2010 - The Year in Review

What a year its been for me during 2010 in my travels as a Realtor with Zip Realty...

So 2010 started off with a bang with a luxury sale on a new construction home in Bon Air and my having achieved Zip's President's Club award for the 1st time after a strong Q4 2009 where I had 12 closings. As the year progresses, I've been able to not only keep the President's club status for the entire year, but after 15 closings in Q2, I achieved the Gold status and maintained it going forward.

Then, I headed out to Los Angeles in May for REO University's annual conference and just missed getting a chance to watch Kobe and the Lakers play at Staples the night after we left. At this conference, I made the connection with Titanium Solutions and later become a Home Retention Consultant. The family took our annual June trip to Myrtle Beach along with my in-laws, after my wife and I had snuck away to Puerto Rico for a quick trip in April. Then, in September, for the first time, I went to the Five Star REO conference in Dallas and while there also visited Jerry's World (aka. Dallas Cowboys Stadium) for the game and heartbreaking loss to the Chicago Bears. Somewhere around this time, I got certified with the Default School for their RDCPro designation/certification.

Right before going to Five Star, I was fortunate enough to become approved as a new REO agent for Bank of America, after having just earned my 1st REO property for another firm. The roller coaster continued as I got a contract on that home and then lost the listing as it sold to another REO company. A stroke of luck though as that caused me to keep the listing with the new firm and am now approved with them as well (although as of writing this the home in question still hasn't closed due to seller-side title issues as a result of the sale).

Then a major change was announced in late October/early November with the Zip Realty changing their nationwide agent sales force from W2 employees to 1099 contractors. That change allowed me to start my new team, The Wright Choice (www.thewrightchoicerichmondrealty.com), and right now I have 2 other agents having joined the team and the future looks very bright for our group going forward, including the search for a marketing agent to augment our efforts and several listing agents. Along the way, I closed 45 transactions in a whirlwind year that went by really fast in a lot of ways.

I'd really like to thank my wife Aimee for putting up with all of the hours and helping to manage our household during this time. Additionally, I'd like to thank my District Director Ralph Maggiore for supporting my growth and my broker Vivian Stevenson for helping me save several transactions and watching my back-side. I really miss my old team, The Producers, that won several awards during the summer of 2010 and as a prize attended several Richmond Flying Squirrels together in the Bank of America box.

That being said, 2011 promises to hold many changes and realty stories-to-be, as well as hopefully a lot of production. While my goal for 2010 was to get my first REO and I achieved that, my goal for 2011 will be to achieve the following two things: 1) to conquer short sales on the listing side with at least 10 short sales closes & 2) to end 2011 with at least 4 agents on The Wright Choice and having closed as a team at least 50 transactions.

P.S. - I would be remiss in this analysis of 2010 if I didn't include my son, Brandon's rise to the rank of Wolf in Cub Scouts and his team's undefeated I-9 Flag Football Championship.

All in all, it was quite a memorable year and obviously I have a lot to be thankful for from this year, and to be hopeful for as we progress into the next (2011).

ZipRealty.com Introduces Transit Scores in Conjunction With New Green Survey

Press Release
Homebuyers' Interest in Green Home Features Increases With Energy Efficiency Cited as Top Priority
ZipRealty.com Introduces Transit Scores in Conjunction With New Green Survey

EMERYVILLE, CA, Aug 17, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- More than half of all home shoppers report that green home features, from energy efficient appliances to solar panels, are an important part of their purchasing decision, though only one percent of home listings market these features to buyers, according to results of a national survey announced today by real estate brokerage ZipRealty (www.ziprealty.com) (ZIPR 2.70, +0.17, +6.72%) .

The brokerage also announced that it is the first real estate company to integrate green-friendly Transit Score ratings into current home listings on its popular home-buying site, based on the popularity of the existing Walk Score feature, which scores the walkability of each listing.

"A growing number of home shoppers are seeking out homes that offer strong public transit options, high walkabilty scores and green features," said ZipRealty's Chief Home Hunter Leslie Tyler. "Showing Transit Score ratings for all home listings on our website gives our clients additional information about alternative transportation that they need before making an offer on a home."

New Survey Indicates Green Features as a Priority A recent survey of homebuyers registered on ZipRealty.com revealed that 55 percent of survey respondents rated a home's green features a "somewhat important" or "very important" part of their home hunt.

Other highlights from the survey include:


-- Homebuyers who view green features as a priority ranked them important
because they helped save money (49 percent), as well as allowed them
to do their part to help the environment (40 percent).
-- Other reasons homebuyers valued green features included
occupant/family health (37 percent), tax credit availability (12
percent) and the home's resale value (15 percent).
-- Although homebuyers overwhelmingly rated energy efficiency the most
important green feature in a home (89 percent), an additional survey
conducted by the brokerage of MLS-listed homes across the 35 markets
nationwide ZipRealty serves found that less than one percent of homes
on the market included the term in their description of the home.




See below for a list of the top five green features for homebuyers.

"Sellers are missing an opportunity to market their home effectively to a wide net of home shoppers," said Tyler. "Appealing to buyers can be as simple as highlighting appliances as energy-efficient, which many homeowners choose today to save money themselves. Our survey suggests that sellers of older homes could make inexpensive changes, like switching to energy efficient light bulbs or appliances, to help their home stand out from others."


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Top Five Green Features for Homebuyers
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Green Feature Percent of Buyers rating
"top" priority
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Energy efficiency 89%
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Water-saving devices 60
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Solar power 33
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Use of sustainable or environmentally-friendly 27
materials in home construction
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Ease of recycling and/or composting 20
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New Transit Score Ratings on ZipRealty.com In response to increasing buyer demand, ZipRealty also introduced the Transit Score feature as part of an updated website and logo revamp. Transit Score ratings rank a home on a 100-point scale based on its proximity to multiple public transportation options, allowing homebuyers to consider the amount of time and money they will spend commuting every day as part of their purchase decision.

ZipRealty is the first brokerage to feature the new Transit Score, an application developed by Seattle-based civic software company Front Seat. Homebuyers in most of the 35 markets ZipRealty serves will be able to locate Transit Scores along with Walk Scores (introduced in 2008), the relative "walkability" score for a home, under each listing's "Neighborhood Info" tab. Transit Score is calculated on the frequency, type of route (rail, bus, etc.), and the distance to the nearest stop on the route.

GREEN Siding Options

Reprinted from Houselogic.com, John Riha 9/2/09

Selecting green siding is a matter of weighing trade-offs in longevity, insulation, biodegradability, maintenance, and, in some cases, cost.

f you think you’ll pay a premium for selecting green siding for your home, think again. Many of the best sustainable choices are familiar materials that have been on the market for years. Some products are made with recycled materials and others have improved insulating qualities that add only a moderate increase in price. When choosing replacement siding, weigh the pros and cons of sustainability, thermal performance, and the cost of eco-friendly products.

