New Homes Features of

What are ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes? : ENERGY STAR What is ENERGY STAR? | Newsroom Search What are ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Features of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Benefits of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Homebuyer Resources New Homes Partner Locator For Residential Building Professionals PRODUCTS HOME IMPROVEMENT NEW HOMES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT PARTNER RESOURCES -- Home > New Homes > What are ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes? -- -- What are ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes? ENERGY STAR qualified homes are independently verified to be at least 30% more energy efficient than homes built to the 1993 national Model Energy Code or 15% more efficient than state energy code, whichever is more rigorous. These savings are based on heating, cooling, and hot water energy use and are typically achieved through a combination of: building envelope upgrades, high performance windows, controlled air infiltration, upgraded heating and air conditioning systems, tight duct systems and upgraded water-heating equipment. These features contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution. ENERGY STAR also encourages the use of energy-efficient lighting and appliances, as well as features designed to improve indoor air quality. Here are some questions commonly asked about ENERGY STAR qualified homes: Look for this label when buying your next home. How does a home earn the ENERGY STAR label? The ENERGY STAR label is earned only after the home's energy efficiency is verified, either by an independent third-party such as an accredited home energy rater or Builder Option Package (BOP) verifier , or by adhering to the quality control procedures established for HUD-code manufactured homes . What types of homes can earn the ENERGY STAR label? Any single-family or multi-family residential home that is three stories or less in height can qualify to receive the ENERGY STAR label. This includes traditional site-constructed homes as well as modular, systems-built (e.g., insulated concrete forms, structurally insulated panels), and HUD-code manufactured homes. Can existing homes earn the ENERGY STAR? Yes. Existing homes can be qualified for the ENERGY STAR label if they meet ENERGY STAR's performance guidelines. However, it is not always practical or cost-effective to bring an existing home to this level of efficiency. Nevertheless, the energy efficiency of existing homes can often be greatly improved using cost-effective retrofit techniques. Visit Home Improvement to learn how. Do energy-efficient homes look different? No, builders and developers constructing ENERGY STAR qualified new homes do not have to alter their architectural designs. An ENERGY STAR qualified new home can be built in whatever style the consumer prefers or is most popular in a particular geographic region. Does an energy-efficient home cost more? No. An ENERGY STAR qualified new home actually costs less because you will spend less on your new home's utility bill each month. These energy savings can more than offset any increase in mortgage payments needed for the improved energy features and can result in a positive monthly cash flow. Further, ENERGY STAR financing partners offer special mortgage packages for buyers of ENERGY STAR qualified new homes. How will I know if a home is labeled ENERGY STAR? Look for the ENERGY STAR label, which should be prominently displayed on the circuit breaker box. You can also ask your builder for the home's ENERGY STAR certificate. This optional certificate indicates that the home has been verified to meet EPA's ENERGY STAR qualified new homes performance guidelines. How can I participate in ENERGY STAR as a home industry professional? ENERGY STAR currently partners with four main types of home industryprofessionals: homebuilders, home energy raters, utilities and other sponsoring organizations, and home lenders . After completing and signing a partnership agreement, partners can take advantage of the widely recognized ENERGY STAR name, logos, and a variety of other marketing resources. Other home industry professionals can promote ENERGY STAR as well. Features of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes > Products | Home Improvement | New Homes | Business Improvement | Partner Resources Newsroom | Privacy | Contact Us | Site Index EPA Home EPA Search DOE Home DOE Search

Selling Home

