Buying a home is always an investment and choosing the best bang for your buck is important. Whether a home is big or small, choosing the home that will have the best return on your investment is key. Schools, low crime rate, amenities and walkability all affect the resale value of a home.

Key elements that attract home buyers to a neighborhood or specific home have historically included the quality of available education, the safety of the area, the parks and open space nearby, and the shops and restaurants in the area. Choosing a home in a walkable location can add value to a home as well. The ability to walk to a restaurant or a store is a huge draw for many people. Not everyone wants to hop in a car to pick up a gallon of milk or meet a friend for lunch.

While it is often hard to find a home that has it all, it is important to choose a home that has what you are looking for. In the end if a home has what you are looking for it will most likely have what someone else is looking for when it comes time for you to sell.

Click here to read a recent article from Realty Times regarding the walkability factor of buying real estate.

The heat of summer means barbecues, water fights, trips to the pool and lots of outdoor fun, it also means higher than normal water usage. In most parts of the country water is a precious commodity and an increase in usage can not only hurt your wallet but your environment as well. Here are a few ways to cut back on water consumption.

• When it comes to the outside attempt to plant flowers, shrubs and plants that require less water than others. Xeroscaping can be beautiful and conserve water at the same time.
• Examine your sprinkler system and if it is on a timer system set it for once a day, every other day, preferably at night when the water won’t evaporate in the heat of the sun. If your sprinkler is a manual one, turn it on after the sun goes down.
• Inside your home make sure that your appliances, like dishwashers and washing machines, are energy star compliant. It is also a good idea to wash full loads whenever possible to make the most of your water consumption.

Do your part to pay attention to your water consumption and cut back where you can. It is important to conserve water for both your community and your bank account.

Click here to read an article from Realty Times about conserving water at your home.

Green homes are becoming more attractive for the environment and the wallet

When it comes to your home going green no longer means painting your house a shade of the color, it means you are taking steps toward improving both the environment and your wallet. In real estate green improvements can mean more energy efficient appliances like refrigerators, stoves, toilets and lighting fixtures to major improvements like adding solar heating, recycled materials and wind energy. Green improvements are not only becoming more popular but they are also becoming more attractive financially due to tax savings and long term cost effectiveness.

Choosing renewable products and making environmentally friendly decisions when it comes to your property can make a big difference. While being green is often a state of mind, for people who dedicate themselves to recycling, turning off lights, and bicycling instead of driving a car, making green improvements in the home has proven to make quite a difference.

For information about green choices for the home click here to read a recent article from Realty Times.

Energy efficiency and greener building practices have begun to take hold across the Country, spurring incentives that warrant making home improvements to existing homes as well as better practices for building new homes.  Currently President Obama is considering federal incentives to homeowners who make energy efficient improvements to their homes.

President Obama had said that energy efficiency “creates jobs, saves money for families, and reduces the pollution that threatens our environment.  With additional resources, in areas like advanced manufacturing of wind turbines and solar panels, for instance, we can help turn good ideas into good private-sector jobs.”

Providing incentives to home owners to make their properties more energy efficient will not only help the homeowner but help the economy, seen as two major players in exiting the recession that has affected our Nation’s economy.

The possible legislation could provide 50% rebates up to $12,000 in incentives for product costs as well as installation costs of energy efficient home improvements that could include appliances, insulation, solar products and more.  The legislation is in the planning phase but is something Obama is planning on introducing.

For more information on possible legislation click here to a view an article posted by CNN Money.

Making green improvements to your home can be good for the environment and your wallet

Going green can not only improve the environment but can also help the wallet.  If renovations are in store for your home consider making them energy efficient.  There are tax credits for 30% of energy efficient home improvements for amounts of up to $1,500 for improvements to existing homes.  Acceptable projects include:

•    Windows and Doors
•    Insulation
•    Roofs (Metal and Asphalt)
•    HVAC
•    Water Heaters (non-solar)
•    Biomass Stoves

There are also tax credits available for 30% of the project cost, no limit, for existing homes and new construction.  These projects include:
•    Geothermal Heat Pumps
•    Solar Panels
•    Solar Water Heaters
•    Small Wind Energy Systems
•    Fuel Cells

Reducing the carbon footprint for your home has never been more affordable or had such incentive.  Whether you want to change your windows or alter your home’s energy source, making changes to make a difference in your environment can help save you money.

For information on energy efficient tax credits click here.