Have You Heard of Maryland’s Green Building Institute or Enviro-Center?

Barbara Novitsky, ABR,ASP,CRS,e-PRO, GREEN,GRI,SRES,REALTOR

As the first Howard County woman Realtor to earn the National Association of Realtors GREEN Real Estate Designation, I make it my business to to stay in touch with Maryland’s Green movement.

Many people ask me where they can learn more about Green Real Estate, Green Mortgages and how they can save money on energy costs.

There’s a truly wonderful “Hidden Resource” located in Howard County, where Green Real Estate is taken quite seriously.  I know because I volunteer my time there.

It’s called the Green Building Institute and it’s in Jessup, Maryland at the Enviro-Center located at 7761 Waterloo Road.  This is where Green gets real and it has been highlighted on Channel 4.

Check out this Channel 4 NBC TV story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJuuPwdV260&feature=player_embedded

If you want to know more about what it means to be Green, there are plenty of great, inexpensive courses that will provide you with a plethora of information.  The Institute is all about helping everyone, whether citizens, homeowners, builders or businesses.  There’s something special for everybody.

It’s also a fascinating place to tour and well worth your time.  You won’t believe how many innovative Green ideas have been implemented at the Enviro-Center.

Check out the Green Building Institute’s web site at:  www.GreenBuildingInstitute.org.

Interested in learning more about the Enviro-Center?  Here is an overview video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oCjTjhRjsc&feature=related

Have a Green Day!

55+ Housing: What Builders are Building and Buyers Want

Barbara Novitsky, ABR,ASP,CRS,e-PRO, GREEN,GRI,SRES,REALTOR

Home builders are now seriously catering to the Boomer generation, representing a high-growth buying population.  Builders are adding many special features to make later life experience more pleasant for those planning to stay in place for the long-term.

A recent survey of 1,522 households in the Boomer age group was conducted by the Mature Market Institute (MMI) and their report is dated September 2009.  It is available for viewing here:

http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/mmi-55+-builderes-buyers-beyond.pdf

It’s not clear that the respondents fully appreciated the many “Age-in-Place” features that builders are proactively putting into new homes.  Many want a home the same size as they currently have, bucking conventional wisdom.

If you are, or know someone, in the Boomer Generation planning to sell an existing home to move into a new retirement home, this report is worth reading.

The things Boomers want are surely going to be showing up in many new builder communities; especially, in 55+ developments.

IRS Announces New Materials Available to Promote Awareness of Recovery Act Tax Benefits

Barbara Novitsky, ABR,ASP,CRS,e-PRO, GREEN,GRI,SRES,REALTOR

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.  How many times have you heard that phrase mentioned?  Well, I’m not pulling you over to give you a ticket, so don’t fear.

To be informed is to be empowered!  Let me help empower you.

The IRS has issued new materials to help Citizens understand the Recovert Act Tax Benefits and some of those benefits are real estate related (First-time Homebuyer and Energy Credits).

Here’s a bit of information from IRS Newswire IR-2009-082:

WASHINGTON — As part of a larger effort to increase the awareness and use of tax benefits available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), the Internal Revenue Service today announced the availability of a vast array of products that help explain several tax benefits currently available to American Families.

With time running out to qualify for some of the Recovery benefits, the IRS has unveiled new YouTube videos, radio public service announcements (PSAs) and multi-lingual informational flyers that provide basic information for taxpayers. The items are available on IRS.gov for partner groups, the media, web sites and other organizations whose audience could benefit from the new tax changes.

These products are in addition to earlier IRS efforts on YouTube (www.youtube.com/irsvideos) and iTunes to increase public awareness about the tax credits. The IRS.gov official web site also contains links and complete information about ARRA at www.irs.gov/recovery. The PSAs are in English and Spanish in either 30-second or 60-second formats. The flyers and posters are in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese.

Topics covered include:

• The first-time homebuyer credit which provides a maximum $8,000 tax credit to people who meet eligibility requirements and complete the purchase of their homes before December 1;
• The American Opportunity Credit expands education tax credits to $2,500 for tuition and a change in 529 plans allows for the purchase of computers for college use;
• The energy credit expands to a maximum of $1,500 for certain energy-saving upgrades;
• A new deduction for the sales or excises taxes paid on the purchase price of new vehicles;
• The Making Work Pay tax credit, which many American workers received in April through reduced tax withholding in their paychecks. The Making Work Pay credit is $400 for single taxpayers and $800 for married taxpayers who meet certain income guidelines. However, some people, such as married spouses, workers with two jobs, pensioners, some Social Security recipients and dependents, should check their tax withholding to ensure they are not having too little withheld. 