Selling Your Home, Sell home, selling a house, selling house, sell your home - Home Services Mortgages Research Moving Zero Down Appraisals -- -- A Simple Guide for Selling a Home on Your Own Preface: Why sell yourself? Selling a home yourself, without an expensive real estate broker is easier than most people think. However, it will take some work on your part. You will be doing a lot of things that a real estate agent might normally do. Just follow the For Sale By Owner.com step-by-step selling guide below, and you'll not only save lots of money, but we'll make the house selling process as effortless as possible It's the money! Sellers save thousands of dollars not paying a 6% or 7% commission. For example, if your home can sell for $250,000, youd save $15,000 to $17,500 in commissions. Sell Your Home Fast. Because you are not paying an outrageous selling commission, you can afford to price your home more aggressively. The lower the price, the more likely it sells fast. You will still walk away with thousands in savings, but you'll just be doing it faster. It's so easy. Despite what a real estate broker may say, selling a house is not rocket science. They know that, and soon you will too. Just follow the simple selling steps below. And, if you have any questions, call us and one of our representatives will try to answer any questions you may have. You are not alone - For Sale By Owner.com will help you every step of the way. We are one of the largest and fastest growing real estate service companies in America. In fact, our web site is one of the top-five most visited real estate sites in America. Thousands of eager home buyers visit us everyday. Perhaps one of them is looking for a home just like yours. Over the past five years, we've helped sell thousands of homes, saving home owners millions of dollars. So let's get started. 8 Easy Steps to Selling a Home Yourself Step 1. Preparing your home to sell - make it look great Presentation is everything! Home buyers are attracted to clean, spacious and attractive houses. Your goal is to dazzle buyers. Brighten-up the house and remove all clutter from counter tops, tables and rooms. Scrub-down your house from top to bottom. Make it sparkle. Simple aesthetic improvements such as trimming trees, planting flowers, fixing squeaking steps, broken tiles, shampooing rugs and even re-painting a faded bedroom will greatly enhance the appeal of your house. Also, make sure your house smells good. That's right, clean out the cat box and light mildly scented candles. Invite a neighbor over to walk through your house like a buyer would. Get their opinion on how it "shows." The stuffed donkey in the family room may have to go to your in-laws for a while. Step 2. Pricing your home effectively Do not over price your home. Over-pricing when you sell a home reduces buyer interest, makes competing homes look like better values, and can lead to mortgage rejections once the appraisal is in. Over-pricing when selling a home is the single biggest reason why many "for sale by owner" home sellers don't sell their homes successfully. Remember: the home selling market dictates the price (not what you think it should be worth). One of the best ways to correctly price your house when selling is to find out how much other homes, similar to your own, recently sold for in your neighborhood. Talk to home sellers, buyers and check out the real estate listings in your local newspaper. Typically, if you set the price of your home at 5 to 10 percent above the market price, you are likely to end up with an offer close to your home's true value. Also, you may try calculating the cost per square foot of your home compared to the house selling prices in your area (divide list price by square footage of livable space). If your house has more features or other desirable qualities, you may want to set a slightly higher house selling price. The easiest way to accurately price your home is to contact your local home appraiser . Finally, set your house selling price just under a whole number, such as $169,900 rather than $170,000. Step 3. Get a real estate lawyer Even though it's an additional expense, it may be wise to hire a lawyer who will protect your interests throughout the entire transaction. An experienced real estate lawyer can help you evaluate complicated offers (those with a variety of conditions), act as an escrow agent to hold the down payment, evaluate complex mortgages and/or leases with options to buy, review contracts and handle your home's closing process. They can also tell you what things, by law, you must disclose to buyers prior to a sale and can also help you avoid inadvertently discriminating against any potential buyers. In some areas, title companies will handle all aspects of the transaction and have in-house legal departments that can assist you with legal issues that may arise. To locate a title company in your area, click here . Unless you're significantly experienced in the home selling process, having a real estate lawyer at your side provides