Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Good job Fred Meyer!!!
Fred Meyer's is running a pilot program that I fully support. They are testing out doing without the plastic bag!!! I only found out about it recently because it is not a my Fred Meyer. I think everyone should support this. Stores can supply paper bags which can be composted. They can also supply bags made of recycled content. Those bags should satisfy people that are concerned about bag breakage as well as keeping things dry. There are plenty of locally made cloth bags that people can use. It is also easy enough to carry a small amount of things with no bag... I do that all the time.
Please support the bag test
email~ bagfeedback@fredmeyer.com
Please support the bag test
email~ bagfeedback@fredmeyer.com
Clackamas county has it right!!!
Clackamas county has been awarded money to rehab houses~ green and to assist low income people. Their strategy is well thought out and provides clear information to the consumer that does not over simplify a complex issue of how to green your home.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
This is 2005 not 2010! This was actually posted on Realtor.org
10 Steps to Win Over Sellers
Helping eager buyers get the home of their dreams isn’t so easy in this unsettled market. Here are 10 tips for making sure sellers won’t turn up their nose at an offer:
1. Make sure the buyers are pre-approved for a mortgage (not to be confused with being pre-qualified) so they can close in about 10 days.
2. Study the buyer. Have they made an offer on another home or are they working against any other kind of deadline?
3. Make a clean offer – no requests for help with closing costs or other contingencies.
4. Include an automatic escalation clause – say $500 over the highest competing bid. (Insist that seller show the offers in writing.)
5. Sweeten the offer with a bonus if the deal gets done quickly.
6. Offer 10 percent of the purchase price in earnest money.
7. Waive the appraisal. The buyer will have to be willing to pay any difference between the selling price and what the bank is willing to lend. ((NEVER NEVER HAS THIS BEEN POSSIBLE EXCEPT CASH OFFERS))
8. Consider waiving the inspection.
9. Offer the full list price, preferably in cash.
10. Write a love letter to sellers, telling them all the things your client loves about their home.
Source: MSN Real Estate, Marilyn Lewis (08/03/2010)
Helping eager buyers get the home of their dreams isn’t so easy in this unsettled market. Here are 10 tips for making sure sellers won’t turn up their nose at an offer:
1. Make sure the buyers are pre-approved for a mortgage (not to be confused with being pre-qualified) so they can close in about 10 days.
2. Study the buyer. Have they made an offer on another home or are they working against any other kind of deadline?
3. Make a clean offer – no requests for help with closing costs or other contingencies.
4. Include an automatic escalation clause – say $500 over the highest competing bid. (Insist that seller show the offers in writing.)
5. Sweeten the offer with a bonus if the deal gets done quickly.
6. Offer 10 percent of the purchase price in earnest money.
7. Waive the appraisal. The buyer will have to be willing to pay any difference between the selling price and what the bank is willing to lend. ((NEVER NEVER HAS THIS BEEN POSSIBLE EXCEPT CASH OFFERS))
8. Consider waiving the inspection.
9. Offer the full list price, preferably in cash.
10. Write a love letter to sellers, telling them all the things your client loves about their home.
Source: MSN Real Estate, Marilyn Lewis (08/03/2010)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
2010 fed tax credits
2010 Extended Energy Tax Credits – Through 12/31/2010
For all qualified upgrades, the credit is 30% of the covered cost up to a $1500 total credit. For instance, if you pay $3000 for insulation (excluding installation costs), your credit would be $900. The house must be your principal residence and the credits don’t apply to new construction. Other, upgrade-specific restrictions apply, so see the site for details.
Energy Efficient Windows and Doors, including many Storm Doors and Skylights. Cost eligible for the tax credit does not include installation costs. Certain other restrictions (like U-value and IECC qualifications apply).
Water Heaters. Credit includes installation costs; some restrictions for energy efficiency apply.
Metal and Asphalt Roofs. Credit does NOT include installation costs. The roof must be highly energy efficient (asphalt roofs must have cooling granules, for instance).
Insulation, whether spray foam, fiberglass, or blow-in cellulose, they’re all covered so long as they meet IECC requirements. Installation cost is NOT covered.
HVAC Components, including certain Advanced Air Handlers, Air Force Heat Pumps, Central A/C Units, Boilers, Propane, and Gas Furnaces. Tax credits include installation costs.
Biomass Stoves.
For all qualified upgrades, the credit is 30% of the covered cost up to a $1500 total credit. For instance, if you pay $3000 for insulation (excluding installation costs), your credit would be $900. The house must be your principal residence and the credits don’t apply to new construction. Other, upgrade-specific restrictions apply, so see the site for details.
Energy Efficient Windows and Doors, including many Storm Doors and Skylights. Cost eligible for the tax credit does not include installation costs. Certain other restrictions (like U-value and IECC qualifications apply).
Water Heaters. Credit includes installation costs; some restrictions for energy efficiency apply.
Metal and Asphalt Roofs. Credit does NOT include installation costs. The roof must be highly energy efficient (asphalt roofs must have cooling granules, for instance).
Insulation, whether spray foam, fiberglass, or blow-in cellulose, they’re all covered so long as they meet IECC requirements. Installation cost is NOT covered.
HVAC Components, including certain Advanced Air Handlers, Air Force Heat Pumps, Central A/C Units, Boilers, Propane, and Gas Furnaces. Tax credits include installation costs.
Biomass Stoves.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
This weekend portland will be reducing it's carbon footprint
This weekend 177 new trees will be planted in Portland. Why is that a big deal? In the summer the streets serve as a heat sink. Asphalt is black not white like my porch. There is in architecture a design concept called passive solar design. It was the rage in the 70's. It is a very old concept though. Thermal massing is used to capture heat during the day and to let off during the cooler times; night.
Streets have a thermal storage capacity that often goes unrecognised. It is the same concept that is used for passive solar. There is a mass that takes the heat in when the sun is on it. It is released at night. Black attracts the most heat, white attracts the least. Our city streets are black and there is often no mitigating factor like trees. They prevent the heat absorption.
Now to my porch experience. I have a big concrete porch that faces west and has southern exposure. Last summer when it was really hot I put curtains out to shade my porch. It cooled my house! There was not a huge heat sink emitting heat. This is very basic. And I think we have lost sight of how important shade is.
Streets have a thermal storage capacity that often goes unrecognised. It is the same concept that is used for passive solar. There is a mass that takes the heat in when the sun is on it. It is released at night. Black attracts the most heat, white attracts the least. Our city streets are black and there is often no mitigating factor like trees. They prevent the heat absorption.
Now to my porch experience. I have a big concrete porch that faces west and has southern exposure. Last summer when it was really hot I put curtains out to shade my porch. It cooled my house! There was not a huge heat sink emitting heat. This is very basic. And I think we have lost sight of how important shade is.
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