Why Green Homes? Added value, cost reduction in utilities and environmentally friendly. There are many simple ways to update your home and step into a greener environment. Click here to see my January 26, 2010 post for great, money saving ideas!
Green homes grow in popularity
Environment, homeowners reap rewards of energy-efficient houses
BY BILL LEWIS • FOR THE TENNESSEAN • SEPTEMBER 26, 2010
Home buyers have a new hot-button question. They still want to know the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and the age and condition of the roof, but these days they want one more piece of information before they make an offer.
Is it environmentally friendly? Better yet, is it green-certified?
Increasingly the answer is yes, for newly built homes and existing homes that have been retrofitted. From a seller's point of view, investing in green features such as tight insulation and efficient appliances increases the sales value of a home. For a buyer, those features make a house cheaper to live in over the years. On either side, the environment reaps the rewards.
"When I look at the transformation, it's been amazing. The economy we're living in has people being more cost-conscious and doing better for the environment," said Lucy Smith, a Realtor with Fridrich & Clark and president of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors (GNAR).
Some home buyers won't even consider a property unless it is certified as green, Smith said. Nashville's Multiple Listing Service (www.realtracs.com), which lists homes for sale throughout the region, can simplify the search. The Nashville MLS is one of the first in the country to give buyers the power to select only green homes.
In all of 2008, 104 green-certified newly constructed houses were sold in Nashville. In just the first half of this year, 105 were sold, said Anna Altic, a Realtor with Village Real Estate Services. During that period, 353 non-green-certified new homes were sold, giving green homes a large share of the market.
"(Nashville has) become a model for how to implement a green MLS," said Altic, who holds the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Green Designation, which requires specialized training and testing. Of the 157 Realtors in Tennessee who have earned that title, 57 did so through the GNAR, which offers the NAR's classes. Altic also holds an additional green certification offered by EcoBroker, based in Evergreen, Colo.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Williamson County's Economic Growth & Real Estate
Quality of life, top-notch schools and a business friendly environment...three ingredients needed in a great formula resulting in strong growth for Williamson County.
COMMENTARY: Williamson County looking better than ever!
By TIFFANY CHEUVRONT
Special to Brentwood Home Page
As we all focus on the trends of the market and what will “dip” next, it is good to see positive things happening in our economy and our Williamson County communities. The number of homes sold and the median price of those homes continues to rise in Williamson County as we experience better than the national average in our real estate markets.
Much of the driving force behind the sustainability of our community is based on the overall quality of life that we experience here in Williamson County. Newsweek (2010) has named five of our Williamson County Schools as some of the Top High Schools in America (Brentwood, Ravenwood, Franklin, Fairview, and Centennial). Only 6 percent of public high schools in the Nation make the list, which is a huge “feather in our cap”
Between the superior education offered here and the “business friendly” environment promoted by the Williamson County Economic Development Council, it is no wonder that we are the place for business in Tennessee. Just this week it has been announced that the IRS, Advanced Bio Healing and Comdata Corp. will either relocate to Williamson County or expand current operations bringing another 750 jobs into our community.
According to www.williamsonprospers.com , Tennessee’s unemployment rate of 13.1% is significantly higher than that of Williamson County at 8.1%. Williamson County continues to lead growth by a rate of 2.5% compared to Davidson County’s growth rate of 1.10%.
These three: education, economic growth and real estate are all connected in a relationship based on the success of each other.
The real estate markets cannot continue to improve without the successes of our education system and our economic development commitments to corporations which drive companies to this area. Economic development cannot happen without quality places to live, near exceptional schools and schools cannot grow and bring in the tax revenues necessary for excellence in education without a business friendly environment.
In a recent article, Danny Anderson, president of Williamson County Association of Realtors said, “The Williamson County area continues to show strong growth compared to other market areas in the State and across the county. The quality of life, excellent schools and an overall economically prosperous community are drivers that allow Williamson County to stay on the more positive side of the real estate slump.
“The influx of corporations choosing this area for corporate headquarters will continue to spur growth in our area and help improve the real estate and other economic indicators that we watch. WCAR is focused on being a part of the recovery of these markets as we move forward.”
