How to Prepare to Become a Successful Real Estate Investor

Investing in real estate has been one of the building blocks of private wealth for a very long time. It has the potential to make the average man very rich, if he knows what he is doing. Real estate investing not only generates a solid income stream, but also provides a number of important tax benefits.

Any business that promises great profits also includes the possibility of great loss. Most losses are the result of mistakes that could have been avoided. Let's look at some steps to take that can help you be successful.

Step 1 - Educate Yourself!

DO NOT move blindly into real estate investments because the market is glutted with properties that are actually affordable and interest rates are low - or because you suddenly have a sizeable chunk of income that you want to invest.

The keyword in the previous paragraph is "blindly". All of the reasons listed are good reasons for becoming a real estate investor, but do so with your eyes wide open. Learn the system and learn how it can work for you - become a real estate investment master.

Begin at the beginning - dig into the fundamentals. Talk to an expert in the field and find out everything you "don't know." From that discussion develop a list of questions that you need to have answered and go to work finding the answers. With all the information sources we have available today, finding the answers should be fairly easy - possibly time-consuming, but easy.

Talk to everyone you know who has done well with this type of investing, pick their brains. Get them to share their experiences and mistakes they made if they are willing. Ask about books they recommend. Then, begin your research and study through online sources and the old-fashioned way - the public library.

Do not read just one book or watch one set of videos. To be truly educated in any field, you must study different perspectives on each topic and look for critical threads that run through all the material regardless of who the author is. Your understanding will begin to develop and you will slowly develop a solid knowledge base that will help you be successful.

Begin to network with others in the real estate world, agents, brokers and investors. In fact, joining a real estate investment club or taking classes on real estate investments could be fun and extremely useful in furthering your education.

Step 2: Get your finances in order

I am sure that it is obvious, but I am going to say it anyway. Investing in anything requires capital. You must either have personal capital to invest, financial partners that will help provide the capital (and hopefully have some experience in real estate investments), or you must have the assets and a credit history that will allow you to finance your purchases. They all work, but the bottom line is that you must have the financial strength to move forward.

Step 3 - Specialize in the type of real estate that interests you the most

Focus is critical. Don't buy a little of this and a little that. There are so many different types of real estate that without focus, you will not do well. Which area interests you the most - and why? Which type matches your personality, abilities and skills? Your choice should "fit" you and, most important, it must have the potential of helping you reach your financial goals.

If you are a do-it-yourself person with a creative flair and would enjoy being involved in the day-to-day oversight of properties, single family fixer-uppers would be a good possibility. On the other hand, if you have no interest in managing the properties, apartment buildings make more sense because apartment buildings generally have on-site managers that take care of everything.

Step 4 - Have all your ducks in a row before making the offer and finalizing the deal

Once you have decided which type of real estate will be your focus, study that market carefully - in great detail - before making an offer. Gather as much pertinent information as possible, for example, fair market value of the property, recent sales in the area for similar properties (comps), the maximum offer you are prepared to make, and have a valid estimate of expected rental income and immediate costs (renovations, repairs, etc.).

Be prepared for anything that may come up in the bargaining sessions. Make sure you are working with an experienced agent that you can trust. It is always best if the agent has been referred to you by an experienced investor. You may also want to discuss any potential purchase with other trusted advisors such as your financial planner, your attorney and your accountant.

American Millionaires Find St Martin Caribbean Real Estate Appealing: An Overview

Already a popular vacation destination, Saint Martin is fast developing as a highly profitable real estate market for the upscale property buyers overseas. More and more millionaires and business tycoons from North and Latin America and Europe are interested in the Caribbean real estate market. And most of them find Saint Martin as a prestigious location to own a property. Exemption of annual property taxes has made St Martin real estate market more appealing in the eyes of the foreign buyers.

Villas, condos, houses or cottages - options are aplenty when it comes to buying or renting a property in St Martin. Buyers from abroad often purchase villas on the beachfront and other prime locations on the island and appoint a reliable rental service agency to take care of the property in their absence. These rental service providers place the property to a renting program for tourists and vacationers. Thus the concepts like vacation rental and timeshares are rapidly growing popular in this part of the world.

The most interesting thing about Caribbean vacation rentals is that most of properties come with a host of amenities beyond your expectations. Splurge villas have designer interior featuring beautifully furnished rooms with large glass doors and windows to ensure splendid ocean views from the rooms. Fully equipped bathrooms and kitchens, dining, living, private pool are some of the common features. Private tennis court, golf ground and private beach areas in Caribbean villa rentals offer the taste of an extravagant lifestyle.

There are a number of reliable real estate agents in St Martin. Whether you want to buy or rent a property contacting through agents prove convenient. They have their own property listings with elaborate details of each and every property. Going through their websites makes your property search easier and faster. Their highly professional service makes your property buying or renting a hassle free experience.

However, there are some rules and regulations for buying properties in St Maarten/St Martin. Interested buyers should know the terms and conditions for purchasing a land or a property. But law is flexible and influenced by European property buying laws and system. Foreigners are allowed to buy property in the island but they need to produce a residency permit at the time of purchase. It can be non-working permit or working residence proof or visiting vacation permit applicable for 90 days. Buyers have to pay Notary fees, transfer tax and property registration tax.

