As many of you know energy and water conservation is something I am very passionate about.  Last November I wrote about how many groups including the Triangle Chapter of  the US Green Building Council were asking our NC lawmakers, specifically Gov. Perdue to support a new improved building code that would require higher energy efficiency in commercial and residential building.

This new code will mandate a 10-15% residential and 30% commercial energy efficiency improvement from current code.  In addition it will provide a  ”Higher Efficiency Residential Option”  HERO Appendix to give guidance and recognition to builders that choose to build a home 15 – 20% more energy efficient than the new minimums.

The new NC Energy Conservation Code was voted on and approved by the NC Building Code Council on December 14 2010. The planned effective date of the 2010 NC Energy Conservation Code is January 1, 2012, but it still has to gain support  and be passed by lawmakers so there is no delay.

I spent the morning of Wednesday February 16th at the Legislative Building speaking with Senators and Representatives from our state and listening to various takes on why they think the new code is a positive move or a negative move.

There are a few lawmakers, which I won’t quote because I did not get explicit permission to do so, who feel that the code changes are long over due and that the efforts from 2006 and 2009 by the International Energy Conservation Code should have been acted upon sooner.

There are others however, on both sides of the isle, that think this is not the time to be bringing more regulations to an industry that has been hit hard already and is struggling to stabilize.

Being in real estate since 2003 and licensed since 2001 I have seen the market shift and trends come and go. What I see right now are more and more buyers asking about energy efficient homes that are built in the 250k price range and below.  There are some builders already building energy efficient homes one of which is a non-profit called Builders of Hope that have seen more activity and have sold more homes than most builders in the area. One of their agents told me that they sometimes have homes under contract even before there is a home on the lot. That is not typical of the industry at this time. This tells me that buyers are interested in buying green/energy efficient homes.  Now is THE TIME TO ACT and support the 2010 Energy Conservation Code especially because the activity has picked up. Buyers that are ready to buy are looking for smart homes not in the largest homes money can buy.  Another reason to support the 2012 NCECC now is that builders are going to start building  more  since the market seem to be picking up. Why not make those new homes as energy efficient as possible? Why not get a head start and help NC stand out and become a leader in this initiative?

I believe if we do this we will attract more conservation/alternative energy/green companies into our state resulting in more green jobs. We have the technology and we have the schools to do the research so let’s use our resources wisely.  I know it sounds too simplistic but we have to start somewhere and if we don’t let our lawmakers know what we support then they will only hear from the associations that tell them that the building and real estate industries won’t be able to survive this much needed change. The reality is that this is a change that is coming whether or not we want it to.

Here are the BENEFITS listed by USGBC in support of the new code

Benefit to Homeowners and Commercial Building Owners

• NCECC is projected to save more than $40 million annually in energy bills.

Benefits to Economy

• Utility savings equal more money for homeowners to spend locally
• In this economy, the promise of a well-performing home is a true incentive to a potential home-buyer. ( and will influence their buying decision)

Benefits to North Carolina

• Adopting the 2012 NCECC is a smart approach to the state’s long-term economic and environmental stability.
• Buildings represent 40% of all NC Energy consumption.

Benefits to Green Schools

• The NCECC would ensure that K-12 schools be built for long-term utility cost savings and enhance student and staff performance.
• The USGBC also strongly supports a state green school caucus.

The key is to build in areas people want to live in, in a price range people what to buy, leave out some bells and whistles that can be added later by the buyer if they choose to do so, and  invest in making homes that are less expensive to maintain, heat and cool and are healthier to live in. I think MOST buyers would go for a  house like that don’t you?

You may keep hearing that this is a great time to buy a home. You may also be thinking yeah right?
I have had several people tell me that they are waiting until prices bottom out or until rates go down even more. While I completely understand why buyers are holding back I think it is important to share some information.