As we look toward the end of 2010 and the struggles that we have seen as a state and nation in the economic sectors, we should be proud of the strength of Williamson County and those that are working to keep Williamson County communities at the forefront of growth for years to come. There are exciting things happening here and we should be proud to live and work in a thriving community.
Tiffany Cheuvront is executive vice president of the Williamson County Association of Realtors.
Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 10:45 pm
COMMENTARY: Williamson County looking better than ever!
By TIFFANY CHEUVRONT
Special to Brentwood Home Page
As we all focus on the trends of the market and what will “dip” next, it is good to see positive things happening in our economy and our Williamson County communities. The number of homes sold and the median price of those homes continues to rise in Williamson County as we experience better than the national average in our real estate markets.
Much of the driving force behind the sustainability of our community is based on the overall quality of life that we experience here in Williamson County. Newsweek (2010) has named five of our Williamson County Schools as some of the Top High Schools in America (Brentwood, Ravenwood, Franklin, Fairview, and Centennial). Only 6 percent of public high schools in the Nation make the list, which is a huge “feather in our cap”
Between the superior education offered here and the “business friendly” environment promoted by the Williamson County Economic Development Council, it is no wonder that we are the place for business in Tennessee. Just this week it has been announced that the IRS, Advanced Bio Healing and Comdata Corp. will either relocate to Williamson County or expand current operations bringing another 750 jobs into our community.
According to www.williamsonprospers.com , Tennessee’s unemployment rate of 13.1% is significantly higher than that of Williamson County at 8.1%. Williamson County continues to lead growth by a rate of 2.5% compared to Davidson County’s growth rate of 1.10%.
These three: education, economic growth and real estate are all connected in a relationship based on the success of each other.
The real estate markets cannot continue to improve without the successes of our education system and our economic development commitments to corporations which drive companies to this area. Economic development cannot happen without quality places to live, near exceptional schools and schools cannot grow and bring in the tax revenues necessary for excellence in education without a business friendly environment.
In a recent article, Danny Anderson, president of Williamson County Association of Realtors said, “The Williamson County area continues to show strong growth compared to other market areas in the State and across the county. The quality of life, excellent schools and an overall economically prosperous community are drivers that allow Williamson County to stay on the more positive side of the real estate slump.
“The influx of corporations choosing this area for corporate headquarters will continue to spur growth in our area and help improve the real estate and other economic indicators that we watch. WCAR is focused on being a part of the recovery of these markets as we move forward.”
As we look toward the end of 2010 and the struggles that we have seen as a state and nation in the economic sectors, we should be proud of the strength of Williamson County and those that are working to keep Williamson County communities at the forefront of growth for years to come. There are exciting things happening here and we should be proud to live and work in a thriving community.
Tiffany Cheuvront is executive vice president of the Williamson County Association of Realtors.
Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 10:45 pm
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sylvan Park is on the move!
More good news for Sylvan Park investors and homeowners.
Sylvan Park driving interest in Charlotte Ave.
Nashville Business Journal - by Eric Synder Staff Writer
One of the engines driving interest in the Charlotte Avenue corridor is barely visible from the roadway itself — the Sylvan Park neighborhood.
Defined roughly as the area bordered by Murphy Road, Charlotte, Interstate-440 and Richland Creek, homes in the area tend to be 70 years old or more.
The area began to gentrify in the mid-1980s, according to Richard Exton, of Manier and Exton Real Estate Appraisers. Though the ball had already begun rolling, the rejuvenation began to truly pick up speed about 10 years ago, according to Lisa Friedman, a real estate agent with Village Real Estate Services who grew up near the neighborhood and bought inside Sylvan Park nine years ago.
“Sylvan Park has a cache now that it didn’t once have,” Friedman said. Proof of this is available on real-estate listing websites, where homes for sale in nearby neighborhoods attempt to co-opt and expand the Sylvan Park label.