Property Investment Fundamentals and Portfolio Planning Characteristics

Property values are driven by basic supply and demand. When 'facilitated demand' is high (willing buyers that can access finance), and supply limited, then property values rise, and the opposite is true when demand is weak and there is an oversupply of properties. With this in mind, property investments are driven on the one hand by global macro-economic and socio-economic trends such as population growth and rising incomes, whilst on the other hand local and regional factors play a key role in property values. For example, in 2012, property values across the UK continue to fall or stagnate, except in London where demand is still high and where wealthy buyers can still afford to buy homes, either as first residences or as investments. The dynamics of financial markets also play a part in defining property values, as availability of credit is key to turning demand into actual transactions, and where credit is not available property prices are likely to remain depressed. Furthermore, the general state of an economy, either locally or nationally, will also impact property investments. If unemployment rises, then rental defaults will increase, and if wages fall, so too will rental yields as tenants push for reductions.

Investors in property should consider that the value of their assets, and the income produced by them is dependent of a number of supply / demand variables, on a local, national and international basis, and therefore perhaps the lowest risk form of property investing is to acquire properties well below market value, add further value through improvements where possible, and dispose of the property quickly in order to free up capital to repeat the cycle. This removes reliance on some of the aforementioned factors as the Investor does not require capital growth, only a buyer prepared to pay market value and able to secure the funds to do so.

Investment Characteristics

Property as an asset class is generally used by Financial Advisors as a risk-management and diversification tool, due primarily to the asset class sharing a low-correlation with equity markets although some correlations do exist. It is difficult to define the portfolio planning characteristics of real estate in general terms due to the wide variety of sub-sectors which all derive growth and income from different market-sectors and investment returns are driven by different factors to the next sub-sector.

Broadly speaking however, all property sub-sectors do share a number of characteristics that make the asset class appealing to Investors seeking capital security, income and growth.

Intrinsic value - property investment assets retain a capital value throughout the useful lifetime of the asset. Provided there are buyers, and Investor is unlikely to ever lose all of their investment.

Low correlation - Property investments generate income from rentals rather than money market performance, and capital growth is driven by demand. However, every sub-sector shares at least some correlation with the general economy.

Income - Property investments derive income from rentals as people or organisations are prepared to pay to use the asset, or in the case of natural resource properties, from the sale of the commodities produced, replacing income during times of depressed interest rates.

Capital growth - Again, capital growth is driven by facilitated demand. In the case of distressed assets, Investor may be able to capture inherent value based on their purchase discount.

5 Simple Tips How To Decide On The Right Investment Property

Do you want to learn how to be a real estate investor? If you do, this is going to be an interesting article to you. You are about to discover the 5 simple tips how you can decide on the right property for investment.

One of the main problems most people faced when investing in real estate is that they do not know whether they are buying at the right property. When they have the capital to invest, they will hesitate and doubtful whether to invest. They are afraid that they might make the wrong move. This is a common issue among everyone, but can be solved by applying the 5 simple tips below...

1. Know how much you can afford

Yes, before you even start to invest, know how much you can afford and how much capital you have. You do not want to put down too much money into the investment and end up having not enough cash flow for emergency such as any major or minor repair. And make sure you have the surplus as a buffer zone for the vacant period. Remember; always keep extra capital for buffer.

2. Know the property value

Needless to explain much, you have to understand the property market in that particular area very well and you have to judge whether it is going to be a good buy. Usually people will buy below market and sell a little bit higher, or just wait for capital appreciation or rent it out. You can always check with your local bankers to get a valuation of the property price and use this number as a benchmark.

3. Perform the necessary inspection

Make sure you have an inspection list and know what to do when viewing on a property. Just follow through the list and inspect each of the items so that you are not buying something that will end up eating your money. You can also check with the local people there or the neighbor to get a clearer picture of the common problems that they faced.

4. Avoid scams and fraud

You will hear cases where people get conned by property agents. Do not let this stop you as there will be scams and fraud in every investment or businesses out there. You just need to do your homework and make sure you engage the right agent and are buying from the right owner. Put everything down into black and white, every party has to provide the necessary documents.

5. Understand and take calculated risk

Like what I have mentioned above, there is a risk in every form of investments. You just need to learn how to take calculated risk and put the risk out of the game. It will be difficult in the beginning, but once you started to understand the rules of the game, you will become better in real estate investing and take the risk out of the game.

Environmentally Friendly Building Techniques

1. REDUCE

Create a better insulated home. This will reduce heat and cool air loss, and save you money while decreasing the home's energy consumption. How to do this? Consider using raised heel trusses, which bumps more insulation space into your roof. Also consider insulating the outside of the foundation.

Advanced caulking can help to reduce air inflow and unwanted temperature changes; a good air seal can be confirmed with a "blower door" test. And testing the cooling and heating ducts for leaks, and subsequently sealing them, can also add up to environmental and financial savings, as well.

You can also reduce environmental impact by selecting, where possible, quickly renewable resources such as strawboard, wheatgrass, cork or bamboo. Consider also using engineered lumber, which can also replace lumber cut from old-growth ecosystems.

Insulation is available which is crafted from a sustainable resource: sheep's wool.

Some traditional wood products, such as deck planking, siding and sills, have now been created from plastic lumber, which utilizes recycled plastic jugs. A side benefit is that these products require little maintenance from the homeowner.

Another idea to reduce consumption is the use of durable flooring and pathway items, such as tile, slate and stone. These materials tend to last longer and therefore don't need to be replaced nearly as often as other choices might require.