peace-of-mind. You know you've got someone looking out for your interests, not just the buyers. To locate a lawyer in your area, click here Step 4. Marketing your home Exposure, exposure, exposure. That's how sellers sell their home fast. For Sale By Owner.com provides extensive home exposure because over 700,000 unique visitors come to the web site each month (that's Internet-speak for new people). In fact, For Sale By Owner.com is one of the top-five most visited real estate web sites in the U.S. getting literally millions of visitors looking to buy or sell a home. We spend tens of thousands of dollars a month to assure that For Sale By Owner.com is prominently placed on Internet search engines so buyers can easily find our site throughout process of selling your home. If your home is in a market where For Sale By Owner.com has a mass-distributed magazine, your home's exposure will be even greater because they can be found at thousands of locations frequented by buyers that include grocery stores, shopping centers, convenience stores and restaurants (the magazine is in over 40 markets nationwide). Writing your sell ad While For Sale By Owner.com allows you a 3,000 word description of your house (try to afford that in a newspaper ad), your advertising copy should be thorough yet short, simple and to-the-point. Long, flowery prose will not make your house sound more appealing. It will simply make it harder for the home buyer to read. Make sure to provide the critical facts buyers are looking for such as the house's number of bathrooms, a re-modeled kitchen, etc. Most home buyers quickly scan ads, so it is important that your house stands out. For example, you may want to add a theme-line such as "Priced below market" or "Great schools." Stay away from industry jargon and use language that makes home buyers comfortable. Survey our web site and see how others have written their ads. You will quickly see which are "buyer friendly." Copy their approach for your ad. Home Photos: Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words If you are taking a photo of your home, be sure that the home's yard/driveway is uncluttered. Remove bikes, garbage cans and parked cars. The same applies for interior shots. People are looking to buy your house, not your possessions. Think of furniture as props and the room a stage. Move things around if you have to. Also, take lots of house photos. Film is cheap...your home deserves quality. The more you shoot, the better the odds are that you'll get a few really good shots. Lawn signs Lawn signs are one the most important marketing tools for home sellers. They attract attention to your home. Professionally-produced signs (like the ones we can send to you) telegraph to home buyers a "quality" image of your house. Directional signs also help drive buyers to your property, especially if you do not live on a busy street. Open houses Open houses are sometimes a good way to attract buyers to your home. Typically, real estate agents conduct open houses for two reasons; 1. Clients expect them 2. They are a good way to attract buyers, not just for the open house but for all houses for sale in the Real Estate Agent's area (yes, your competition). The fact is that very few houses sell due to a open house itself. Home Brochures/Information sheets It is a good idea to create an information sheet (with a photo) about your home to give potential buyers. Consider printing copies of your ad from For Sale By Owner.com to give to people who visit your home. The MLS The MLS or Multiple Listing Service can also help market your home, particularly to real estate agents who may know of buyers seeking a property like yours. The MLS is a directory used by real estate agents to announce to other agents that they have a home for sale. In many selling markets, For Sale By Owner.com can put your house on the MLS (for an additional fee). However, if a real estate agent finds you a buyer after seeing your home on the MLS, you must usually pay that agent a 2.5% to 3% commission (the law states that all commissions are negotiable, however). You are your home's best salesman As every salesman knows, to be effective you have to really know your product. And who knows your home better than you? Certainly not a real estate agent, who, in all likelihood, has spent only a few moments in your house before showing it to prospective buyers. Sell your neighborhood as well as your house. Show enthusiasm, but don't get caught-up talking too much about how "your daughter spent the best years of her life in this very room." Step 5. Negotiating an offer on your home When a home buyer makes an offer (this is often presented to you directly from the buyer or through their lawyer), you should consult with your attorney. Buyers and sellers have an Attorney