A Few Ideas To Incorporate Green Architecture Into Your Home

In today’s environmentally conscious world, it is more important than ever to think about ways to protect the environment and the precious resources we have in this world to preserve them for future generations. One great way to make a small difference, and also save yourself money in the long run and in the process, is to incorporate some simple green building ideas into your property, which can not only enhance the natural beauty of your home, but also save you money on energy costs in the process. Following are some ideas for a few things you can do to your home, from the simple to the more complex.

The main goal of a completely green house would be one that is totally self sustainable and able to rely on its own energy to function. One way to reduce the water needs on a property is to incorporate native plants into the environment that do not require additional water. In California and other desert areas, it is ideal to use cactus and rocks, which look great and do not require excess water.

In order to maximize the amount of water that falls during any rainstorm, you can install rainwater catchment systems on your roof, which will capture rainwater that falls into the gutters, and reuse them for irrigation of the landscaping on the property. You can also build catchment systems to capture “grey” water, which is water recycled from such household appliances as washing machines and dishwashers, and then reused again for irrigation.

Installing a solar panel system is also an excellent way of making use of natural energy, and incorporating it back into use on the property. Especially in climates that receive a large amount of sunlight, this is an excellent way to capture some of this power. There are also ways of storing the power for future use, by the installation and use of photo-voltaic systems, which capture and store the energy generated through the solar panels, to be used at a later time to provide electricity to the home. Not only do you save energy this way by not relying on man made electricity to power your home, but you also save a little money in the pocketbook when it comes time to pay the electric bill.

There are also things you can do to your windows to make your home more energy efficient. One easy thing to do is to have your windows coated with a low-emissivity (or “Low-E”) invisible film that reflects the UV and infrared light, and also benefits the home by keeping heat inside in the winter instead of transferring out the windows. Replacing your current windows with multiple pane windows is also a great option, as multiple pane windows have spaces inside to contain insulating gas, helping the indoor temperature to not be affected by the outdoor temperature.

As a further incentive, the government offers tax credits for people who incorporate certain green designs into their home. Check with your tax advisor for more information, or you can look up some information at the website of the internal revenue service at www.irs.gov.

Little things you can do in your home may seem like a small thing to do and not take much, but in doing so you are benefiting not only your home, but your community and the rest of the world as well.

OPEN HOUSE AT PASADENA'S JET PROPULSION LABORATORY - Sunday, May 16th, 2010

If you are looking for something to do in the Northeast Los Angeles area that is fun, interesting, and best of all, FREE, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena is hosting its annual Open House at their facility from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM today, May 16, 2010. Visitors will get a chance to see models of Mars ROVERS and other spacecrafts, watch videos and demonstrations about earth and space science, as well as speak to NASA scientists and engineers & ask them questions about space travel and space exploration. It sounds like a really interesting and educational experience - I am going to try to make it over there today with my daughter to check it out if I can.

You can find out information and details here:

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive in Pasadena, off the 210 freeway at the Berkshire Avenue / Oak Grove Drive exit. Parking is available near the Oak Grove main gate and the eastern boundary of JPL, accessible from Windsor Avenue via the Arroyo Blvd. exit avenue of the 210 freeway. Their phone number for information is 818-354-0112

Have a great Sunday!

DAHLIA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY DEDICATES A NEW SIGN!!

About a year or so ago, Dahlia Heights Elementary School in Eagle Rock received a brand new sign at the edge of the school property, on the corner of Colorado Blvd. & Floristan Avenue. The sign was constructed of carved stone and stood proudly at the front of the school, but unfortunately, not for long. Within a few days of being installed, the sign was vandalized when it was smashed and broken, the beautiful carved stone laying in pieces on the ground. For over a year, the bare signpost has stood as a sad reminder, but no longer.