Select high-efficiency appliances, including washers, water heaters, furnaces, and light fixtures. Work to incorporate daylight as a natural light source into your design wherever possible.

The effort to reduce household water consumption can be aided by installing rainwater collection systems. Think also about installing less lawn and more drought resistant plants in your landscape.

2. REUSE

Use reclaimed lumber where possible to keep this material out of the landfill. Multiple building products have been created from recycled stock. Also stockpile and reuse the topsoil on your lot; don't allow it to be hauled away.

3. RECYCLE

At the construction site, a de facto recycling center can not only save the need to rent a dumpster, but can also avoid putting leftover construction materials in a landfill. By posting a recycling plan for the construction site, and working to recycle such items as concrete, packaging, cardboard, drywall, and lumber, builders can then take these materials to recyclers. These items can then be reused, rather than just creating more waste stream.

4. BREATHE MORE EASILY AT HOME

New home construction can be dogged by "off-gassing" materials, such as carpet adhesives and solvent-based varnishes and paints. Avoid such problems by electing to use natural, low-VOC paints. Ask that carpet be tacked rather than glued.

Town Houses As Investment Properties

If you are considering an investment property then this is a great move that can help you to earn a large amount of money over a short amount of time. It's a very secure investment that's highly unlikely to drop in value, and it's an investment that can have great practical use while you wait to sell giving you somewhere to live, a holiday home, or just generally a property (unlike owning an old painting or stock which you can't do much with in the interim).

Town houses are ideal investment properties as they are something that will always be in demand thanks to their highly practical locations and the surrounding industry and amenities.

That said though not all town houses were made equal, and while any town house will be a good way to make money there are some things that can help you make our investment even more successful and profitable. Here we will look at some tips when buying town houses as investment properties that can help you to make more money more quickly.

Choose Your Area: First of all, choose your location well. You want to find somewhere that is currently good value and in demand, but even more importantly you want it to be somewhere that is increasing in value. It needs to be somewhere that is going to be worth more than it is now when you come to sell it - otherwise you are just making your money back. The more that the area goes up in value and in demand, the more money you will make on your purchase.

How do you choose a property that is going to go up in value? Well first of all you should choose somewhere that is going to have a lot of money spent on it in the near future. Areas marked for development are ideal investments. Likewise look for places that are having particular new installations in the region whether those are tourist attractions or amenities.

Develop: Next you want to invest in a property that you will be able to develop and spend money on. In other words you want somewhere that isn't in perfect repair and that has room for improvement. This is another way to raise the value past the amount that you paid for it. For instance if you retile the bathroom, relandscape the garden, replaster the walls, or redecorate the rooms then you will find it increases the value of the property. And the value of the property will increase to such a degree that you earn back more than you paid for the developments.

Use: You can also make money from an investment townhouse by using it in the interim while you wait for it to sell. This can mean simply that you rent it out, or that you lease it for use as a holiday home. Either way you will make money in the short term and then make more money again on top of that when you sell the building.

3 Ways Custom Homes Are a Better Option for Buyers

There are basically two types of home buying options; custom homes or production houses. For custom homes you hire a construction company to build on your plot, while a production home is buying an already built home on the company's land site. While production houses also have their own benefits, it is these homes that many of us dreams of. Who wouldn't want a beautiful dream home that is built exactly the way they imagined it? In case you are unsure about whether this is a better option, here are three major benefits that can help you get a better understanding:

1. Get a Dream Home

Each one of us dreams of what our home would look like. Some of us are lucky enough to make sure this dream comes true. You can build the kitchen the way you want, have the rooms designed in a special way for your kids. Create a personal sanctuary for peace and meditation. All these are possibilities when you have a home built according to a laid out design plan. You will have to employ a professional company that offers you unique flooring plans. If you can sketch your own design that would definitely be a great boost.

2. No Repairs or Renovations

Most of the time, you have to renovate a production house to suit your living style. With custom-built houses, you don't have to worry about such a problem anymore. There will be no need for manipulations and no costly renovations needed. However, for this to be the "perfect" home, you also need to have a perfect design plan.

Never hurry in creating your design plan, but rather put in a good though process and feel what you want from each room, each space in your home. Even with design plans, make sure everything is according to your liking and that you have a good understanding of how your home would look like and then go on with it.

3. You Control the Cost

With custom houses, you control the cost. You know what products are being used, what paints are required and what the overall cost of the object is. You don't have to pay any hidden, upfront charges. Everything is in your control and later this house will give an excellent resale value.

Buying Your First Home: Three Reasons It Should Be a Modular Home

Purchasing your first home is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming process. From choosing design options to financing, there are a lot of decisions to be made before you can become a homeowner. Many first time buyers are discovering the many advantages of building a customized modular home. If you are considering buying your first home, there are three reasons a modular home may be the best choice for you.

1. Quality: Modular homes are built off-site in a climate controlled factory. They are about 85% complete when they are transferred to the home site. There are multiple inspections throughout the construction process to ensure that your home is built to the highest of standards. These homes meet or exceed all federal, state, and local regulation codes. Because they must be constructed to withstand travel, they are highly durable as well.

The modular homes of today are not the manufactured homes of the past. They are quality built homes that are constructed with 30% more lumber, more glue and more nails than traditional homes. You can be sure that your modular home is safe, sturdy home that will stay strong and beautiful for many years to come.