Review Period, which is usually three days, to cancel or amend the offer. The offer becomes a contract at the end of the Attorney Review Period, and is binding. Many of your home's offers can be complicated and contain special clauses that favor the buyer. Purchase price isn't everything. Carefully consider the purchase contract's other terms and conditions. Too many contingencies can leave loopholes and cause a deal to collapse. Especially avoid contingencies that favor the house's buyer, such as linking the escrow closing date to the buyer's sale of their current home. If the buyer insists on such terms, include a so-called kick-out clause in the contract that will allow you to consider other offers if the buyer isn't able to sell within a certain period of time. Assess your buyer's financial qualifications Is the buyer pre-approved? How much of a loan is the buyer seeking? Unless you are in an active market, lenders tend to shy away from underwriting a deal in which the purchase price is higher than the nearest comparable sale and the buyer is putting less than 10% down. If this is the case, your buyer may not be able to obtain financing. Know the home selling market How you judge an offer also can depend on market conditions. If the selling market is slow, you may feel vulnerable, especially if circumstances are pressing you to sell. Make sure any offer you accept does not keep you in escrow longer than 30 days. In a hot market where multiple offers are likely, be wary of countering more than one offer at a time (you could end up in legal trouble if two buyers both accept your counter offer). Also be wary of offers that promise more money but contain poor contract terms (long escrow, multiple contingencies, etc.). If you feel the home's offer is insufficient, make a counter offer. Rarely is a first offer the buyer's absolute highest price they are willing to pay. Negotiating is part of the home selling process. Again, your lawyer should review the details of all offers. Step 6. Home inspections All standard real estate contracts are going to give the prospective home buyer the right to inspect your property - so be prepared. Under a general inspection you are obligated to make major repairs to appliances, plumbing, septic, electrical and heating systems - or the buyer may cancel the offer. The inspection will also include your property's roof, as well as a termite inspection (in some states, house sellers must provide proof that the home is termite free). If you are concerned about how your home will fair when inspected, you may want to visit your local inspector . They can conduct an inspection for you before a potential buyer has one done. This way, you can address the problems before a buyer stumbles upon them. Once the inspections are complete, the buyer makes an application to a mortgage lender. Step 7. Buyer appraisals and other details The mortgage lender will order an appraisal of your home to make sure they are not paying more than the house is worth. They may also order a surveyor to make sure that the property boundaries are properly laid out. They will also order a title search to determine if there are any liens against your property. These tasks are all the responsibility of the buyer and/or their attorney. At this point too, the mortgage company will issue a commitment . Again, the buyer (and their attorney) must complete all conditions listed on the mortgage commitment. Prior to closing, you should notify your lender that you will be paying off your mortgage. After a closing date has been agreed to, you should contact your utility providers and advise them of your final billing date. Step 8. Closing The day of the closing , the home's buyer will do a "walk through" of the property to make sure all agreed repairs are completed and that the home is in the same condition as when the buyer made their offer. If problems arise that this point, the closing can still take place with funds held in escrow to remedy the problem. Closings usually occur 30 - 45 days after you have signed the sales contract. Depending on what state you reside in, you may close with an attorney, or with a title company. At the closing, all monies will be collected, any existing loans or liens will be paid, the deed will be transferred, and insurance will be issued insuring a free and clear title. The home seller will receive the proceeds of their home in one to two business days after the closing. Conclusion This step-by-step home selling guide is a general overview of the process when selling a home. Each state has slightly different laws and customs as they relate to the transaction process. Selling a home yourself can be time consuming, but the financial rewards can be tremendous. With help from For Sale By Owner.com , we try to make the process of home selling on your own as easy as possible. For Sale By Owner.com Your experts in selling a home on your own. -- Privacy & Disclaimer Partner With Us Career Opportunities Press Room Contact Us Buying A Home Your Credit Report Terms and Conditions Home Selling Tips Selling Your Home © 1997-2005 For Sale By Owner.com Your source for selling a home on your own. We make the home selling process a cinch. Sell real estate, sell a home, and sell your house, fsbo. Real estate selling, home selling, house selling. Site Map Home

