What is a Resource Efficient Home?

What is a Resource Efficient Home?     A resource-efficient home is best described as a home that sustainably uses the Earth’s limited resources while at the same time, minimizing environmental impact. Think, repair, re-manufacturing, recycling, maintenance, and more eco-friendly home design. There are a variety of definitions of what a “green” home truly is. A widely held and accepted definition includes the planning, design, and construction of a home with considerations of energy use, water use, material selections, site locations, and indoor environmental quality features. Green, or resource-efficient, homes tend to use less energy and smarter resources in order to provide a healthier home for you and your family. The benefits of resource-efficient homes are usually grouped into three areas: health, savings, and value. Health Resource-efficient homes aim to provide lots of natural light, safe building materials, and clean indoor air. Green Home Guide reports, “With better products, such as low-emission materials, a radon mitigation system, and sealed combustion appliances, certified green homes can have a positive impact on your family's health. Improved heating, ventilation, insulation, and air sealing also contribute to reducing risks and symptoms of respiratory disease, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, stress, infectious disease, and more.” Savings Another benefit of a green or resource-efficient home is the long-term savings it can offer. By using environmentally friendly home building materials, often monthly utility bills are lowered due to a reduction of energy and water consumption. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) shares that year-over-year, spaces built with green materials have reduced maintenance and usage costs by nearly 20 percent. Additionally, the resale of a resource-efficient home can see upwards of an eight percent increase in resale value. Value In addition to the monthly savings costs on utility bills, another way a resource-efficient home can offer value lies in the other incentives it may qualify for. From special homeowner’s insurance discounts to tax breaks, the added value of a green home can be a great benefit to a homeowner. Some incentives apply for new construction, others for remodels, and some for both. Many states offer an incentive for a wide variety of energy efficient and energy renewable technologies, such as heat pumps, furnaces, boilers, central air conditioners, building insulation, doors, siding, roofs, solar water heat, geothermal heat pumps, cool roofs, LED lighting, and more. Be sure to check with a qualified tax professional to maximize the value you could gain from one or more of these technologies. LEED Certifications One way for homebuyers to know what they are getting in terms of environmentally and responsibly built green homes is to look for a LEED certification. In order for a home to qualify for a LEED certification, the home earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality. According to the National Association of Realtors, resource-efficient homes and those with the LEED certification are designed and constructed to provide a safe, healthy, and sustainable place to live. They provide cleaner indoor air, save on energy and water, maintain their value over time, and prioritize the use of materials that promote health and enhance resilience.

Universal Design and How Accessibility Should Factor Into Your Home Buying Decision

Universal Design and How Accessibility Should Factor Into Your Home Buying Decision     What exactly is universal design? Simply defined, universal design is focused on making a house safe, accessible, and free of barriers for every person no matter their age, height, or physical ability. Universal design is different from accessible design as it deals primarily with public spaces and legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Universal design is also different from usable design which primarily deals with user experience as it relates to learnability, consistency, and efficiency. Whether considering your existing home or a future home, how might universal design and accessibility impact your decision-making? Universal design seeks to create environments (including houses) that are usable by all people. Things to look for in a home based on universal design principles: One of the major trends in homes today is the idea that with careful planning, homes can be bought, renovated, or built to suit accessibility needs. Below are five areas that might be worth considering whether you are seeking a “forever” home where you may age in place, or you are simply wanting a home that fits the needs of people of any age, height, or physical ability. One-Story Homes One of the easiest entry points into a more accessible home is to choose a one-story house. Not only are one-story homes typically known as having more living space per square foot, anything without a staircase can help to eliminate risks associated with falling. This is true for those with mobility issues, the elderly, and small children. One-level homes tend to have easier access if there is ever an emergency, like a fire, requiring evacuation. Additionally, one-story homes tend to have lower heating and cooling costs. Wider Spaces Another important component of universally designed homes is wider spaces inside the home. From wider than usual hallways, doorways, and floor spaces (particularly in kitchens and bathrooms), having ample room allows for everyone and everything to move in and out of rooms with ease. Points of Entry In considering accessibility, having a home’s entry points with as little barrier as possible is also important. If it isn’t possible to eliminate a step or two entirely, make sure that there are secure and available handrails, no loose cement or brick to cause a fall, and that the area at some point could handle a portable ramp if needed. Safer Surfaces Speaking of cleared and debris-free surfaces on stairs, another important aspect of universal design takes into account thresholds that are flush with the floor, flooring surfaces that are not carpeted, and bathroom showers and tubs that have been treated or are made of materials that are anti-slip in nature. Good Lighting While it is true that the right lighting in a space can help create ambiance and set the mood of the room, when it comes to universal design and safety, lighting is an integral part of this planning. There are several ways lighting can play into your design. First of all, make sure the home you are considering is positioned in a south-facing direction to receive the maximum natural light. Additionally, having good windows that let in this light also matters along with window coverings that are easy to manipulate to control the amount of light and privacy. The right kind of light fixtures and light bulbs are also factors in having good visibility both inside and outside the home. Finally, make sure that light switches are user-friendly (think dimmers and large, rocker light switches.) Whether you are hoping to ensure that your next home is one where you can easily and naturally age in place or if you are just looking for resale ability in a home that is functionally friendly to all ages and abilities, keep in mind that accessibility matters. The National Association of Home Builders offers a free Aging in Place Remodeling Checklist that may offer some good ideas for future reference.