2. Affordable: You will be amazed at how much house you get for the price. There are a number of reasons that modular homes are so affordable. Because they are built in an off site factory, you do not need to worry about theft or vandalism to your supplies. All of the lumber and equipment is safely housed and inaccessible to the public. The manufacturer is able to buy supplies and materials in bulk, saving the home buyer a substantial amount of money. Shorter construction times also result in savings to the consumer.

3. Customizable: There are hundreds of floor plans available to ensure that you find the home layout that will make the most sense for your family. You can choose a two-story or one-story home with a variety of styles and choices for exterior treatments. Porches and garages are popular additions that customize your home and enhance its functionality and appearance.

When designing your home, you will need to choose a foundation system. Modular homes can be built on a slab, crawl space, or basement. There are advantages and disadvantages to all options. Your builder will help you choose the option that will fit your budget and benefit your family the most.

One of the best things about buying a modular home is the ability to customize the interior of your home so that it makes sense for your family's lifestyle. From gourmet kitchens to walk-in tubs and energy efficient appliances, you can truly design your dream home. The manufacturer that you work with will be able to inform you of all of the various options available to you and help you make choices that will stay within your budget.

Buying Another House Vs Building a Second House

As a successful homeowner who wants to invest in a second home, purchasing another house and the decision to have a house built from the ground up are both options. These two options for a resident differ in their personality, preference, and price.

Building-a-home types are creative, independent thinkers, who want a place that reflects their personality. They take pride in knowing the image of their perfect house has come to life. In contrast with buying another house types who don't really want what comes with building a house, they just want a roof over their heads. They don't want to put the effort into a new house built from the ground up. Whatever personality a homeowner has whether it's buying a house attitude or building a new home attitude, both types know what they need when it comes to choosing a home.

The cost of another house as opposed to building another home doesn't have everything a homeowner wants on their wish list. With having a house built, the resident can decide exactly what they want in their dream home.

Homeowners can "customize their home with such things as energy-efficient systems or environmentally friendly aspects." So the householder is not only getting everything they want but also they are saving the earth. I'm having trouble seeing the bad side to this option. I'd pay for a second, built home just knowing I was doing something good for the environment.

For occupants who want a home right away buying another house is the best option. This choice is for those homeowners that need to move out of their first home to another house because they need to move for a new job. These people don't have the luxury of waiting for their dream house unless they plan far in advance. Or it's possible they are not the building a home type. I'd take this option under consideration if I didn't have the time to invest constructing of a new house.

When faced with options like buying another house or building a second house, the homeowner has to consider the cost of these two options. According toCost of Building a House vs. Buying, "The median price for an existing home in 2005 was $219,000, while the median cost of building a home the same year was $240,900." The prices are not that far apart, and it's only a 21,900 difference. The resident doesn't have to worry much about a significant price increase.

So, either way a homeowner can choose one option or the other without worrying about how one costs considerably more than the other. This is a relief for some owners who think they have to settle when buying another house instead of building their dream home. I know I wouldn't want to settle for an all ready built home when I can have a new, built home for me at a good price.

Financial cost isn't the only price of a home. Emotional cost is also involved when buying another house or building a new house. With unexpected weather like snow and rain and contracting issues, a completed house sounds more favorable. Buying a house definitely sounds more favorable as opposed to all the stresses surrounding a new, built home but I believe it's worth it in the end when I'd be living in a place I can really call mine.

Getting the Best Deal for Your New Home

Your house is definitely the biggest financial asset in your life. Building your dream home should not be compromised or taken for granted. Find the best new homebuilder to make your place of living more secure and comfortable.

The most important thing in searching for a new home is choosing where to live. Your first move is to search for the best places. Avoid building your new home in a place where there are too many liabilities such as water and sewage disposal or other environmental concerns.

Finding the perfect location

To get the perfect place where you can build your new home, follow these steps.

What type of home do you want to build?

The first step is choosing your home style. Choose whether you want a bungalow, single-family house, or cabin type. If you want a big house, you need to plan all the details.

What is your budget?

Everything starts with the right budget. How much are you willing to pay for your house? By now, you should know how much you could afford. Remember to always stick to the budget. Never buy anything you cannot afford to avoid future problems.

What are the things you need to consider?

Find a good location where you can build your new home. Make sure you have all the things you need, such as accessibility to schools, hospitals, pharmacies, and shopping malls.

What kind of community do you want to live in?

This is one of the most important things you need to consider when looking for a new home. Go around the neighborhood and talk to the local residents. Observe carefully.

What kind of environment do you want for your family?

You're buying a new home to ensure comfort of your family. Make sure the new environment is safe and favorable for your loved ones. Apart from that, you should also examine the civic facilities such as road, garbage, sewage, drainage, and the means of transportation. Living in a new place should be hassle free.

Negotiating for the best deal

Real estate transactions are sometimes complicated. It could be more difficult when negotiating with new homebuilders because usually home prices are based on fixed construction rates. Still, you can get the ideal deal if you know how to negotiate.

Energy Star Homes

New homes that are being built right now are using many methods and materials that are not only cost efficient, but they also have energy savings in mind so that they not only help to bring down your monthly bills but they will also have benefits in helping the environment. Owning a home that is significantly more efficient than a standard home will mean that you use less electricity to run your home, which will directly translate to your electric bill. This also holds true for other bills that a home might have such as your water bill. The building process of an energy star home also does not bring down the quality of the house itself, which makes sure you still have a custom home with all the amenities of a traditionally built home.

