Today Realty Timesran a story about how the NAHB is trying to keep Congress from federalizing the state building codes and to keep it market driven. I couldn't agree more!
Frank Thompson, a Pennsylvania home builder, "urged lawmakers to remove a provision in energy bill H.R. 3221 that would create a new code-writing role for the Department Of Energy for states that fail to achieve significant above-code benchmarks."
Competition and public demand are the answers, not more big government.
An Environmental Protection Specialist and I will be coordinating an event for National Radon Action Month in January. I'd like to have an event at a local public facility and have local radon testers and mitigators in attendance to answer questions or concerns that visitors may have about this silent killer. I would like to distribute a DVD explaining what radon is, how to test levels in the home and how to mitigate it. I would also like to have tests and/or coupons to purchase the test available for distribution. I thought that we could have fun things for kids such as face painting, coloring books/contests and so on.
I'd like to know if anyone of you have coordinated or sponsored similar events or plan anything like this in your area for next January. If so, would you please share your experience with me? I am open to suggestions.
You will never believe what I just found on Grist.org. An American artist-architect by the name of Adam Kalkin built the 6-room apartment from recyclable industrial materials and a shipping container!
Hydraulic cylinders controlled by a computer inside the kitchen island power this house. It takes about 90 seconds for the house to pop open into a six-room apartment with a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, bedroom, living room and even a library.
Denver artists have long been inspired by the stunning setting that makes our city so special. Ongoing efforts to protect this natural environment include programs such as the city's Greenprint Denver, and special educational programming from Denver Arts Week participants with "Green" themes, including these:
Date
Green Events
Oct. 5-12
Bugs, Bugs, Bugs | The Children's Museum of Denver Join the Children's Museum of Denver all week long in learning all about the essential role bugs play in keeping our earth green and healthy. On Wednesday at 1:30 and Saturday at 3:00 join us for the super special "Dirty Decomposers" to honor Denver Arts Week. Come see some real decomposers, create your very own wacky, wormy art and even get a magnifying glass to take home and use in your own backyard!!
Oct. 5-12
Super First Friday Arts Walks | ArtDistrict on Sante Fe First Friday continues all weekend with wine & beer gardens, live music, street performers, drum circles, fire dancers and spoken word artists. On Saturday: Plein Aire painting event and the unveiling of the World's largest vinyl print. On Sunday: join a bike-a-thon down Speer Blvd. to Cherry Creek. Monday - Thursday evenings: free outdoor films and picnics at 9th and Kalamath. Friday Oct. 12: the ArtDistrict Art Awards.
Oct. 6
Ride the RiNo | RiNo River North Art District Join us for our next Open Studio Tour: Ride the RiNo. We are promoting the use of alternative forms of transportation to travel around our district. Ride your Bike, Scooter or Carpool. Peddy cabs will also be available. Check back for bike maps & more details on this family friendly event!
Oct. 6
Saturday-at-the-Movies | Denver Film Society Free screening of a family film at the Starz Film Center, bring your own eco-responsible popcorn bowl (ceramic, glass, etc.) and the popcorn is on us.
Oct. 6-7
Going Green | The Wildlife Experience The Wildlife Experience will host a two-day event that includes environmental presentations as well as host several vendors that cover "green" topics, and offer educational crafts that represent the "green" theme.
Oct. 7
Great to Be Green | Denver Zoo Enjoy a fun family day at the Zoo with special activities and programs on October 7th emphasizing wildlife conservation & environment.
TBD
Grand Opening - Website Launch | Vintage Renewal Vintagerenewal.com is an online upholstery-art boutique specializing in blending classic & modern objects. The upholstery is commonly covered in vintage fabrics and re-purposed fabrics such as former drapery & funky bedcovers. This is a self-inspired idea of green upholstery design. Each of the pieces are a unique expression of what is interesting enough to re-purpose.
I, personally, am happy to see our local art festival incorporating a few "green-themed" events! Education is the key and this is one way to get the whole family involved and have fun at the same time.
Grist.org published a list of 15 Green Business Founders. Some you will know, others you may not but interesting all the same. Personally I love the Pizza Fusion business idea. I can't wait for a franchise to open in my area!
I try to do what I can to promote and support these businesses and applaud them for doing the right thing. I have a list of green restaurants and hotels on my website as well as information on eco-travel.
In today's market, owners must have their eyes open and be creative when it comes to selling their property. Foreclosures has the current inventory bulging at the seams like a it just ate a 10 course Thanksgiving meal. If existing home Sellers are not paying attention to current trends, they could end up paying the price.
In a September 17, 2007 article in RealtyTimes, Sellers are advised that pricing right from the beginning is "more crucial than ever and there is no room or time for error".
Chasing the market by repeatedly lowering the price may not be enough to induce Buyers to take action because that behavior may not be able to keep pace with the rate in which prices are falling.
Even if your price is competitive, if your home has languished on the market too long, more than its price will be suspect. Talk to a real estate agent in your market about pricing a home today. You may leave your potential Buyers asking "Why has such a nice looking home been on the market so long?, instead of exclaiming, "What a deal!"
