San Diego Home Prices, How to they Compare?

29 07 2011

How do home prices in San DiegoCounty compare to those across the country?

According to Tuesday’s S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, the local region’s figures are still above those seen in other major markets, when analyzing them together.

San Diego’s index in May was 154.78, up from April but down 5.1 percent from a year ago. The leading economic indicator reported the price index for the 20 U.S. metros tracked was 139.87, up 1 percent month-over-month but down 4.5 percent year-over-year.

S&P analysts follow repeat sales. That means when a property sells, they return to that home and find out what it sold previously.





SandiCor’s Fusion MLS Keeps Making my Life Better

26 07 2011

So SandiCor (San Diego’s MLS system) has just rolled out the new phase of their MAC friendly MLS, Fusion. Fusion is still in its infancy but to all those savvy MAC users out there, fusion comes as a welcomed new comer. Before Fusion hit the net, any MAC user had to either accept that only PC’s could use SandiCor or they had to by parallel programs to run windows on their MAC. As a seasoned MAC user the thought of having to use a PC to do simple searches and CMA’s was to much to digest.

The newest version of Fusion comes with the capability to do CMA’s (competitive market analysis), add edit properties, advanced searches and a ton more. The CMA ability is the biggest thing for me. I had to jump onto the company computer to do those before…… not fun. I don’t know if this is the last phase they are pushing out there or if there are more to come, either way fusion has made my life a whole lot easier and I want to acknowledge it. If there was face book thumbs up for Fusion ” Pat Tugend would LIKE IT”.





Check this San Diego Craftsman Out

25 07 2011

I came across this little gem while searching for a client. I am a huge fan of Craftsman style homes. I love their elegance and attention to detail. Ideally if I can the fund I would go victorian but realistically a Craftsman is more in my immediate means. Click on the link below to check out these pictures there insane. This home have been kept in amazing condition.

The seller is a 5th generation San Diegan, whose respect for the heritage of this community is reflected in the careful preservation and upgrading of this Arts and Crafts 1921 home. 9-foot ceilings, extravagant premium wood trims and mouldings, hardwood floors, a broad-mantled fireplace which serves the living room, and a house-spanning front porch ideal for enjoying the gated garden and visiting with neighbors, lovely sunny South-facing backyard. Homes like these are amazing as they stand but if the buyer is so inclined add ons and upgrades can be done to help this home become more energy efficient. Solar voltaic roofing tiles, tanksless water heaters, new windows and energy star appliances are a few ideas that could really push this historic home to the next level.

Click here for more info





Fresh Start: New Book by Jesse Ibanez from The GreenHouse Group

25 07 2011

My partner just published his first book and I wanted to share it with you.