Evaluate sustainability
When choosing siding, consider its sustainability. Sustainability is an estimate of how long a material will last; if the material can be recycled; if it contributes to health concerns; and if it’ll readily biodegrade in a landfill. Maintenance, too, is a key consideration. High-maintenance materials that require regular upkeep, such as repainting, and use additional resources and energy over their lifecycle, are less sustainable.

Improve energy performance
A siding replacement project offers an excellent opportunity to boost your home’s energy performance and make your house healthier. Adding a house wrap (which prevents water infiltration and air leaks) and rigid-foam insulation is one of the best ways to reduce energy consumption and protect your home from moisture condensation inside walls—a major source of mold problems—no matter what type of siding you choose.
Adding insulation increases R-value—a measure of insulation performance. A house with 3-1/2-inch stud walls filled with fiberglass insulation has an R-value of about R-12. Adding rigid foam and house wrap can boost insulating performance to between R-16 to R-20, reducing your annual energy costs 5% or more.

Costs of green
Siding replacement has proven value. A siding replacement project using foam-backed vinyl siding returns more than 80% of its initial cost at resale, according to Remodeling magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report—one of the highest values in the annual survey.
Because many types of siding are extremely long-lasting, they can be considered green options, but without a premium price. However, improving thermal performance—and, therefore, boosting the siding’s greenness—with house wrap and rigid-foam insulation adds cost—about $1,800 for an average house, according to Fine Homebuilding magazine. Many green consumers feel that contributing to a healthier, sustainable environment is more important than higher initial costs.

House wrap
House wrap is a thin, tough, semi-permeable membrane that’s applied over the outside of wall sheathing and under the siding. It’s designed to block water and reduce air infiltration while allowing moisture vapor to pass through.
Sustainability: Extremely durable and long-lasting, this flexible, plastic material is recyclable.
Energy efficiency: Using house wrap, along with properly sealed joints at windows and doors, can reduce air infiltration and save on annual energy bills. Some varieties, such as DuPont’s Tyvek ThermaWrap and Low-E Housewrap from Environmentally Safe Products include heat-reflective layers that increase insulation performance by a factor of R-2.
Cost: 25 cents to 50 cents per sq. ft., installed
Rigid-foam sheathing
Rigid-foam sheathing is lightweight, easy to apply, and comes in a variety of thicknesses. Unlike fiberglass insulation, which fits between studs, sheathing blankets the entire exterior wall. It can be applied directly over existing wall materials, such as hardboard, stucco, and wood, providing a smooth substrate for new siding.

Sustainability: The manufacture of extruded polystyrene (XPS) sheathing is associated with the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which damage the ozone layer, although some manufacturers are researching CFC-free production methods. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam sheathing doesn’t produce CFCs and is considered environmentally friendly. EPS can be recycled but doesn’t degrade readily in landfills.

Energy efficiency: Insulating values of R-3 to R-7 per inch thickness.
Cost: 20 cents-$1 per sq. ft., depending on thickness and thermal performance.
Insulated vinyl siding
Insulated vinyl is similar to regular vinyl siding, except it includes a layer of EPS foam insulation. Its thickness makes it more rigid and easier to work with than regular vinyl.

Sustainability: Vinyl requires little maintenance and will last 30 to 50 years, but it’s made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a chemical compound that doesn’t degrade in landfills. During manufacturing, PVC produces byproducts that include dioxin. Vinyl siding can be recycled.
Energy efficiency: Adds approximately R-3 to walls
Cost: $3-$8 per sq. ft., installed; 15-30% more expensive than regular vinyl

Fiber-cement siding
Fiber-cement siding is a low-maintenance product made from sand, Portland cement, clay, and wood pulp fibers. It’s termite-proof, fire-resistant, and doesn’t rot.
Sustainability: Extremely durable and long-lasting, it’s available with low-maintenance finishes that last for decades. But fiber-cement carries high embedded energy—the energy necessary to fire the kilns that heat its raw materials. Any energy expended toward a material ads to its carbon footprint. The newest varieties are lighter and include more recycled material.
Energy efficiency: Negligible R-value, but its superior stability helps keep the building envelope free of cracks and caulk failures.
Cost: $5-$9 per sq. ft., installed

Wood
Unmatched beauty makes wood a premier choice for siding.
Sustainability: Although a precious natural resource, wood is a renewable product that can be recycled and readily degrades in landfills. To ensure the wood products you buy are harvested from sustainable, managed forests, look for certification stamps from the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and the SFI (Sustainable Forest Initiative). Wood siding is a high-maintenance siding that requires refinishing every two to five years.
Energy performance: Wood is a natural insulator, but as a siding it offers a minimal R-value of about R-1.
Cost: $6-$9 per sq. ft., installed

Stucco
Traditional stucco is made from sand and Portland cement mixed with water to make a workable plaster. Modern stucco often includes epoxies to harden the material. It’s tough, durable, and resistant to insects and fire. Well-maintained stucco will last for the life of the house.
Sustainability: Eco-friendly varieties of stucco are made with an earth-and-lime mixture instead of Portland cement and epoxy, reducing the embedded energy and CO2 emissions associated with cement production. Painted stucco requires periodic touch-ups and repainting every 5-7 years.
Energy performance: Negligible thermal performance, but effective at reducing air infiltration while remaining permeable to moisture vapor.
Cost: $6-$9 per sq. ft., installed

Engineered wood
Engineered wood products are made from wood fibers, resins, and wax. They’re pressed in molds to create panels resembling real wood lap siding and shingles.
Sustainability: The high wood waste content of engineered siding boosts its sustainability factor. Engineered siding comes with baked-on factory finishes that reduce maintenance, but warranties of about 20 years are less than for other types. It easily biodegrades in landfills.
Energy performance: Negligible
Cost: About $2-$4 per sq. ft., installed

John Riha has written six books on home improvement and hundreds of articles on home-related topics. Heís been a residential builder, the editorial director of the Black & Decker Home Improvement Library, and the executive editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. His standard 1968 suburban house has been an ongoing source of maintenance experiment.


Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/green-siding-options/#ixzz0yttrmcw2

"Mars vs. Venus" Differences Hold True for Home Hunters, According to ZipRealty Survey

Taken from 6/10/10 Press Release from Zip Realty as shown on Yahoo Finance:

EMERYVILLE, CA--(Marketwire - 06/10/10) - Forget that "man cave" or home theater room: what men crave more than women in a new house is a luxurious bathroom, a guest bedroom, a dining room and views. On the other hand, female house hunters value a home office more than a kids' playroom, dining room or luxurious bathroom. These are just a few of the more surprising findings of a recent survey of 1,000 house hunters released today by real estate brokerage ZipRealty (NASDAQ:ZIPR - News) (www.ziprealty.com).

