Directon of The Real Estate Market

As a Realtor one of the most common questions that I am asked is,What is happening with the real estate market? Like so many other individuals,I am painfully aware that we are in the middle of a major downturn in the market.The reasons for this downturn is complicated and is due to a much needed correction and the fact that we are seeing a higher number of distressed properties,changing lending requirements and uncertanty in the job market.National real estate reporting services such as The Case Schiller Index NAHB?Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index and National Association Of Realtors are showing an interesting mix of housing numbers.In many communities we are seeing the number of sales going up with prices going down while the creation of new homes in many communities being lower than prior years.
The sales data varies in each geographic area and in individual communities.Rather than trying to look at national trends,its more important to look at specific reagons if you are looking to sell or purchase a home.If interested in specific details,please feel free to ask a Realtor such as  myself

Why Go Green?

Green or energy efficient homes have been gaining traction over the last few years.There are any number of reasons why somebody would want a green home.However,the most popular reasons are to have a healthier home,reduce energy load.desire to recycle and have a more comfortable living space.While some of this rational is subjective,being able to reduce water,energy, and electric useage can be easily quantified.Reducing the energy load or amount of material recycled, can be compared to the house prior to the retrofit was completed.In the case of new homes,using the HERS Rating System can be used to compare homes to similar homes of the same size.
The degree to which a home is green depends on the individual owner and the budget available to the home owner.On a very elemental level,a person can reduce their energy load by using low flow toilets,or shower heads,CFLs,power strips and other devises.Monotoring use of electricity,water and fuel use sounds unimportant,but does play a significiant role in this process.Proper insulation,use of shades. and sealing cracks and other openings can help reduce heat loss in the winter and the cooling effects of an A/C in the warmer months.Use of programable thermostates are an inexpensive way to help control heating/cooling costs.More expensive methods of controlling/reducing enery costs are buying newer energy efficient hot water tanks,furnices and other appliances.While these devises are costly,there may be rebates and tax incentives after they are purchased.Reduced energy/water use can also help defray the cost of these devises.
The most important goal is to determine a game plan of what your goals are to go green and determine the best way to approach this process

Green Rehab Projects

Many people that are considering creating a green home envirement usually look at big ticket items such as geothermal wells solar PV and heating or deep energy retrofits.While these projects do make for a more comfortable house and do lower the basic operating costs for the home.However,there are less expensive projects and methods of helping to green your home.The first step in the process should be to determine your goals and game plan for your project.many green projects can be done as part of a general rehab or remodeling job for the home.Basic projects such as insulation and air sealing the home are key factors in helping to create a modern/green home while lowering long term operating costs and expences.Other features such as low flow toilets fawcets and shower heads are other example of remodeling projects that can help create a green home.Hiring a NARI Contractor or other qualified contractor will help create such an envirement.Contacting and using web sites such as http://www.masssave.com/ and http://www.desire.org/. are valuable tools in the process.Using these sites can allow you to garner free services or benefit from tax breaks.Using the programs through these websites can save money on the rehab project and lower yearly costs.

Defining Green

Many people are looking to create a green home envirement. Their reasons vary from wanting to save various utility costs,create a more comfortable home envirement or have whats seen as a heathier home. These goals can be accomplished by different types of insulation, use of recycled materials, modern building techniques and use of efficient lights and heating systems. Other homes can become green by using some features such as insulation, using efficient appliances hot water heaters and heating systems.Others may use passive techniques such as CFLs double paned windows low flow toilets and properly landscaped yards.Other individuals will incorporate these features into their homes but will go further by using solar heating and electric use FSC Wood in new construction, use innovative designs in the remodeling and construction of their homes.
There are varying degrees of green that depends on which features are incorporated into the home.In order to accomplish your goals its important to look at the entire home and see how much money is budgeted for this process. Its also important to speak with somebody familiar with this process to develop an effective plan for creating a green home enirement.This person should be familiar with the various green products,understanding of building techniques and various methods of paying for these renovations including rebates and possible tax incentives.

Real Estate Trends

One of the most frequently asked questions I hear is people wanting to know is How are Housing Prices? Some of the individuals asking this question are interested in knowing the value of their homes while others are interested in knowing if its a good time to sell their property while others are looking to purchase their first home and do not wish to see their purchase fall in value.
With nearly 20 years of real estste experience behind me,I have seen a major rise of home values.What many individuals do not realize that home values rise and fall with the economy.These economic factors include the employment rate,interest rates,consumer confidence local economic conditions and a wide range of other factors.Sources such as the Case Schiller Index have shown that home prices have dropped 4.1% in 2010. However,the National Association of Realtors Data have shown that prices rose in 78 communities while prices dropped in 71 communities during the same time period.There are other studies that show the historicial data on housing prices and projected house prices.There are a wide range of resources that indicate real estate values and trends.I work in Metro Boston and see wide varations in home prices from sub community to sub community and over time.
If you are looking to buy or sell a home it is important to look at what part of the real estate cycle we are in and how long you have owned your home or how long you plan to stay in the home.While a home is an investment,it also needs to be viewed as a place to live and entertain friends and family.It is important to look at the economic implications of buying or selling a home,but its equally important to look at the feeling of being a home owner

Residental Landscaping

Landscaping is an often overlooked part of home ownership.A well landscaped lawn serves a wide range of benefits to the homeowner.During the nicer months it serves as a pleasant place to relax with friends and family. Use of well paced shade trees not only provides shade for quests,but can also help shade the house.While shading the house may not seem important,but shade trees keep the house cool in the summer and reduce cooling costs.At the same time,certin well placed trees and shrubs can help protect the house from cold winter winds and mitigate the need for higher fuel costs.Flowers can help make the house more attractive and bring in various species of birds and animals.Many people seem to enjoy the beauty of plants and having a wide range of birds and butter flyes  flittering around the yard.Not only are these factors enjoyable while living in the house,but well placed plants help increase the value of a house.In a time when home buyers are being selective about the homes they purchase,an attractive well landscaped house can increase home value and create a positive impression for the home buyer.

Home Staging

Now that the worst of the winters bad weather is behind us,we are in the early stage of the spring real estate market.We have noticed an increasing large number of home buyers out their looking to purchase their first or new home.Lending institutions seem to be cooperating by easing their loan process to well qualified buyers.While these signs are good,home sellers need to be willing to have a marketing plan that will entice home buyers to look at the home for sale and make a workable offer to purchase the home.
One of the newer trends in marketing a home is Home Staging.There are a number of home staggers that I use to assist in creating a home that is more appealing to the home buyer.First impressions are always key and landscaping is a frequently overlooked aspect of the home.Trees,shubs,flowers and the lawn need to be neatly trimmed and attractive.The inside of the the property needs to have a homey lived in feel and be decluttered and free of odors that may be objectionable to potential home buyers.I usually do not recommend major updating of the house prior to placing it on the market for sale.Leaving some updating to be completed allows the perspective home owner to talk about how they envision the home once they move in.Studies how that most remodeling projects do not recoup the money expended on them.The one possible exception to the rule is to look at any health and safety issues or major issues like a leaky roof and address them.It is important for the home seller to recognize that their sense of style may not appeal to a home buyer and a well ordered home usually sells more quickly and for more money that a house that is not staged.While staging a home and furnishing a vacant home is an expense,its worth the expense to make the house attractive for the home buyer.