What Does It Take To Have a Healthy Home?

(This blog post has been republished from Sheri Sperry's activerain® blog at http://activerain.com/blogs/wwwesedonabiz)

Building new homes has once again become popular.  Let's face it, everyone wants a home that fits their needs without compromise. What better way to accomplish that goal than to design it to your specifications.  

So what are the must haves?  Do you give much thought to having a healthy home? I can tell you that was not on the top of my list years ago. You might ask yourself, what is a

healthy home?  Some of the criteria for me would include a home that is free from mold or bacteria that keeps out harmful pollutants and dust. I would also include a system that provided microbe free fresh clean air to circulate through-out the home.  Wouldn't it be nice to see eco-friendly, energy efficient materials and products used?  Of course, the home should be built to standards that could come close (if not equal) to a net zero energy footprint. 

Not to much to ask right? !!

You might be skeptical of a project this aggressive.  Could it even be accomplished without costing an arm and a leg? If you find the right builder and designer to complete the project, you might be pleasently surprised at the cost and the results.

Remember, that the cost of building materials and other home products and appliances may be more

expensive, ...we are talking energy efficiency! This home will be built to provide decades of service with minimum repair or remediation cost as well as utility bills that will be almost nothing.  Let's not forget that a good builder will know all the federal, state and local programs and incentives to help defray the higher cost of the green materials.

Those of you who are thinking of purchasing Sedona Arizona real estate or a luxury home may want to visit  NRG Build Pros  to get more information.  During a recent open house event, I was able to see a newly completed project and was quite impressed with the designer and the builder. I started to think of all the people that suffer from allergies of some sort.  This home would give people with allergies a reprieve from the nagging symptoms.  This home checked off every box I talked about and more. 

Here is a list of "Extreme Energy Efficient Features" you might want to see in your dream home:

• HERS Rated Home / Energy Star Certified home and appliance (Home Energy Rated System) see chart ---->
• ICF Wall System ~ R-30 plus - 
• Roof System ~ R-4- & R-50
• IB Roofing Membrane w/ Lifetime Warranty
• Insulated Garage Door ~ R-9
• Anderson Door & Window Package
• ERV or HRV Fresh Mechanical Ventilation System
• High Efficeiency 20.5 Seer Heat Pump
• Air to Air Hot Water Heater
• LED Lighting - lasts longer and is very energy efficeint
• E-Max Flushing System by Toto - water efficent
• High Performance Low-Flow Faucets by Grohe & Hans Grohe
• Panasonic Whisper Sense & Whisper Sense-Lite
• Solar System 2k (there is an option for 5k system w/ plug-in for hybrid auto or off grid system)
• Kilowatts Monitoring System by Envi
• Many, many more amenities and features

This is a partial list and was furnished by NRG Building Specialists l.l.c. 

The Real Estate Market Is Showing "Real" Improvement

"Glimmer of Hope" - is it real?

During the last four years, realtors all across the country were looking at the statistics every month to try and point to a recovery or at least a glimmer of hope that a recovery would be coming soon.  In the last few months there is good news, that glimmer of hope is pointing to a solid recovery all across the nation.  Also, it certainly does not hurt that the stock market is at record levels! (As I write this the market closed at 14,447- a record high.) WOW!  Besides all of that, the stock market fear gage is at it's lowest level in 4 years!

What the stats say...

The National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index reports that U.S housing markets are showing expanded improvement for the sixth month in a row in February.

In September of 2011, there were only 12 improving metro markets.  Just over 70% of the 361 metros across the nation are now showing improvement.  In fact the NAHB is reporting at least one metro area in all 50 states is improving, showing that the housing market has momentum and is expanding.  This is real and sustainable improvement.

Are market conditions similar in the Sedona AZ real estate market ?

The Sedona homes for sale statistics, point to that same momentum.

<---- Number of active listings is declining and listing prices are rising. ---->



The absorption rate has moved from 8.29 in Feb-12 to 5.55 in Feb-13.

The absorption rate shows how long the current inventory of  Sedona properties would last at the current rate of sales. So you can see that number is falling.  Listing are selling at a rate of almost 3 months sooner than a year ago.  This is great news for sellers.  

Are we moving from a buyer's market to a seller's market? You be the judge!  The average sale price of a home in the SVVAR (Sedona Verde Valley Assoc. of Realtors) is $239 K in Feb-13 which is a 10.77% jump from Feb-12.



Is the market in flux? 

We have to remember that there may be many potential sellers still sitting on the sidelines waiting to get into the game.  How many want to put there Sedona home up for sale? If these potential sellers jump into the market, the number of Sedona real estate listings available will multiply and absorption rates may increase which could lead to a shift in advantage to the buyers once again. This is why I say the market is in flux.

What about Sedona luxury homes for sale?

For the purpose of this statistical analysis, we will define the luxury home market at $500,000 and above.  The Sedona Luxury Real Estate Professionals define the price as $750,000 and up. I am a member of SLREP and on the executive board.

What really matters is the number of sold and pending listings.  In Feb-13, 11 listings sold compared to 8 last year - a 38% increase. YTD - the listings jump to a 47% increase year to year.  On the Pending Listings - the percentages are staggering.  There is a 70% increase from Feb-12 to Feb-13 and YTD the percentage jumps to 85% year to year!

All in all, it is an exciting time for everyone involved in the real estate market.  Sedona real estate buyers can still get some good deals out there but they are dwindling to the delight of the seller. Real estate professionals are busy then ever fulfilling the needs of their buyers and sellers.

If you are in the market to buy or sell Sedona real estate or Verde Valley property,

 please call Sheri Sperry @ (928) 274-7355 or visit her website @ www.eSedona.biz . 

Enjoy Spring!

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