Denver real estate and

Colorado real estate; relocation - real estate services Colorado real estate Find Real Estate in other areas: Alabama Alaska Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Masschusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming International Links Enjoy these real estate links Colorado Denver lofts, condos and high rises - Larry D. McGee, CRB, CRS Explore alternative living styles in downtown Denver. Also serving the areas of Lodo, Riverfront, Golden Triangle Silver Square, Ball Park, Capitol Hill, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, Hill Top, Congress Park and most Denver city areas. For relocation package go to Denver relocation kit Custer and Fremont Real Estate - John G. Johnson Southern Colorado including Custer County, Fremont County, Pueblo County, Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, Caon City, Penrose, Florence, Wetmore, Cotopaxi and Texas Creek, Pueblo and Pueblo West Denver real estate and relocation to Colorado Full service broker offering relocation advice on the major metro areas surrounding Denver, including Douglas County, Arapahoe County, Denver County, Jefferson County, Broomfield County, Adams County. click here for Denver Relocation Package Homes for sale in Denver The process of buying a home in Colorado Denver real estate and relocation information Serving the Denver metro area, providing access to the Denver MLS via e-mail Colorado Real Estate Colorado Mountain Real Estate for sale in Breckenridge, Keystone, Silverthorne, Frisco, Dillon and all of Summit County Colorado. Breckenridge Real Estate - Ted Amenda For Summit County Colorado real estate, Summit County MLS access, and more. Summit County includes Breckenridge, Keystone, Blue River, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, Copper Mountain, and Wildernest. Colorado Springs Custom Homes - Monument New Homes - El Paso County Luxury Homes Custom and luxury homes for sale in Colorado Springs, Monument, Black Forest, Broadmoor, Kissing Camels, Kings Deer, High Forest Ranch, Cherry Creek Crossing, and El Paso County. View custom homes and find quality construction info! A Denver Real Estate Company The Berkshire Group, Realtors specializes in residential real estate, featuring full real estate services to the Denver metro area, including Greenwood Village, The Denver Tech Center (DTC), Highlands Ranch, Englewood, Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Parker Littleton, Aurora, Denver, Westminster, Broomfield, Arvada, Evergreen, Conifer, Lakewood, Golden, Brighton and Thornton. Call toll free for relocation assistance at 800-250-4725. Dillon Colorado Real Estate Lake Dillon offers a beautiful mountain setting for Colorado real estate. Dillon Colorado real estate listings for sale featured by Exclusively Real Estate, Inc. Kristal Kraft , ABR, CIPS, CRS Licensed real estate broker selling Colorado Since 1984 The Berkshire Group Realtors, Inc. 3801 E. Florida Ave, Suite 502, Denver, Colorado U.S.A. 80210 800-319-7738 toll free | 303-589-2022 direct | 720-554-7961 fax E-mail: Kristal Kraft, Realtor 1998-2005, © Reflective Motion Inc. | Privacy Policy | Site Credits | Disclaimer | Site Map ~2 ~3 ~4 Denver Relocation | Buy a Home In Denver | Sell a Home in Denver | Denver Map | Denver Neighborhood Profiles | Denver Sales Statistics | International Real Estate | A Bio | My Favorite Places | Real Estate Resources Denver Loft Homes | The Berkshire Group | Buy and Sell Denver | We Sell Denver | Denver Colorado Real Estate | Denver Blog

Home Loan Bank of

