Well according to my desktop countdown clock there are 21 day until the deadline for being under contract.  Closing will be another issue.  I already have clients calling me with comments about how their lender is not being responsive and betting back to them in a timely manor.

I have heard many say the stimulus hasn't really done anything for the housing market; I guess we will see in May.  It has made a difference with the group I work with; first time home buyers.

I enjoy first time home buyers and guiding them through this process.  I had the opportunity to make some long term clients in this market that will be ready to move up in the next 3-5 years.

If your ready to make the jump to home ownership, call, email, text, tweet or visit the website and find yourself a little slice of Louisville.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 2, 2010  

FACT SHEET: HOMESTAR ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFIT PROGRAM   WASHINGTON--In his State of the Union address, the President called on Congress to pass a program of incentives for homeowners who make energy efficiency investments in their homes. Today, while touring a training facility at Savannah Technical College, the President outlined more details of a new "HOMESTAR" program that would help create jobs by encouraging American families to invest in energy saving home improvements. Consistent with the President's call for a HOMESTAR program, the Senate Democratic leadership included a proposal of this kind as part of their Jobs Agenda released on February 4, 2010. The President looks forward to continuing to work with Members of Congress, business, environmental and labor leaders to enact a HOMESTAR program into law.   Background on the HOMESTAR program   With unemployment in the construction sector near 25% and with substantial underutilized capacity in our manufacturing sector, the HOMESTAR program has the potential to jumpstart our economic recovery by boosting demand for energy efficiency products and installation services. For middle-class families, this program will help them save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs while improving the comfort and value of their most important investment - their homes. In addition, the program would help reduce our economy's dependence on oil and support the development of an energy efficiency services sector in our economy. Key components of the HOMESTAR Program include:  

•        Rebates delivered directly to consumers: Like the Cash for Clunkers program, consumers would be eligible for direct HOMESTAR rebates at the point of sale for a variety of energy-saving investments in their homes. A broad array of vendors, from small independent building material dealers, large national home improvement chains, energy efficiency installation professionals and utility energy efficiency programs (including rural utilities) would market the rebates, provide them directly to consumers and then be reimbursed by the federal government.  
•         $1,000 - $1,500 Silver Star Rebates: Consumers looking to have simple upgrades performed in their homes would be eligible for 50% rebates up to $1,000 - $1,500 for doing any of a straightforward set of upgrades, including: insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, HVAC units, windows, roofing and doors. Under Silver Star, consumers can chose a combination of upgrades for rebates up to a maximum of $3,000 per home. Rebates would be limited to the most energy efficient categories of upgrades-focusing on products made primarily in the United States and installed by certified contractors.
•       $3000 Gold Star Rebates: Consumers interested in more comprehensive energy retrofits would be eligible for a $3,000 rebate for a whole home energy audit and subsequent retrofit tailored to achieve a 20% energy savings in their homes. Consumers could receive additional rebate amounts for energy savings in excess of 20%. Gold Star would build on existing whole home retrofit programs, like EPA's successful Home Performance with Energy Star program.
•       Oversight to Ensure Quality Installations: The program would require that contractors be certified to perform efficiency installations. Independent quality assurance providers would conduct field audits after work is completed to ensure proper installation so consumers receive energy savings from their upgrades. States would oversee the implementation of quality assurance to ensure that the program was moving the industry toward more robust standards and comprehensive energy retrofit practices.

•       Support for financing: The program would include support to State and local governments to provide financing options for consumers seeking to make efficiency investments in their homes. This will help ensure that consumers can afford to make these investments. 

  The program will result in the creation of tens of thousands of jobs while achieving substantial reductions in energy use - the equivalent of the entire output of three coal-fired power plants each year. Consumers in the program are anticipated to save between $200 - $500 per year in energy costs, while improving the comfort and value of their homes.

My friend Larry Horton has a hardware store in the Douglas Loop area of the Highlands in Louisville, KY.  The loop is where the old trolley cars used to turn around back in the day.  Horton's Hardware has been around for years and is where we go to keep our 80-100 year old homes and yards looking good.  Not too long ago he took a leap and opened Naturally Horton's eco store.  Naturally Horton's is a small shop full of local and regionally sourced products for the sustainable home and garden including supplies, tools, rain barrels, cleaners, worm castings and a line of natural personal care products.  As an Eco-Broker Certified Realtor, with the mission of getting my clients and my community to see the benefits of reducing chemicals use in our homes and offices, it is very gratifying to see entrepreneurs taking the risk to bring these types of products to market.  If you live in the area print the coupon below and check them out.  Coming this spring: farm produce. 

WFPL reported today that real estate sales were up again in November.  This has been an interesting year in real estate of our area. We usually start out strong and slow a little toward the end of the year.  This year the trend was just the opposite.  We started slowly and sales continued to build throughout the year.  I know I am much busier now in December that I have ever been and it continues. 

Statistics Residential (Single Family & Condo)

I was at the home of a client for a party this evening.  They moved here a few years ago from San Francisco.  There home was older and in a great neighborhood in Louisville. 

We started talking about the things they're doing to conserve energy.  You see and hear all these claims online and on TV that sound great, but don't you wonder if they really work. I am always interested in real life example of ways to save energy. 

One of the things they've started doing that has had a large impact on their energy usage has been using power strips to reduce phantom power consumption.  They weren't sure how much it would save, but it turns out to be about 20%. 

What are you doing?

Real Estate is a continuous learning experience.  Things you think will or should happen certain ways are always subject to another's thoughts and interpretations. Best rule of thumb is to always get your thoughts down on paper regardless of how obvious the situation may seem.  There are plenty of lines on a contract, use them.  People will surprise you.

I attended the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors Economic Summit yesterday; very enlightening, up beat and positive.  As an area we have done well during the economic downturn and there are some interesting projects in the works for our area.  You may not feel upbeat if you're currently unemployed, but other parts of the state and region have done a lot worse. One of the factors that have helped this region is the proximity to the north/south interstate corridors of I-65 and I-75.  Although I-64 had some impact, it wasn't has instrumental as the N/S routes.   Long tern real estate values have stayed relatively steady.  Although a few regions nationally are down 30-40%, they are very specific areas that had huge increases in value over the previous few years (bubbles).  Unfortunately they are still the focus of the national news outlets and have had a negative effect on customer perception of their local real estate market and opportunities.

Well people are finding us on Facebook.  I started a fan page to quiet the critics that were tired seeing my  listings on mysocial profile.  Although other agents post their listings and every detail about what they're doing in Real Estate, I felt like they were right.  It is funny because you would thing some would have more listing if they are going on a listing appointment 3 days a week like they post, but customers don't see that end. 

The fan page has been fun and has grown 500% in the last few weeks (easy when you start at zero).  I have approached several retailers who share my commitment to ecology and sustainability.  Starting next month we will partner to bring my fans retail discounts for various Eco-friendly products and services.  I am excited and I hope it will draw attention to the fact that I care about our community and not just from standpoint of making a buck.

I approached a local business with the idea of partnering to better link my ideas of sustainability with theirs.  The business is a furniture and home accessories store that is primarily consignment.  Promoting the 3 R's is very important and they do it very well.  The shop is called Eyedia; it's fun, a little funkie and is part of a movement called Keep Louisville Weird, a grassroots public awareness campaign promoting patronage of locally-owned independent businesses. These unique businesses represent the best of what makes Louisville one of the best cities to call home or to visit.  If you're a fan of my facebook page, look for details of our partnership coming in November.