Though gentrification is largely complete in Sylvan Park, the degree and amount of renovations has continued to increase in the neighborhood as demand has warranted, Exton said. Sylvan Heights, an area located closer to 440, saw gentrification begin around the mid-1990s.
Prices in the neighborhoods “really have skyrocketed, probably until 2007, when everybody began to see declines,” Exton said.
In Friedman’s case, she bought her home for approximately $130 per square foot. As a rule of thumb, most houses in Sylvan Park now go for $200 per square foot, Friedman said.
Friedman said young professionals are among the most popular groups moving into the neighborhood, while more established households are moving up into new historical replicas, which can run for $600,000. Located near HCA, Friedman said the neighborhood is also home to a number of Vanderbilt employees.
Some 2,000 homes are in the Sylvan Park area, nurturing local businesses along Murphy Road and opening the door for redevelopment along Charlotte.
“Retail follows slowly, but it does follow. When your demographics improve, your retail is going to improve,” Friedman said.
Read more: Sylvan Park driving interest in Charlotte Ave. - Nashville Business Journal
Sylvan Park driving interest in Charlotte Ave.
Nashville Business Journal - by Eric Synder Staff Writer
One of the engines driving interest in the Charlotte Avenue corridor is barely visible from the roadway itself — the Sylvan Park neighborhood.
Defined roughly as the area bordered by Murphy Road, Charlotte, Interstate-440 and Richland Creek, homes in the area tend to be 70 years old or more.
The area began to gentrify in the mid-1980s, according to Richard Exton, of Manier and Exton Real Estate Appraisers. Though the ball had already begun rolling, the rejuvenation began to truly pick up speed about 10 years ago, according to Lisa Friedman, a real estate agent with Village Real Estate Services who grew up near the neighborhood and bought inside Sylvan Park nine years ago.
“Sylvan Park has a cache now that it didn’t once have,” Friedman said. Proof of this is available on real-estate listing websites, where homes for sale in nearby neighborhoods attempt to co-opt and expand the Sylvan Park label.
Though gentrification is largely complete in Sylvan Park, the degree and amount of renovations has continued to increase in the neighborhood as demand has warranted, Exton said. Sylvan Heights, an area located closer to 440, saw gentrification begin around the mid-1990s.
Prices in the neighborhoods “really have skyrocketed, probably until 2007, when everybody began to see declines,” Exton said.
In Friedman’s case, she bought her home for approximately $130 per square foot. As a rule of thumb, most houses in Sylvan Park now go for $200 per square foot, Friedman said.
Friedman said young professionals are among the most popular groups moving into the neighborhood, while more established households are moving up into new historical replicas, which can run for $600,000. Located near HCA, Friedman said the neighborhood is also home to a number of Vanderbilt employees.
Some 2,000 homes are in the Sylvan Park area, nurturing local businesses along Murphy Road and opening the door for redevelopment along Charlotte.
“Retail follows slowly, but it does follow. When your demographics improve, your retail is going to improve,” Friedman said.
Read more: Sylvan Park driving interest in Charlotte Ave. - Nashville Business Journal
Monday, September 27, 2010
Never a bad time to invest-Nashville ranked 4th best!
Great news for investors! Nashville is rated as the 4th best place to invest in the country! 10 years ago, I chose Nashville, specifically Sylvan Park, to invest in.
5 years ago, I chose Harlingen, Texas, just 10 minutes to McAllen, Texas, as a great place to invest!
If you are thinking of investing in a home or multi-family housing, this is a great time to do it! I am here to serve you!! Please read the article below:
Nashville’s residential real estate market has the fourth-highest potential for price appreciation, according to an analysis by a North Carolina firm and Forbes.com.
North Carolina-based Local Market Monitor compiled data looking at which metropolitan areas are best-positioned to rebound, looking at the whether prices appear to be stabilizing, as well as pre-recession population growth and the presence of growth industries like health care.
The company analyzed 145 markets. Nashville trailed Raleigh, N.C.; McAllen, Texas; and Austin, Texas. San Antonio rounded out the top 5.