Other survey highlights:


Both men and women home hunters rated green features higher this year compared to 2008, with 27 percent of this year's respondents ranking a green home high priority.


The percentage of home shoppers ranking a home office as a high priority is up from 35 percent in 2008 to 39 percent in 2010.


The three biggest turn-offs when viewing a home in person are structural damage, bad odors, a busy street and an awkward floor plan. While searching online, lack of parking and few or no photos and low square footage are the biggest deal-breakers.


Male versus Female House-Hunting: Must-Haves and Deal Breakers Differ

"Overall, the same things you would always expect to top the list of 'must-haves' and 'deal breakers' for house hunters still show up, but it is interesting to see men place a higher priority than women on things often characterized as stereotypically female priorities, such as a luxurious bathroom and a dining room," said ZipRealty Vice President of Marketing Leslie Tyler. "Also, women's growing desire for a home office may speak to the fact that more women are working from home these days."


A higher percentage of women reported ample storage and a large yard as a high priority compared to men, and reported that when viewing a home in person they would be turned off by small bedrooms and a lack of common space more often than male respondents. In fact, 60 percent of women compared to 49 percent of men reported they wouldn't consider a home with small bedrooms.


Forty-four percent of men rated a home with a view as a high priority, compared to only 33 percent of women, while 28 percent of men reported a luxurious bathroom as a high priority, compared to only 23 percent of women, and more than 70 percent of men indicated a guest bedroom as a must-have, compared to only 63 percent of women.


A higher percentage of men reported when searching for homes online disdain for outdated furniture or paint and unkempt landscaping compared to women -- and men reported more often than women in person, they're more likely to be turned off by a lack of curb appeal than women are.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - Trip to L.A for Distressed Sales Conference

Wow - yesterday was quite a day of traveling, as I made my trek across this great nation of ours! I started in Richmond, drove to Northern Virginia, then took the Metro into L'Enfant Plaza (across from HUD's headquarter's by the way). Next, I took a Metrobus to the Dulles airport, all in time to get on the plane with 15 minutes to spare. Despite leaving home at 9am for 2:55pm flight, I never even had enough time to eat lunch and was forced to buy a $10 Turkey sandwich. Then, once I got to L.A. I took a $16 Supershuttle to my downtown JW Marriott hotel for Craig Proctor's Distressed Sales (Bank Foreclosures and Short Sales) Superconference.

I got to my room about 7pm Pacific time and was ready to settle down enjoy all that L.A. has to offer, especially since my room is in sight of the Staples Center and the Grammy Awards. Yeah right, I was totally exhaused and got room service dinner, made a few quick real estate calls and went to bed.

What this experience did for me was to make me think about public transit and the relative lack of it in the Richmond metro area. Yes, we have the GRTC buses and 2 train stations at Staples Mill and Downtown, but in the suburbs of Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover and beyond you basically must have a car for each working adult. If I can get from a Mall in Northern Virginia to my hotel in Los Angeles, California without a car we have to find a better way to preserve our Earth's natural resources in the Richmond Metro area.

I'll follow up this blog with other's about the architecture here in L.A., as well as the conference. Thanks and enjoy your weekend!

Short sales are becoming even more prevalent!

I have started to notice a shift in our Greater Richmond Metro market. The shift of what I've been noticing in my showings in the last several weeks is that the short sales have overtaken the volume of foreclosures for the largest volume of types of ownership.

This is noteworthy and somewhat surprising given the talk of the foreclosure shadow inventory. I still think that a lot of regular sales transactions are being held up by homeowners/would-be sellers that are either skittish about prices or their own economic situation (a.k.a. job) OR are under water (meaning the value of their home is less than their current mortgage balance). So, much of what's then available for sale are foreclosures and increasingly more short sales. Many of these short sales are still Unapproved by the bank at time of listing and while more of them are closing than in previous years, its still a bit of a gamble on whether it will ever close (only about 30% do).

If you are a tax credit buyer, then steer clear of all unapproved short sales, as they are unlikely to close by June 30th with any certainty. And, no matter what, if you do put a contract on one of these homes, then make sure you build some protective clauses that can get you out of the contract if it starts to drag on.

While these short sales present value on the sales price, they're often not the best value when factoring in deferred maintenance and less favorable terms on the seller-paid closing costs.

Lock those doors when showing homes

Quite the ironic thing happened to me yesterday while showing foreclosures and short sales in Chesterfield and Bon Air. I was remarking to my 1st time home-buyer clients, a happy young couple engaged to be married soon, how I always lock the door behind us, because people tend to show up to foreclosures and just walk in on you. Like many of my clients, they were surprised to hear of a strange story like this. Well, wouldn't you know it that at our next house which had a 2nd home for sale right next door, we came out of the showing and a car pulls up and a thug-like creature wants to know about both homes and know if I'm the owner or my clients or the Realtor and etc.. Truth be told, I was ready to get out of there, because this gentleman (and I'm using that term loosely here) was scary looking indeed. So, I told him that he should call the listing agent from the sign and that we had to get to our next home on our list. He didn't seem to understand the concept and we just left him standing there in the front yard to his thoughts. I was thinking he might follow us to our cars, but he did not.

This is by far, not the worst encounter I've had in my years in real estate, but simply a reality of the world we live in. He could've been harmless or he could've been danger incarnate, but I wasn't about to find out. Just know this, do everything you can to protect yourself as a real estate client or agent and lock those doors when showing homes, because then at least you'll not be surprised by anyone in a closed non-public environment.

Interest Rates set to Rise in April and Beyond?

This message was recently sent to me from my District Director and I thought it pertinent enough to blog about...

The Fed has told us repeatedly that their massive purchasing program of Mortgage Backed Securities is just about over - and this translates to home loan rates rising in the near future.

As you can see in the chart below, the amounts of Mortgage Backed Securities the Fed is purchasing are slowly dwindling, as the program is set to wrap up by March 31st, and are clearly trying to ration out the remaining portion. Last week, the Fed purchased $11 Billion in Mortgage Backed Securities, which leaves them with $66 Billion to spend out of their original $1.25 Trillion allotment. So about 95% of the total has already been spent and has purchased about 3 out of every 4 home loans during the past year. When such a large buyer leaves the market, it is very likely that prices will worsen.

This is very important because as the Fed has less money to last through the remaining months of the program, their ability to keep home loan rates low via their purchasing power will wane. Those who can take advantage of currently low home loan rates do not wait, as the clock on these historically low rates is ticking.

The Fed is also planning to switch their benchmark from the commonly watched and monitored Fed Funds Rate, to a new benchmark based on interest they pay on excess bank reserves they hold out of the monetary system.

