WINTER 2011 ENERGY & COST $AVING TIPS

1. Turn down the dial.Set your thermostat to 68 degrees. With each degree you lower, you can save 2-5% on heating costs. Layer warm weather clothing while at home and you won’t even notice the difference. At night or when leaving the home for an extended period of time, lower the thermostat to 55-60 degrees. An automatic thermostat will make this even easier! Just program the temperatures based on your daily schedule. Doing this will knock off 5-20% on your heating bill.

2. Don’t overreact to a cold home. When you come home after a day of work to a frigid home, or are home in the middle of the day when your thermostat is programmed to 55, don’t overreact and crank the heat up to 75. You only need to heat to 68 degrees and setting the thermostat to 75 won’t heat the home any faster than if it’s set to 68. If you are home before the furnace has turned on, you can simply override your thermostat to 68. Be patient and throw on a sweater. You may not realize when the thermostat reaches 68, and before you know it you’ve been heating your house at 7 degrees higher than you need – or want – to pay for!

3. A clean furnace is an efficient furnace.Replace or clean furnace filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict air flow and increase energy use.

4.    Hot water can still be hot and save you money! Set your water heater to the normal setting or 120 degrees. You can save up to 11% on heating costs!

5.    Go green with ENERGY STAR®.Consider replacing old gas appliances with ENERGY STAR® qualified products or add HWA’s GreenPlus to your plan. If your appliances are more than 12 years old, you should consider the upgrade. The Consumer Energy Center recommends replacing your old gas appliances with ENERGY STAR® qualified products. Gas water heaters are labeled with an EF number the higher the EF, the more energy efficient the appliance will be.

6.    Beat the cold weather dryness.Use a humidifier to add moisture to the dry winter air in your home. Moister air feels warmer, so by using a humidifier, you will be more comfortable in your home even when the thermostat is set to a lower temperature.

7.    If you don’t use it, don’t heat it.Close off unused rooms such as spare bedrooms. When the room is not in use, close the floor or wall registers and keep the doors closed. If you have guests coming to visit, you can re-open everything and the room will warm up in just a couple hours.

8.    Let the sunshine in. Open south or east facing window curtains and blinds in the morning and during the day to take advantage of sunny days. At night, close window coverings to keep the heat in.

9.    Let your radiators and heating vents do their job. Don’t block your radiators or vents with furniture or draperies. Keep them free of dirt and dust and position your furniture so the heat can fill the room.

10. Cold water can do it better. Cold water does more for your disposal. Run cold water when you are using your garbage disposal and it will work even better. Hot water uses energy to warm the water. Cold water saves energy, plus it solidifies grease, moving it more easily through the garbage disposal and pipes.

11. Cook small.Prepare meals with small appliances rather than firing up the range. A microwave, toaster oven, electric skillet and slow cooker use much less energy than the range. Plus, the smaller appliances heat up much quicker. You can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80% when using your microwave for small portions. So when you’re preparing smaller recipes or just need a quick warm-up, the smaller appliances are perfect!

Homeownership Makes $ense!

Written by Howard Voyles, President & CEO of HousingMatrix, Inc. 

Bring on the buyers! At last, the housing market is beginning to make sense again. The ownership line is finally crossing over the rental line on the great Homeownership graph.

It is now more expensive to rent than to buy a home in 72% of major metropolitan areas across the US, according to the Trulia Rent vs. Buy Index released in January 2011.

This is due to rising demand for rentals and falling home prices combined with low interest rates.

Pete Flint, chief executive and co-founder of Trulia says: “Since the start of the Great Recession, many former homeowners have flooded the rental market… Following the principles of supply and demand, renting has become relatively more expensive than buying in most markets.”

The index compared the median list price and rent paid for a two-bedroom home in 50 cities. It then assigned a price-to-rent ration to each city with 15 signifying a buyer’s market and 21 or more signifying a renter’s market. The space between the two numbers signifies a balanced market.

