San Diego & Riverside Counties| Real Estate Blog

Green Tip of the Week: E-recycling earns retailers’ gift cards

RadioShack’s online electronics trade-in program allows customers to exchange used, portable electronics for a RadioShack gift card. Accepted items include GPS devices, MP3 players, notebooks, and game consoles. Visit http://radioshack.cexchange.com/online/home/index.rails to learn the trade-in value and download the prepaid shipping labels. Gift cards arrive within 10 to 14 days.

 

 

County Properties, 23 years of brokerage experience, trust and a Member of the local Better Business Bureau! We offer free counseling in real estate regarding; home values and information on options of selling vs. Foreclosure.

If you have equity in your home, we will sell your home and get top dollar in this challenging market at www.countyproperties.net/. If you do not have enough equity, and you must sell your property as a short sale we have the expertise to do so also and close escrow in 45-60 days or less. Learn more about mortgage relief options and how to take advantage of our FREE REALTOR (R)  CONSULTATION & ATTORNEY SEVICE.  or go to www.ShortSaleRealtors4U.com

 

Please feel free to contact me today for free counseling at (619) 301-0200 or Toll free (866) 825-8124 visit our website, click http://www.shortsalerealtors4u.com/  or www.CountyProperties.net

 

By the way…if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service in real estate we provide, please call me or have them go to www.CountyProperties.net  and I’ll be happy to follow up and take great care of them.

 

Green Tip of the Week: Love that linoleum

If it’s time to change the break room floor, opt for linoleum instead of vinyl.  Linoleum is made from all-natural resources, while vinyl is made from petroleum.

 

 

County Properties, 23 years of brokerage experience, trust and a Member of the local Better Business Bureau! We offer free counseling in real estate regarding; home values and information on options of selling vs. Foreclosure.

If you have equity in your home, we will sell your home and get top dollar in this challenging market at www.countyproperties.net/. If you do not have enough equity, and you must sell your property as a short sale we have the expertise to do so also and close escrow in 45-60 days or less. Learn more about mortgage relief options and how to take advantage of our FREE REALTOR (R)  CONSULTATION & ATTORNEY SEVICE.  or go to www.ShortSaleRealtors4U.com

Please feel free to contact me today for free counseling at (619) 301-0200 or Toll free (866) 825-8124 visit our website, click http://www.shortsalerealtors4u.com/  or www.CountyProperties.net

 

Green Tip of the Week: Confused about plastics?

Experts have reached a consensus and recommend consumers avoid these varieties of plastics--identified by a triangle and number on the bottom of most containers--for the following reasons:

• #3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) commonly contains di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), an endocrine disruptor and probable human carcinogen, as a softener.
• #6 Polystyrene (PS) may leach styrene, a possible endocrine disruptor and human carcinogen, into water and food.
• #7 Polycarbonate contains the hormone disruptor bisphenol-A, which can leach out as bottles age, are heated, or exposed to acidic solutions. Unfortunately, #7 is used in most baby bottles and five-gallon water jugs and in many reusable sports bottles. 
  

www.CountyProperties.net

Green Tip of the Week: Recycled paint

What happens to all the latex paint dropped off at hazardous waste centers? It’s recycled and resold at local paint distributors, such as Dunn-Edwards and Kelly-Moore.  Recycled paint sells for less, but the quality and viscosity is augmented by blending it with virgin materials. For more information and a complete list of distributors, visit
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ConDemo/Paint/.

 

By the way…if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service in real estate we provide, please call me or have them go to www.CountyProperties.net  and I’ll be happy to follow up and take great care of them.

Earth day Celebrating 40 years

Did you know:

If every American home replaced just one light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, we would provide enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, save more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

Some Earth Day freebies & discounts

• Gain free admission into all 392 U.S. national parks now through Sunday, April 25.
  
  
• Babies R Us will give you a free reusable tote bag if you bring a valid coupon(PDF) into its stores through April 22. Plus, you'll get a 25% discount off all the clothing and shoes you can fit into the bag.
  
  
• Origins is offering a trade-in program on Earth Day only. Bring one of your current skin-care product bottles -- empty or full, from any brand -- to an Origins counter and receive a free full-size cleanser. Choose from Checks and Balances Frothy face wash or Perfect World antioxidant cleanser with white tea.
  
  
• Get a chance to win a $20,000 green home makeover by registering on the Purex website by April 30.
  
  
• Enter a sweepstakes to win 1 of 10 smart for two vehicles by making a pledge to help protect the environment on Safeway's website through April 27.
  