Banks have been ignoring the current benchmarks and charging inter-bank rates as they see fit. The Fed wants to fix this by using the amount of interest they pay on excess reserves as the new benchmark, since the Fed has total control of this rate, which should be right at or just under the Fed Funds Rate.

The one major take-away from this discussion is that the Fed is getting their ducks in a row as they prepare to push interest rates higher. And when they do increase rates, the Fed does not want any obstacles that may undermine their plan.

Another strong niche - HUD homes

While I am a GREEN Realtor and am actively pursuing going with a GREEN title company for at least some of my real estate closings, meaning no paper documents, I am also carving out quite the niche with HUD homes as of late.

I have 3 active pending contracts on HUD homes and amazed at the deals that can be found with these US Govt-owned foreclosures. Just last week, I saw where a home in the West End that was appraised at $124,900 and listed at $99,600, sold for $54,000. While this type of deal is not always possible, there are great values to be had. Why?

Well, every HUD home has a government inspection done at time of listing. Most of them are approved for FHA loans, which is often a question for bank-owned homes that you don't know the answer to at time of contract until you've spent $450 with your mortgage lender (that very well could be wasted if it doesn't pass). Also, you can see a Property Condition Report which serves as a poor man's Home Inspection. The best part for agents is that you can make up to a 5% commission and get up to 3% of your buyers' closing costs paid for. You have to be working with a Realtor to buy a HUD home and specifically, a HUD-approved agent/broker. Once you've identified a property you can submit a low-ball bid and then if not accepted, just up the bid every day until it is accepted (unless its sold to someone else in the meantime).

These HUD homes can be great finds/values for first-time homebuyers (depending on the condition), investors (rentals and/or flips), and experienced home buyers alike.

Feel free to give me a call if you'd like to learn more!

How are you doing with your New Years Resolution?

The calendar has now turned to February and many folks have already slipped off the tracks with their New Years Resolution. Is this true for you as well?

Well, if your New Year's Resolution included buying or selling Real Estate this year, then now is the time to get off the couch and call a Realtor! Your best opportunity to sell is now, as I have previously blogged (because of the tax credit extension/expansion). Additionally, your best deal to buy is probably now, because of the combination of low prices, low interest rates, tax credit (if applicable), and likely possibility of higher down payment % with FHA (likely going to 5% soon).

If nothing else, you can start small by checking out Realtor.com or logging onto a Realty website, especially Zip Realty's as its the most user friendly. As you learn the market, you can determine with a Realtor's help (if so desired), what your next steps should be.

Stay on track and accomplish your real estate resolutions in 2010!!!!

The Calm Before the Storm

You might be asking yourselves before the storm, after here in Richmond we've just been pounded with about 12 inches of snow in a 24 hour Whiteout?

Well, this storm has virtually shut down the city, especially real estate on what otherwise might be a fairly typically busy weekend of showings and Open Houses. But this quiet period with our kids/families, snowmen and snow angels, and our trusty shovels, snow blowers, and various versions of Rocksalt or Icemelt is a welcome prelude to what's sure to be quite a flurry of activity over the next 3 months.

That's when the Tax Credit (i.e. $8000 for 1st time buyers and $6500 for trade-up buyers) is set to expire. Sellers are feverishly preparing their homes for sale and listing them, while buyers are getting their financing in order and preparing their list of preferred homes to go see in-person. As we get closer, into March and April, if last November's any indication (when the Tax Credit was originally set to expire) then homes will sell more quickly, multiple offer situations will arise often, and the range of options (i.e. the inventory) will be reduced quite substantially.

So, real estate customers and Realtors of the Greater Richmond Virginia area, take heed and enjoy this few days of blissful white quiet, for its going to be a busy, exciting, challenging and yet oh so profitable couple of months ahead!

The Market Seems to be Normalizing

I met with my team on Friday and we were discussing the latest local trends here in the Greater Richmond Virginia market. What we seemed to agree on as a group of about 10 high volume local Realtors was that the market is normalizing. That is, we are seeing more multiple offer competitive bid situations, as well as a return to "one or the other" regarding lower prices or seller paid closing costs. In the lowest points of the market, we were seeing buyers get both lower prices and seller-paid closing costs.

Other signs of market normalcy include the return of the trade-up and luxury buyers and sellers. While they haven't flooded back into the market, the trade-up buyers are back and putting up their homes for sale. And, the luxury buyers are tip-toeing back, some peeking at the latest goings on and real estate offerings, some even buying.

We are a ways off from the full real estate recovery, AND many of us are worrying about what might happen after the expiration of the tax credit in April/June. But, there seems reason for muted optimism going forward!

Pictured left is Normal University in China.

Green Cleaning Products for the Kitchen

Green Cleaning Products for the Kitchen

Article From Houselogic.com


By: Alyson McNutt English

Published: 28, 2009

Going green in the kitchen doesn't mean going broke as long as you choose the right eco-friendly cleaners for your countertops and appliances.

From meat juices to milk spills, the kitchen can be a messy place. But don't reach for caustic cleaners or synthetic air sprays to give your countertops and appliances a fresher feeling. Many environmentally sustainable products are just as effective at sanitizing your kitchen as conventional cleaners, and they get the job done without relying on harmful chemicals.
Not too long ago you had to scour the backroads of the Internet to find non-toxic alternatives, but no more: Many green cleaners are now available at mainstream retailers. Looks for brands such as Method, Seventh Generation, and Holy Cow. What's more, some of the greenest of green kitchen cleaners can probably already be found in your pantry-and cost a fraction of what you'd pay for commercial cleaners, whether conventional or eco-friendly.


COUNTERTOPS

Toss out those anti-microbial wipes and sprays when you're cleaning your countertops. Most contain chemicals like sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or ammonium chlorides, which are listed as hazardous to the health of humans and pets by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, says Gary Pien, an allergist and immunologist with Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights, N.J. "These chemicals can cause eye and skin irritation on contact, and if mixed with other cleaning products, can release toxic gases," Pien says.
Combine equal parts vinegar and tap water to make your own non-toxic mix. Warm it in a glass bowl in the microwave to boost cleaning power. A 64-ounce bottle of food-grade vinegar costs about $4, so it'll set you back a buck to stir up a 32-ounce batch of homemade countertop cleaner. You won't have to dip too far into your pocketbook to buy a greener all-purpose cleaner. A 32-ounce bottle of Seventh Generation's kitchen cleaner(http://www.theconsumerlink.com/SeventhGeneration/detail/TCL+100333/13) costs about $5, while the same size conventional cleaner costs about $4.50.

