What is the cutting edge house color? GREEN

Did you know that the average U.S. home causes twice as much greenhouse emissions as a single car? It’s true. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that “green” home building is poised to be the next big push in the environmental awakening. “Green” homes or environmentally sensitive housing are already afoot in other areas of the nation and are about to be the next trend here in the St. Charles area.
While some may see this as another politically correct fad, “green” homes offer owners greater durability, less maintenance costs, and lower energy bills than typically constructed houses. “Green” homes may include energy-efficient appliances, water efficient faucets, better ductworks and air filtration systems, and low-emissivity windows (which keep heat from filtering in or out of the windows). Some of the tricks of the trade for “green” home design include using recycled rainwater, solar chimneys, rooftop gardens, geothermal cooling systems, and solar panels.
Commercial construction is ahead of the residential market as far as building “green.” But environmentally-friendly developments are on the rise. Highland Park in St. Charles is touted as Missouri’s first “green” residential community. Its 245 condominiums and town homes are designed with recycled and sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems.
Now, the big question is “What constitutes a ‘green’ home?” Well, it depends on who you listen to. MSNBC reports that there are 80 different local and state “green” building organizations and at least two different national groups promoting their guidelines for constructing “green.” I believe there will soon be a national standard adopted for what qualifies as a “green” home and all these organizations are simply jockeying for their interests to be embraced.
The best-known group in “green” building is the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This non-profit group developed its own point rating system for “green” commercial projects in 2000. Their new construction rating system is based on five categories: sustainable sites, energy and atmosphere, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials and resources. To find out more about building an environmentally-conscious home visit www.usgbc.org.Be sure to consult your realtor for locally established ways to go “green” when you are building your new home.

Your home is your sanctuary and when it comes time to sell, you want someone else to think of it as their sanctuary too. So how do you make your home stand out among all the new construction homes available? It is all in the upgrades.

To prepare your home for sale, the tricky part is deciding where to begin. This is where your real estate agent comes in.

Too many times I have witnessed well-meaning sellers make improvements to their home which are not appealing to the masses. My clients use my complimentary home inspection for an early glimpse as to what buyers may want repaired or improved.
Heating and cooling efficiency items are becoming more common upgrades in the St. Charles area. Homeowners are spending the extra $150 for this perk. I am also starting to hear more about solar alternatives as an amenity.

Many people believe the bathroom is the place to start upgrading. Sellers can turn a dated bath into a luxurious haven by installing a jet tub, a double bowl vanity or pedestal sinks.
An inexpensive way to upgrade any room is with improved lighting. But a great impact can be made in a bathroom with the addition of new vanity lights, a shower recessed light, or a skylight. A major bathroom remodel provides a great return on investment when the house is sold.

The kitchen is the heart of the home for most buyers. Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances are “in” and that may be all it takes to bring a kitchen into the 21st century. However, a blast-from-the-past kitchen in need of a significant overhaul will be worth the investment when the house sells.
Sellers should not forget to consider the outside of their home when contemplating improvements. The addition of a deck is the most economical way to add square footage to a home and usually brings a significant return on your investment.

The top 10 remodeling projects with the highest return on investment (ROI) according to REALTOR magazine are:
10. Sunroom Addition
9. Roof Replacement
8. Family Room Addition
7. Deck Addition
6. Basement Remodel
5. Attic Bedroom Remodel (adding an extra bedroom)
4. Moderate Kitchen Remodel
3. Bathroom Remodel
2. Siding Replacement

And the number one remodeling project with the highest return for sellers is window replacements.

Minor touchups can also be invaluable for sellers. Nothing says (or smells) of an upgrade like freshly painted walls. Other worthwhile minor fixes include: installing new ceiling fans, pressure washing the house and sidewalks, installing closet organizers, repairing all cracks in walls and ceilings, among others.Make sure your chosen contractor follows all the current county building codes and applies for the necessary permits. Saving the $50 and skipping the permit process will only come back to haunt you when your house goes on the market.

Today, the American dream seems to consist of owning a new home, not just any home. According to industry sources more than 70 percent of home buyers want a new house.
While new construction buyers are preoccupied with visions of spotless carpets and faultless faucets, it is my job to act as their voice of reason. The fact is buying a newly built home is not necessarily easier than buying an existing home. Buyers can not let down their guard. To be a proactive new construction buyer, follow my advice below.

Do have your own real estate agent. Many buyers mistakenly believe that using the developers’ sales agent will get them a better deal. Register your agent’s name with the builder and determine if he/she is required to be with you on the first and/or all visits. Then your agent is the point of contact between the salesperson/builder and you, the buyer.

Do find a reputable builder. It is not that difficult to research builders especially if they have other subdivisions in the area and if you have chosen where you want to build talk with homebuyers there. The reality is that some builders cut corners while others make sure the home they produce is top quality. There is also a wide-ranging difference in builders’ customer service after the sale.

Do review the builder’s warranty. Some builders offer their own one-year “bumper to bumper” warranty and some offer the preferred 2-10 home warranty which is guaranteed by a third party and covers serious structural defects for up to 10 years.

Do stay involved. It is crucial to be a regular presence on site to check for fireplace size, closet locations, rooflines, etc. Ask questions and speak up as soon as issues arise.

Do hold that lot. Put a deposit check down to secure the lot you want. Afterward, most builders will expect a sales contract within 2 to 10 days.