  
• Sign up for the Drive Home Green sweepstakes on Target's website through the end of the month. The grand prize is a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid.
• Add a green pledge to the Sierra Club's Earth Day map for a chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii.
• Travelocity is offering up to 40% off prices at 40 green hotels across the globe.
  
  
• Travelzoo is giving discounts on U.S.-based, LEED-certified hotels.
  
  
• Walgreens will refill your printer cartridge for $1 instead of its usual $12 on April 22 only. It's also offering a 22 percent discount  on its green products through April 30.
  
  
• Drugstore.com is offering up to 40% off products from its "green and natural" store through April 23.
  
  
• Numi Organic Teas is giving a 20% discount on April 22 -- just enter Eday40 at checkout

Upcoming Events

·     Earth Day Program - A Day of Science

Apr 22 2010 - 9:30am - San Diego, California

·     Wildlife Preserve and River Cleanup Event

Apr 24 2010 - 12:00pm - San Diego, California

· Earth Through a Lens Exhibit of Finalists' work

Apr 22 2010 - 9:00pm - Palm Springs, California

·     Green Screen - USGBC OC (EGB) and The Newport Beach Film Fest

Apr 28 2010 - 8:30pm - Newport Beach, California

 

By the way…if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service in real estate we provide, please call me or have them go to www.CountyProperties.net  and I’ll be happy to follow up and take great care of them.

Green Tip of the Week: Wash your car and home improvements

Commercial car washes are more water efficient than garden hoses. A typical commercial car wash uses 100 gallons less water and, often, professional washes reuse and recycle the rinse water.

 

Homeowners are on pace to spend $128 billion this year in remodeling, up from $116 billion last year, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).  However, the return on investment has been decreasing.  The percentage of costs recouped at resale was approximately 64 percent last year compared with 67 percent in 2008.  Based on that, experts advise against major remodeling for homeowners who plan to sell within a year as they are not likely to recoup the expenses of the remodel.

Homeowners planning to remain in their homes for the long term may want to consider adding energy-efficient windows, roofing, and doors as these enhancements recover a large percentage of their outlay.  For example, energy-efficient steel entry doors can return more than 100 percent of their average $1,172 cost by helping to reduce energy use.

 

www.CountyProperties.net 

28 Going GreenTips

Can also save you money too. Every little bit is a step to help save the earth.

If you want to learn more about the tip then just click on the link (if available) to go to a page that will elaborate on the topic.

1. Change to Fluorescent Bulbs - If every house in the United States changed all of the light bulbs in their house, that would be equivalent to taking one million cars off the streets.
2. Don't Rinse - Skip rinsing your plates before putting them into the dishwasher. In average you will save 15 gallons of water per load. Plus, you will save time.
3. Hang Outside to Dry - Get a cloths line or rack to dry your cloths. Your cloths will last longer and you will save money
4. Turn off computers at night - don't just put them to sleep. You will save an average of 4 cents a day which ads up to $14.60 a year.
5. Use Both Sides of Paper - if you have a printer with a double sided print option use it. You will save half of the amount of paper you would have normally used.Then when your done bring it to the recycle bin.
6. Get rid of baths - Don't take baths, take showers. You will in average save about half the amount of water that you would if you were taking a bath.
7. Don't get bottled water - Instead of bottled water get a reusable container to carry water. Also you can get a filter to make your home tap taste more like bottled water. It is definitely more cost efficient.
8. Turn the water off when you brush - Your parents have said this before, now I say it. You will save 4 gallons of water doing this alone.
9. Shorten your shower - Every minute you cut from your shower is roughly 5 gallons of water. The less time your shower takes, the lower your impact on the environment.
10. Recycle Glass - If you do not recycle this, it will take a million years to decompose.
    Don't Pre-Heat the Oven - unless needed, just turn the oven on after you put the dish in it. Also, to see if it's finished just look through the glass instead of opening it.
11. Use Warm or Cold Setting on Washer - instead of the hot cycle use the warm or cold setting. This will save a lot of energy a year.
12. Turn Down your Thermostat - Every degree lower in the winter or higher in the summer you put it is a 10% decrease on your energy bill.
13. Turn off your lights - An easy one. Turn off your lights when you are not using them. The benefits are obvious.
14. Get rid of junk mail - There are many services that can help you get rid of junk mail. That will lead to a lot less trees being cut down to take up room in your mailbox.
15. Use Matches instead of lighters - Lighters are usually considered disposable so they will most likely end up in land fills. You can use the cardboard matches which are much more eco-friendly because they are made of recycled material.
16. Don't get a paper phone book - Instead of getting a paper phone book. Use a online directory instead.
17. Give things away - Take things that you are not going to wear or use and give it to a charity or someone who will use it.
18. Go to a car wash - Going to a car wash is a lot more water efficient then washing your car at home.
19. Stop paper bank statements - Why waste paper getting your bank statement mailed to you when you can just check it out online.
20. Buy Rechargeable Batteries - Even though it will take a good investment to buy these you will find yourself gaining it back in no time.
21. Pay your Bills Online - If every house in the US did this then we would save 18 million trees every year.
22. Get a reusable bag - You can't recycle plastic bags, instead get yourself a reusable bag so that you won't have to worry about carrying your necessities.
23. Do Errands in Bulk - Make a list of the things you have to do, and see if you can fit a couple of those things together in one ride.
24. Inflate your Tires - If your tires are inflated at all times your car will run more miles on less gas.
25. Wrap Presents Creatively - Without going out to get wrapping paper you can use newspaper, an old map, or anything else. It would look a whole lot more creative.
26. Plant a Tree - It's good for the air, can keep you cool, and can increase your property value.
27. Buy Local Produce - Consider how much energy it takes for produce from china or any other country to come here. If you have the option to buy local, do it.
28. Walk or Ride Your Bike When you can - If you have to go somewhere close consider riding your bike or walking there instead of your car. It's better on the environment and healthier.