REFRIGERATORS

If you have a stainless steel fridge, add a few drops of a natural dishwashing liquid such as Mrs. Meyer's(http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=84968&catid=13769) ($4.49 for 16 ounces) or Method(http://www.methodhome.com/product.aspx?page=555) ($4 for 25 ounces) to warm water to wipe off greasy fingerprints instead of shelling out the $7-$10 a store-bought stainless cleaner will cost. And when you're wiping, remember stainless steel has a grain, just like wood, and you need to clean in the same direction it runs, says Mary Findley, author of"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Cleaning."(http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Green-Cleaning/dp/159257856X)
On the inside, use the tried-and-true remedy for foul fridge smells: a box of baking soda. It costs about $1. Save even more by buying baking soda in bulk: a 12-pound bag costs about $7. For sticky spills, a vinegar and water mix should clean it right up, Findley says.

SINKS & DRAINS

Liquid dishwashing soaps with bio-based ingredients like aloe and essential oils are a good bet here as well. You'll pay a bit more than the $2-$3 the cheapest conventional soaps will cost, but when you consider this is what's going onto the surfaces you eat off of, the potential health value outweighs the extra dollar or two. If nothing else at least skip synthetically scented cleaners, which can irritate the skin and respiratory tract, says Martin Wolf, director of research and development for Seventh Generation.
If your sink stinks, try cleaning your drain with a paste made of vinegar and baking soda. Give it time to work overnight. Drain cleaners are some of the nastiest chemicals around, and at $7 for a 32-ounce bottle, they're not cheap. Enzyme-based cleaners like Nature's Miracle(http://www.naturemakesitwork.com/home/index.php) are another option: Findley says they'll eat away at odor-causing bacteria and any bits of food clogging the drain or disposal. Nature's Miracle costs more at $12 for a 32-ounce bottle, but it has multiple uses beyond the kitchen. If neither approach works, sprinkle some baking soda on a halved lemon or orange and scrub out your sink basin, then toss the citrus in the disposal for a fresh scent.

DISHWASHERS

Many dishwasher detergents contain chemicals called phosphates that suck oxygen out of waterways, killing aquatic fish and plant life. Bio- and natural enzyme-based dishwasher detergents like Ecover(http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=160711&catid=137075&trx=GFI-0-EVGR-11695&trxp1=137075&trxp2=160711&trxp3=1&trxp4=1&btrx=BUY-GFI-0-EVGR-11695) get the job done without affecting water systems, and are comparable in cost: 25 Ecover tablets cost about $7, while 20 tablets of conventional cleaner cost about $6.50.

STOVETOPS & OVENS

Baked-on stove stains can be a real pain. "Grease-cutting" cleaners may make your stove shine, but they have decidedly less attractive health effects. Most contain glycol ethers, which Wolf says have been implicated in health problems ranging from reproductive damage to eye and respiratory-tract irritation. Instead, start by cleaning your stovetop after every meal before food bits and sauces are baked on. If you don't, you may have to combine some elbow grease with a homemade mix of vinegar and baking soda. Prefer a green grease fighter in a bottle? Go for Holy Cow(http://holycowstore.elsstore.com/view/product/?id=12909&cid=47). It's comparable to conventional cleaners at about $3 for 32 ounces.
A baking soda-vinegar paste should do the job in the oven, as well. If you can, find a natural orange-based cleaner that contains no petroleum distillates like Earth Friendly Products Orange Plus(http://www.ecos.com/orange.html) ($6 for 32 ounces). According to Findley, mixing that with baking soda can give your green oven cleaner extra oomph. Just spread the baking soda mixture in the oven, and let it sit overnight. Re-wet it in the morning. A few hours later wipe it out. It beats shelling out the $6.50 for a fume-filled chemical cleaner.

MICROWAVES

To scrub stubborn microwave stains, just grab a super-absorbent sponge, wet it, and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds. The steam from the sponge will soften the food bits, and the hot water inside it will make it easier to wipe off and disinfect your microwave's interior, all for the cost of a single sponge.
Alyson McNutt English has written about the joy of green cleaning for publications like Pregnancy, Conceive, and BobVila.com. She buys her baking soda and vinegar in bulk and uses them liberally for everything from disinfecting laundry to soaking up her kids' food stains.

Reprinted from HouseLogic (houselogic.com) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (R).
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Plant a Tree, Save Energy, and Grow Value

Plant a Tree, Save Energy, and Grow Value

Article From Houselogic.com


By: Brad Broberg

Published: 12, 2009

Plant a tree to add value to your home and have a positive impact on the environment.

Trees don't ask for much-dirt, water, sunlight. Yet they provide a wealth of benefits: They improve the air you breathe, cut your energy bills with their shade, provide a home to wildlife, and add beauty and value to your home.


But every year, 3.2 million acres of forest are cut down, according to the Nature Conservancy(http://www.nature.org/initiatives/forests/misc/art22113.html). Several million more acres are lost to fire, storm, and disease. That's why planting new trees and protecting the ones we have is so important. You can do your part by
* Caring for the trees in your yard
* Supporting tree-planting activities in your community
* Donating to organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy, which works to preserve the world's trees and forests, and American Forests(http://www.americanforests.org), which offers a unique way to take action. First, use its online Climate Change Calculator(http://www.americanforests.org/resources/ccc/) to determine your carbon footprint. Then, make up for your emissions by donating to a forest restoration project.

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT TREES? BANKABLE BENEFITS

The most tangible bang from your bark comes from energy savings. Three properly placed trees could save you between $100 and $250 a year in energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy(http://www.energy.gov). Trees save energy two main ways. Their shade cuts cooling costs in the summer. In winter, they serve as windbreak and help hold down heating costs.

The National Tree Calculator(http://www.treebenefits.com) estimates that a 12-inch elm in an Omaha yard can save $32.43 a year on your energy bills; the same tree in Atlanta would save you $11.89 annually. The calculator also breaks down other dollars and cents benefits of your tree, like decreasing storm water runoff, removing carbon dioxide from the air, and increasing property values.
In our elm example, the 12-inch tree adds $40.23 to the Omaha home's value and a $57.33 to the one in Atlanta. And as trees grow larger, they can add even more value.
A 2002 study by the USDA Forest Service pegs the value a single tree adds to a property of about $630. Of course, tree value depends on size, species, location, and condition.
Adds Frank Lucco, a real estate appraiser with IRR-Residential in Houston, "On a $100,000 home [in my market], as much as $10,000 of its value could be associated with mature trees."
That's peanuts compared with the role trees play as the lungs of the planet. A report by the Trust for Public Land(http://www.coloradotrees.org/benefits.htm) estimated that one mature tree takes 48 pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere each year and returns enough oxygen for two human beings.