Book Description: Purchase this Book

If you are reading this now, and find yourself in the all too common situation where: *You owe more on your home than what its worth, *You can no longer afford the payments on the loan(s) you have, and *You don’t know what to do …then you can start feeling comfortable right now. Why? Because, first off: you’re not alone. Second: not knowing what to do is OK because that’s the place to start. Lastly: we’d all be wise to let go of any remaining notions of shame we may be holding onto because, by now, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t been affected by the housing market’s demise in some way. Now, the question remains: what to do about it? Well, if you are like most, then one or all of the following apply: 1) Everything you hear about loan modification, short sales and foreclosures, etc .. sounds like “drunk sailor talk” when all anybody has offered you to drink so far is a warm glass of water. 2) You scour the internet for helpful information and all you seem to find are forums of useless chatter & money hungry schemes that leave you no closer to where you want to be (and sometimes holding a bill). 3) All you want is for someone to explain what your best options are, in a format that could be easily understood by a 7 year old – and not make it so unnecessarily dry and boring in the process. If you can find yourself in these truths, then holding this book is the first step in what will be your eventual resolution. First off, this book is less than 100 pages. Why? Because all you need is 5.2 hours, no matter where you start or what you’re after, to get to where it is that you want to be. You need not be a lawyer to do this (nor will you need to pay for one now that you’re holding this book) and you don’t need a lot of time. You just need the tools, the direction and the confidence to know that these same 4 Steps have helped thousands already. Authors Jesse Ibanez and Cherie Tiscareno have been holding the torch for homeowners in need since the market collapse a half decade ago, and have been effectively illuminating the path of “what to do about it” ever since. Their work as co-founders and leaders of the Hope Against HOPE movement, a not-for-profit aligned with the interests of the thousands of distressed homeowners that they’ve helped, for free, over the years has afforded them the unique perspective of ‘the homeowner’s voice’ throughout this book. They’ve selflessly traveled the state in this endeavor to bring clarity to any homeowners who were motivated enough to listen. And since 2009, they’ve given away their own heartfelt stories of foreclosure and loss in the spirit of a collective repair. Its been said, “you’re always either being part of the growing problem or part of the growing solution”. This experience, alongside the cumulative best efforts from industry insiders of ‘what to do about it’ in their free workshops and 45 page tool kits, spawned their answer to that challenge, which eventually became the watershed event for this book. They realized that a one-hour workshop and tool kit, no matter how valuable, could only take the conversation so far. Once the workshop was over, there was a big piece missing. There was still a need to take homeowners the rest of the way, all the way to their desired outcome. And so was born this work, Fresh Start For Home Owners. We are here in service to your desired outcome. It is our humble offering that it finds you exactly where you are at and will be your trusty companion alongside your journey. Best of luck, and thank you for being part of the growing solution, one family at a time. Jesse & Cherie





How Safe if Your Paint?

24 07 2011

Zero VOC, Sustainable Paint. The first company to perfect a ‘green’ paint, Rodda takes pride in its exceptional Horizon zero VOC interior and low VOC exterior sustainable paint lines. Exhibiting outstanding performance this product is not only easy on you & the environment it is made to last, saving you time, effort and precious raw materials. Mother Nature would be proud of this environmentally friendly paint. Bonus benefits include its near odorless application, extreme washability, excellent splatter resistance, and high coverage rates making painting with it, and maintaining it yourself, a breeze while minimizing adverse or irritating indoor air quality.






New Energy Program for Chula Vista Residents

22 07 2011

Rancho del Rey is one of the biggest energy suckers among the subdivisions of Chula Vista.

Blame a big part of that on poor insulation, fixtures that take too long to heat water, and home designs (circa ’80s and ’90s) that trap in excess cold or heat.

The community’s energy issues made it an ideal candidate for a pilot program that encourages people to get energy upgrades with the help of rebates so they can save money in the long-run, said Jeremy Hutman, a grant manager for BetterBuilding Neighborhood Program. The larger initiative aims to make communities across the U.S., including California, more green.

To promote the new initiative in Chula Vista, the Center for Sustainable Energy is holding a free block party Saturday at the Rancho del Rey community. There, people will learn about cash rebates of up to $4,000 and discounts from certain contractors for energy upgrades to their homes.

The program is open to Chula Vista residents, who also can get matching rebates of up to $4,000 and low-interest loans from the city of Chula Vista’s Home Upgrade Carbon Downgrade program.

Saturday’s function runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rancho del Rey’s cul-de-sac of Espuelas Court near Camino Espuelas and Bayona Loop off North Rancho Del Rey Parkway.

Attendees will get a chance to speak to energy experts and guided tours of a home featuring energy-efficiency upgrades, including duct work, energy-saving lighting and better insulation.

The Chula Vista program is among four local initiatives funded through the BetterBuilding. Hutman said 2,200 upgrades will be done in San Diego County through May 2013 with that $4 million of funding.





Green Agents: Growing Roots in Today’s Market

19 07 2011

If you’re one of the lucky few planning to buy a home next year and trying to live environmentally friendly, now you can find a house through a “green” real estate agent.

