This year, Corporate America is going green

Many companies are starting to see the “green” light.
This year many companies such as, Dell Inc., Coca-Cola Co., and Google Inc. have made big committments to helping the environment. These corporations plan to leverage their “green-ness” to potential customers, save cash on fuel and electricity and attract more capital from environmentally conscious investors.
Read the article, here.
Good stuff!

Do you know a good sale when you see one?

In this morning’s AJC online, an article entitled, “ Silver Lining Elusive in Home Price Drop” was posted. The article is about excess home inventory (from a national standpoint), and the rationale behind buyers’ hesitation to invest in housing.  It got me thinking…most people don’t know a good deal on anything unless there is a flashing inyourface pop-up box or obnoxiously-huge-neon DISCOUNT HERE sign (complete with arrow pointing directly at product).

However, there are smart buyers, buyers who recognize a steal, for any product- home purchases are no exception. Take,  Ben Pradaza for example. “Ben took advantage of the current mortgage market and seller’s desperation to snag a four-bedroom brick home in Duncanville, Texas. He paid $30,000 less than the asking price on the house, which sits on a half-acre wooded lot and features granite countertops, a hot tub and a six-person cedar sauna.

With a credit score around 785 and a steady job as a network administrator for an engineering company, the 33-year-old qualified for a 30-year fixed rate loan from Coldwell Banker with only 3 percent down on the $235,000 brick home. He moved in last month.

Pedraza plans to live in the house for at least 10 years, growing into a home that is more than he needs now. He thinks he’ll ride out the current housing downturn and, when he finally wants to sell, the timing will be right.

“I think I got a great deal as far as the house,” said Pedraza. “I think once the market picks up, I’ll have instant equity.”
BEN, BEN, he’s one smart cookie!

Relocating and your pets

Moving to a new city is stressful and exciting.
Packing and unpacking, Cleaning, and transporting the family pet to your new place safely are just a few items you can hire a professional to manage. Trust me as a person who drove their dog across country, it’s worth the money! One of the main reasons I felt the need to personally drive my beloved Bokoto to Georgia was based on trust. Who can you trust with your pet? Well, I didn’t know about PetRelocation.com then. This company specializes in getting your fur-friend to your new place with minimal stress. Below are a few excerpts from their website, or just click here to learn more about the company. If you should use them in your relocation, would you kindly share the experience with other folks by sending me an email at www.Chris-Reeder.com; I’ll add your comments to the Resource portion of my website. Thank you and good luck!
From the Pet Relocation website:
Relocating pets is a technical process that involves strong feelings. That’s why choosing a relocation service for your pet is not only a matter of terms and prices, it’s about confidence and trust. When you relocate your pet you don’t just select a service, you hire a partner to take care of your pet.
PetRelocation.com is your best partner in managing your pet’s relocation process.  Based on extensive expertise and an unrivalled reputation, our dedicated team is focused on creating the most comfortable, safe & stress-free environment possible.

“We are well aware of the huge responsibility involved in the transportation and successful relocation of live animals.  That’s why our dedicated and experienced team controls each and every aspect of your pet’s transportation, guaranteeing a smooth and reliable process.

Based on extensive expertise and unrivalled reputation, our relocation solutions are directly related to a dedicated team, which reflects the highest standards of integrity and devotion. 

Intown Condo’s with plush hotel amenities

Hotel construction in downtown Atlanta is booming. Just drive down Peachtree for construction-induced traffic jams, detours, and supersized skyscraper metal shells.
The last time we experienced a spike in this type of intown construction was just before the Olympics in 1986.
So, I guess it was only a matter of time. With the World of Coke relocation, the new Aquarium and increasing conventions, downtown Atlanta is welcoming more and more visitors. Most of the construction is slated for completion before 2010.

The exciting thing from a Real Estate perspective is the development of luxury hotel topped by swanky condos. About half of the new intown projects are of that type. The Four Seasons is an older example of a combo Condo/Hotel residence. How nice to have access to housecleaning, a 24-hour concierge, and endless guest rooms for those frequent vistors!

To read the entire article in today’s AJC, please click here.

Personal Property Exhibits in Purchase and Sale Agreements

A personal property exhibit should be associated with every real estate Purchase and Sale Agreement in Georgia.
A completely empty property; one with no appliances, drapery, community parking space, or community mailbox is the only exception to the rule.
For example, in writing a purchase and sale agreement for a condominium I have listed (MLS 3594668, if you are interested!), the buyers agent attached a personal property exhibit that listed out:
1. Each appliance included in the sale, including make and model number
2. The drapery included in the sale
3. The parking space associated with the property, including the space number
4. The mailbox number at the community mailbox center, including the fact that a working key is to be turned over to buyer at closing
Most of us know to include the appliances…but the mailbox key was something we added to the contract after discussing. Between both agents, we thought it best to over-list personal property, rather than under-list.
This will help manage buyer and seller expectations, keeping everyone happy

Solid and encouraging Real Estate Outlook

From the pages of today’s Realty Times, a great article giving a current, broad stroke picture of the American economy. In early December, the federal government reported retail sales up by 1.2 percent in the past month, AND strong growth in new jobs, exports and household incomes.
Mortgage rates continue to be some of the lowest we’ve experienced in the last 20 years. Low home prices combined with very low mortgage rates results in excellent buying opportunities!
To view the article in entirety, click here

3 simple Green Home ideas

There’s a great article with some simple ideas in today’s Realty Times- to read the whole article, click the link at the bottom of this blog.

To go green, you don’t have make massive, expensive changes all at once.
As routine maintenance needs arise, just think green when it comes to choosing materials and products.
You may save some money and take pride in doing your part to help protect the environment.

