

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Virginia's $250 Energy Audit Rebate

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:30:58 -0500

Today’s news seems very fitting with the blog I wrote last week ‘Meet Chris Your Local Energy Auditor’, which identified the benefits of a home energy audit. In last weeks blog, I highlighted the following as the main reasons for conducting a home energy audit: improving air quality, saving money on energy bills, increasing comfort, mitigating moisture problems, and reducing your carbon footprint.

If the above reasons were not a big enough incentive to schedule a home energy audit, I think the following exciting news from Virginia DMME’s Division of Energy should seal the deal.

Click here to read more about Virginia's $250 Energy Audit Rebate

Click on the following link to view Green Real Estate

October Sales Tax Holiday is Environmentally Focused.

Adam Gallegos (Arbour Realty) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:35:57 -0500

October Sales Tax Holiday normally makes me think about clothing, back to school items but not normally environmentally friendly products. Well that is exactly what this October Sales Tax Holiday covers, this October Sales Tax holiday features tax exemption on Energy Star and WaterSense Qualified Products.

Read more about the October Sales Tax Holiday.

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