Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Published: December 03, 2013
By: Dona DeZube

A home’s value is dependent on many things. Here are nine factors you might not have thought about.

What do surf breaks, Walmarts, and public transportation have in common? Being near any of them can add thousands to your home’s value.
At least that’s what various university researchers have found based on their evaluation of variables that could be influencing home prices. Their conclusions might surprise you. Here’s what they found:

1. Surf Breaks
Being within a mile of a surf break (a spot where surf-able waves happen) adds about $106,000 to a home’s value, according to surfonomics experts at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
Reality check: Mother Nature makes surf breaks, so it’s not like you could build your own DIY break to boost your home’s value.

2. Parks and Open Spaces
A desirable public park or other recreational open space boosts the property value of nearby homes by 8%-20%.
One study looked at 16,400 home sales within 1,500 feet of 193 public parks in Portland, Ore., and found these boosts to home values:

Natural areas: $10,648

Golf courses: $8,849

Specialty parks: $5,657

Urban parks: $1,214

Reality check: A park that’s not maintained and overcrowded can drag down nearby home values.

3. Living Near a Walmart
Along with making it easier to run out for a gallon of milk at midnight, researchers at the University of Chicago concluded that living within a mile of a Walmart store could raise your home’s value by 1%-2%, and living within half a mile could boost your property value by an additional 1%.
For an average-size home, that’s an uptick of $4,000-$7,000.
Realty check: What you gain in home value, you may end up spending at Walmart.

4. Solar Photovoltaic Systems
California homes with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sell for a $17,000 premium over homes without solar systems, according to research from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Reality check: Although costs for residential solar power systems are falling, they’re still rather pricey at $15,000-$40,000, depending on the size of your house.

5. Walkability
Being able to stroll to schools, parks, stores, and restaurants will raise your property value anywhere from $4,000-$34,000, says a 2009 study from CEOs for Cities.
Reality check: The biggest boost in walkability values occurred in large, dense cities.

6. Accessory Dwelling Units
Whether it’s a granny flat, an in-law apartment, or a carriage house, having a separate unit can increase your home’s value by 25%-34%, according to a study of 14 properties with accessory dwelling units in Portland, Ore. You can also get a steady stream of income from a second unit.
Reality check: Local governments often ban accessory dwelling units, so check zoning laws, building codes, and homeowners association rules before you add a unit.

7. Professional Sports Arenas
A new pro sports stadium can raise property values in a 2.5-mile radius by an average of $2,214. The closer you are to the new facility, the larger the increase in home value. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Alberta examined house sales in Columbus, Ohio, before and after the city added two sports stadiums.
Reality check: If a stadium is proposed, home values can decline a bit until the project is complete. And if you live really close to a stadium, you may encounter traffic and parking issues.

8. Community Gardens
Planting a community garden raises the value of homes within a 1,000-foot radius by 9.4% within five years, according to research by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and New York University School of Law.
The impact increases over time, and high-quality community gardens have the greatest positive influence. Poor neighborhoods saw the biggest gains in home values.
Reality check: Gardens on privately owned land and in higher-income neighborhoods don’t have the same beneficial influence.

9. Trees
No real surprise here — whether trees are in your yard or just on your street, they’re a valuable asset you should be aware of. Here’s a gauge of how much trees are worth to your home value according to a University of Washington research survey:

Mature trees anywhere in your yard: 2%.

Mature trees on your street: 3%.

Trees in your front yard: 3%-5%.

Mature trees in high income neighborhoods: 10%-15%.

Reality check: Trees usually mean work — raking leaves, trimming branches, and keeping roots out of sewer lines.

Dona DeZube has been writing about real estate for more than two decades. She lives in a suburban Baltimore Midcentury modest home on a 3-acre lot shared with possums, raccoons, foxes, a herd of deer, and her blue-tick hound. Follow Dona on Google+.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Published: December 18, 2013
By: Deirdre Sullivan

The home of tomorrow isn’t about Jetson-esque wonders and smartphone apps. It’s about home value, the environment, and our lifestyles. In an effort to predict what home features will be most valued in 25 years, we focus on four rising trends:

