http://tours.hdrhomes.com/40546

The latest environmentally friendly home features aren’t just good for the planet they look great and are a huge draw for the conscientious buyer. Here are some eco-friendly home trends if you are considering any home improvements or remodeling.

New Trends

Copper Roofs ~ Copper and copper alloys such as brass and bronze are showing up on roofs, entryways, facades, gutters and downspouts. These roofs and copper products can be good long term investments because they tolerate inclement weather. A properly installed roof could last up to 100 years versus composition roofs that average 30 years.

Timber Framing ~ Timber framing requires significantly less lumber than the traditional “stick built” housing which uses 2 by 4 studs. Using timber framing in your home construction or remodeling requires less energy to make because it uses freshly cut wood.

Rainwater Holding tanks ~ Capturing runoff from roofs and gutters is becoming more popular. This runoff water is captured in the holding tanks and then filtered and can be directed into indoor plumbing, the laundry and sprinkler systems.

Reclaimed Wood Countertops ~ Fast growing plants like bamboo and already cut woods that aren’t being used are finding new life as gorgeous countertops or other household decor. The wood types vary in color and texture from antique heart pine used in southern mills, and old farms to pine beetle kill, red oak and douglas fir.

 Induction Cooktops ~ Unlike traditional cooktops that heat up the cooking surface, the coils of an induction cooktop release their energy directly to the pot or pan and its contents. That means less energy is diffused in the cooking processes. It also means the cook top surface remains cool to the touch, making it safer. The technology is still more expensive than comparable quality electric and gas appliances.  Home owners should eventually see their energy bills drop.

Smart Irrigation Systems ~ Weather TRAK controllers automatically adjust watering schedules based on the needs of your landscape and local weather conditions. The system receives satellite data about local weather conditions to adjust the watering schedule. The price of a system depends on the number of sprinkler heads. Besides better looking lawns the home owners reap lower water bills.

Water Heater Timer ~ Standard water heaters keep gallons of water heated all of the time whether they’re needed or not, contributing to higher heating bills. Installing a water-heater timer enables you to set specific on and off times for water heater operation.

Plant Trees to Save Energy ~ Thoughtful landscape design can lower the demands put on air-conditioning and heating systems. Shade trees can be put in strategic locations to provide shade around the home. Planting deciduous trees to provide shade on the south side of a house can lower the cooling load during summer months by providing a solar shield.

Call me today for great contractors that can get you started on your home remodeling projects 720.210.7377 or visit www.coloradosells.com

For more information visit www.coloradosells.com and visit my blog!

Visit www.coloradosells.com

or email me at courtneyi@kw.com

or call me at

720-210-7377

Welcome to the New Year

With this new year we have opportunities to leave 2010 behind and build on any successes or challenges we faced in 2010. The way I approach ever new year or birthday is by telling myself

” Each year I am more stable and successful in my career, I have more balance with a growing family and feel more wise and in charge.” Maybe its naive of me to think this way as I am not approaching an momentous age milestone but I think its a blessing that we get another year and tomorrow to become better!

In real estate I always see a renewed sense of optimism among buyers and sellers in the first part of each year. I foresee consumer confidence continuing to build and our economy and markets starting to recover, grow and even stabilize. Although interest rates have raised a bit they are still at historical lows and probably will not go lower based on recent trends and movements by the feds.

If you are a new years resolution maker here is an article to help you navigate succeeding at your goals.  http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1950511,00.html

Here is to a wonderful new year!

‘We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.’
Ellen Goodman

Real Estate News…. 

Holiday’s Evening at the Littleton Historical Museum– This wonderful evening is full of carolers, story tellers and music reminiscent of times gone by, as well as delectable treats and nostalgia to warm you.  This event is Sunday December 12th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. For More Information please call 303-795-3950

9 News Parade of Lights–  For over 30 years, this Holiday Parade has dazzled spectators and warmed hearts. Join thousands of Colorado residents for this great parade Dec. 3rd and 4th. The event starts at the Civic Center Park.  Visit  www.denverparadeoflights.com.

Nutcracker-    Join Clara in her adventure with the Nutcracker Prince in the Land of Snow and Kingdom of The Sweets. The Nutcracker runs Nov. 27th– Dec. 26th. Ellie Caulkens Opera House, Denver.

A Christmas Carol– By Charles Dickens at the Performing Arts Center. This show is featured Nov. 26th -Dec. 24th at the Buell Theatre. Call 303-893-4100

Breakfast with Santa  Hosted by  the Wildlife Experience– Enjoy breakfast with Santa. Children will enjoy, face painting, cookie decorating and lots of goodies. Dec. 4th, 11th, 18th and 24th from 9-11 a.m. call the Wildlife Experience in Parker for more information and prices 720-488-3344.

Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanical Gardens– Enjoy exquisite holiday lights which highlight the natural beauty of the gardens. This event runs Dec. 3rd– Jan. 2nd Visit www.botanicgardens.org

Wild lights! Denver Zoo-  If your looking for an animal winter wonderland, the Zoo’s the place for you. Wild lights runs Dec. 10th– Jan. 2nd 5-9 p.m. nightly . For More Information visit www.denverzoo.org.

Denver’s Grand Illumination–Enjoy the grand lighting at several Denver locations. From Union Square to Larimer Square, Skyline Park to Denver Pavilions, culminating at the City and County Building between 6-7 p.m on Nov. 26th.

Snack With Santa– Dress up with your holiday best and join Santa Claus and his reindeer (meet a real live reindeer) at the Denver Children’s Museum, Sat. Dec. 4th from 10-1 pm. Visit www.cmdenver.org for more information.

More Holiday Events

Santa Claus Train– Dec. 4,11,12 and 18, Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden. www.crrm.org

Candy Cane Festival– Dec. 11th Hammonds Candies Factory, 5735 N. Washington St., Denver

Evergreen Holiday Walk– Dec. 3rd, 6-9 p.m., Evergreen Lake and Downtown Main Street, Evergreen

Georgetown Christmas Market– Dec. 4,5,11 & 12 from 10-5 daily on 6th St. in Georgetown

New Years Eve Fireworks– Dec 31st at 9 p.m. and Midnight, 16th Street Mall, Denver

The Plunge ~ If you watched any of the news headlines today the stock market was plunging because of the “Housing Sales Plunge” data that was released. It is so hard for us to understand the reality of our real estate market when we see these dramatic national numbers. The news is reporting housing sales nationally are down 27% from June and 25% from July last year. There are several reasons sales were down so drastically from June 2010 to July 2010. The tax credit available for first time home buyers and move up buyers ended in June so there was an artificially high number of sales from April to June 2010. As for the 25% drop in sales from July 2009 we had a tax credit available last year as well that expired in Nov. so first time home buyers were still pushing to purchase last summer and fall to receive the credit. Bottom line is we need to allow our real estate market time to level and balance our after the government incentives.

Real Local Stats ~ Despite the negative national real estate news today Denver was mentioned as one of several markets that was doing well and thriving in some instances. The national months supply of homes on the market rose to 12.5 months while ours for July was 7.2 months.

Housing Affordability ~ With rock bottom rates and historically high housing affordability here is a fresh look at our market from my real estate broker Jim Slinkard:

By the research that we’ve done recently, not only has there ever been a better time to buy real estate, NOW may be the best time our buyers will see in their lifetime.

Were you to purchase a home in 2000 & still have that home today, your investment would have grown 27.5%. This number does not take into consideration leverage or the ancillary benefits of home ownership.

Were you to purchase stock at the same time & held it until today your returns would be -9.9 for the Dow, -19.1 for the S & P 500 & a whopping -46.4% for the NASDAQ.

Right now Denver real estate prices have compressed to 2004 levels. This, along with possibly the lowest interest rate environment we have ever seen, has created an affordability index of almost 74% here in Denver. That means that 74% of wage earners in Denver can afford to buy an average priced home in Denver. This is the highest this number has been in 19 years.

The role interest rates play in Denver is huge. 2010 versus 2004 is a difference of over $500 per month. So, as a buyer in this example, you can earn $18,000 to $20,000 less per year & still purchase the same home as you could in 2004.

Three things make this a perfect time to purchase real estate: 1) Return on investment vs. stocks & bonds 2) Compressed prices & 3) An interest rate environment which may be the lowest we’ll ever see.

This could just be the “Perfect Storm”!

Please see a graphic below that helps put in perspective the affordability!

We are watching as our real estate market adjusts to some form of normalcy after a year or so of government incentives to buy. Believe it or not real estate continues on buyers are buying and sellers are selling despite an inducment to buy. However here is some food for thought. If you qualified for the first time home buyer credit or move up credit but it was not the right time for you don’t feel left out. Interest rates are in the low to mid 4% range which is the lowest in almost 30 years. If you purchase now vs. 2-5 years ago or in the future when rates are in the 5.5% range you will save much more than the $8,000 tax credit that was offered in the last year. Based on a $230,000 loan, if you compare the savings on a rate of 4.25% vs. the rate of 5.25%  the savings is around $135 a month. Over 5 years that equals a savings of $8,280 which is higher than the tax credit refund. Over 10 years it is a savings equal to $16,650.  Aside from the interest rate savings you still only have to put 3.5% down to purchase a home and may even be able to qualify for down payment assistance. Some home values are down from the last 2-3 years or may have remained stagnant so the housing affordability is high.

I have some wonderful up to date statistics on our market if you are considering selling or buying. Please let me know if you would like me to share them with you.
Courtney Nelson

720.210.7377

courtneyi@kw.com

www.coloradosells.com