Home Page Company Info Events/Calendar Financial Information Careers Newsroom Washington Update Publications Resources Benefits Eligibilty Becoming a Member Capital Plan Member Profiles Member Directory FAQ Credit Products MPF Program Securities Services Grant Programs Credit Products Initiatives Applications Procedures Monthly Semiannual History FAQ Disclosure Search    Welcome to the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco Cost of Funds Index October 20053.074% Announced November 30, 2005 Login Username Password Online Security Success Stories Cedars Bank Enjoys Flexibility of CFI Program Provident Finds MPF Program to Be Viable Secondary Market Option United Labor Bank Creates Customer Loyalty A WISH Fulfilled Highlights AHAC Members Announced D. Tad Lowrey To Join Board 2005 Director Election Results Bank Reports Third Quarter Results Bank Announces $20.2 Million in 2005 AHP Round B The Bank awarded $20.2 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grants in 2005 Round B. The funds will support 53 projects, generating 2,938 affordable housing units in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Texas. Read More... Homeownership Program Workshops Coming In January The Bank will host six workshops about our homeownership programs, the Individual Development and Empowerment Account (IDEA) and Workforce Initiative Subsidy for Homeownership (WISH) programs. Read More... MPF Program Orientations Set For 2006 Want to learn more about the MPF Program? The Bank will host "Getting Started with the MPF Program" on three dates: January 19 in Los Angeles, June 15 in San Francisco, and November 9 in Phoenix. Read More... Temporary Suspension of Income Limits for Affordable Housing to Aid Hurricane Evacuees In response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Housing Finance Board has approved a temporary suspension of income limits to allow vacant AHP-assisted rental units to be rented to households, regardless of income, who were displaced as a result of the storm. Read More... Third Quarter 2005 Report Now Available On November 14, 2005, the Bank filed its third quarter 2005 financial report on Form 10-Q with the SEC. The Bank also declared a dividend for the third quarter of 2005 at an annualized rate of 4.58%. Bank Reports Third Quarter Results On November 4, 2005, the Bank announced selected financial results (PDF) for the third quarter of 2005. Bank Announces Projected Dividend Rate On September 27, 2005, the Bank announced its projected dividend rate for the third quarter of 2005. Read More... © 2000-2005 Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

Real estate prices on

2004-09-18 Qing Jie Real estate prices on the rise 2@webnews ,real estate# price# , 0 Housing Consumption /enpproperty-- Real estate prices on the rise Home News Center China Real estate prices on the rise By Qing Jie (China Daily) Updated: 2004-09-18 01:03 China's real estate prices continued to surge during the first eight months of this year due to increasing market demands and limited investment tools. Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show the average housing price in China hit 2,749 yuan (US$331) per square metre from January to August, an increase of 13.5 per cent over the same period last year. While, the unit price was 3,421 yuan (US$412), 1,672 yuan (US$201) and 1,700 yuan (US$205) in the eastern, middle and western regions of China respectively, up 15 per cent, 14.7 per cent and 7.7 per cent in the first eight months of last year. "The price climbing is stimulated by booming market demands," said Chang Xiuze, a researcher with the Macro-Economy Research Institute of the State Development and Reform Commission. Along with income increases and living standard upgrades, most people first consider improving their housing conditions. To date, more Chinese people find the current interest rate level unsatisfactory and have become more reluctant to make new deposits. "Furthermore, investment channels in China are rather limited at present, thus consumers prefer pooling money into the property market," said Chang. Mou Xin, marketing supervisor of Xie-Cheng, a real estate consulting company, pointed out the booming market demand was also built up by some property developers, who said the price will rise sharply in the near future because land cost is expected to increase. But, both Chang and Mou believe the housing price will stay stable or only rise slightly. Due to the central government's restricted macro-economic control policy, the increase rate of loans extended to property developers declined. Meanwhile, bank loans to real estate enterprises still amounted to 211.2 billion yuan (US$25.45 billion) from January to August, a rise of 8.9 per cent year-on-year, with the growth rate dropping 50 percentage points. Close Today's Top News Top China News 'Garden of gardens' to undergo revamping English web platform launched Most US companies making profits in China Hurricane Ivan slams Gulf coast; 20 dead Fixed investment rises 30.3% China rejects US religion report FM spokesman: China intends no harm to neighbors Fireworks factory explosion kills 10 China refutes Japanese defense report Women entrepreneurs gather in Beijing China's new-generation rocket seeks approval Self-defending woman found innocent Go to Another Section select hot link News Center China World Business Life Sports Most Popular Photo Gallery Story Tools News Talk It is time to prepare for Beijing - 2008 Advertisement