Its been a little while since i have posted anything, life has been very busy, very good and time is flying by!
As you can see, all with Emma is on track and going smooth! She is the perfect child, never upset, shares all of her toys with everyone and does not expect everything RIGHT NOW (please)
My amazing Sister Dana Phillips earned the O'Henry Teacher of the Year award for her hard work, dedication and innovation in the classroom. She has been at O'Henry for 11 years and teaches 8 grade English.
As for the real estate market there are some very exciting changes happening in the city of Austin and around the country. They are in the works of amending the $8,000.00 first time home buyer tax credit so that it is available at closing to be applied to closing cost or down payment! This is going to be a benefit to first time home buyers that do not have the 3 1/2 percent currently needed to buy.
Another big change we are seeing locally is the new energy audit ordinance which states that all homes within the city of Austin that are 10 years or older must perform the audit in order to sell. It was on the front page of the paper today!
Austin home sellers to have new chore: energy auditsBy Shonda NovakAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Austin home sellers to have new chore: energy auditsBy Shonda NovakAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Come Monday, many Austin home sellers will have one more chore, along with touching up the paint and sprucing up the yard, before putting their house on the market. That's when a new city ordinance kicks in that requires sellers of homes older than 10 years to get an energy audit and disclose the results to prospective buyers. City leaders who approved the audits last year said it was one more way to reduce Austin's energy consumption and make Austin greener, although sellers are not required to make any improvements as a result of the audit. The audits will cover issues such as how much insulation the house has and the condition of the heating and cooling equipment and include recommendations for improvements. Sellers must provide a copy of the report to buyers.
The auditors are required to provide a copy of their report to Austin Energy within 30 days. The ordinance says violations are a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. However, an amendment bound for a conference committee in the state Legislature could strip the ordinance of its teeth. The amendment says that "a municipality may not impose a criminal penalty on the seller of real property for the failure to perform an energy audit." Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland, filed the amendment to an energy efficiency bill introduced by state Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay. Ed Clark, a spokesman for Austin Energy, said that on average, a home that is 25 to 30 years old and has never had energy improvements wastes 30 to 50 percent of the energy it uses. Austin Energy offers rebates or zero percent loans for energy upgrades. In the past five years, 23,800 residential customers have made improvements that collectively reduced their energy use by 38 million kilowatt-hours and saved a total of $3 million on their energy bills, according to the utility.
The auditors are required to provide a copy of their report to Austin Energy within 30 days. The ordinance says violations are a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. However, an amendment bound for a conference committee in the state Legislature could strip the ordinance of its teeth. The amendment says that "a municipality may not impose a criminal penalty on the seller of real property for the failure to perform an energy audit." Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland, filed the amendment to an energy efficiency bill introduced by state Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay. Ed Clark, a spokesman for Austin Energy, said that on average, a home that is 25 to 30 years old and has never had energy improvements wastes 30 to 50 percent of the energy it uses. Austin Energy offers rebates or zero percent loans for energy upgrades. In the past five years, 23,800 residential customers have made improvements that collectively reduced their energy use by 38 million kilowatt-hours and saved a total of $3 million on their energy bills, according to the utility.
Energy audit highlights
Who needs one: Sellers of homes 10 or more years old in Austin that get their electricity from Austin Energy.
Who can skip it: Owners who have made certain improvements under Austin Energy programs in the previous 10 years. The ordinance does not apply to condominiums or mobile homes.
Who does the audits: City-approved firms that are certified by a national organization. Costs: Estimated at $200 to $300 for a typical home of 1,800 square feet or less. Austin Energy recommends getting at least three bids.
Who can skip it: Owners who have made certain improvements under Austin Energy programs in the previous 10 years. The ordinance does not apply to condominiums or mobile homes.
Who does the audits: City-approved firms that are certified by a national organization. Costs: Estimated at $200 to $300 for a typical home of 1,800 square feet or less. Austin Energy recommends getting at least three bids.
I like the energy audit ordinance in that it gets people talking and thinking about energy saving. I also think this is the "Granite Counter Tops" of the mid 2000's. Having a efficient GREEN ENERGY home will begin to demand more money in the market. If you are a seller wanting the most money out of the sale of your home. Going Green is the best way to spend your money upgrading the home. Of course overall condition will still have a large impact on the saleability of the home, but going green is a great way to stand out from the crowd.
What do you think, do you agree with the steps Austin is taking to improve our carbon footprint and force home sellers to perform an energy audit to sell there home?
Thanks for Reading!!!!!!