1. Extreme Energy Efficiency
Utility bills are expected to skyrocket over the next couple of decades. This will result in sustainable updates that push the green needle of household standards.
Waterless toilets: Nope, we aren’t talking about porta potties, but clean and sanitary indoor thrones that will one-up low flush loos.
Why we picked this prediction: It makes sense since residential water rates are rising in the U.S., and toilets are responsible for nearly 27% of our total water use. Plus, Dow Chemical says waterless toilets will become a household standard.
Grey water systems: According to Energy.gov, systems like these currently reuse up to 60% of your household water for watering the lawn and flushing toilets.
Why we picked this prediction: In the future, the real big boppers will be high-tech purification systems that return wastewater to drinking-quality level. A good example is the orbital shower. This concept saves 90% of the water and 80% of the energy used, trimming as much as $1,000 off yearly energy bills.
Energy dashboards: You know how cars share the miles per gallon we’re getting? An energy dashboard will do the same for our homes.
Why we picked this prediction: It’s all about the emerging technologies that will surround the future modernization of the electric grid. Called the Smart Grid, it will allow a two–way dialogue between homeowners and their utility companies so we can understand our energy use and its costs in real time.
Garages wired for the electric vehicle revolution: Energy.gov predicts we will be charging our vehicles at home, and filling up at the gas stations less. This is based on the growing number of electric vehicle sales across the U.S.
Why we picked this prediction: One city has already embraced this idea. In Palo Alto, Calif., building code requires new homes to come pre-wired for electric car chargers.
Tip: Fireplaces are hot right now. They’re something homebuyers really covet according to the “2013 Home Features Survey” from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Nowadays the latest in fireplace technology are systems that burn denatured alcohol. They can warm up a room and burn for up to 24 hours. Even better, they don’t emit smoke, so no chimney is required.

2. The Rise of Super Storms
Since super storms are becoming the norm, homeowners can be left without electricity for weeks, even months — as they were after Hurricane Sandy.
Whole house generator: This will allow people to live comfortably until their power is restored. FYI, homeowners can currently recoup 52% of the cost of a midrange electrical backup system.
Why we picked this prediction: Thanks to climate change and our aging power grid, blackouts are becoming more common. The Department of Energy says that thunderstorms, hurricanes, and blizzards account for 58% of outages in the U.S. since 2002.
Tip: Futurists are predicting that USB ports will become the power outlets of the not so distant future. Luckily for you, quick charge ports are available now.

Image: Leviton

3. The Locally Grown Movement
The desire to eat healthier, better-tasting foods continues to increase. This will make indoor gardens more common.
Edible indoor kitchen gardens: These hydroponic systems will add to home enjoyment by allowing people to create the farm to table experience in their own kitchens.
Why we picked this prediction: Urban farming has been on the rise. It combats rising food prices and reduces the energy consumption of transporting food.

Tip: Bringing nature inside can create a more healthy and happy living environment. Fragrant plants can chase away the winter blues, while others can combat household air pollution.

4. Sophisticated Appliances and Fixtures
General Electric recently revealed their vision for the home of the not too distant future — 2025 to be exact. Their vision is not about smartphone apps controlling our homes, but about the things in our abodes working harder.
Faucets: They won’t be just for water. They will also dispense ice, various beverages, and vitamins.
future faucet

Image: GE Appliances
Kitchen sinks: They will also do double duty as dishwashers. The in-sink dishwasher will wash small loads in just a couple of minutes.
Laundry machines: They will clean and fold clothing into compact pellets. This will be a big space saver and allow consumers to carry an entire outfit in a small gym bag or purse.
Why we picked GE’s predictions: Smartphones have replaced the need for other items like alarm clocks and cameras. With that idea in mind, it makes sense that countertop appliances will become replaced by multi-purpose “uber appliances” that make our lives a little bit easier.

Tip: Remodeling your kitchen soon? We have ideas that will make your kitchen timeless and functional.

Deirdre Sullivan is an NYC-based writer who’s obsessed with maximizing every inch of her urban dwelling. She’s a former fashionista who has worked for Lucky Magazine, InStyle, and ideeli.com. She recently traded her high heels and Fashion Week pass for a drill and bandsaw.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Which light bulb should you pick to replace incandescents?

Starting Jan. 1, manufacturers will stop making 60- and 40-watt incandescent light bulbs to comply with new federal energy-efficiency laws.

By MSN Real Estate partner Dec 31, 2013 10:14AM

© Ted Dayton Photography/Beateworks/Corbis

By Roy Berendsohn and David Agrell, Popular Mechanics

With new light-bulb rules taking effect Jan. 1, should you choose halogens, CFL-halogen hybrids or LEDs to replace your old household bulbs?

We talked to GE about the pluses and minuses of each.

Halogen

Price: $3
Consumes: 43 watts

Why we like it: Like traditional incandescents, halogens instantly produce warm light and are dimmable. That's because, technically, they are incandescents. The difference is halogens contain a gas that allows them to burn brighter, so they can be made smaller to use less energy. GE expects eight of 10 customers to switch initially to halogens.
Downside: Halogens get hot, so stay clear of fixtures. That also means it'll take extra energy to cool your home.

