Green Real Estate Appraiser

Open Air Homes

Posted on October 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

There’s a good reason your life coach tells you to “bring down your walls.” It opens your mind, gives more breathing room and helps create a feeling of continuity. The same applies for architecture. Homeowners opting for fewer walls, floor-to-ceiling glass surfaces and wide-open spaces can bring in more light, make small areas look expansive and meld the living room with the backyard.

If you have a custom home contact the appraisers at http://www.scappraisalserv.com for your value questions.

More home buyers are striving to capture better views and “more of an indoor-outdoor relationship” with their homes and the environment, according to Utah-based architect Clive Bridgwater. Take, for example, the award-winning 9,000-square-foot abode Bridgwater designed with dramatic views of the snow-capped Wasatch Mountains.

Read and see more at: http://homes.yahoo.com/news/incredible-open-air-homes.html

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Lexus Model Takes Title as Market’s Greenest Car

Posted on October 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

An influential guide to low-pollution, fuel-sipping cars by the Automobile Club of Southern California has a new favorite: the Lexus GS 450h.

The $62,000 sedan is something of a souped-up, luxurious cousin to the Toyota Prius.

“What Lexus has done over the years is to take a little different tack,” said Steve Mazor, manager of the Automotive Research Center in Diamond Bar, where cars were tested for emissions and fuel efficiency. “The idea is to get a car that really performs like a sports sedan and really gets better fuel economy than other sports sedans … but very, very clean tailpipe emissions at the same time.”

The winner on a no-less-significant list for best value is the Nissan Versa, a no-frills, strictly gasoline-propelled sedan.

“It’s a $14,000 car that does everything pretty well, including its mileage,” Mazor said.

The automobile club’s 2012 Green Car Guide makes considerable concessions to American priorities and tastes.

Fuel economy and emissions certifications are weighed alongside comfort and handling, with vehicles put through their performance paces at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

The guide — posted online this month and distributed via AAA affiliates in 19 states — does not incorporate the current suite of state incentives and federal tax credits for plug-in and other zero-emission vehicles, which can reduce the initial purchase costs by as much as $10,000, along with HOV-lane privileges and potential savings on a car charger at home. (Not everyone can recoup the federal credit, its authors reasoned, and California incentives stop at the state line.)

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4 Common Refinancing Mistakes to Avoid

Posted on September 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

Are you thinking of refinancing your home mortgage but afraid you’ll screw it up? While there are a number of common mistakes people make, take solace in the fact that these slip-ups can be avoided.

First things first, you want to make sure that refinancing is right for you, says Fred Arnold, a loan professional and treasurer of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB).

“It has to make financial sense. It has to save you money and work for your future financial goals,” says Arnold. For example, you want to ensure that with the new loan’s terms, you’ll save money. Another thing to consider is how long you plan to stay in your home. According to Arnold, to cover the cost of refinancing, it’ll need to be about two years or more.

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment only

Open Air Homes

Lexus Model Takes Title as Market’s Greenest Car

4 Common Refinancing Mistakes to Avoid

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