One main feature that is installed in a home that has an energy star rating is the type of insulation that is used to hold heat or cool air inside your home. This insulation is installed in the floors of your home, the walls, and the attic of your house so that your heating and air units are not constantly running and trying to keep your home at a consistent temperature. Insulation is very important when it comes to keeping your house at a constant temperature. If you do not have the proper insulation, this means it will be nearly impossible to keep your home comfortable at low costs.

Other areas of the house that can directly affect your heating and air, and energy costs, are the type of windows you have in your home. Energy efficient windows will be installed that are designed to keep the air in your home in, and whatever the temperature is outside out of your home. This will allow for your heating and air to run less of the time, and will help cut costs on power bills. These windows are also rated to block UV rays from coming through and fading not only your furniture, but also your hardwood floors.

Your entire HVAC system will be installed with efficiency in mind. The ducts themselves will be installed to wear less duct is used around your house, making your units work less. The units themselves will be high efficient, and will be built to last a long period of time. The wiring of your house will also keep your electric bill in mind by using state of the art equipment and wiring. Everything about an energy star home keeps your monthly costs down every year, and also has less of an impact on the environment.

Energy Star Home Builders

When you're in the market for a house, it is good to check what type of home the builder built during the construction process. If you see that the house is a energy star home, using modern construction techniques to ensure the home will have low monthly bills, it might be a good idea to choose that home over traditionally built houses. Many people that are in the market for a new home will more than likely be searching for a house that has efficiency in mind, and also the environment in mind. If you are looking to get into building homes, or you are already someone who builds homes, it might be a good idea to look into how you can become an energy star homebuilder.

The main things for builders to consider is that energy star homes hold their value better than normal houses, and they do not cost all that much more then building a house the normal way. Its not like an energy star home is a completely different building process. There are just many small differences that will end up being seen when it comes time to pay the electric bill, water bill, or your gas bill. The entire idea of these types of homes is to conserve energy so that people will not have outrageous monthly bills while living in the home.

The larger the house a builder is constructing, the more it will cost to upkeep each month, and the higher the energy bills will be. A great selling point of a large house that is built with energy savings in mind is that it does not use as much power as smaller homes that weren't built with energy star rating. People are looking to save money, and are looking for a house that will hold a constant temperature consistently, which is what an energy star home directly represents. A builder will have an easier time selling a highly efficient home than selling a house that was not built with energy in mind.

Background Of Green Belts And Their Share To Mother Nature

A Green Belt is not only about your expertise level in martial arts but also with the improvement of the earth. A Green Belt is really an unseen line specified as undeveloped, which remains so to allow wildlife to come back and gain a foothold in the area. These are similar to but distinctive from "greenways" and "green wedges," which can run through an urban area instead of around it.

Green Belts greatly benefit the people that live within them despite the fact that such specified areas are seriously restricted in terms of development. It's priorities relate to the natural environment, the air we breathe, wide open spaces and the integrity of the countryside.

Green Belts will not work well in all areas, and success hinges a great deal on the surrounding environment. These areas occasionally end up in uneven borders and the creation of "satellite towns," which work more like suburbs than independent communities even though they are technically detached from urban areas by a Green Belt.

Although there is evidence that it is an ancient concept, in the contemporary world this kind of policy was started in the 1930s in Great Britain. You can find fourteen Green Belts in England today. Known as green space or greenspace in the United States, the boundaries tend to be smaller and are usually confined to small spaces, such as parks.

Mandated city plans, restrictive covenants, or land use designations are the usual ways in which these are established. Several communities have placed a priority on such installations, encouraging people to think about the significance of city planning on the natural environment.

A major criticism of this derives from the fact that a Green Belt is likely to spur the expansion of areas a great deal further away from the middle of the city, increasing urban spread. Urban sprawl has become a genuine predicament in Ottawa, Canada, in the suburbs of both Kanata and Orleans. Other problems, such as travelling difficulties and land reserve issues, can develop with this.

A Green Belt has its pros and cons, but it is more optimistic concerning its effects on the environment. Conserving water, regulating temperature and giving a home for wildlife are three important priorities relating to a Green Belt. It is a move in the right direction, even according to its many critics.

The Benefits of Going Green for Homeowners

In this day and age, everyone seems to be jumping on the proverbial 'green' bandwagon. From multi-national corporations to small local businesses, there is an environmental angle to just about every consumer product. For homeowners, the benefits of going green can be numerous and while some of them can cost money up front, there are many advantages to this new environmental movement.

Of course, the environmental movement isn't new; it's actually been around for many decades. Yet a fair majority of people throughout the country have either been aware from a distance or dismissive of it as a costly and 'tree-hugging' waste of time. The reality, however, has changed in recent years as the price of gasoline, home heating, and electricity have gone through the roof, in a manner of speaking.

Homeowners who are looking to either add value to their homes or save money in the long run, or both, are beginning to turn toward the benefits of going green as a serious way to make an impact, if not on the environment, then on their budget. There are quite a few things people can do to turn their home into a green home.