Local Market Monitor expects home prices in Nashville to be up 3 percent within three years. Wisconsin-based research firm Fiserv told the Business Journal it expects prices in Nashville to bottom out in the second quarter of 2011, and return to peak in 2018.
In the meantime, the combination of depressed prices, low interest rates and rising rents is drawing some investors back into residential real estate. For more, read this Friday’s Nashville Business Journal.
Dan Hieb coordinates coverage for nashvillebusinessjournal.com, as well as for the Nashville Business Journal's Open for Business and New to Nashville profiles. He can be reached at dhieb@bizjournals.com or 615-846-4278.
Read more: Report: Nashville fourth-best bet for residential real estate investors - Nashville Business Journal
5 years ago, I chose Harlingen, Texas, just 10 minutes to McAllen, Texas, as a great place to invest!
If you are thinking of investing in a home or multi-family housing, this is a great time to do it! I am here to serve you!! Please read the article below:
Nashville’s residential real estate market has the fourth-highest potential for price appreciation, according to an analysis by a North Carolina firm and Forbes.com.
North Carolina-based Local Market Monitor compiled data looking at which metropolitan areas are best-positioned to rebound, looking at the whether prices appear to be stabilizing, as well as pre-recession population growth and the presence of growth industries like health care.
The company analyzed 145 markets. Nashville trailed Raleigh, N.C.; McAllen, Texas; and Austin, Texas. San Antonio rounded out the top 5.
Local Market Monitor expects home prices in Nashville to be up 3 percent within three years. Wisconsin-based research firm Fiserv told the Business Journal it expects prices in Nashville to bottom out in the second quarter of 2011, and return to peak in 2018.
In the meantime, the combination of depressed prices, low interest rates and rising rents is drawing some investors back into residential real estate. For more, read this Friday’s Nashville Business Journal.
Dan Hieb coordinates coverage for nashvillebusinessjournal.com, as well as for the Nashville Business Journal's Open for Business and New to Nashville profiles. He can be reached at dhieb@bizjournals.com or 615-846-4278.
Read more: Report: Nashville fourth-best bet for residential real estate investors - Nashville Business Journal
Friday, September 24, 2010
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin in top 10 markets most likely to appreciate according to Forbes Magazine!
Great information below! I would love to talk with you if you are thinking about buying or selling residential or investment property! It is the perfect time to start planning your future!
10 Markets Most Likely to Appreciate
Forbes magazine turned to real estate research firm Local Market Monitor to figure out which markets have the greatest likelihood of price appreciation because they offer a mix of jobs weighted toward growth industries.
These are the top markets, the research company concludes:
1. Raleigh-Cary, N.C.
2. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
3. Austin-Round Rock, Texas
4. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.
5. San Antonio, Texas
6. Colorado Springs, Colo.
7. Albuquerque, N.M.
8. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colo.
9. Springfield, Mo.
10. Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
Source: Forbes, Francesca Levy (09/13/2010)
I look forward to serving you!
Mimi
10 Markets Most Likely to Appreciate
Forbes magazine turned to real estate research firm Local Market Monitor to figure out which markets have the greatest likelihood of price appreciation because they offer a mix of jobs weighted toward growth industries.
These are the top markets, the research company concludes:
1. Raleigh-Cary, N.C.
2. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
3. Austin-Round Rock, Texas
4. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.
5. San Antonio, Texas
6. Colorado Springs, Colo.
7. Albuquerque, N.M.
8. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colo.
9. Springfield, Mo.
10. Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
Source: Forbes, Francesca Levy (09/13/2010)
I look forward to serving you!
Mimi
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Green Gardening Tips
Landscaping for Curb Appeal
A well-landscaped yard creates curb appeal and helps your property retain maximum value.
7 Gardening Mistakes to Avoid
Novice gardeners can get their landscapes off to a healthy
start by heeding some tried-and-true tips from the pros.
Lawn Maintenance Calendar
Regular lawn maintenance gives your home maximum curb appeal and preserves the value of your property.