Move Over Farmhouse Decor and Say Hello to Cottagecore

Move Over Farmhouse Decor and Say Hello to Cottagecore     Whether or not you personally pay attention to or follow the latest design trends, as a homeowner it pays to stay in the know on what the popular fads are so that when it comes time to buy or sell a home, you can keep in mind what the masses are drawn to for your own resale value. Or, if eschewing trends altogether is more your speed– what trends you may want to avoid chasing. Farmhouse style in its most basic iteration has been around as long as actual farmhouses have been a thing– so for centuries. However, in recent years, 2013 to be exact, Joanna Gaines of the “Chip and Jo” HGTV “Fixer Upper,” now Magnolia empire was one of the first public personas to really emphasize what is now known as Farmhouse decor. Homes that have followed this trend were designing homes and decorating spaces with exposed wood, neutral color pallets, vintage and antique accent pieces, exposing or recreating shiplap or paneling, hanging sliding barn doors, using reclaimed wood, and showcasing kitchen items on open shelving. Not only did this look take off, due in part, to the influence of designers like Joanna Gaines, Pinterest, and big box stores like Target carrying accessibly priced items, but it seems that for many, the look has stuck around for now, going on a decade. This style lends itself to comfort and functionality no matter the age or layout of a home, so it is easy to understand its popularity. Is Farmhouse style here to stay or is there a newer trend on the horizon threatening to take its place as the up-and-coming movement in home style and decor? Is it goodbye Farmhouse and hello Cottagecore? Like Farmhouse design and decor influences, Cottagecore encompasses more than just decor. It is a home and personal style, wildly popular on Instagram, TikTok, and has even been mentioned by more seasoned and revered publications like Architectural Digest. In fact, it was Architectural Digest that mentioned Cottagecore as a “budding” trend back in 2019 and since 2020, post-pandemic, considers it a “blooming trend.” What is with all of the flowery language you might wonder? Cottagecore is defined as a more simple, sustainable way of living in your home that harkens back to agricultural life with nods to traditional English countryside style that is romantic and nostalgic. Think floral prints featured in wallpaper and window treatments. Where Farmhouse had an almost whitewashed, overly neutral palette, Cottagecore focuses on a mixture of colors and textures. Natural colors, neutral colors, and warm tones are all the rage along with displaying vintage books, dishware, natural elements like baskets, all wood furniture, and layered surfaces. Another key feature of Cottagecore is found in its attempt to hide technology elements through the use of weathered and well-used items. The key here is quiet comfort so keeping the physical clutter of tech from being out in the open is vital. Perhaps you find yourself looking to redecorate or renovate your current home or simply want to add some touches to help stage your home for a quick sale. Keep in mind that whichever design choices you make, whether Farmhouse, Cottagecore, or something more personalized and not currently trending but truly what you love, having your home show well can be achieved in many ways. Home design trends can be difficult to keep up with as they are changing more quickly over time than they ever have before. Most experts agree that as trends come and go, what should remain is your own appreciation for your home and your own personal style.

Understanding the 10 year treasury and the 30 year fixed mortgage rate

Check this video link below:    https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnW9vL6JNIj/     FACT: The 30 year Mortgage rate doubled last year. It went from 3.22 to 6.42% at the end of 2022. There has never been a year that has had this quick of a rise in the 50 years of tracking data. Understanding the 10 year treasury and the 30 year fixed mortgage rate will really help understand what is happening in the market trajectory this year. For the past fifty years, the 30 year mortgage rate has moved in unison with the 10 year treasury. The average spread has been 1.7%. If you take the 10 year treasury rate, and add 1.7%, you’ll get the 30 year fixed rate. Why are rates not at 5.5%? The average spread 2000-2021 1.79 you got your average. RIGHT NOW:    The spread has jumped 2.79! This is 100 basis points or 1% higher than normal, which has caused concern in the market. If we were back at the normal spread, we’d be back at the 5.5% rate.   #marketupdate #realdeal #realestatelife #knowthenumbers #investinrealestate #investinyourself #realtorlife #advongroup #advongrouphomes #ittakestwo #ittakestwotomakeathinggoright