Now that we have our priorities in place, and an action plan based on those priorities-time to make the plan a reality. Here is how: 1.       Create your list of action items for the home zones 2.       Organize your project list based on your priorities 3.       Make a realistic, comfortable budget 4.       Determine your time frame and team Now, let’s assume you have completed and you started your journey going green. The journey once started-never really ends. Here is how to continue the journey once your greenovating is completed: 1.       Practice proper maintenance for optimal performance 2.       Keep it clean 3.       Watch for problems 4.       Share the rewards of your green home adventure Sharing is caring-caring about the world and inspiring others to...

We are onto our last zone and almost done with the going green blogs! Here is the Outside Zone. Here are some Sustainability action items for the outside zone: water your lawn more efficiently, create a sustainable landscape, and plant a garden of your own. To water your lawn more efficiently: be water wise, collect your rainwater, and use your rainwater. To create a sustainable landscape: landscape for your climate, choose native plants, and be wildlife friendly. To plant a garden of your own: grow your food with a raised bed garden and compost to create organic fertilizer. Here is a Money Smart action item for the outside zone: Improve your energy efficiency from the outside in. To improve your energy efficiency from the outside in: plant shade trees, add awnings to stay cool, and consider a solar CPV power system. Here are some Healthy action items for the outside zone: Practice safe landscaping technique and bring your home outside. To practice safe landscaping techniques, lim...

Last week we discussed the first zone, this week are discussing the next zone: The Systems. Here are Money Smart action items for the systems zone: Understand how you use energy, pay yourself back with easy energy updates, and tighten the building envelope. To understand how you use energy: take a hard look at your utility bill and establish a baseline with an energy audit. To pay yourself back with easy energy updates: install a digital thermostat and light your way to savings. To tighten the building envelope: seal the gaps, patch your ducts, beef up your insulation and improve your window’s performance. Here are some Energy action items for the systems zone: Maintain your mechanical heating and cooling system and work with nature. To maintain your mechanical system: stay warm and keep cool. To work with nature: take advantage of natural heating techniques and incorporate natural cooling methods. Here is a Healthy action item for the systems zone: Optimize your ventilation syste...

In this blog, we are going to make our action plan. Let’s start with the Inside Zone. Here are some Healthy action items for the Inside Zone: Bring the Fresh Air inside, get to know your pollutants, Test for possible pollutant sources in your home, and keep pollutants out. To bring fresh air inside your home, use a mixture of passive ventilation and spot ventilation. Some pollutants to know is: Radon, Mold, Dust, Lead Based Paint, Asbestos, VOC’s, and Combustion Gas. To test for any of these pollutants in your home: Use your senses, get a DIY kit, and have your home professionally tested. To keep pollutants out: keep gasses vented to the outside, keep your home dry, keep your home nontoxic, and keep your home clean. Here are some Money Smart action items for the inside zone: Improve your lighting design and boost energy efficiency. To improve your lighting design: embrace natural lighting and choose smart artificial lighting sources. To boost energy efficiency: sometimes you don’t...

Let’s delve into Part 2 of Green Your Home. We are now ready to have a green home. But the question now is where to begin? Step by step of course: 1.       Clarify Your Green Priorities 2.       Create Your Green Team 3.       Build Your Green Project List 4.       Turn Your Project List into a Plan of Action Let’s start by ranking the three priorities in order from highest to lowest: Healthy, Money Smart, Sustainable. Let’s say Healthy is your highest priority, here are some suggestions for you: Hardwood floors, low-VOC paints, exhaust fans in bathroom and kitchen, plants in the home, carbon monoxide sensors, and air filters. Let’s say Money Smart is your highest priority, here are some suggestions: energy efficient appliances, optimally designed HVAC system, passive heating and cooling features, a tight building envelope, and a right size home with a smaller footprint. ...

Now that you have your first home, let’s get on trend and make it a green home. When I say Green home, it is not an old school building made of glass growing plants-I mean make your home you live in every day healthy both physically and fiscally as well as sustainable. Not only do you at home reap benefits, everyone doing their part to be green helps Earth out. What are some fears about going green? Here are five: Green is just a bunch of hype. Green is too expensive a lifestyle change. Green is too difficult a lifestyle change. Green will not benefit me personally. Green will not really make a difference. What is the reality of these fears? Conserving energy and natural resources is more than a hype. Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling will save you money over time. Changing habits to think and do greener create ease and simplicity in your life. Everyone caring benefits everyone. Everyone doing their part plays to the bigger picture of a healthier world being successful. It is import...

Welcome to the world of home ownership, besides feeling like you signed your life away-how does it feel? You may find yourself feeling pride of ownership, because you now in fact own something. But with great power comes great responsibility-home maintenance. One of the best resources for you, even after the transaction, is going to be your real estate agent. Chances are, if you need a specific kind of vendor-they have one they trust and can refer you to. Home maintenance falls into two categories: Keep it clean and keep an eye on it. Review the maintenance needs for your home once you are settled in plan for regular service. If you notice something different, investigate it and fix it. A small problem not treated turns into a massively more expensive problem when ignored. Be sure to also read your home warranty, some of the repairs that come up may be covered. Also, have reserves set up for “Life Happens” situations. Finally, the most important part, Housewarming Party! Nothing w...

