Do the Right Thing.

A common complaint among home buyers and home owners is that Home Owners Associations and Common Interest Communities is that they don't allow for solar installations.

At a recent CRES ( Colorado Renewable Energy Society) meeting the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency was brought up as the argument for the homeowners with an eye toward the future. www.dsireusa.org

For more information Contact : Tom Plant
Governor's Energy Office
1580 Logan Street
Suite 100
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 866-2100
Phone 2: (800) 632-6662
Fax: (303) 866-2930
E-Mail: geo@state.co.us
Web site: http://www.colorado.gov/energy

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Ask your Realtor if they are an Ecobroker and if they are not why not?

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Pueblo would like to extend a warm welcome to Vestas and it's employees

The Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) had it's monthly meeting tonight at Colorado State University Pueblo. Many, many things were discussed, I thought I'd share some of it with you.

CRES: Increases the awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and energy efficiency technologies.

Reasons to go Solar:

• Walk the Talk
• Be part of the Solution
• Reduce your power bills
• Many financial incentives
• Improved property values
• Lock in energy rates
• Energy Security
• Reduce Vulnerability to the grid
• Environmentally Friendly Power
• Proven Technology
• Life Cycle assessment (pay back)
• Turn Key Systems
• Jobs in your area
• No State Sales tax (Colorado)

Cost examples given for 3 kilowatt systems for an average house were $22,000 but with incentives and tax credit's the first year costs were closer to $7000 with complete payback in under ten years. This example then says that the average PV system will last 20 years. That leaves 10 years of lower utility bills and the possibility of net zero.

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If your Realtor isn't an Ecobroker ask them why not.

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Pueblo extends a warm welcome to Vestas and it's Employees

I'm writing this post asking for help from you.  A friend of mine has recently been given a promotion, she is the new green representative for the building supply company she works for. She wants an attention getting game to present to her co-workers in an upcoming meeting as way of an annoucement of her new position. (What a way to make an impression!)

Does anybody have suggestions? Ideas? Thoughts? Post your ideas below and let's see what we can come up with to help her out.  

For anybody in the green "know" or who wants to know about the green movement, I have something to share with you! Check out this website : http://www.grandcentralholdings.com/green/  Greenies :  A community for enlightened professionals.

Greenies actually found me, and I signed up for their daily newsletter. I know, I know, you don't want more stuff in your inbox. But I do think it's worth your time to check out. They are promoting my Green Drinks group in Pueblo and how can that be bad?

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Ask your Realtor if they are an Ecobroker, and if they aren't why not?

While most of us are caught up in the political agendas of the two more popular candidates for President of the United States; While we go into our in boxes and look at the newest e-mail bashing a hopeful; While the TV news and radio consistently talk about our struggling economy; While we contemplate the newest government bale out; While real estate professionals continue to get calls about foreclosures; While most Americans don't know that there are 12 or more people running for President;

Let's remember The United States of America is still the greatest country. Today is Constitution Day: http://www.constitutionday.cc/ Now is as good a time as any to start paying attention and not get caught up in the hype.

In Pueblo we have an abundance of foreclosed properties. You can purchase an "inhabitable" home for as little as $35,000. I've seen a few for even less. And, by inhabitable I mean the plumbing is still attached to the house, there is a furnace sitting there, a water heater is visible, there are windows and doors. (some of which may or may not be intact or working) If somebody wanted to move in they could.

I have several buyers who call themselves "investors" who look at these houses. Of course they are looking for a good deal, who isn't? But they continually offer considerable less than asking on houses that continually sell for more than asking. My "investors" looses out.

Recently my buyers and I have found some really great deals, in my opinion and theirs too. When we walk in one of these properties one of my buyers says "it smells like money!" I usually smell the common factor of cat or other pets. But what he means is that the house needs some clean up and very little money to do so. But he consistently offers below asking and I get to practice writing up offers. He rarely gets these properties, but when he does he gets them at HIS price. And I don't blame him. Every house I've ever purchased for myself I've gotten at "my price" but I've lost several too. I never lead or write an offer with my heart.

What does make me happy however is later when you find out that the house sold to somebody who is actually going to live in it, hang their pictures, hang out at the local park and send their kids to the area school. This house ends up being "their house" pride of ownership and all that.