Update appliances

For older homes, many of the appliances that may be leftover from the seventies and eighties will likely be chugging down electricity like an athlete downs Gatorade on a hot summer day. By updating these appliances with modern, Energy Star efficient ones, a homeowner can save up to several hundred dollars a year. Some homeowners have reported saving several thousand dollars every year by doing this.

The initial cost is often a deterrent, but given that a homeowner will likely remain in their home for many years, the cost of upgrading now is outweighed by those long-term savings. It can be looked at in another light as well. When a homeowner updates his or her appliances, such as the refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer, dishwasher, and even the smaller ones like a toaster oven, then the value of the home also goes up slightly.

Having new appliances attract potential homebuyers' attention when it's time to put it on the market. The key is to choose the appliances that have the highest energy efficient rating, fit within a reasonable budget, and add aesthetic value to the house.

Solar panels

Depending on where in the country a person lives, solar panels can be a great advantage and a boost in the home's value. In Southern California, for example, solar panels will be working overtime almost year-round, with the constant glare of the sun peering down on this region, but in Seattle, Washington, they might not offer the same value.

A homeowner in a high sun region of the country can take advantage of a number of government programs that help subsidize the purchase, installation, and use of solar panels. The initial out-of-pocket expenses for these solar panels can be jaw-dropping, certainly, but there are many homeowners who run their entire house on solar energy, paying nothing or next to nothing to the utility companies.

There is some upkeep with batteries and the like, but when the home goes on the market, the selling point of being able to supply a significant portion of the house's power through solar energy, the savings can add up very quickly.

Wind energy

Just like solar panels, wind turbines can be an asset for many homeowners, especially those who live in high wind regions. Wind turbines for home use can be small and unobtrusive, and many are even ornamental in nature so that they fit in with the natural surroundings. In most cases, the wind turbines won't produce as much energy as solar panels, but any savings adds to inherent home values and the homeowner's pocket at the end of the day.

Going green doesn't have to be a major expense. In fact, simply changing out traditional incandescent light bulbs with new CFL lights can increase savings and add a selling component to the house.

Eco-Friendly Steel Buildings For Environment Purposes

There are many reasons that some people choose to construct steel buildings for environment purposes. This type of building is far more eco-friendly than the structures of the past. From the actual eco-friendly nature of the ores that are used, all the way to the actual construction process, these structures are kind to the planet. This article will be explaining this much further detail.

The actual nature of the ores that are used in these structures is one of the factors that help to make these structures so environmentally friendly. These ores can be melted down and reused for other purposes if a building has to every be disassembled. Any type of recycling like this is great for the planet, especially when one considers that the materials could be recycled into another similar building.

A lot of older structures from the past have always been made from wood and brick materials. The bad thing about these materials is that they wind up in a landfill if the building is every disassembled. The average consumer's household garbage is enough of an issue; having an entire building wind up in such fills only makes the problem much worse.

The type of insulation that is typically being applied to these structures is far more eco-friendly than insulation alternatives of the past. A lot of structures from the past utilized fiber glass insulation. The processes involved in creating and transporting fiber glass are all very hard on the environment. A simple and light weight reflective material is used for insulating the type of building being discussed here.

The fact that these structures are constructed much quicker also lends to them being a more environmentally friendly option. Anybody that is even vaguely familiar with the construction process might already know that this process is hard on the environment. A lot of energy is being burned by many parties involved, and this takes place until the process is completely finished.

A lot of the materials that are used to create these structures have been pre-fabricated into ready to go parts by the company that is selling the. Just think of all the materials that have to be cut on a traditional job site. Traditional construction sites are typically over littered with left over materials that lie about. When these are thrown away they wind up in a land fill.

It is also very important for people to consider how much more cost effective these solutions are when compared to traditional structures. It never hurts to save a little money while being kind to the environment. This cost effective nature combined with the eco-friendly nature of these structures is likely to make them the wave of the future. This is starting to occur already.

By now, the reader should be well aware of the many reasons that some people choose steel buildings for environment reasons. It is very hard to find a kind of structure that is as friendly to the earth as this type. The fact that they go up much quicker and do not cost nearly as much is also very attractive to many people.

Risks of Having a Rooftop Garden

The main reason people are scared of rooftop gardening is that they think it would be so expensive. This just is not the case. Especially if rooftop gardens are included in the budget prior to constructing the building. In comparison to the price it takes to actually construct these buildings the price of the rooftop gardens will be a bargain. Most of the buildings in Seattle with rooftop space are multi million dollar facilities.

Some of these buildings actually reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars so building a garden on the roof would only be a tiny fraction of the price. At Seattle University the price of the flat screens in dormitories is greater than what it would cost to plant extensive gardens on all those roofs. There are just so many benefits of the rooftop gardens that it would be silly to think of it as an unsound investment. It would be possible to plants thousands of square feet of garden space for a mid four figure investment. Consider a hundred million dollar condo high rise.

If they were to spend ten thousand dollars creating one of the most extravagant rooftop gardens to date that was open to the people living there it would surely increase the value of their building substantially. How much is hard to say but in terms of return on investment building that garden would be a no brainer. Another benefit of spending the money to build a garden would be the media attention it would attract. In comparison to spending money on advertising the gardens would seem cheap.

There are some other reasons that hold people back from planting rooftop gardens. Sometimes the structure of the building is just inadequate to support such a weight. Other rooftops may not have access or proper draining. Although not completely necessary it is much easier to build a garden on a flat surface. Having a upside down V shaped roof is a holdup for most residential housing.