Not to be confused with one who’s just earned his or her license, a so-called eco-broker is a real estate pro who has passed a certification course on energy efficiency, indoor air quality and “green” mortgages, among other topics.

“It’s a growing area of study for Realtors,” says Brad Sandler, an agent in San Diego. “In the past, you counted on your real estate agent to know about home values, not energy values. But now the energy footprint of the house is critical to its value.”

So when you find that dream home, your eco-broker can act as a kind of energy consultant to give you ideas on environmentally positive improvements. He or she can also lead you to green homes for sale and help make your current home more marketable with energy-saving recommendations.

“If my clients are looking at a house that has the standard two-inch insulation inside the walls, I tell them how much they can save on their utility bills if they were to increase it and add a programmable thermostat,” says Sandler.

The boost in value from making energy-related improvements can be significant. “Take two identical homes on a street, and one has made some energy-efficient changes and the other hasn’t,” says Tom Severino, a Realtor and environmental engineer in West Chester, Pa. “The home with the improvements might have a monthly utility bill $50 less than its neighbor and be worth an additional 5% to 10% on the market.”





Energy Efficient Windows: What do you know about them?

19 07 2011

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, leaky and inefficient windows, skylights and doors account for up to 25 percent of the average household’s energy bills. Some sources estimate as high as 40 percent. A lot depends on where you live:

  • Cold climates lose energy in the form of heat
  • Hot climates lose energy in the form of cooling

The colder or hotter the climate, the greater your heating or cooling costs and the greater potential you have to save money on energy costs. Nearly everyone can benefit by replacing leaky, inefficient windows with modern energy-efficient windows. Depending on your location, you can cut energy costs by as much as 15 percent.

A Smart Investment

Energy Performance RatingsNFRC Label

Replacing all of a home’s windows can be a big investment. The good news is, it’s an investment that can pay for itself in just a few years. Here’s how:

  • Improves curb appeal and increases resale value. According to the 2008/09 Cost vs. Value Report (a combined effort by Remodeling magazine and REALTOR®magazine), homeowners can expect to recoup about 93% percent for vinyl or wood window replacement.
  • Reduces heating and/or cooling costs, which saves you money every year.
  • Increases the comfort of your home.
  • Can qualify you for rebates and tax incentives. Check for rebates and tax incentives in your area.

To find out more about the many benefits of energy-efficient windows, visit the Efficient Windows Collaborative. The window selection tool on this site helps determine an approximate change in annual energy use given your home type, window type and geographic region.





How Green is Your Ride: Part 2

18 07 2011

Sure, we hear about hybrids, electrics, and alternative fuel vehicles all the time. But as the auto industry becomes ‘greener,’ it isn’t just about the cars themselves. Car care products, dress-up items, and accessories major to minor are coming to the market in increasing numbers as consumers demand improved eco-friendliness from their rides. Here are just three great examples amid the scores of ‘greener’ car products making their way to auto store shelves and catalogs:

ECO CAR CARE

Eco-friendly car care products are all the rage these days. One of the notable purveyors is Eco Touch, which offers green car cleaning products including its signature Waterless Car Wash. According to the company, its line of car care products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and free of synthetic fragrances and dyes, and do not contain many of the chemicals inherent in traditional car care products like isopropyl alcohol, teflon, fluropolymers, or ammonia. Instead, Eco Touch blends cleaners derived from natural sources like palm, coconut, corn, and soybean, or when natural substitutes can’t be found, they rely on eco-friendly synthetic alternatives.

Among its latest offerings are Eco Touch Tire Shine, Leather Care, and an Interior Car Care Mini Pack. The latter provides five two-ounce interior cleaning products including All Purpose, Carpet + Upholstery, Dashboard Protect, Leather Care, and Window Clear, in a package that fits conveniently in the glove box. Eco Touch, www.EcoTouch.net.