On Friday, thanks to the generosity of Beau Boeckmann, Tiffany Walker, and "Mad Mike" Martin of Galpin Ford (www.galpinford.com), a new sign which they created and donated was dedicated at Dahlia Heights and now stands proudly where the old one once stood. The new sign is constructed of vandal resistant acrylic, which will not break or scratch, and will allow for easy simple wipe-off of any paint or marker. The sign is also hooked up with a solar powered light system to light up at night, thanks to Advanced Solar Electric (www.advancedsolarelectric.com)

Some of you may remember "Mad Mike" Martin from MTV's 'Pimp My Ride'. As a special treat for the kids (and the grownups), he was nice enough to bring a special little toy with him, seen below:



Thanks to all for their genorosity for making this new sign a reality!

9 Steps to Sell Your Home in a Slow Market

No one can predict what the rest of 2010 and beyond will bring, but many markets have slowed, if not declined, although many experts believe the “bottom” has already occurred in many markets. For the majority of established home owners in the prevailing market, prior property appreciation will ensure at least some degree of profit, though today's sales might not be as prosperous as they would have been a few years ago. But all homeowners want to get the highest possible profits. How do you go about this? There are 10 negotiating steps that a seller can follow to assure that a person's home gets the best price and is sold quickly.

Step 1: Use a broker from the local area. When the market is down, so is the number of buyers. That means that you need to expose your property to as many potential buyers as possible. Who do prospective buyers get in touch with when they are house hunting? Real estate brokers. National Association of Realtors statistics show that 85% of purchasers count on real estate brokers for their home selections, while the Internet accounts for 80%. Who creates all of those online real estate postings? Real estate brokers from the local area.

Step 2: Familiarize yourself with the entire sale agreement. Nearly all jurisdictions have standardized real estate contract that has become lengthy and complex over many years. If you use one of those, read it carefully and be aware that you are agreeing to every unmodified term and condition. Make sure there is nothing in the agreement that needs to be taken out, rewritten or added. The brokers should offer a copy of the sale agreement that they might use at listing presentations and the sale deed should be read to avoid misunderstandings. As these are agreements on forms, whatever is not stated as a requirement by the law can be changed by a cross-out or addenda. Consult your attorney or broker for further detailed information.

Step 3: Be completely familiar with the current real estate market. For the sake of negotiations, knowing what the recorded sale prices were isn't sufficient because often they don't give the complete picture. As an example, two houses might have both sold for $300,000. A person might have sold for $350,000 while the other for $300,000 but the owner gave the buyer a 6 percent seller credit for a new roof and appliances, which is $18,000. Local brokers who are familiar with the details of recent sales are able to provide the best negotiation advice.

Step 4: Understand all of the terms you are willing to offer. You are confident that your home is going to sell at some satisfactory price, but instead of starting out with an inflexible amount, consider the property sale as a combination of price and terms. For example, it might make more sense in a slow market to help reduce the buyer's closing costs by offering a "seller contribution "instead of lowering the price of the property. Often the seller contribution could be significantly less than a reduction in price, and buyers who require cash to close the sale could find it more attractive as well.

Step 5: Request a smaller deposit. In order to bind a legal contract, the buyer needs to make a deposit. In a standard transaction in California, a seller will receive a deposit equal to 3% of the purchase price, but in a down or "off" market, a much smaller deposit request may attract more buyers. The buyers prefer to make the lowest possible deposit because a huge deposit indicates a big financial and psychological commitment. You can ask for a lower deposit if the buyer has mortgage pre-approval or if the buyer shows a strong interest in the property and you have no other offers.

Step 6: Sweeten the pot. Are you really planning to take large items like a swing set or washing machine? In certain cases it may be better to leave such items if a buyer makes an offer.

Step 7: Fully understand the marketing plan. The broker's marketing plan should be reviewed quite often to see that it is being followed and is changed whenever it is needed.

Step 8: Check out other open houses. Going to open houses, also known as your competition is a great idea. It isn't always easy to be objective. However, do other owners have selling ideas that might work in regards to your home? Is there something you can use to bargain with? You could consider offering to do some painting or other cosmetic repairs.

Step 9: Keep everything in context. Don't worry about nickels and dimes when your main goal is to get the house sold.