Do have a home inspection performed. Never waive your right to a walk-through and a home inspection prior to closing. I believe this to be so important that I provide a free home inspection to my clients. Remember, even well-meaning builders can omit features or make mistakes and an inspector is your last line of defense before closing.

Do consider resale features. When people build a home for themselves the tendency is to customize to their family alone. Although many buyers say this is their last house, it is rarely the case, so build a house with some resale characteristics in mind. Also, you don’t want to be the most expensive house in the neighborhood, this too may hamper the home’s resale ability.

Do negotiate. Although the negotiating process of offers/counteroffers is not as commonplace in the new construction realm but in today’s market many builders are willing to throw in extras such as a fireplace or upgrades such as the heating/cooling system to make the sale. Smaller builders are usually more likely to negotiate and inventory or spec homes are more likely to be negotiated.

Here are the 10 best real estate books of 2006:

1. “Trump-Style Negotiation,” by George Ross (John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, NJ), $24.95, 259 pages. This unique book offers insights into Donald J. Trump’s big-thinking negotiation style, which leaves the contract details to his trusted adviser, George Ross. Only serious real estate buyers, sellers, real estate agents and investors will study this extremely well-written book that reveals negotiation tactics not found elsewhere, illustrated with many actual examples from Trump acquisitions.

2. “The Automatic Millionaire Homeowner,” by David Bach (Broadway Books, New York), $19.95, 244 pages. If you could read only one real estate book, whether you are a renter considering a home purchase, a current homeowner, a seasoned realty investor or a real estate agent, this is the book for you because it shows how home ownership can lead to wealth. The book’s two themes are (a) renters can become millionaires by investing in their first house or condo and (b) that residence can become the foundation for a better home or more investment property in future years.

3. “Buy Even Lower,” by Scott Frank and Andy Heller (Kaplan Publishing Co., Chicago) $18.95, 238 pages. Aimed at real estate investors and real estate sales agents, this book, by two full-time corporate executives and part-time realty investors, shows how they buy single-family houses at targeted below-market prices and then either buy and hold, buy and flip, or (their favorite) buy and lease-purchase. The authors favor “ugly and awful” three-bedroom, two-bathroom houses in middle-income neighborhoods.

4. “Real Estate Debt Can Make You Rich,” by Steve Dexter (McGraw-Hill, New York), $21.95, 156 pages. The two audiences for this book, which explains why real estate debt is good, are (a) home buyers and realty agents who want to understand the inner-workings of the mortgage industry and (b) investors who need to know how “good debt” can be created to maximize realty profits. The mortgage-broker author reveals how avoiding “inexperienced and inept loan hacks” can obtain the best mortgages to buy a home or investment property. The book includes the best compilation of real estate Web sites available.

5. “Bubbles, Booms, and Busts; Make Money in Any Real Estate Market,” by Blanche Evans (McGraw-Hill, New York), $16.95, 167 pages. This extremely well-researched and up-to-date book explains the signals of local rising, falling or neutral local home sales markets, and how to profit in any situation if you take a long-term perspective on home sales. “Except for local economic shocks, like the collapse or exit of a major employer, home prices nationwide have not gone down since the Great Depression,” the author reminds readers.

6. “Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies,” by Dirk Zeller (Wiley Publishing Co., Indianapolis, IN), $21.99, 350 pages. Whether you are a new real estate agent, a longtime “old pro” agent or an individual thinking about becoming an agent, this basic book by a real estate “coach” explains what is involved in selling real estate for sales commissions, how to use sales time management profitably, and how to get started fast by contacting expired listings and “for sale by owners.” The book includes an invaluable list of Web sites for realty agents plus the author’s advice how to gain competitive advantages by obtaining a “slice of the market.”

7. “Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Co-Op, Condo, or Townhouse,” by Ken Roth (AMACOM Publishing, New York), $18.95, 197 pages. The real estate attorney author shares his many legal and real-life personal experiences so readers don’t make costly mistakes when buying into the unique lifestyle of these properties. Heavy emphasis is placed on the pros and cons of homeowner associations, including “condo commando” members who seek to take charge of the “mini-democracy” members.

8. “Who Says You Can’t Buy a Home?” by David Reed (AMACOM Publishing, New York), $17.95, 182 pages. This mortgage-broker author is on the side of home buyers and real estate agents as he explains how mortgage lenders look at borrowers in this “tell all” book.” “Anyone with steady income, no matter how bad their credit rating, or even with no credit, can find a mortgage to buy a home,” the author reveals.

9. “Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur,” by James A. Randel (McGraw-Hill, New York), $29.95, 256 pages. This book’s theme is “add value” to real estate, whether you invest in raw land, houses, run-down factory buildings with rezoning potential, or fixer-upper apartments and offices. The self-deprecating author shares his mistakes and his successes, along with his advice to invest with as little of your own cash as possible so profits can be maximized. Negotiation strategies are heavily emphasized throughout this unusual book.

10. “The Reverse Mortgage Advantage,” by Warren Boroson (McGraw-Hill, New York), $21.95, 169 pages. Virtually all the key aspects of senior-citizen reverse mortgages are thoroughly explained in this detailed but easy-to-read book that emphasizes the potential pitfalls as well as the major benefits. The author shatters the reverse-mortgage myths, such as “the bank owns the house,” the supposed high costs, and even the scary stories of early reverse mortgages, which are no longer possible.