Your real estate agent should be able to examine recent sales and tell you how fast the market is moving (up or down) and price your house accordingly. That's where FSBO's miss the boat. They don't always have the most current or reliable date with which to determine the right price. The price should be set somewhere between houses that are on the market now and those that will come on the market during the time it is expected to take your house to sell.
Staging your house cannot be over emphasised. In a highly competitive market like the one we see now, it is imperative Seller do everything they can to make their property stand out from the rest. Broderick Perkins writes,"Stage your home, not to hide defects, but to present it in the best light. Clean it up, remove the clutter, erase all but neutral components. Polish the curb appeal and make sure everything is in working order."
Take cues from Builders who almost always has at least one staged model home to show and who offer
cash toward closing costs
gift cards for Home Depot Inc.
big screen flat panel TVs
upgraded appliances
picking up the cost of a "point"
offer a home warranty
pay for the title insurance, first year's property tax, HOA dues
do an energy audit and make appropriate fixes
any costs that will help reduce costs and motivate the Buyer to make an offer
In today's market, it takes more than a yard sign to sell a house. Having a well polished property and thinking outside the box are critical. If you are in the Denver area and want to find out what I can do to help you sell your house in the shortest amount of time and for the highest dollar the market will bare, contact me today.
Green Bricks Made of Power Plant Coal Ash Move Closer to Market
As published in the Nation's Building News and NAHB, there is a potential "green" brick being developed as an alternative to the traditional clay brick. These alternative "green" bricks are made from the fly ash captured as a waste product by coal-fired power plants and are said to be safer than some had expected.
Instead of leaching minute amounts of mercury as researchers had predicted, the bricks apparently do the reverse, pulling tiny amounts of the toxic metal out of the ambient air. Further research is needed to determine how the mercury absorption occurs and how tightly the metal is trapped, but it is believed that the bricks will not have a negative impact on indoor air quality and will meet or exceed construction-material standards.
"Each year, roughly 25 million tons of fly ash from coal-fired plants are recycled, generally as additives in building materials such as concrete, but 45 million tons go to waste. Fly ash bricks both find a use for some of that waste and counter the environmental impact from the manufacture of standard bricks."
"Manufacturing clay brick requires kilns fired to high temperatures," says Henry Liu, president of Freight Pipeline Company, who has been working on the alternative bricks since 2004 with support from the Small Business Innovation Research program of the National Science Foundation (NSF). "That wastes energy, pollutes air and generates greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming."
By contrast, he says, "fly ash bricks are manufactured at room temperature. They conserve energy, cost less to manufacture and don't contribute to air pollution or global warming."
Liu is testing the brick material's safety and preparing it for market.
I continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep my clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends. Below you will find Lone Tree real estate statistics for the week of September 3, 2007 through September 9, 2007.
Single Family Detached Homes:
Total number of homes currently on the market ($100,000 - $500,000) - 54
Total number of homes currently on the market ($500,000 - $1,000,000) - 59
Total number of homes currently on the market ($1,000,000 - $5,000,000) - 41
Number of new homes listed (active) this week - 3
Number of condos closed this week - 1
Number of homes under contract this week - 5
Number of homes expired this week - 2
Average days on the market - 5
Condos:
Total number of condos currently on the market - 33
Number of new condos listed (active) this week - 3
If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area, would like more information about Lone Tree or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers, then call me at 303-883-4147 or email me at Katharine@DenverGreenHomes.info.
9000 BLUFFTOP WAY LONE TREE, CO 80124 MLS ID# 560553
This majestic Toll Brothers home is nestled in the hills just steps from Bluffs Regional Park, Lone Tree Recreational Center, Sky Ridge Medical Center. Conveniently located near Lone Tree Entertainment District, Park Meadows Mall, Light Rail, I-25, C-470, E-470 and the Centennial Airport.
At the front door, turn around to see the city view!
Enter into a foyer area with 2-story ceilings. To the left of you is an enormous bonus room. Turn that into a media room, exercise room or game room. Use your imagination! To the right is a main floor study. Straight down the main hall, you will be greeted by graceful arches offering themselves to the formal dining room with vaulted ceilings. Just beyond that, you will find the gourmet kitchen and family room with lots of windows facing south to view the hills behind and a fireplace to keep you cozy in the winter. Lots of windows and vaulted ceilings make this home light and bright.
Double doors open to the main floor master. Immediately you notice the tray ceiling. You will also find separate his/hers walk-in closets and a 5-piece bath with Jacuzzi tub and water closet.
At the top of the stairs, the room opens into a huge loft area that overlooks the main foyer/main hallway, dining area, kitchen and family room. This is a perfect space for the children's play area. Each will have his own bedroom and share a Jack-and-Jill bath.
The basement is 25% complete so you can bring your imagination with you to make this space your own.
Imagine the lifestyle you will have and entertaining you could do in this home!
Single Family Property, Area: Douglas Co West, Subdivision: RIDGEGATE SECTION 15 FILING 9, County: DOUG, Approximately 0.25 acre(s), Year Built: 2006, Two story, Basement, Fireplace(s), Dining room
Anything you want about energy
efficiency and the environment
as it pertains to real estate.
Also visit
www.DenverGreenHomes.info.
for more information.
EcoBroker certified.
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Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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