PLANT YOUR TREE IN THE RIGHT SPOT

To get the full benefits from your trees, choose the right one and put it in the right location. Planting a deciduous tree on the west side of a house provides cooling shade in the summer. In winter, after it loses its leaves, the same tree lets in sunlight that cuts heating and lighting bills. On the other hand, an evergreen on the west side blocks sun all year long, making a home colder and darker in winter. Rather plant evergreens, a great choice for blocking icy winter winds, on the north side of your home.

If you're planting a new tree, think about its fully grown size and shape before you dig. Branches from a tree located below power lines can cause outages as it grows. Roots from a tree located too close to a home can damage the foundation or block sewer lines. The wrong tree in the wrong place could actually lower your home's appraised value if it's deemed hazardous, says Frank Lucco, a real estate appraiser with IRR-Residential in Houston.

TREE COSTS

Expect to pay $50 to $100 for a 6- to 7-foot decidious tree, such as a katsura or evergreen. The same tree at 15 feet will cost $100 to $200, according to Brad Swank of Molbak's Nursery in Woodinville, Wash. The Arbor Day Foundation sells saplings for as little as $8-$15, or less if you're a member.

Since trees cost money, be cautious about any home construction work. "Tree failure can happen seven to 10 years after construction, primarily because the root system fails when the soil is compacted," says Thomas Hanson, a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists(http://www.asca-consultants.org) from Kirkland, Wash. Also watch for diseases or pests(http://forestry.about.com/od/diseases/tp/An-Index-of-Common-Tree-Diseas.htm) that can threaten trees in your yard and community.

BECOME A TREE ADVOCATE

Ensuring that your community has lots of healthy trees doesn't have to be more complicated than a trip to the nursery and a hole in your backyard. Dig it twice as wide as deep. Let kids push in the dirt and help water weekly until the tree is two years old. The Arbor Day Foundation(http://www.arborday.org) will tell you how to select the right tree for your needs and climate, where to plant it, and how to maintain it.

The foundation also is a great place to look for community and educational programs.
* Its Tree City USA(http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/) initiative provides expert advice and national recognition to cities and towns that want to establish tree-management plans.
* Its Arbor Day Poster Contest(http://www.arborday.org/kids/postercontest/index.cfm) for fifth-graders gives teachers a fun way to help students learn the importance of trees.
* Its nationwide list of volunteer organizations(http://www.arborday.org/programs/volunteers/index.cfm) lets you search for tree care opportunities in your state.
Considering everything trees do for you, it's the least you can do for them.
Brad Broberg is a freelance writer from Federal Way, Wash. A former newspaper reporter and editor, he writes about business, health care, and real estate for REALTOR Magazine, the Puget Sound Business Journal, and Seattle Children's Hospital, among others. He's lived in the same home for 22 years-a home he shares with seven towering Douglas firs.

Reprinted from HouseLogic (houselogic.com) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (R).
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Small Steps Let You Live More Sustainably

Small Steps Let You Live More Sustainably

Article From Houselogic.com


By: Amanda Abrams

Published: 28, 2009

Making little lifestyle changes will do a lot to enhance sustainability for the planet--and make every day Earth Day.

It's a great feeling every Earth Day to bike to work and show your love of the planet. But sustainable practices-managing how you use resources to ensure that there will enough for future generations-doesn't have to be limited to once a year. With a few adjustments, sustainable practices can easily become a part of daily life and save you money while you help improve the planet.


WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?

Sustainable living is an umbrella term that covers many different ideas and programs. It can be as simple as recycling and using less water or as complex as changing state and federal policies to promote wind and solar power and high-speed rail transportation. Local planning commissions can promote sustainability by allowing higher density housing that uses less land.
If you want to support some of these public sustainability programs, you can contact your government representative(http://www.congress.org) to express support. You could also support a nonprofit group like the Edible Schoolyard(http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/) program, which teaches kids how to grow and eat locally.

OPPOSITION TO SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

Not everyone is a fan of sustainable practices. Some people worry that conservation efforts produce more government regulation, increase living costs, and reduce corporate profits. Not sure where you stand on these major policies. Why not start small and see?
Eat locally. One of the biggest impacts a family has on the environment is what it eats. It takes around 10 calories of fossil fuel-in the form of fertilizers, processing, and transportation-to produce a single calorie of supermarket food, according to Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma(http://www.michaelpollan.com/omnivore.php). Cut down on your food's energy impact by eating food grown near your home.
A 2001 study conducted by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture(http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs/staff/ppp/food_mil.pdf), Iowa State University, found that the cost of transporting food from the region or the local area was four and 17 times less, respectively, than buying from national distributors.

FINDING LOCAL FOOD ISN'T DIFFICULT

* Local Harvest(http://www.localharvest.org) will help you find farmers markets as well as farms in your region that offer subscription programs. Signing up for a subscription means you pay up front, so there's a risk if the harvest fails. Costs vary depending on the size of the share and your part of the country. A good estimate from Local Harvest is that you'll spend about $600 to cover produce for a family of four during a four or five month growing season.
* Keep food even closer to home by growing your own, either in your backyard or in a shared community space(http://www.houselogic.com/articles/start-a-community-garden-get-the-community-involved/). Expect to spend several hours a week seeding, weeding, and harvesting. Gardening is also a great way to teach kids about healthy eating.
The downside of eating locally is that food from a farmer's market often costs more than the same from the supermarket. And in winter, you may eat a lot of cabbage and potatoes if you stick to local eating.

BUY GENTLY USED

Everyone likes something new once in a while-and fast-growing kids require it. Consumer spending is also a big contributor to a healthy economy. But producing and transporting new products from the factory to you also uses lots of resources. One way to get new stuff and still promote sustainability is to trade something you no longer want for what you need.
* Freecycle(http://www.freecycle.org) is a 7 million-strong global network of people who share their possessions-for free. Once you join online, you'll receive regular email about used items that you can request and pick up. Eva Schmoock, a student nurse and mother of two in Carrboro, N.C., is an avid user. She's found new homes for everything, including paint and kids' bathing suits.
* A low-tech option: Organize swap meets with neighbors to lessen your environmental footprint without opening your wallet. Get your kids to put flyers in mailboxes to promote the swap. Or try a consignment shop.

REDUCE TRASH BY COMPOSTING

It isn't just what you buy that has an impact on the world's resources, it's what you throw away. The average American is responsible for almost 5 pounds of garbage a day, 12.5% of which is food scraps, according to the Environmental Protection Agency(http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw07-rpt.pdf). That trash clogs landfills and pollutes ground water.
Want to reduce waste? Consider composting. Just put those peels and pods (but no meat or dairy products) in a separate container instead of the garbage can. When the container is full, carry it to your compost pile.
A $10 plastic bucket with a lid will work; fancier models have charcoal filters that cut down on smells but cost two or three times as much. Let your kids scrape plates into the compost pail or empty the full container.
You'll find a compost bin for every budget. You can fence off a small (out-of-sight) section of your yard with less than $50 worth of mesh wire and poles. Plastic bins and barrels are neater, but can cost several times more. The best part of composting: In six months, nature will convert your waste into terrific fertilizer to sustain your vegetable or flower garden.
Amanda Abrams is a Washington, D.C.-based writer who spent many years planning to be an organic farmer. Now she writes about how to make the world a better place for papers like The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.