Over the past few weeks I’ve read articles that talk about the market bouncing back. Raleigh is one of the cities in the country that did not see the kind of decline that other cities in FL, NY, CA, and AZ saw. I’t been reported that the reason for this is because this area never saw the sharp double digit increases in the early to mid 2000′s. We have seen many many foreclosures and short sales which means people we did loose jobs and therefore some lost their homes, we have also seen homes underwater (when you own more than the home is worth). These two point combined make this area great for buying a home. Since in general the values have been stable or have not dropped significantly buyers can have the confidence that their purchase will hold it’s value especially if they buy well under market. If you fall in love with a home and it is selling at what the market says it should be selling at you can feel great about the fact that you are buying before prices start going back up again. Here is an article in Forbes.com that talks about Raleigh being a great place for real estate investors. Since your home is the largest investment you are most likely to make following their lead may help you find a great buy.

Forbes Article

I’ve also been hearing about how low the rates are right now. Is is almost unheard of to have a buyer’s market and low rates. I remember when we were all very excited in 2005 and 2006 about the rates being in the 6% range and at that time we were in a sellers market. I am now going to closings where my clients are getting 4.25%. If you are a buyer right not you can have your cake and eat it too. I is amazing to me that you can purchase a home for $154,000 and have a payment of $782.59 plus the escrows. You can buy a home $119,000 home for $585.41 a month plus the escrows. Even with escrows your payment will most likely be less than what you are paying in rent.

In addition to low home prices and low rates if you live in NC you can have access to a $8,000 grant that can go towards your down payment and closing costs. To find out more about this program you can visit.

$8,000 Down Payment Assistance

There is also a program that can lend up to $20,000 towards down payment and closing costs from the city of Raleigh and Durham. To find out more about their requirements visit.

Citywide Homeownership Program

If you think that this is a good time to buy and it make sense for you to do this at this time it is certainly a great time to buy. There are many resources that you can take advantage of that will help you put a budget together and make sure it is a good step for you at this time. You can visit CESI to get more information on their services.

CESI Education and Services

Ribbon Cutting Event at West Cary Middle School. The Middle School’s Principal Wanza Cole, Assistant Principal Jason Ramirez and students welcomed Alexandra Cousteau as she made a stop at the school and cut the ribbon at the first Wake County School to install a rain garden. The garden was designed and installed by NC State University.

This is a great example of the projects we plan to fund with our Sustainable Legacy Properties Project. Our idea is to find homes that need to be rehabed do so using sustainable principles and sell them. We are committed to put a % of each sale back into the community we work in. I think giving back to the schools for projects like this will be an awesome idea. We want to reach as many kids as possible and educate them about organic gardening, water conservation and preservation in addition to teaching them about what we do to the homes to make them healthy places to live.

Watch this Video for more about the event at West Cary

Lots of home owners feel emotional when they sell their homes. Before the ink is dry on the listing agreement, eyes often swell with tears.  That’s because sellers have developed relationships with their homes. Homes hold treasured memories.

However, other sellers weep for a different reason; because they can’t sell their home.

Home Pricing Mistakes:

·   By far, the worst home selling mistake a seller can make is hanging the wrong price tag on a home.  If the home is priced too high, buyers won’t look at it. If it’s priced too low, sellers worry that they’ll give away profits. You want to price it at fair market price so you are attracting the most buyers looking in that range.

·  Pricing a home to sell is an art. Part of the market value is based on comparable sales, but other factors to consider include market movement, demand, the home’s location and its condition. You can sell your home in a slower market you just have to make it competitive.

·  If the home is overpriced,, buyers might submit lowball offers, which tend to result in immediate offer rejection.  These extremely low offers tend to infuriate and insult sellers. The thing to remember is that the buyer has heard that this is the time to buy and that there are great deals out there. If the buyer truly loves your home and knows what it is worth they may just be testing the waters. Don’t reject an offer right off the bat. It is easier to negotiate with an interested buyer than to wait for an other offer that may not come right away.

·  It is not a good strategy to deliberately overstate the value of a home and overprice the listing.  There are many reasons why someone may want to do this, but the bottom line is sellers lose a competitive a edge when having to make drastic price reductions later.

·  Remember, Sellers who “test the market” get stung.

Common Marketing Mistakes

·  Some sellers loudly lament: “Why isn’t my home selling?”  Most likely, they are sellers who hired realtors that are not employing marketing strategies designed to expose a home to the largest pool of buyers.