We got through the home inspection, that was intense. What’s next? Why, title and appraisal of course! We are in the home stretch; you can do this. As the lender is finalizing the mortgage, they are doing a little bit more digging: appraisal to confirm the value, survey to confirm the boundaries, title to verify ownership, and title insurance. Appraisers will look at the home and comps to determine what they think the home is worth and relay this to you and the lender. The lender will only write a loan for the home’s appraised value, so if there is a difference between selling price and appraisal price-buyer and seller have to come together to cover the gap. Therefore, it is important to create a win-win situation, both parties have to work together at times. Survey is to determine where the homes boundaries are and are not. You would be surprised how many times a neighbor’s fence may be on your property due to boundaries of each property being forgotten over time and various homeo...

So by now, you have found your house and have reached an initial agreement with the seller. To close the deal though, you must remove contingencies. But how do you feel comfortable enough to remove them? You do due diligence. If you discover a reason you should not be purchasing this house in doing due diligence, you are saving yourself a lot of heartache and money and removing yourself from the transaction while you are still able to. One of your first major inquiries will be for: homeowners insurance and property inspections. While this may cause another round of negotiations-these steps are to protect you the buyer. In regards to your home owners insurance policy, here are some things to think about: 1.       How much coverage do you need? 2.       Replacement cost or actual cash value? 3.       What the named and unnamed perils? 4.       Do you need personal property ins...

That house you just walked through was perfect. In some ways you were compromising with it, but it hit all the major points and in that corner the L shaped couch is going to be placed. And think of all those boxes you are going to have to get. But before we start talking boxes, we need to put an offer. When writing an offer, make it a strong one. Also remember, you were thinking with your heart before-think with your head now. An offer can be broken down into three things: Price, Terms, and Contingencies. In terms of price, your agent will know if it is priced well or you should be offering more based on comparables (comps). Defer to their knowledge as they are the market expert. Terms, decide what details of the transaction you would like to handle: when the deal closes, does anything stay in the house, who pays closing costs. Use this to create a win-win situation for both you the buyer and them the seller. Lastly contingencies, there are five standard contingency clauses in a rea...

Can you say open house? I can. So many open houses! So many people walking through all of your potential houses! Before we figure out what houses to look at, we need to figure out what is important to find in your home. What do you value most? 1.       What do I want my neighborhood to be like? What do I want my home to be close to? 2.       How much space do I need? What do I need space for? 3.       What is most important-location or size? 4.       Would I be interested in a flipper Upper? 5.       How important is appreciation? 6.       How important is neighborhood stability? 7.       Would I be interested in a condo? 8.       Would I be interested in new home construction? 9.       What features do I need? What amenities do I want? ...

One of the scarier parts of the home buying process is the mortgage, it is just such a huge financial commitment. But you must remember, big risk big payoff. When you take on the responsibility of a mortgage and get to the end of the tunnel, you are that much wealthier for you and your family. That is an incredibly worthy award for the scare of a mortgage! What is a mortgage? A mortgage is the borrowing of money (loan) secured by a real estate property (mortgage). You can obtain your mortgage loan from banks, credit unions, and mortgage broker. You start by submitting an application detailing your income, assets, and debts. Once the loan officer has all the information, they look at what financing option is best for you. Your application then goes to an underwriter and the institution decides how much they are willing to lend you. This is preapproval. Next, talk to your loan officer about specific packages they offer. Shop referrals not rates! Even though there are a lot of number...

Now that we have made the decision to buy your first home, scary I know-time to find a real estate agent to help you do it! What does a real estate agent do for you exactly? They are your market consultant, home guide, your liaison for other partners in the home buying process, negotiator, and the closer. They wear a lot of hats, for this reason it is a very good idea to have conversation with them and get to know them as a person and as a professional. Here are some great questions to ask them: 1.       Why did you become a real estate agent? 2.       Why should I work with you? 3.       What do you do better than other real estate agents? 4.       What process will you use to help me find the right home for me? 5.       What are some mistakes that you think people make when buying their first home? 6.       What are ...

A person’s firsts are so iconic-your first car, your first kiss, and especially your first home. It is the most memorable and equally terrifying experience for buyers. You can ask any buyer, even if the process is the same for buying each house there is no time quite like the first time. One of the biggest reasons to purchase your first home is to start building your wealth. What are some fears about buying your first home? I can’t afford to buy a home right now. I should wait until the real estate market gets better. I don’t have the money for the down payment. I can’t buy a home because my credit is not good. I can’t afford to buy my dream home. I should wait to buy a home until I get married. Buying a home seems way to complicated. You can’t afford to not buy a home right now. If you don’t own-you rent right…and you will pay less owning a home monthly than renting with tax savings. There is never a wrong time to buy the right home. Real estate is a long term investment and tryi...