Home Builders - What Is a Green Home?

In this day and age everyone is trying to do their part to make sure that they are trying to protect the environment. We all know that this world's resources are only depleting and the quality of air is only getting worse. We must conserve this world for the generations after us and insure that the earth's resources last as long as they can, all while making sure that the quality of life stays the best that it can possibly be. One way to help make this happen is by living and owning a green home. A green home is a quality home that helps you save money and keep your way of living as best as it can be.

A few key ways that a green home works is by helping to save energy, time, and money. A green home is designed to increase the efficiency off all the appliances in your home. They help by increasing the productivity of the amount of water you use as well as making sure that all the energy you are using is being used to its full ability, and not being wasted. All these things are able to help you save money by using less and producing more. This is one of the most important things about having a green home. It is important to conserve the resources that we need the most to make sure that they will be there for generations after us, and to save money while doing it.

Another thing that makes a home into a green home is by insuring that the air inside your home has the best air quality possible. Having the air in your home be as clean as possible enhances the overall livability for you and your family. Having this kind of overall air cleanliness reduces things in the air like pollutants, which will only spread things like allergies and sickness. Clean air inside your home reduces all these things and also improves the ventilation throughout your home. This helps you and your family to breathe as easy as possible, and keeping them healthy as well.

New Homes - Why Buy a Green Home?

There are many factors that go into buying a new home. What is your price range, what neighborhood, how many bedrooms, and the list goes on and on. One thing that definitely shouldn't be overlooked is the possibility of moving into a green home. There are many reasons to move into a green home.

One reason to buy a green home is because we must conserve our planets resources for generations after us. Year after year our planet's resources are depleted until eventually we will have no more resources at all. The air will get dirtier and harder to breath and we will be forced to deal with it. That is why buying a green home is such a good idea, conserving this world for the generations and generations after us. After all we all know that the planets resources can't last forever but we can all do our part to try to get it to last as long as possible. And buying a green home is just one more way to make that happen.

Another reason that buying an environmentally friendly home is a good idea is because of the savings that are possible by owning one. A green home can increase the efficiency of both the energy you use as well as the water. Making the appliances you use, use less energy to run them and also use less water to get a job done that would have originally used more. Increasing the efficiency of the power and water you use means that you will use less in the long run and over time there is thousands of dollars of money you can save by increasing the efficiency of your utilities.

One more reason that buying a green home is beneficial is that it gives you a peace of mind that you are doing something for the environment. Knowing that you are conserving resources and helper to keep the world a cleaner place can be something great that you can take pride in. You can also take pride in knowing that you are also providing a safe and environmentally sound place for you and your family to live in.

Foundations Of Conservation

The topic of this article is conservation of energy in residential buildings. When we talk about conservation we are not talking about little things like turning off the lights when we leave a room. We are talking about big things like the conservation principles of energy and matter that preserve our universe, the process of homeostasis that sustains the conditions for life on our planet, the laws of thermodynamics that order the distribution of energy in our universe, and the environmental processes that distribute the nutrients of life to every living creature on board. These principles and processes tell us how this planet conserves and recycles both energy and life.

Our choice is to either cooperate with, or oppose these laws. When we oppose, we are in a zero sum game against nature that we will lose. Buildings that cooperate with the 2nd law in particular, will collect energy, while those that oppose it will disperse energy.

Earth is an energy capture devise that maintains an average surface temperature of 59*F, converts energy into its many different forms,and is the only known conservatory for life. She is our perfect model of how to collect, convert, and conserve energy.

Buildings can be designed to replicate the activity of the planet in order to collect and convert energy that can be conserved and recycled exactly as the planet does. Buildings can be designed to conserve and recycle, rather than consume and disperse energy.

The dominant ordering principle of our world, however, is the consumer economy. That is the matrix of our thinking, the index our vocabulary, and the most popular reality. The American home, automobile, and lifestyle are designed to burn energy as quickly as possible. Buildings turn tricks for the electric company by violating all of the principles described above. But the passive conditioning techniques that were abandoned because of the energy glut can be reinstated. The physics is still valid, and the practice is still common throughout the world.

Our species has attained escape velocity from Planet Earth, and hearsay has it that some will be moving to Mars soon. A few more have moved back off into the woods and "off-grid", but most people aren't that tough anymore. For those leftovers that are still looking for a way out of a world that is pretty well both paved and electrocuted, there is the path of conservation that is based in equilibrium state conditions for energy. This is the The Way of the natural world.

The organizational principle of any species is energy. Our species is energy poor! We think we don't have enough when in fact we have too much. We convert all of our resources into electricity because of its convenience. We have exceeded our energy budget, overextended our populations, and upset planetary homeostasis. We can reduce our electrical dependence by eliminating the need for air conditioning in rural low-rise homes.

Knowledge is one of our most precious resources. As expected, it is managed by those that manage the means of production. The reality that we know is as manufactured as any other product on the shelf. Product availability is determined by profit curves rather than by what benefits the people or the planet.

Rio Ferdinand's Green Home

Footballer Rio Ferdinand is building a green home with the smallest carbon footprint possible. He has purchased a two acre plot on the border of Kent and southeast London, just a few miles from the London estate where he spent his childhood. The house will be around 12,000 sq ft in size and will incorporate cutting edge green technology and he hopes that one day the home will be his permanent base for his family once he retires from the game.

