A Good Time For First-Time Home Buyers

Now is a good time for young renters to consider buying their first house, according to a column article on Reuters.com today.   Factors making the market more attractive for first-time home buyers:  a housing glut leading to motivated sellers and falling prices, a Federal stimulus bill raising limits on affordable  government-backed mortgages, and low mortgage rates.  The article also offers common sense tips on how to get started.  http://features.us.reuters.com/personalfinance/news/N19600119.html

Building Green to Lower Greenhouse Gases

The Commission For Environmental Cooperation (“CEC”) reports that buildings in North America release about 35 percent of North America’s total carbon dioxide, but green building measures can quickly and cheaply reduce this percentage.  Green building currently represents only 2 percent of the new non-residential building market and .3 percent of residential building. The CEC report is entitled “Green Building in North America: Opportunities and Challenges.” More information on this report is available at www.metrogreenbusiness.com.

How To Make Your Home Greener

At last week’s Architectual Digest Home Design Show, I picked up a postcard from the Sustainable Furniture Council.  For a descriptive listing of ten common-sense ideas on how to make your home greener, go to http://www.sustainablefurniturecouncil.org, “Take Action” Page, “Make My Home Greener.”  Good luck!

Repairs That Help Sell A Home

What is the number one home improvemement to make a home stand out to buyers?  Entrance repairs and improving curb appeal, according to MSN Real Estate in an article at realestate.msn.com entitled “10 must-do repairs before selling”.