My investor can continue the hunt for the perfect house that "smells like money" and I will continue to assist him in his efforts. I'm not sure what the moral of this story is - I'm happy people are getting into homes, "investors" are somewhat active and the wheels of real estate are turning. The smell of money isn't exactly greasing the wheels and I wish the wheels were turning a little faster.

My phone rings about once a week, people wanting to know more about Home Buyers Scouting Report and Home Buyers Marketing. In response to my blog posts : http://activerain.com/blogsview/57565/Home-Buyers-Scouting-Report and http://activerain.com/blogsview/240851/Home-Scouting-report-in

• First - Thank you for calling. I love talking to all of the agents and lenders who call with questions
• Second - It's a great program for Buyers, Agents and Lenders
• Third - Maybe I can answer some of your questions now

Buyers: Look for houses in the comfort of your own home. And get everything you need and want from one site. No more web surfing for a mortgage calculator, then a map, then for sold information, then active listings. Some of the best features: Your own Password protected site, notebook features so you can remember and track the houses that interest you, and the system e-mails you information on new listings as they come up. No more waiting for your agent to send you new information. And if a house gets a price reduction or sells you get an e-mail. It's an all together system that people find very user friendly. And it's free!

Agents: You know where all your sellers are, they are on the MLS. But where are your buyers? If you have a system, great. But this Home Buyers Network works for you. You get e-mailed every time one of your buyers logs on or notebooks a house. And the HBM has a WONDERFUL sphere of influence feature. Trust me you are going to love HBM. The trick to this is using it, the more you use it the better for everyone.

Lenders: Contact my lender Tammie Stratman Country Wide in Pueblo (719) 296-5181 really Tammie is the one to answer your questions or click here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/239654/Tammie-Stratman-from-Countrywide

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If you are a buyer looking for a system that works for you and you are looking for property in Southern Colorado (Pueblo, Pueblo West, Rye, Beulah, Colorado City, Canon City, Hatchet Ranch, St. Charles Mesa) please contact me. I'd be happy to put you on the HBM program - it's free!

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Vestas employees both local and transferring to the Pueblo area contact me, I'd be happy to help!

The Pueblo Parade of Homes Industry Day(2008) went well despite the unusually cool weather. Thanks to Country Wide Home Loans (Diane Van Buskirk, Tammie Stratman, Aarron W, and Brian) who rented the 15+ people who attended a stretch limo from Pure Luxury Limousines.      

We managed to see 14 of the 23 houses that were open. Houses ranged from the low $200's to the $900K range. 

Some of the main themes were more open kitchens, theater rooms and outdoor living spaces.

IMHO:                          

OAKWOOD Contruction  1305 Paseo Del Norte had the best presentation, in step with the season  $264,900

HARTLAND Homes 345 E. Bahia had the best theater and great house for the money $229,900

MESSNER Homes1060 W. El Nido had the best features including the bamboo floor and other green stuff $ 369,345

COTTAGE INNOVATIONS  1012 Gale was the overall favorite of the people on tour. You could actually see fish jumping in the river from the Master bedroom, living room and kitchen. And the first pet / doggy room I've ever seen in Pueblo $650,000

DOMEGA Homes1015 Olivecrest is a perennial favorite $ 224,950

Thanks Patty B, Nancy B, Greg K, Debbie W, Coach, Barb F, Val W, Shirley VB, and everyone else who shared the day with me. It was a great time.

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Ask your agent if they are an Ecobroker and if not, why not?

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Pueblo extends a warm welcome to Vestas and their employees - Welcome!

To: HB construction

P.O. Box 3118

Pueblo, CO 81001

719 250 0995

I'd like to thank HB Construction for all of their assistance. You went Way beyond my expectations. I thought there was no way the insurance company was going to pay for a new roof. Thank you Garris, your two trips to my house to meet the insurance adjuster made all the difference.

Your crew was very polite, clean and worked very hard and late into the day to get the job done. I appreciate your efforts and the efforts of your crew in getting the new roof up, on and complete as fast as they did.

I'd be happy and pleased to refer your company to anybody,

Sincerely,

Dena Stevens

Rockvale, CO