Will this be it? Will this be the magic bullet that restarts the housing industry, gets buyers off the fence, and puts our builders back to work? This is a tremendous time to trade up, but many people have to sell first. Explaining to a seller that the home they bought in 2006 for $400K is now worth $350K is a hard thing to do. Many sellers are still in denial and are convinced that someone is going to come along and pay $400K because their home is special. Will a $15,000 incentive be the magic amount that will convince sellers to price their homes to sell so that they can become buyers?

Imagine buying a certified “green” home that costs 30% less to operate AND getting a $15,000 tax credit to do it! Sounds too good to be true. Now is the time to write your congress men and women and let them know that you support this amendment and then call your agent (please)!

The folowing press release is taken in it’s entiredy from the EPA website – I couldn’t say it any better myself.

Be safe and Happy New Year!

Check ‘Tested Our House for Radon’ Off Your January List of Things to Do

Release date: 01/05/2009

Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543, smith.bonnie@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (January 5, 2009) – - Radon doesn’t have to be the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. By testing for radon and taking any needed preventive steps you can protect yourself and your family from this health threat.
Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It is an invisible, tasteless, radioactive gas that can become trapped indoors. When you breathe air containing radon, you are exposing yourself to the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is found all over the country and in any type of building including homes, offices, and schools. Because we spend most of our time indoors at this time of year, this is the best time to test our homes for radon.

While many health challenges are tough to solve and expensive, testing for radon is easy and inexpensive. For $20 you can buy a “do-it-yourself” radon test kit at a hardware store or retail outlet. Many of us had our homes tested when they were purchased, but that may have been 20 years ago. EPA recommends you get your home tested every five years, since foundations can shift over time.

If your test shows high levels of radon, confirm with another test and fix the problem. A high radon level might be lowered with a straight-forward radon venting system installed by a contractor. Mitigation costs generally run from $1,000 to $2,500. In new homes, builders can easily and economically include radon-resistant features during construction, and home buyers should ask for these. EPA also recommends that home buyers ask their builder to test for radon before they move in.

EPA estimates that one in 15 homes will have a radon level of four picocuries per liter of air or more, a level the agency considers high. Based on the national radon map, all of the mid-Atlantic states – - Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, D.C., and Delaware – - have areas with elevated radon levels.

For more information about radon contact our regional website at: http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/Indoor/radon.htm or contact our national website at http://www.epa.gov/radon or call 1-800-SOS-RADON (767-7236).

You can also reach your state radon office on-line or by phone at:

Delaware Health and Social Services Administration at 302-739-4731
Maryland calls go to EPA Region 3 at 215-814-2086
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection at 717-783-3594
Virginia Radiological Health Programs at 804-786-5932
Washington D.C. Department of Public Health at 202-535-2999
West Virginia Radiological Health Program at 304-558-6716

January is National Radon Action Month: http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram/index.html

1)    Don’t be distracted by the décor or lack of décor – staging is great but you are not buying the drapes and low voc paint is cheap.

2)    Buy a house that is solid.  Have a qualified home inspector or green renovator on your team.  They can help determine if the house has good bones and can separate cosmetic problems from serious ones. 

3)    Remember junk is junk – if it doesn’t have good bones and you are not willing or able to tear in down, keep moving no matter how low the price.

This is a unique time to buy a home.  The opportunities available today probably will not come around again in your lifetime.  The first step is to assemble your Green team – your EcoBroker®, green lender, and green renovation specialist or home inspector.  Prices are good and, contrary to popular thought, money is available.  The home you buy and renovate will be unique, use less natural resources (existing materials, lower utility bills), and have a story. Which makes it the greenest home of all!

What is your idea of living green?

Is it living off the land? Living in the heart of the city above your studio? How about generating your own solar power in a home that would make Martha Stewart proud?

Here are three uniquely green properties currently available – let me know if one sounds like your next home.

Brokenfoot Ranch Organic Farm – built in 2002 – ENERGY STAR®

Brokenfoot Ranch is located about 10 minutes from University of West Georgia in Carroll County, Georgia.  Carroll County has one of the most progressive farming communities in Georgia. This property is 66 acres including three cleared fields for organic crops or livestock.  The rest of the acreage is in hardwood forest with walking trails leading to a deep meandering creek at the back property line adjacent to John Tanner State Park.

The home is ENERGY STAR® certified meaning it uses at least 30% less energy than a conventionally built house.  Ample natural light enhances the beautiful honey pine tongue and grove ceilings to create a warm and inviting environment. There are artistic touches, such as handmade tiles and reclaimed wood, through-out the home. This farm is still a work in progress, a great opportunity for the next homeowner to make it their own. This property is priced to sell at $600,000.  It has great bones and is perfect for a sustainable family farm. 

Weatherford Place– new construction going for LEED Platinum

Weatherford Place is a new solar community of net zero energy homes walking distance from the Roswell Square.  Through a series of virtually invisible solar panels, these homes create as much electricity as they use!  Weatherford Place homes contain an amazing array of cutting edge energy saving, water saving, and indoor air quality features while maintaining the elegantly understated features one would expect in a traditional Roswell home.  There are three homes available, all in the low $700,000’s. 

The LEEDing Edge – new construction going for LEED Platinum

LEEDing edge is a new free standing live / work building located in the Old Fourth Ward (O4W).  The O4W is a progressive, active community and one of Atlanta’s most historically significant neighborhoods. This is a perfect home for the artist or entrepreneur seeking an urban existence.  With a storefront / studio on the first floor, living space on the second and third floor, and a roof garden this is urban living! The LEEDing Edge is offered at $525,000.

Why Customers Choose Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Savings and Peace of Mind Save on energy costs and increase the comfort, safety and durability of your most important investment – your home.

