Silver lining to mult-iunit foreclosures

How can Foreclosures Help the Homeless?
Due to an abundance of foreclosed homes and vacant buildings, social service agencies are now able to afford to buy these buildings and are using them to house the homeless. In turn, this has even caused the homeless population to shrink, according to recent studies.

In Denver, for instance, the homeless population has declined 36 percent because nonprofits have added 1,242 low-income units, many in buildings with facilities for treating addiction and healthcare.

“These are opportunities we haven’t seen in decades,” says Philip Mangano, executive director of the interagency council on homelessness.

Source: Newsweek, Matthew Philips

New interest in basements

As more people are staying put in their homes, rather than selling and moving to a bigger place, the basement is becoming a more important living area. A recent survey says more people are remodeling this part of the home to make the most of every square inch of living space.

ServiceMagic.com, a company that connects home owners with pre-screened contractors, commissioned the survey. Results revealed that nationwide basement remodels rose 10 percent in the first six month of 2008 compared with the same period last year.The most popular uses for the space are spa-like bathroom retreats, children’s playrooms, workout areas, billiard rooms, and home offices.

With an average cost of $40 to $60 per square foot - or a base price of about $35,000 - basement remodels are far more economical than an addition, says Laura Sanchez, director of internal operations at McStain Neighborhoods, a home builder in Colorado.

Source: The Denver Post, Sheba R. Wheeler (07/17/2008)

Why "Energy Star Rated" for your home?

Exerted from the US Gov't Energy Star web site:

A typical household spends about $1,900 a year on energy bills and contributes twice the amount of greenhouse gases to the environment as an average car. ENERGY STAR, the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, can guide you in making your home more energy efficient, reducing high energy bills, improving comfort, and protecting the environment—whether you do it yourself or hire a qualified professional.

Improving energy efficiency with ENERGY STAR is also an important first step in the growing trend of “green remodeling.” That’s because the energy we use in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. So, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.

What's involved becoming more Energy Star Rated?

• Heat and Cool Efficiently- when replacing look for Energy Star rated systems.
• Choose Energy Star appliances when initially purchasing or replacing.
• Check Seal Air and Ductwork leaks.
• Add more insulation in Attics (easiest and most cost effective to lower energy use).
• Select high efficiency Hot Water Heater when replacing.
• Select high efficiency windows/doors when replacing.
• Replace lighting with florescent models.
• Install a programmable thermostat.

Go to http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=home_energy_advisor.showGetInput for a free energy audit.