What’s Your FICO and How Can You Improve It?

Barbara Novitsky, ABR,ASP,CRS,e-PRO, GREEN,GRI,SRES,REALTOR

I’m no accountant and don’t play one on TV; however, I do pay attention to things that may impact my credit.

The most commonly used credit scoring system is known as FICO and it ranges from a low of 300 to a maximum of 850.  The higher, the better.

Today, you need a FICO score about 50 points higher to receive the same credit treatment you got just two years ago.  The economic environment has changed and I’m sure that’s not news to you.

I recommend reading a very good CNN Money article called “Winning at the Credit Scoring Game“.   It’s available online at:

http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/24/pf/credit_score.moneymag/index.htm

After reading this very important explanation of FICO and the things that can positively or negatively impact it, be sure to focus on your specific situation.

A good FICO score brings with it many benefits; especially, when you need a loan.  It’s never too late to improve your FICO score.  As Nike says “Just Do It”.

Save Energy in Your Kitchen

Barbara Novitsky, ABR,ASP,CRS,e-PRO, GREEN,GRI,SRES,REALTOR

Kitchens can be an important room in which to save energy.  Think about it.  We use our Kitchens every day and anything we can do to save a small amount of energy there mounts up over time.  Think of it as “compounding interest”.

So what can you do to start saving energy in your Kitchen?

• Move the 32 degree refigerator setting up to between 35-38.  This allows food to stay sufficiently chilled without wasting energy.
• Change your over-the-sink light from incandescent to CFL or LED.
• Use convection cooking more.  Convection cooking provides a 25-30% faster cooking time.
• Instead of running your dishwasher during the day, try running it during non-peak electricity hours.  If you have a timer setting, engage the timer and set it to come on after hours.
• Consider changing the way you boil foods such as potatoes, corn or pasta.  Bring the water to a boil, put a lid on your pot and then switch to “passive boiling”.  Water stays hot long after the burner is off.
• Don’t let the water in your sink run while you visit other Kitchen areas, such as going to the refrigerator and back.

Of course, you can do more, but the above steps are a good start to becoming more energy conscious in the Kitchen.  The more you do, the lower your energy footprint becomes.

What Do Consumers Want in Today’s Kitchens and Bathrooms?

Barbara Novitsky, ABR,ASP,CRS,e-PRO,GRI,SRES,REALTOR

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released results of research they completed on the Top 5 Things New Home Consumers Want in Bathroom and Kitchen Features.  The results may surprise.

TOP 5 BATHROOM FEATURES

LINEN CLOSET (89%)

EXHAUST FAN (88%)

SEPARATE SHOWER ENCLOSURE (79%)

WATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL (79%)

WHIRLPOOL TUB (66%)

The fact that 88% of Consumers want an exhaust fan in their bathrooms is a surprise.  Most people take that for granted; however, sometimes the most obvious things may escape us.

The surprise is not that people want an exhaust fan.  It’s that they even put it on their most important Top 5 List.

 TOP 5 KITCHEN FEATURES

• WALK-IN PANTRY (86%)
• KITCHEN ISLAND (80%)
• BUILT-IN MICROWAVE (72%)
• DRINKING WATER FILTRATION (69%)
• SPECIAL-USE STORAGE (CUSTOM-MADE FOR APPLIANCES) (6%)

OK, so now you know what Consumers were looking for in new homes recently.  How do the above Top 5 Lists compare with your own?

Energy Provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Barbara Novitsky, ABR,ASP,CRS,e-PRO,GRI,SRES,REALTOR

This act is chock full of  energy-related savings for both homeowners and everyone in general.  Here’s an example:

Residential Energy Property Credit (Section 1121): The new law increases the energy tax credit for homeowners who make energy efficient improvements to their existing homes. The new law increases the credit rate to 30 percent of the cost of all qualifying improvements and raises the maximum credit limit to $1,500 for improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010.