www.CountyProperties.net

You don’t need a stinkin’ compost container

Green Tip of the Week:  You don’t need a stinkin’ compost container

Who needs a decorative pail on the counter to collect compost—and odors—when you can use a castoff container, such as a margarine container or a cardboard milk carton? Put the container in your freezer, add kitchen scraps until full, dispose scraps (and milk carton) on the compost pile, and repeat. No odors.

www.CountyProperties.net

Facts on the new Energy-Efficiency Tax Credit

Take advantage of improved tax credits available for a number of energy-efficient home improvements. Find a professional remodeler in your neighborhood at www.nahb.org/remodel to get excellent advice – and your assurance of a project well done.

 

The Existing Home Retrofit Tax Credit (Tax Code Section 25C): Tax credits are available at 30 percent of the cost, up to a $1,500 lifetime limit, for installation in 2009 & 2010 (for existing homes only) of these products:

 

Building envelope components (Installation costs not included):

• Insulation material or system 
• Exterior window, skylight, door, storm window or storm door with a U factor of .3 or below 
• Metal or asphalt roofs that resist heat gain 

Qualified energy products (Installation costs may be included):

• Electric heat pump water heaters that yield an energy factor of at least 2.0 in the standard Department of Energy test procedure.
• Electric heat pumps and central air conditioners that achieve the highest efficiency tier established by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency as of Jan. 1, 2009.
• Natural gas, propane or oil water heaters with an energy factor of at least .82 or thermal efficiency of at least 90 percent
• Biomass burning stoves with a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75 percent as measured using a lower heating value
• Natural gas and propane furnaces that achieve an annual fuel utilization efficiency rate of not less than 95
• Natural gas, propane, or oil water boilers and oil furnaces that achieve an annual fuel utilization rate of not less than 90
• Advanced main air conditioning fans with annual electricity use of no more than 2 percent of the total annual energy use of the furnace

The Wind, Solar, Geothermal and Fuel Cell Tax Credit (Tax Code Section 25D): Tax credits are available at 30 percent of the cost, with no cap through 2016, for existing homes and new construction, for: 

• Geothermal Heat Pumps 
• Solar Panels 
• Solar Water Heaters 
• Small Wind Energy Systems 
• Fuel Cells 

The energy-efficiency home products must be “placed in service” between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010. The credits are only valid for improvements made to the taxpayer's principal residence, except for qualified geothermal, solar, wind property, which can be installed on any home used as a residence by the taxpayer.

 

Home owners can claim the 25C and 25D credits on Form 5695 when they file their income tax returns. Check with your tax professional to ensure correct application of the energy-efficiency tax credit. Retain all receipts as well as records that include:

• Name and address of manufacturer
• Identification of the class of eligible building envelope component
• Make, model number and any other property identifiers
• A statement that the component is eligible for the credit (may include U factor, class of window or door, etc.)

For a short, one-page description of the energy efficiency tax credits, download this fact sheet.