Save Money with Your Edible Garden
An edible garden featuring vegetables and herbs can save you a bundle if you keep it simple and raise plants that offer high yields. Read http://www.houselogic.com/articles/save-money-your-edible-garden/">Read>
10 Tips for Saving Money in the Garden
Smart landscaping strategies can save you money while they add to the curb appeal and value of your home.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Save money by going GREEN!
Hi Friends!
I am happy to be able to share some energy saving tips with my readers! Going GREEN is not as difficult as you think! Small steps equal great results!
I would like to be your 'go to' GREEN expert! Sometimes we get lost in the new GREEN terminology such as Energy Star, CFL light bulbs, LEED rated, low VOC paints, SEER rating, etc. They will grow on you...give yourself time!
I am passionate about lessening our ‘carbon footprints’ and creating a sustainable environment. The path toward sustainability is acquiring an awareness of how the smallest changes we make in our homes result in a substantial and positive impact on our pocketbook as well as our environment and health.
Did you know that in 2007 there were more than 120,000 new homes that earned the ENERGY STAR rating? The energy efficiency of these homes was equivalent to:
• Eliminating the emissions of 60,000 vehicles
• Saving 355,680,000 pounds of coal
• Planting 97,000 acres of trees
• Saving $54 million on utility bills for homeowners
Staggering! So what can we do right now as homeowners, with minimum effort and expense? The top 9 improvements for an average home:
(Click on the image above to enlarge, and then press the back arrow on your browser to return to this page)
*One light bulb, if turned on 24 hours a day, will cost you $80.00 a year. One CFL will cost you $18.00 a year. $62.00 savings per bulb per year!
Great return on your investment! We would all like to see that…right?
Tune in for more info in the future. Feel free to e-mail or call me with any ‘GREEN’ questions or with any other real estate questions that you may have.
If you are looking to buy, sell, invest or ‘GO GREEN’, I am here to serve you!!
Warmest Wishes,
Mimi, The Real Estate Lady
Mimi Lukich, GREEN, GRI
CRYE-LEIKE, REALTORS
206A Cool Springs Blvd. Ste. 101
Franklin, TN 37067
615.712.3334 cell
615.771.6620 x-1066 office
615.739.9665 efax
mimi.lukich@crye-leike.com
mimitherealestatelady.blogspot.com
I am happy to be able to share some energy saving tips with my readers! Going GREEN is not as difficult as you think! Small steps equal great results!
I would like to be your 'go to' GREEN expert! Sometimes we get lost in the new GREEN terminology such as Energy Star, CFL light bulbs, LEED rated, low VOC paints, SEER rating, etc. They will grow on you...give yourself time!
I am passionate about lessening our ‘carbon footprints’ and creating a sustainable environment. The path toward sustainability is acquiring an awareness of how the smallest changes we make in our homes result in a substantial and positive impact on our pocketbook as well as our environment and health.
Did you know that in 2007 there were more than 120,000 new homes that earned the ENERGY STAR rating? The energy efficiency of these homes was equivalent to:
• Eliminating the emissions of 60,000 vehicles
• Saving 355,680,000 pounds of coal
• Planting 97,000 acres of trees
• Saving $54 million on utility bills for homeowners
Staggering! So what can we do right now as homeowners, with minimum effort and expense? The top 9 improvements for an average home:
(Click on the image above to enlarge, and then press the back arrow on your browser to return to this page)
*One light bulb, if turned on 24 hours a day, will cost you $80.00 a year. One CFL will cost you $18.00 a year. $62.00 savings per bulb per year!
Great return on your investment! We would all like to see that…right?
Tune in for more info in the future. Feel free to e-mail or call me with any ‘GREEN’ questions or with any other real estate questions that you may have.
If you are looking to buy, sell, invest or ‘GO GREEN’, I am here to serve you!!
Warmest Wishes,
Mimi, The Real Estate Lady
Mimi Lukich, GREEN, GRI
CRYE-LEIKE, REALTORS
206A Cool Springs Blvd. Ste. 101
Franklin, TN 37067
615.712.3334 cell
615.771.6620 x-1066 office
615.739.9665 efax
mimi.lukich@crye-leike.com
mimitherealestatelady.blogspot.com
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