Reprinted from HouseLogic (houselogic.com) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (R).
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Founding & History of Chesterfield County

I stumbled upon this information on the history of Chesterfield County while working on a Tiger Cub project for my son this evening and I thought that you all might enjoy it, courtesy of www.chesterfieldhistory.com:

Five days before Jamestown was settled, Sir Christopher Newport explored the James and Appomattox rivers along the Chesterfield border, and in 1610, seeking a healthier place to live, Sir Thomas Dale wrote of "a convenient, strong, healthie and sweete site to plant a new towne."

The Virginia Company of London established the Citie of Henricus, in hopes of it becoming the principal seat of the colony. The year 1701 brought the discovery of coal in the Midlothian region--the first in America--and its use in the first blast furnace

Originally part of Henrico County, Chesterfield was established in 1749. The county played an important role in the American Revolution by supplying the Continental Army. The Chesterfield County courthouse area was the training center for those soldiers.

During the Civil War, supplies were shipped to Richmond through Chesterfield. Midlothian coal mines provided the raw materials that kept the iron industries working. An obvious target for the Union army, an entire campaign was waged within the boundaries of Chesterfield.

Home of many "firsts," Chesterfield claims the first hospital, first incorporated town, first gravity-fed railroad, first school for the deaf, and the homeplace of the originators of Father's Day!

Start a Community Garden: Get the Community Involved

Start a Community Garden: Get the Community Involved

Article From Houselogic.com


By: Mariwyn Evans

Published: 28, 2009

Sow a community garden to save money on produce, eat better, and build relationships with neighbors.

A community garden can provide a fulfilling and useful way to bond with your neighbors, promote healthier lifestyles, add urban green space, and save money on food. A 4 x 16-foot raised bed within a larger community garden can provide $200 to $600 in produce annually, depending on climate, says Bobby Wilson, president of the American Community Gardening Association. But gardening is also hard work, not to mention the hassle of finding and coordinating hundreds of volunteer hours over the course of a growing season. Before you dig in, step back and look at what's involved.


YOUR TIME COMMITMENT

As an organizer, you can expect to spend about 20 to 30 hours a month for six to eight months to get a garden going, says Bill Maynard, vice president of ACGA. And you'll probably need at least two other people working almost as much time as you to look for grants and donations.
Once established, the work will ease up, especially if you have committees helping out, says Charlie Nardozzi, a horticulturist and spokesperson for the NGA(http://www.garden.org/home). "It's not the total time that's important, but the consistency."

DEVELOP A VISION FOR YOUR GARDEN

A good way to involve the community and get buy in is to hold an open meeting to discuss your garden goals, says Laura Berman, author of How Does Our Garden Grow: A Guide to Starting a Community Garden(http://www.foodshare.ca/publications_03.htm). Do you want to produce food-to eat better, feed the needy-teach children about food, or just make an ugly space more attractive?
Take special care to involve neighbors near the garden site, who can turn out to be your best friends or your biggest headaches. Many cities require community meetings before issuing permits to garden in public spaces.

FIND VOLUNTEERS

Before you break ground, identify a committee of at least 10 volunteers and two leaders, says Kirsten Saylor, executive director of Gardening Matters(http://www.gardeningmatters.org ) in Minneapolis/St.Paul. Look for a range of talent. A community garden needs bookkeepers, marketers, and fundraisers, as well as farmers. You'll also need to decide who can participate. Must volunteers live in a specific area near the garden? Can children volunteer? If so, are there age limits?
Deciding how many volunteers you'll need depends on the size of the garden and how much time each gardener wants to volunteer. About 20 volunteers is a workable number for a garden of 15,000 square feet. More volunteers than that are also hard to manage, says Saylor.
Post flyers near the garden; ask a local newspaper, radio, or TV station to run an announcement; and send brochures or e-mails to local clubs. Many cities that have community gardening programs also have a sign-up area on their Web sites.
Extra volunteers can come in handy for one-time jobs, such as soil preparation and planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall. Try tapping into existing organizations-corporations and civic groups, Scout troops, or school classes-to help with these projects.

KEEP VOLUNTEERS MOTIVATED

Keep interest high by making every day in the garden a party-even cheap snacks will do, says Sally McCabe, community education project coordinator for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society(http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/home/index.html). Celebrate spring planting or the first harvest and invite the neighborhood.
Regular weekly communication, such as e-mailed gardening tips and tasks, are also good motivators. Berman suggests designating one day a week for volunteers to meet to discuss concerns.

RULES, LEGAL ISSUES, AND INSURANCE

Once you have a core of volunteers, discuss the rules-working hours, care of tools, and the use of pesticides. Rules can also spell out how much produce each participant gets and how much work is required of each volunteer.
Consider whether to buy liability insurance to cover injuries to non-volunteers on the site. The owner of the property where you'll be gardening may require insurance. Other owners may agree to add a rider onto their liability insurance to cover you. Liability insurance can cost anywhere from $750 to $2,000 a year, depending on your location and the size of your property, says Bill Maynard, vice president of the American Community Gardening Association(http://www.communitygarden.org).
In many cases, gardeners and visitors will be covered under an umbrella liability policy held by the church, office park, or residential property where the garden is located, says Dick Luedke, a spokesperson for State Farm Insurance(http://www.statefarm.com/). A landowner may also ask that you provide a "hold harmless" clause, which states that the owner isn't responsible for injuries on the property. Get waivers of liability from volunteers and parental consent forms if you allow children to volunteer.
If you're planning to garden on public land like a city park, you'll likely need a permit. This process can be lengthy and require public hearings and a site plan, so start early.

