SnugHabitat

Over the past couple of years, in the process of renovating my own residence and a rental home, I have encountered experts in many home-related fields. I have met designers who specialize in low-cost, eco-friendly remodeling (yes, “low-cost” and “eco-friendly” can go together!), accountants who are whizzes at tax rebates for green home upgrades, master gardeners who favor low-water landscaping, and more. Over the coming months and years, it is my goal to interview some of these sharp individuals so that a taste of their expertise will be available to you. Interviews coming soon, and in the meantime, feel free to make requests!

Thinking of purchasing a home this year? You could qualify for a $250 rebate on your Home Energy Rating System (HERS) energy audit. The rebate is available through the Realtor’s Energy Audit Program (REAP), sponsored by the California Association of Realtors. CAR is putting $250,000 from its Housing Affordability Fund toward this effort. Cool! Or warm, depending on your preferences . . . a HERS energy audit identifies how a home is using energy now, and what improvements could improve comfort and lower energy bills in the future. Read more about the REAP rebate program here. See me for an application!

You have probably heard “PITI”–principle, interest, taxes, and insurance–used to describe your four main costs as a homeowner. An energy-efficiency mortgage recognizes that your monthly cost of living includes an E for energy–the money you spend to heat and cool your home, etc. An energy-efficiency mortgage (EEM) allows you to finance the cost of upgrading a home’s windows, water heater, insulation, and other improvements when you purchase the home, without altering your debt-to-income ratio.

How is this possible? Boosting a home’s energy efficiency can lower a home’s utility bills enough that monthly living costs go down, even though the total amount financed goes slightly up. So an EEM allows you to purchase a home that is more comfortable, more environmentally friendly, and has a higher resale value, while spending less per month on overall living costs. Wow. But is this wonder-loan available only to people with large down payments? No. In fact, the FHA EEM, designed for borrowers with low down payments, is one of the easiest EEM programs to work with.

Why EEMs for Davis? Some of our older homes in central Davis are long on charm but short on dual-pane windows. Some are still cooling in the summer with a window unit, instead of central air. These homes are perfect candidates for an EEM loan to an interested buyer.

Last week I attended an excellent lunch&learn on EEMs that featured Thomas Caruthers of Federal Energy Services as a guest speaker. Our host for the event was Rick Carrie of MetLife Mortgages in Davis. Rick will share more information about EEMs at the summer SnugHabitat Hosts event at the Pence Gallery. Date and time TBA, more news as I have it! In the meantime, to learn more about how an EEM could work for you, please call me at (530) 219-4214.

“The Department of Housing and Urban Development is taking steps to ensure gays and lesbians don’t face discrimination when applying for federal housing assistance,” says the Washington Post. The proposed rule changes would “prohibit lenders from using sexual orientation or gender identity as a way of determining a borrower’s eligibility.” Finally! You can read the article here.

On March 26 at the Pence Gallery, SnugHabitat Hosts launches its spring offering, SpringGreening! The SnugHabitat Hosts series gathers panels of home-related professionals to share their expertise with homeowners and homeowners-to-be.

Nancy Morrow of Casa Verde Designs will present on affordable, eco-friendly kitchen remodels. Beekeeper Bill Frazier of B3 Inspections will present on how you can preserve bee habitat in your yard. Ellen Zagory, Director of Horticulture for the UC Davis Arboretum, will present on the Arboretum All-Stars plants, which include native, low-water, low-maintenance species that grow like gangbusters here, even for inexperienced gardeners! Pam Frickmann of TreeDavis, Certified Arborist and Community Forester, will address how to site trees in your yard, and recommended tree species for our area.

1-2:30 PM at the Pence Gallery, refreshments served. Call now to reserve your seat! (530) 219-4214.