 

IRS Clarifies What Qualifies for Home Owner Energy Tax Credit

The Internal Revenue Service has published new guidance on Internal Revenue Code Section 25C, which allows up to a $1,500 tax credit for home owners who install energy-efficient windows, insulation and other qualifying products. The tax credit is equal to 30 percent of the qualified energy efficiency expenses paid by the home owner, but it is limited to $1,500 for improvements made during 2009 and 2010.

 

Notice 2009-53 explains the requirements for home owners to claim the 25C credit and provides detailed technical information regarding what improvements can qualify. Home owners can claim the credit only for improvements made to an existing home. However, NAHB has learned from the IRS that tax credit-qualified improvements installed in an addition to an existing home also qualify for the 25C program.

Among the highlights:

• Tax credit eligible products must be reasonably expected to remain in use for at least five years. One method taxpayers can rely on to satisfy this requirement is to purchase products from a manufacturer who offers a warranty lasting at least two years at no additional cost.
• Not all Energy Star-rated products that are installed qualify for the tax credit. The Energy Star Web site includes a detailed listing of products that qualify for the section 25C program.
• The credit excludes installation costs for building envelope components — such as insulation and windows. In order for the home owner to claim the credit, the remodeler must provide an itemized breakout of the cost of these installed products, minus any labor or installation charges.

Also of importance, Notice 2009-53 provides the set of transition rules for qualified products installed before June 1, 2009. For these installations, taxpayers can claim for tax credit purposes the installation of property that meets less stringent energy efficiency requirements.

In particular, taxpayers can claim the credit for installation of windows and skylights that meet Energy Star requirements, requirements listed under prior IRS Notice 2006-53 or manufacturers’ certifications for 25C made under IRS Notice 2006-53. For installations on or after June 1, the requirements listed in Notice 2009-53 and described above are binding.

 

NAHB Teleconference on Claiming Energy-Efficiency Tax Credits

Newly expanded federal tax credits for energy efficiency are providing consumers with added incentives for upgrading their homes. Homeowners now can claim up to $1,500 in tax credits for remodeling their principal residence to reduce energy consumption through the enhanced Existing Home Retrofit (25C) tax credit. During a media teleconference next week, NAHB’s Director of tax issues discussed how to take advantage of the credit, while three professional remodelers from around the country provided examples of the types of projects that may qualify, such as adding insulation, replacing doors and windows, and updating heating and cooling systems. The panelists also provided guidance on selecting a qualified remodeler and certifying home remodelers under the National Green Building Standard, which is the only national standard to certify green home remodeling and renovation projects.

Who:

• Rob Dietz, Director of Tax Issues for the National Association of Home Builders
• Greg Miedema, CGR, CAPS, GMB, CGP, NAHB Remodelers Chairman and President of Dakota Builders, Tucson, Ariz.
• Donna Shirey, CGR, CAPS, CGP, President of Shirey Contracting, Issaquah, Wash.
• Michael Strong, CGR, GMB, CAPS, CGP, President of Brothers Strong, Houston

To listen:

 

NAHB Energy Efficiency Tax Credit media call audio file 

 

Learn more about how to plan a remodel and hire a professional remodeler at www.nahb.org/remodel.

 

www.CountyProperties.net

Homes Wired for Electric Vehicles

KB Home, one of America's premier homebuilders, today announced that it will begin offering an option to pre-wire its new Built to Order™ homes to accommodate charging stations for homeowners' electric vehicles. This new earth-friendly option is designed to ease the future installation of a station to charge an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle conveniently at home. The pre-wire option is now available to KB Home homebuyers nationwide. "KB Home is building new homes that are relevant to the way homebuyers are living – now and in the future," said Jeffrey Mezger, president and chief executive officer of KB Home. "This is just one of many innovative and earth-friendly options that homeowners can choose from as part of KB Home's Built to Order experience. It's a great feature for homebuyers who currently drive electric cars, or for those who want to build their new home to accommodate these cars in the future." The Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to drive the efficient and restorative use of resources, recently launched Project Get Ready, a program that aims to help communities prepare for and support plug-in vehicles. "It is critical for the mass adoption of electric vehicles to have companies like KB Home leading the industry by offering this pre-wire option, as the majority of electric vehicle charging will be done at home overnight," said Matt Mattila, Project Manager for Project Get Ready. "Not only is it convenient, but when managed correctly, charging overnight, at home, will put less strain on the grid than opportunity day-time charging at public charging stations."