As an example, just before closing the deal, let's say the buyer requests an extra $750.00 to resolve last minute concerns. It might be better for you as the seller to lose $750.00, than to try find another buyer later when the market may be harsher and the final sale price might end up being lower by several thousands of dollars. Would the seller have preferred to have saved that $750.00? Certainly. However, seven hundred and fifty dollars was a small price to pay considering that the delays could have meant a big reduction in price.

Time Running Out to Receive $18,000.00 in Combined Homebuyer Tax Credits!

Time is running out for a brief window of opportunity for Californians to claim a combined $18,000.00 in Federal and State tax credits, thanks to the new $10,000.00 California state homebuyer tax credit recently signed into law by Governor Shwarzanegger. This new state credit comes on the heels of the extended and expanded Federal tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of this month.



In order for home buyers to be able to take advantage of BOTH credits and claim the full $18,000.00, eligible first time home buyers must have a valid, signed contract in place to purchase a principal residenec prior to May 1, 2010, and close on the transaction on or before June 30th. The $10,000 state credit is also available to non first time home buyers who purchase a property which has never been previously occupied as certified by the seller.

Buyers are urged to speak with their CPA or tax counsel to determine whether or not they would qualify for either the federal or state credits.

Tree Sitters Plagued by Low Appraisal; FHA Repairs

Mark Thompson just wanted to get a fair deal for his tree house. After three and a half years of treetop living, soaking up the sun every day without a care in the word, the troubled economy finally found its way and left its mark all the way to the top of this lonely Northern California pine. Mr. Thompson's troubles began when he agreed to sell the treetop dwelling to an undisclosed buyer, after the two struck up a conversation at the local 7-11 while Mr. Thompson was re-stocking his weekly supplies of Kentucky cheroot cigars, moon pies, and grape flavored Cisco. After agreeing to the price of $375 and two 18-packs of Strohs, the two inked the deal on the back of a chili-dog takeout box & things couldn't have been better. But thats when the troubles started...

"I knew I shouldn't have taken an FHA loan!", complained Mr. Thompson a mere week and a half later. Things were going just as smooth as can be, until the FHA appraiser came over to take a look at the property. Even though the tree was the tallest and most beautiful in the forest, the appraiser reduced the value because there were not enough nice trees around to compare it with. Also, most of the nicer trees had been cut down along time ago, so they couldn't use those for comparison anyway because they were too old. The appraiser also reduced the value because there was only a ropeladder to get up, and what if someone had a hard time climbing? So when all was said and done, the appraiser put the value of the treetop dwelling at $170.00, WITHOUT the Strohs. To add insult to injury, if he wants to sell, he is also required to repair the leaky roof, patch the holes in the tarpolin on the side, bolt the foundation of the structure to the trunk and secure with 1/2" metal guards, and remove all of the peeling bark from the tree, as that could present a safety hazard to small children who might decide to snack on it.

"I don't know what else to do, the wood, nails and tarp cost me at least $200 bucks, not to mention the ropeladder. If I don't get a little help from the buyer on this one, I might end up having to do a short sale or just walk!!"

Unfortunately, this story has been told over and over again.... We wish the best of luck to Mr. Thompson in his unfortunate situation!

Hanging Out at SWORK in Eagle Rock...

One of my favorite places to hang out in Eagle Rock is SWORK... If you have never heard of it, it is a cool, hip coffeehouse featuring all the usual goodies, like espresso, cappuccino, lattes, teas, coled & hot, along with some tasty treats to go with it. What has now become a fixture at the corner of Colorado Blvd. and Eagle Rock Blvd. in the heart of Eagle Rock, SWORK has been around since the turn of the millennium in 2000. Hard to believe it has been 10 years - I imagine they will be having some kind of celebration.

SWORK is a great place to bring your toddlers to play while you relax - there is a great play area with toys, books and all kind of fun kid stuff. There is WIFI access, comfortable seating throughout, and features a changing display of artwork from featured local artists, which are also for sale. There is also outdoor tables to hang out on the sidewalk outside, both on the Eagle Rock Blvd. side & Colorado side, depending on your mood or the weather (or maybe both!)

SWORK is open 7 days a week, from 6:00AM to 10:00 PM.

Check out their website at: www.swork.com

Drop by next time you are in the neighborhood...