CFL-halogen hybrid

Price: $5
Consumes: 15 watts
Why we like it: GE's Bright From the Start bulbs contain both a compact-fluorescent-lamp (CFL) coil and a miniature halogen lamp. The halogen provides warm, even light until the CFL coil reaches full brightness, at which point the halogen switches off. CFL bulbs last up to 15 times longer than incandescents, so cost savings over time can be significant.
Downside: GE's hybrid CFLs are not dimmable. All CFLs contain mercury, a pollutant. For disposal info, visit epa.gov/cfl.

LED

Price: $14
Consumes: 11 watts
Why we like it: Contrary to popular belief, LEDs are neither ugly nor expensive. Well, they're not ugly. GE's Energy Smart LEDs look and feel more like your old incandescents, right down to the shape. Plus, the vast palette of LED colors available allows GE to imitate its traditional Reveal and Soft White hues. LED bulbs can last up to 14 years with typical use.
Downside: Upfront cost is high. However, prices will plummet as demand increases and manufacturing is streamlined.

Reade more at www.realestate.msn.com

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Creating an Efficient and Comfortable Home Office

by Alane Jewel on October 6, 2013

In recent years, modern technology has allowed more people the convenience of working from a home office as opposed to dealing with long commutes, traffic delays and the daily office grind. Although it’s hard to rival the comforts of one’s own home, long days will still undoubtedly be spent in the home office. So designing this space to be efficient and functional as well as comfortable is imperative. Designing a work area you will love is key to enjoying the hours spent there and increasing productivity.

Creating a comfortable and efficient home office design will make your workday more enjoyable and productive

Picture via elledecor.com

Establishing a Theme

Because so much time will be spent in this space, it is absolutely critical to establish what décor you find to be most comfortable and inspiring.
Traditional décor is still a favorite when it comes to designing the home office. Large wooden desks are complimented with dark woodwork and warm accents. Gorgeous oriental throws compliment natural flooring, and desk lamps offer a warm, calming glow, collectively creating a comfortable workspace.
The more contemporary home office welcomes a brighter workspace. Whites and neutrals establish a great energetic base, and splashes of color are often added via décor or painted accent walls. Furnishings can vary from rustic to modern. Anything goes! Most importantly, select these furnishings based on personal interest and comfort. It’s important to create an inviting space that you want to spend time in. Know what you love and roll with it.

Designing Within Your Space

It’s important to design the space you have in an efficient manner. Select furnishings that fit the space, and consider going vertical if you have limited space. Added shelving can house items that otherwise may occupy precious floor space. An example of this might be files, books or paperwork often stored in filing cabinets that can be easily accommodated loosely on shelves or in baskets.
For studio spaces or in homes where a separate room is simply not available for an office space, consider creating a separate corner space in the family room or even utilizing a portion of a spare bedroom as office space. Choose a location where privacy is increased and noise levels are reduced.

Furnish it With Organization

The home office is the one room in the home where organization cannot be sacrificed! It’s important to choose furnishings bearing this in mind.
Your most important purchase is the desk. Select this piece according to your personal needs, keeping comfort in mind. The size should be adequate to accommodate whatever technical equipment your work dictates, such as printers, computers or phones. It should also leave enough surface space to comfortably write and organize paperwork for current projects. Make sure the desk you choose is sturdy enough to support your demands and also offers plenty of drawer space to keep all your necessities tidy and conveniently stored.
Place your desk near a window for natural lighting, ventilation and outdoor views. Add additional desk lamps to ensure efficient lighting options are available any time of day.
Consider purchasing ergonomically designed furnishings such as chairs or wrist rests for your home office. Adjustable components are offered that can be tailored to modify your workspace according to specific job requirements. Keeping ergonomics in mind when designing for your home office can lead to increased health benefits as well as efficiency.
Aside from your desk, additional storage is often required. Filing cabinets, baskets and shelving are all great options to help maintain organization.

Personalize Your Space

Hours upon hours are often spent in the home office. Aside from function and efficient design, comfort is also essential. Add personal touches such as photos, travel memoirs, plants or flowers, and even scented candles that invoke a relaxed, contented feel. Create an atmosphere that contributes to a more productive workspace.
Whether you occupy your home office for eight hours per day or simply utilize the space to pay bills and hop online for some retail therapy, consider the tips above to ensure efficiency, function and comfort.

Read more at realestate.com

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