According to the National Association of Realtors, 99% of home buyers believe negotiation skills are “Very Important” or “Somewhat Important” in their real estate agent. Yet many real estate agents have no formal negotiation training, and many buyers and sellers, not surprisingly, report unhappiness with their agents’ negotiation skills. Happily, I’m among the empowered minority: the less-than-1% of agents who are Certified Negotiation Experts. My CNE training enables me to bring more clarity and efficiency to your negotiation process, achieving your desired result with less stress and more speed. Viva la completed transaction!

I’ll be posting some sketches of negotiation techniques here as time goes on. I hope to show you more about how I approach the multi-party conversation that is a real estate transaction, and how my approach can smooth your transaction experience.

Of course, negotiation happens all the time outside of real estate, as well as in it. We negotiate with colleagues, family members, friends, and partners. Over time, I’ll be sharing collaborative negotiation strategies that are helpful if you’re buying or selling a home, and may also come in handy for personal and professional life, whoever you’re with and whatever your field. Stay tuned!

The bad news: According to the California Energy Commission, heating and cooling ducts in an average California home leak almost 30 percent. Ouch!

The good news: A study of energy-efficient homes in The Appraisal Journal showed that every $1 reduction in annual energy bills resulted in a more than $10 increase in resale value. Ahh, better.

As we know, an energy-efficient home can increase comfort while reducing environmental impact and utility bills. Many home buyers take energy efficiency into consideration when home shopping, and may ask to see a seller’s utility records. But sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between the house and the habits of the folks in the house. For example, what if the home’s current owner keeps the thermostat at 80 degrees all winter, whereas you keep it at 63 degrees and show off your sweater layering skills? How can you research the structure of the home itself, all by itself?

One answer to that question (there are many) is the Home Energy Rating System (HERS). Your HERS Whole-House Home Energy Rater will visit your home to examine the heating and cooling systems, test for air leaks, look for insulation gaps, measure appliance energy use, and so on. You’ll receive a detailed report about where the energy in your house is going, and where it could be conserved. You might use such a report for your own home improvement ambitions and enjoyment of your home, or you might share a HERS report with a prospective buyer, and stand out from other homes in your neighborhood. You can read a sample HERS report here.

Recently Ed Maeda, a fellow Realtor with Coldwell Banker DARE, was kind enough to film his home energy audit by HERS rater Craig Iden of Golden State Home Energy Consultants. (At the beginning of the clip, Ed mentions that it’s January 2007–but really this was filmed a couple of weeks ago in January 2011. Oops! Energy efficiency is exciting–it could happen to anyone!) You’ll see Craig explaining what he’s about to test at Ed’s house, then taking measurements, cranking up the blower door, etc. Click to view HERS Rating Walk & Talk in Davis, CA.

You can reach Craig Iden to schedule your own energy audit at (800) 441-0804, or online at Golden State Home Energy Consultants. To shop around, you can find Energy Commission-approved HERS providers at: www.energy.ca.gov/HERS/index.html or call the Energy Hotline at (800) 772-3300.

You can read the California Home Energy Commission’s Home Energy Rating booklet here.

California SB 183 takes effect on New Year’s Day. The law requires a carbon monoxide detector in any “dwelling unit intended for human occupancy” by July 1, 2011. Landlords, take note–the law applies to your personal residence and your rental home/s. The law applies to homes that use fossil fuels for heat or cooking, have a fireplace, or have an attached garage–so, almost all residences. Wherever you live, you know you’ve been thinking this would be a good idea . . . Ring in the new year with safety!

Think you need to turn your back yard into a wind farm to qualify for an energy-efficiency tax credit? Think again. Some eligible upgrades are as simple as installing insulating window shades or upgrading your doors.But you’ll need to act quickly–some federal tax credits for consumer energy efficiency expire December 31. Update those windows and doors before the new year! Read more at the Energy Star site.

The “Spring Greening” SnugHabitat Hosts event will take place at the Pence Gallery in Davis on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at 1 PM. Plan to enjoy the farmer’s market in Central Park, then stroll to the Pence for seasonal snacks and all the motivation and information you’ll need to improve your yard and your kitchen. Scroll down to see the exciting lineup of speakers. See you there!