Specially Trained and Certified Contractors The Hoots Gorup, certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) will work with you to identify sources of wasted energy and comfort problems throughout your home.

Comprehensive Assessment, Recommendations and Cost Analysis By using the “whole house approach,” our team is able to give you a comprehensive assessment that includes recommendations and cost analysis for: heating/cooling equipment, insulation levels, air infiltration, windows/doors, and lighting.

Financial Incentives

Financial incentives are available to help offset the cost of the assessment and the improvements. All incentives are subjected to specific improvements meeting pre-determined Test-out requirements (post diagnostic testing). Please discuss with your contractor for more details.

Potential Customer Rebates (rebates are not to exceed home improvement costs)

Home Assessment Rebates Rebates Up To:

50% Reimbursement of assessment fees $200

Home Improvement Rebates Rebates Up To:

Thermostat conversion $100

Installation of R-6 or greater insulation blanket

on Electric Water heater Only $50

Attic insulation improvements

(in conjunction with air sealing) $200

Wall insulation improvements (conditioned space exterior walls) $550

Insulate floor & foundation wall to R-5 (foam) /R-13 in basement wall cavities (fiberglass acceptable) $450

Improve air sealing $250

Improve duct sealing $100

Potential Total Rebates $1,900

Appliances

The lifespan of a typical home appliance is 10 years.  If it is time to replace your appliances, look for the energy star label.  Appliances the have earned the energy star label use 15-40% less energy than other models and save you up to 30% on your energy bills. 

Replacing your old washing machine with a He (high efficiency) model will reduce water consumption from 40 gallon to 16 gallon per load and is gentler on your clothes.

Heating and Cooling

Prolong the life of your air conditioner by changing your air filters once a month.  An easy way to remember when it is time to change your filter is to stick a white mailing label inside your utility closet and write the date down every time you change the filter.

Save $100 – $200 a year by installing a programmable thermostat. 

• Set it for 78 degrees in the summer when you are usually at home and 71 degrees     when you are usually away or asleep.
• Set it for 70 degree in the winter when you are usually at home and 62 degrees          when you are usually away or asleep.

Have your HVAC and furnace serviced once a year. If your system is over 10 years old, consider replacing it.

When it is time to replace your HVAC or furnace, get the highest efficiency unit you can.  You will be glad you did every month when the utility bills arrive!  Try to get an air conditioner with a SEER rating of 14 or better and a furnace with an AFUE of 90 or better.

Free (or almost free) tips that make a big difference

Potted plants are effective natural air filters. English ivy, peace lily, bamboo palm, and Gerber daisies are among the best.

Outlet insulators (available at all home improvement stores for less than $2 for 6) take seconds to install and will stop draft coming from outside walls.

Caulk around windows and use insulating window film (available at all home improvement stores for less than $10 a box).

If you have windows that face south, keep the blinds closed in the heat of the summer and open in winter.

As your light bulbs need to be replaced, replace them with compact florescent bulbs.  Compact florescent bulbs can be recycled at IKEA or Home Depot.

SAVE THE DATE

Green Home Buyer workshop

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Free – For more info go to www.Spiveysellsgreen.com

From October 2-5 Georgia residents can purchase energy and water efficient products state and local tax free.  This is the first year water efficient products have been included in the tax holiday.  To read the press release click here.

I am happy to report that PURE has released the calendar for the rest of 2008 and the next three-day EcoBroker® designation class series will be September 16-18.  There are also classes scheduled October 7-9, Nov 4-7, and December 2-4.  As a reminder, the class series is $395 and gives you three days of interactive instruction, 3 reference manuals, 18 hours of CE credit, one year listing on ecobroker.com, on-line marketing material, the EcoBroker® certified designation,  and more…

To register online go to www.powerure.com.  If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me!

Last night about forty Atlanta area Ecobrokers met up for our 2^nd bi-monthly happy hour.  The happy hour was hosted by The Hoots Group, Waldenour, and Seville Consulting.  We munched on delicious organic bites provided by Organic Eatz as we shared our experiences as ecobrokers, friends, and Atlanta real estate professionals.  There is strong green movement in Atlanta and it was great to be surrounded by so many people that are helping to take sustainability into the mainstream.  Mia Hannah won the door prize, a water barrel, which will be put to good use in her beautiful English gardens.   Our next happy hour will be in October; hopefully we will find a perfectly ghoulish place….

Why am I blogging about my neighborhood?  Because last night, after a year of public meetings, the final version of master plan for the Old Fourth Ward was presented to our community.  The master plan will guide our growth and redevelopment over the next 25 – 50 years.  The plan is available at www.o4wplan.com,

In its heyday, the Old Fourth Ward was the most densely populated neighborhood in Atlanta.  It will be again. 

Here are some highlights of the plan –

      The three guiding principle outlined in the plan are 1) Social Justice, 2) Innovation, and 3) Diversity. 

          The plan calls for all new construction to be built to LEED, earthcraft, or future “green” building standards. 

      Our neighborhood is to become more pedestrian and bicycle friendly with more park space and community gardens (similar to Chicago).

      The emphasis will be on mixed use, high density development except in the historic single family areas.

      There will be ample senior housing; I noticed at least six different areas identified for senior housing.

      There will be no gated communities allowed (my development was described as a “fortress” which we all found amusing).

The plan is a good one, and I expect there will be a lot of changes in the next few years.  This will hopefully be real estate redevelopment at its best. 

On a very sentimental note, my condo (in a fortress), built in what was formerly known as Buttermilk Bottom, will eventually be demolished to become part of a linear park.  It somehow seems right; I just hope it doesn’t happen too soon.