The credit applies to improvements such as adding insulation, energy efficient exterior windows and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems.

A similar credit was available for 2007, but was not available in 2008. Homeowners should be aware that the standards in the new law are higher than the standards for the credit that was available in 2007 for products that qualify as “energy efficient” for purposes of this tax credit. The IRS will issue guidance that will allow manufacturers to certify that their products meet these new standards.

Until the guidance is released, homeowners generally may continue to rely on manufacturers’ certifications that were provided under the old guidance. For exterior windows and skylights, homeowners may continue to rely on Energy Star labels in determining whether property purchased before June 1, 2009, qualifies for the credit. Manufacturers should not continue to provide certifications for property that fails to meet the new standards.

For more complete information, click on the link below:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206871,00.html

As Kermit the Frog Said, “It’s not Easy Being Green”

Barbara Novitsky, ABR,ASP,CRS,e-PRO,GRI,SRES,REALTOR

There is a revolution spreading among us.  It’s seriosuly time to consider what it really means to be “Green”.  Utility and fuel costs have gotten our attention and not always in a good way. 

There is a growing awareness that we need to find ways to conserve energy and reduce dependence on foreign oil imports.

Air leakage, poor insulation, inefficient lighting, thermostat settings and always-on appliances are some of the biggest culprits contributing to high homeowner utility and fuel bills.

Here are a few things you can do to improve your living space energy efficiency:

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED or flourescent bulbs
• Install a programmable thermostat that lowers/raises temperatures appropriately based on your schedule
• Weatherstrip and seal doors, windows, vents, cable entry and electrical receptacle and switch boxes on outside walls
• Add  or increase attic insulation over and under all exposed living spaces
• Replace old windows and doors with energy-efficient newer products
• Run the washer, dryer and dishwasher on a truly “As Needed” basis
• Teach children to close exterior doors
• Replace older appliances with ENERGY STAR rated appliances
• Turn off (unplug) “Always-on” devices (Computers, TVs, Stereos, etc.) when not in use

Saving energy is a learned behavior and it takes time and reinforcement to achieve it.   Keep good records and be sure and check with your Accounting Professional to determine if any of the energy saving efforts you undertake can be used as a full or partial tax deduction.

Happy energy saving!

Do You have a C.L.U.E.?

Barbara Novitsky, ABR,ASP,CRS,e-PRO,GRI,SRES,REALTOR

When it comes to Homeowner’s insurance, both buyers and sellers need to pay careful attention.  Past insurance claims on a property can have an adverse impact on Buyers.

The C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) Report is a tool that Sellers can use to show potential Buyers that obtaining homeowner’s insurance should not become a major issue for their property.  A Home Seller’s Disclosure Report (fee charged) provides potential Buyers with loss information about a given address without disclosure of the Sellers personal information, such as Social Security Number or Date of Birth.

The report provides insurance loss information for a specific address over the past 5 years.  Having knowledge that no major insurance losses have occurred provides Buyers with confidence that they will not face higher than expected homeowner’s insurance premiums.

Buyers and Real Estate Agents cannot order a C.L.U.E. Home Seller’s Disclosure Report directly.  It is only available to Sellers.

Sellers who provide a C.L.U.E. Home Seller’s Disclosure Report for their home may find that they have an advantage over competitive homes with an unknown loss history.

Spring is (Finally) Here

Barbara Novitsky, ABR,ASP,CRS,e-PRO,GRI,SRES,REALTOR

Ah, its Spring again and the temperature is finally rising.  We can all look forward to more pleasant weather and the first buds.  Of course, when thoughts turn to Spring they often overlook some “To Do” List items.

Spring is a good time to think about exterior maintenance items for your home.  The harsh Winter weather can take a toll on many things around the house.

1.  Consider yard cleanup, shrub pruning and tree maintenance.

2.  Check and clean gutters.

3.  Paint/stain wood fences and power wash decks and siding.

4.  Seal driveways and repair concrete cracks.

5.  Check window screens for replacement.

6.  Consider having chimneys cleaned and HVAC systems maintained for the upcoming warm weather.

Spring is a time to enjoy the outdoors once again.  Getting a few things on your “To Do” list taken care of early yields big benefits and keeps your home in excellent condition.