FUND YOUR GARDEN

Initial costs could run about $3,750 to $7,500 if you have a nearby source of water, says Maynard, higher, if not. A large garden in a public park with city fees and prevailing wages for contractors could run as high as $30,000. (Gardeners can expect to spend about $50-$100 per year to maintain their individual plot.)
Seed money can come from volunteer donations or local business sponsors. Contact nurseries and home improvement centers to see if they'll donate tools, fertilizers, or seeds. Areas with active community gardens or neighborhood associations may be willing to share equipment or plants. Ask your local park district what it can loan or give.
Maynard charges volunteers at his Sacramento, Calif., community garden $25 to $50 a year, depending on the size of their plot. Some gardeners also sell their extra produce on site or at farmers' markets or share it with local charities.
Grants are sometimes available from local government through Community Development Block Grants, a federal program that gives local governments money to improve struggling urban areas, or from businesses, such as national gardening and home improvement retailers. Gardenburger(http://www.gardenburger.com/Grants.aspx), which makes vegetarian food, is another source.
You may need nonprofit tax status to qualify for some grants, but it may be possible to partner with a house of worship or neighborhood association that already has nonprofit status.
Your grant request doesn't have to just be about gardens, says McCabe. "You can focus it on community improvement, nutrition, or keeping kids off the streets."

GARDEN SIZE

Community gardens vary in size greatly because of local land availability. Some are as large as 25,000 square feet. Others fall in the 2,000 to 4,000-square-foot range, says Maynard.
If you're not sure you want to the responsibility of managing a community garden, get a preview by volunteering. ACGA maintains a searchable database of community gardens (right on its home page) that would be happy to have you.
Mariwyn Evans has spent 25 years writing about commercial and residential real estate, but if she had her way, she would've spent all that time in the garden. She's the author of several books, including Opportunities in Real Estate Careers, as well as too many magazine articles to count. These days, she spends part of her week trying to grow tomatoes and volunteering as a weed puller at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo. Her next goal: become a Master Gardener.

Reprinted from HouseLogic (houselogic.com) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (R).
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

10 Ways to Help Your Watershed

Article From Houselogic.com


By: James Glave

Published: 28, 2009

A clean and well-managed watershed doesn't just mean clean drinking water. Do your part to keep land and water clean and you could reap financial benefits too.

For most of us, the water at home comes from a municipal tap, so it's easy to forget how much the quality of a community's watershed affects water quality and the people, wildlife, and plants that depend on that water. Well-managed watersheds serve as recreational magnets for humans and critical habitat for wildlife, but they also reduce flooding, making your home safer and reducing insurance costs.



WHAT'S A WATERSHED?

Here's the funny thing about watersheds: They are more about land than water. A watershed is all the terrain in a given area that drains to a single point-a lake, stream, wetland, or even the ocean.
Your yard is part of a watershed. "Nature doesn't see the world in terms of municipal or site boundaries," says Center for Watershed Protection (CWP)(http://www.cwp.org/) Program Manager Greg Hoffman. "Anything you do affects everyone else who lives in your watershed. That includes the people, but also the animals and plants."
Some watershed challenges, such as irresponsible construction practices, are beyond your immediate control. However, many proven solutions lie just inside your front gate.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

Healthy, restored, and well-managed waterways offer multiple community-wide benefits, including improved property values, according to research from the Clean Water Partnership(http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/cwp.html) in Minnesota.
For example, a rainwater management system, which keeps rainwater in a neighborhood by allowing it to sink slowly into the ground, can raise property values when it creates great views.
A Clean Water Partnership study found prices for Minnesota homes with constructed wetland views were nearly a third higher than those without views and sold at prices on par with those fronting a high-quality urban lake.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT THE WATERSHED

You have much more control over what happens to the water on your own property. Here are nine ways you can preserve and protect local watersheds:
1. Plant a rain garden. Excess runoff can cause flooding and stream-bank erosion during rainstorms. Creating a rain garden with native grasses, trees, and shrubs gives runoff from your home's downspouts a chance to soak naturally into the ground. Add a rain barrel to save water for later use.
2. Limit fertilizer. If you must fertilize your lawn, choose a product without phosphorous, which along with nitrogen, upsets the balance of nutrients in local waterways.
3. Service your septic system every three years. Failing septics send "plumes" of nitrogen, phosphorous, and bacteria to nearby streams and shores.
4. Avoid pesticides. Though most pesticides break down in soil, a storm can wash them into nearby streams. Instead, explore biological pest control methods such as species-specific bacteria, predator stocking (think ladybugs), and pheromone lures, which attract and trap pests.
5. Pick up pet waste. In a 20-square-mile watershed draining to a small coastal bay, two to three days of droppings from a 100 dogs would contribute enough E.coli bacteria to temporarily close the bay to swimming.
6. Buffer streams. If you have a stream on your property, provide a natural buffer of native trees, shrubs, and plants around its banks to filter dirty storm water runoff.
7. Use commercial car washes. The best place to wash your car is at a commercial car wash, many of which filter their water before directing it to treatment plants. If you must wash your vehicle at home, park it on the grass first, so your lawn absorbs some of the detergent runoff and contaminants.
9. Avoid paving. If you must pave, consider stone pavers for a patio, rather than concrete, and gravel for a driveway, rather than asphalt.
In short, it can be easy and tempting to think of watershed stewardship as someone else's problem. But the responsibility for our most precious resource begins right at home.
James Glave, author of "Almost Green: How I Saved 1/6th of a Billionth of the Planet," is a writer, consultant, and community activist fighting climate change at the regional and local level.

Reprinted from HouseLogic (houselogic.com) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (R).
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Another Richmond Builder goes down, Time to Buy New Construction?

While showing condos in Glen Allen on Friday, I learned of another builder going down. This builder who will remain nameless for this article is the 4th large builder to go under in the Richmond-area that I know of in the last 12 months. Unlike the previous 3 which filed bankruptcy and will continue selling homes and reorganize, this builder simply handed all of his homes over to the banks and just folded up shop.

In one case, his home will be relisted by the same agent for about $40,000 less once the bank has taken over. This begs the question, has there ever been a better time to buy new construction? They are giving away so many incentives and are so hungry for customers, that the total package rivals and in many cases exceeds re-sale pricing. Remember, that when shopping and/or buying with Zip Realty, even on new construction you get the 20% Buyers Rebate (cash from our commission after closing).

On top of the great prices, you may also qualify for the tax credit (including up to $6500 on trade-up buyers who've owned their own home for at least 5 of the last 8 years). While this is a tough time for builders, it can be a great opportunity for the buyer to build long-term wealth and afford the home of their dreams!

A Green Start to 2010

So one of my New Years Resolutions is to do more with Greening my home and my business this year. My first step, was to purchase and install an insulation blanket for my hot water heater. Now that I have completed that important first step (especially since my hot water heater is located in my garage), my next step is to procure a backyard composting machine to further reduce my waste going to landfills. Later this year, I'd like to get a rainwater collection system that runs into a backyard pond/water feature. Check out this website for more products and information:
http://www.compostermart.com/


Last year, after I got my Green designation, I was approached by an local eco-consultant, Dorinda Richmond. She also has green products, but perhaps more interesting is her ability to come out and do a eco-consultation on your home. Below is her website for more information:
http://www.greenirene.com/DorindaRichmond

Here's to a Green 2010!