GREEN BLADES

The Tripledge Green Wiper Blade is an eco-friendly alternative to conventional windshield wiper blades that degrade over time and must be regularly replaced. While not the same high-profile problem as millions of tires in landfills, organic rubber squeegee blades are just as ornery in the sense they’re going to be around a long time after their useful life is over. Jamak Fabrication, one of the largest manufacturers of wiper blades, uses a technology that allows its durable, non-petroleum silicone blades to repolymerize back into a raw polymer product at end-of-use, allowing 100 percent of the silicone to be recycled to make new products.

The Tripledge Green wiper blade is designed for long-life and comes with a non-transferable lifetime warranty that’s good for as long as a customer owns their vehicle. Jamak encourages customers to send in old Tripledge Green blades to the company for recycling if their blades ever need to be replaced. JAMAK Fabrication, www.TheWiperStore.com.

NEXTGEN OIL

Promoted as ’50 percent recycled oil, 100 percent Valvoline protection,’ Valvoline’s new line of recycled NextGen oils offer the same mileage guarantees as the company’s conventional oil products. Besides reducing the need for new crude oil, it takes only half as much energy to recycle used oil with today’s advanced CEP (Chemical Engineering Partners).re-refining process compared to using virgin oil. NextGen products will include different weights of conventional, synthetic blend, and high mileage motor oils that cost the same as conventional oils since, after all, Valvoline says they are just as good. In fact, price parity is a plus since environmentally-conscious products often cost more than their standard counterparts.

Valvoline will continue to offer its conventionally derived oils, partly due to the need for consumer education and partly because of the current limited supply of re-refined base stock. The company hopes its NextGen line will represent 10 percent of its products. Valvoline, www.Valvoline.com.





How Green is Your Ride? Volvo is Working on Making it Better

18 07 2011

Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems, or KERS, were developed for ‘greener’ Formula 1 race cars. Several builders of high performance cars like Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, and Lotus are now developing KERS for future hybrid sports cars. Volvo is also developing next-generation KERS technology for road-going cars to be sold in much larger numbers.

Unique to the Volvo Flywheel KERS is its installation only on the rear axle. When slowing down, braking energy spins up the flywheel. The engine, which drives the front wheels, is switched off when braking starts. As the carstarts moving again the flywheel’s rotational energy is transferred to the rear wheels using a specially-designed transmission. The flywheel’s energy accelerates the vehicle or provides power at cruising speeds.

Energy stored in the flywheel is sufficient to power the car for short periods. Even so, this has a major impact on fuel consumption, offering up to 20 percent fuel savings. Because the duration of the energy storage – that is, the length of time the flywheel spins – is limited, the system is most effective when there are repeated stops and starts such as in busy urban traffic. This is the case with most hybrid systems.

When flywheel energy is added to the engine’s full output, the car gets an extra 80 horsepower. This would allow downsized engines without loss of performance. Indeed, because of the rapid torque build-up from the flywheel, acceleration would be significantly enhanced, allowing a four-cylinder engine to provide the acceleration of a six-cylinder.

Volvo did test a flywheel system in a Volvo 240 back in the 1980s. However, the flywheel was made of steel and had a large diameter, so rotational speed was limited. Now, Volvo will use a 20 centimeter diameter carbon fiber flywheel that weighs about 13 pounds. The Volvo KERS carbon fiber flywheel will spin at up to 60,000 rpm in a vacuum to minimize frictional losses.

Testing of its Flywheel KERS should get under way this year if technical development goes as planned. Volvo says that cars with KERS technology could appear in dealers’ showrooms within a few years.

Volvo also notes that flywheel technology is relatively inexpensive and could be used in much larger number of Volvos. Instead of converting braking kinetic energy into electricity and storing it in an expensive battery pack, energy is stored in a lower cost, high-speed flywheel with power transfer controlled by a compact continuously variable transmission, reportedly to be supplied by Torotrak.