Three going green “no brainers”:
When that old toilet needs to go, replace that water-hog with a low-flow toilet
When updating your appliances, ensure they are marked with the Energy Star Logo
When updating paint, use paints that are low or no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

When you routinely think, “Is this product or material ok for the environment?”, it’s easy to convert your home into a more environmentally efficient abode.

Read the article in it’s entirety here: 

Going Green: Easier Than You May Think

by Phoebe Chongchua

The best investment you can make? Buy real estate for the long term.

Home Price Data Shows Housing Solid Long-Term Investment     Get your copy here

(Washington – November 8, 2007) – While the latest S&P/Case-Shiller home price statistics for 20 of the nation’s largest metro markets showed a 4.4 percent year-over-year decline, a closer examination of the data reveals that on average, these same markets appreciated in value by more than 50 percent over the past five years. “It’s important to keep things in perspective,” said Brian Catalde, president of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from El Segundo, Calif. “The current housing price correction is most pronounced in the once super-heated markets in California, Nevada, Florida and Arizona. In most other markets, price declines have been pretty modest.” For example, in Chicago, home prices declined 1.3 percent between August 2006 and August 2007, while posting a 34.2 percent gain for the five-year period between August 2002 and August 2007. Among the 20 markets surveyed by S&P/Case-Shiller, which represent more than 40 percent of the U.S. population, four posted home price appreciation rates of more than 80 percent over the past five years while 11 registered gains of more than 45 percent. Home values in Los Angeles fell 5.7 percent in the last year—but even with this loss prices in L.A. are up 88.9 percent since 2002. In Miami, home prices dropped 7.8 percent between August 2006 and August 2007 while showing a price appreciation of 89.2 percent during the past five years. The same pattern holds true in Phoenix and Las Vegas, which each posted yearly declines of 8 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively. However, home values surged 80.2 percent in Phoenix during the past five years and 83.2 percent in Las Vegas. While housing is a cyclical business, experience shows that over time, home values will stabilize and then move upward with the next recovery, said Catalde. “To argue that home values will continue to decline and never recover, somebody has to make a convincing case that it will cost less to build a new home five years from now than it does today – and that’s just not going to happen,” said Catalde. “Despite today’s housing slowdown, the cost of land, labor and materials required to build new homes continues to go up.” Furthermore, Catalde noted that the rapid appreciation rates in 2003-2005 were clearly unsustainable over the long-term, and that housing typically increases in value slightly above the overall inflation rate. Homeownership as a long-term investment has a track record that is virtually unmatched by any other purchase in terms of its real benefits, he added. Home owners today have a combined $11 trillion in equity in their homes, against which they can borrow to help pay for college tuition, medical expenses and other needs. And housing offers important tax incentives to make owning a home more affordable. Comparison tables can be found at: http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=84844

Interest rates are great!

More American Cities are going green- including Atlanta!

AIA Research Shows Cities Increasingly Have “Green Thumb” by Peter L. Mosca“Green is Good” and the results from a recent survey shows that cities across the nation are increasingly seeing the light. According to an American Institute of Architects (AIA) study of communities with populations of greater than 50,000, since 2003 the number of cities with green building programs has risen from 22 to 92, for an increase of 418 percent. In an effort to examine the eco-friendly initiatives of U.S. cities, the report, Local Leaders in Sustainability, analyzed 661 communities’ best practices, strategies and trends, as well as provides recommendations for cities that are looking to implement green building programs. “Sustainable design practices have the potential to transform the built environment from an energy intensive past towards a more energy efficient, green future,” said Paul Mendelsohn, AIA vice president, Government and Community Relations. “Technological advances now allow for the design of buildings that are efficient, modern, possess great aesthetics and are financially viable. High premiums for green buildings are no longer the case as costs are coming more in line with traditional building practices.” Key findings of Local Leaders in Sustainability include:

• One in seven cities surveyed currently have green building programs; the number improves to one in five by next year with current projections.
• Scottsdale was first city to mandate LEED Gold for municipal buildings. In 2007 1,123 green single-family and 20 multi-family homes having been completed.
• Chicago has more LEED registered projects than any other U.S. city or approximately three million square feet. Their Green Roof Program offers $5,000 grants to help with the planning and installation of green roofs,
• 39 percent of citizens live in cities with green building programs.
• Portland offers income tax credit for green building and projects for energy conservation, recycling, renewable energy and cleaner fuels. The Oregon Dept. of Energy has awarded 13,000 tax credits of 35 percent of eligible project costs.
• San Francisco established Generation Solar program to amend the code and streamline the process for solar permitting in residential applications. Program provides assistance with design and installation and has resulted in nearly 600 solar installations city wide.
• 36 cities are in an advanced stage of developing a green building program.
• Austin established the first green building program in the country. A climate protection plan will have city buildings running on 100 percent renewable energy by 2012 and completely carbon neutral by 2020.
• Atlanta had the most LEED buildings per capita in the country in 2006. Their EarthCraft Communities program is a community guideline that emphasizes walkability, environmental site plan development, and an overall integrated planning approach.

Mendelsohn added, “When we spoke with local officials that have not undertaken a green building program, the prevailing notion was that they considered themselves behind — even backwards — in their approach to addressing environmental challenges. To help spur adoption of green building programs across the country, the AIA has partnered with both the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties to offer our resources for their members. “American cities are going green and local leaders are charging ahead with innovative sustainability policies. Buildings currently accounts for close to one-half of all greenhouse gas emissions, and the design and construction of green buildings offers the opportunity to create a more sustainable future.” At this pace, one day in the near future, the lead of articles on building and development will not have to begin by stating, “Green is Good.” That fact, will already be understood by all parties involved.