The cost to rent includes rent and insurance. The cost of ownership includes mortgage principal and interest, closing costs, property taxes, hazard insurance and any homeowner association dues.
 
Not surprising, the most affordable markets are Las Vegas and Miami where the price-to-rent ration is 6 and where the foreclosure rates have topped the charts. Las Vegas was atop the foreclosures list in Q3 with one in every 25 homes in foreclosure.

The index reported that homeownership was cheaper in the metro areas of San Francisco, Seattle, New York and Kansas City, MO, all of whom had price-to-rent ratios over 21.

Other metros like Oakland, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Miami and Phoenix are experiencing elevated rates of unemployment or foreclosures and close economic centers with projected job growth are still more affordable to renters.

Contact Comet Realty today to make your homeownership dream a reality. 805-546-9925, Info@CometRealty.com.

California Home Sales Rose in January 2011

California home sales rose in January, marking three consecutive monthly increases and posting their highest level since May 2010, according to data compiled from California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.). 

“With lower home prices and rates edging up from their historic lows of late last year, prospective home buyers should consider the opportunities in today’s market,” said C.A.R. President Beth L. Peerce.

California home sales rose 5.1 percent in January compared with December, to a revised pace of 520,080 units.  Sales also increased 2.5 percent in year-over-year comparisons, marking the first year-over-year sales increase since May 2010.  The statewide sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2011 if sales maintained the January pace throughout the year.  It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

Call Comet Realty to find out how you can take advantage of opportunites in investing in real estate on the Central Coast. 805.546.9925

FOR SALE: 144 Summit Way, Pismo Beach, CA (MLS#173285)

www.144Summit.com 

This wonderful single level twinhome, features 2 bedrooms, 1-¾ baths, a recently updated kitchen, beautiful cherry laminate wood floors, vaulted ceilings and a slate fireplace in the living room. Other benefits include a fenced backyard with timed sprinklers, a water softener, and a 2 car garage with extra attic storage space. It's newly listed at $325,000 by Comet Realty. Call one of our amazing Realtors® today to see this and other Central Coast Properties. 805.546.9925.

FRIENDLY.   PROFESSIONAL.   LOCAL.

FOR SALE: 601 Grove, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (MLS#170559)

Stunning custom 1963 Mid Century Modern architectural hilltop home in the downtown San Luis Obispo core area–close to everything! Featuring panoramic views of Cerro San Luis and Bishops Peak, this home has been painstakingly restored and enhanced to todays standards while keeping the integrity of its original design. Dramatic 2 story vaulted ceiling with spectacular freestanding stone fireplace. Floor to ceiling windows. First time on the market in over 30 years. Over 15000 SF lot (check with city for options). 

This is currently listed for sale for $648,000 with Tim Townley of Comet Realty, who can be reached at 805-440-8735, or Tim@CometRealty.com . 

See more photos and virtual tour at www.601Grove.com 

We Open Doors at Comet Realty

Everyone’s needs are different. Whether you are a first time buyer, or a seasoned veteran of the process, we have the experience necessary to guide you through your real estate transaction. We know that in order to satisfy you we must first listen to your needs, and then act to execute your wishes.

Everyone knows that the best way to grow a business is through referrals. If your time with us is a profitable, enjoyable transaction where your needs are pleasantly fulfilled, your recommendation will go farther than any money spent advertising our agency. We are looking for customers for life, and look forward to helping you now---and with your future Real Estate needs.

Comet Realty is a small company that can focus on your needs. We are not some gigantic chain that treats its clients as “just another quick sale”. We answer to you, not a “home office” in another time zone. We live, work and play on the Central Coast, and have the “local knowledge” to get business done.

We know that a suit and tie does not make one a professional. It is the attention to detail, the follow up, the calls and e-mails, and the relentless dedication to your satisfaction that makes us professionals in Real Estate.