·  Be careful who you hire! There are proven marketing strategies that work and anyone listing your home should have a concrete marketing plan that they will share with you. Listing it on MLS is not enough.

·  Understandably sellers want to save commission costs, be careful and look at the big picture, concentrating only on listing fees and commission may end up costing you the level of service that will get your home sold.  Sellers may end up paying more in the long term when they miss market opportunities.  Their home sits for months on the market and often sells with a lower price tag than intended.

We are here to guide you

If you would like to prevent these common mistakes, then contact us.  We do not take shortcuts.  We are here to represent you and provide you with the best service and the best marketing strategies to sell your home for the right market price and fast!

We understand seller concerns and will weigh all the options to make sure that selling is right for you.

Sustainable Legacy Properties (SLP) is new division under Paulina Real Estate Team Inc. that is being formed to meet three significant needs in the local real estate market. One, there are many homes on the market that are in foreclosure ,  short sale  or are bank owned and are stagnant because they need too much work or are not in “desirable” areas for investors.  Two, there are many low to medium income buyers that would be able to qualify and be able to take advantage of this market’s opportunities if they had the right education and guidance.  Three, these homes are in a perfect stage for sustainable rehab. They must have work done to sell and when they do sell they will be a “recycled home instead of a brand new home.

The homes will be renovated by the team put together by the Paulina Real Estate Team Inc. team, including Rudy Bohorquez who has certification in renewable energy and has extensive knowledge about acceptable paints and flooring that use to little to no VOCs. Rudy is also able to create gardens that are native to the area requiring less water and pesticides. External contractors will be used for the larger jobs and they will also be held to the standards set by Paulina and Rodolfo to work within the sustainable principles.

We will work with local, state and federal agencies to make sure we meet their guidelines so the homes can be approved for government programs that buyers can take advantage of. i.e. teacher and police officer programs, low income programs, city specific programs.

SLP’s goal is to educate communities about sustainable living and to give back to the communities we work in to develop a close relationship with our clients and customers.  We plan to give a % back to each neighborhood we work in. We would like to clean up entrances, parks, sidewalk and common areas so the residents living in that community can see a positive change. We are well networked in the Greater Raleigh area and hope to have opportunites for schools and  churches to volunteers as we grow.

Stay tuned to find out when our first home will be purchased.

1.1 Mission

The mission of SLP is to develop, and revitalize houses in the Wake County, and Greater Raleigh area in NC.  SLP will purchase distressed, foreclosed or abandoned homes and rehabilitate those using sustainable principles to get them market ready.  We will utilize each home as an educational tool to teach about sustainable living and help the community embrace the changes that are coming. These homes will improve the look and feel of the neighborhoods and will have a positive effect in our local market.

A Networking Social that Could Actually Save Your Life!

Networking, wine and appetizers from 6:30 to 7:00

Self-defense presentation begins at 7:00.

Special guest: Julee Peck – Taekwondo America. Instructor Julee Peck Instruction will be led by Ms. Julee Peck, 7th Degree Black Belt Master Instructor and owner of Peck’s TaeKwonDo America . Ms. Peck has been training in TaeKwonDo for over 30 years and has been teaching TaeKwonDo for over 25 years. Ms. Peck’s philosophy is that TaeKwonDo is more than just “kicking and punching”. TaeKwonDo is a tool for teaching focus.

We’ll have fun.  Get to know each other outside of our monthly meetings, and learn valuable skills that we all need to stay safe!

Sponsors:

Simplify Realty

Atlantic Creative Communications

Prime Lending

rsvp below

A Networking Social That Can Actually Save Your Life

We are pledging a $25 donation per goal made in the World Cup 2010 finals. The last two games will be played July 10 and 11.

We are inviting all of you or your business to join our effort in helping the National Wildlife Federation as they take on the daunting task of rescuing and cleaning  thousands of animals.

You can go directly to the link below and donate or send us your donation. We will send you a request from PayPal or you can mail it to 108 Bayless Ridge Ct. Morrisville, NC 27560. We will send the full amount after we receive all the donations pledged or by July 16th.

Please let me us know what your pledge is and when you’ve made it. Thank you so much for your help.
Thank you for sharing this with all your friends.

Donate to NWF and help the wildlife in the gulf!