Rio Ferdinand is ambassador for the energy company E.on,they sponsor the FA Cup and encourage householders to reduce their energy use which will not only help the environment but also save money for their customers. Ferdinand explains that whilst he was having meetings with E. on advisors he learnt about energy-aware projects that they were involved in and so the footballer decided to incorporate these into his house building project. Once involved he describes himself as being a convert to green issues, the advisors that he had met worked alongside the project manager for his house to incorporate green technology into the build.

Ferdinand had photovoltaic cells instead of solar panels on the roof, low energy lighting and green roofs grown from sedum plants. The house is thought to be a traditional Georgian farmhouse style at the front and more contemporary detailing at the back. It will have a swimming pool,triple garage and of course a gym but will be kitted out with the best energy-efficient technology that money can buy.The house will have ground source heat pumps; they will draw warmth from the earth and will be used to heat the house. People who have used this technology before have mentioned how dramatically their heating bills fell once installed. The windows will be very large in the house and will be coated with a reflective film, the purpose of this is to stop heat escaping in the winter and in the summer it helps to cool the house. The house will have a combined heat and power system whereby homeowners can sell excess power that their home generates back to the national grid. The large gardens will be watered using large tanks which harvest rainwater.

As Ferdinand became more aware of energy saving ways he adapted his Alderley Edge home to incorporate more green technology too. He has installed electricity monitors and energy light bulbs and has had his Manchester restaurant Rosso have the green once over too. Simply by becoming more aware of the green technologies has made adapt his homes to a greener way of living. Even if you don't have a footballers salary there are changes that everyone can make to make their home that much greener.

Saving Green Space Bad for the Environment?

Real estate developers have long been criticized as a threat to the environment and, many times, for good reasons. Suburban sprawl has certainly destroyed many open, green spaces and natural habitats. Forests have been cut down in exchange for big box retail and rows of overpriced McMansions. But, when it comes to urban development, there are examples where saving green space can do more harm then good.

Recently, the City of Philadelphia has begun to auction off many of their surplus properties. The economic picture for the City of Brotherly Love looks dim, much like the balance sheet of every major city in the country. Budgets are in the red, and promises made to pensions, medical care, and bloated payrolls will keep cities losing money for many years. So, it seems natural for Philadelphia to begin a process of selling real estate. However, many times, vacant lots owned by the City have been used by neighborhoods as parks where children play and events are hosted. For this reason, many residents are upset, and rightfully so, that developers may get there hands on these properties and quickly destroy green spaces.

Although one can certainly understand neighbors fighting against further development and preserving open green spaces, there are several larger issues to point out - both environmental and economic. For example, it is important to keep in mind that urban development is a greener option in and of itself. The more density there is in urban areas, the less suburban sprawl. That means more public transportation and less gas consumption. Smaller townhomes often use far less resources than larger suburban developments. In other words, keeping urban spaces open and green pushes development further outward into the suburbs where resources are utilized less efficiently.

Philadelphia is one of the most spread out cities and one of the biggest reasons is that for so long no one was able to build higher than William Penn's hat on the top of City Hall. This caused less density in the City, less population, less businesses, and less tax revenue. Although this law was finally repealed, the City is still trying to catch up and bring businesses back into Center City. Less density and development has hurt Philadelphia economically and made it tougher for the City to compete for jobs.

All economic decisions have tradeoffs and keeping these spaces open is really just causing another space somewhere else to get developed and suburban sprawl to continue. We should be embracing housing demand in urban areas because, in the larger picture, it is more sensible for cities economically and better for the environment.

Daybreak Homes - More Than Green Living

We live in an era where residents have a choice on how they want to live and where. South Jordan is located in the beautiful Salt Lake Valley, Utah, along the banks of the Jordan River. It is an ideal location to raise a family and have a peaceful future. Only a few miles away from Salt Lake City, employment is plentiful and the crime rate is low.

South Jordan is the perfect spot to build an award-winning community. Daybreak homes are different than traditional living quarters as they are healthier, greener and equipped with advanced technology. These features allow home owners and their families to maintain an easy and convenient lifestyle. It is a nature lover's paradise, yet with shopping, restaurants, and all modern amenities nearby.

When you are interested in buying one of these top-of-the-line Daybreak homes, contact a Realtor. Tell your real estate agent exactly what you prefer in a home. This includes:
• Size - How much room do you need? Are you a single or do you have a family?
• Features - How much comfort do you want? Some Daybreak homes are so advanced they practically supply maintenance-free living.
• Location - Where in the community do you want to live?
• New or used - This community is still expanding, which means that you have a choice between buying a property that is for sale, or making plans for a brand new residence.
• Price range - The cost for Daybreak homes varies. Tell your Realtor how much money you intend to spend.
• Financing - Can you arrange for your own financing, or do you need help to find a mortgage lender?

The more information you provide your real estate agent, the quicker you will be living in a community where your presence still has value.

Flexible Growth Medium - A Hydroseeding Contractors Perspective

For many hydroseeding contractors and erosion control specialists the development of Flexible Growth Mediums could just be the next big innovation; hydroseeding contractors can now hydraulically apply an erosion control solution that outstrips the performance of other techniques, offering superior results whilst achieving major labour savings.

FGM's are at the cutting edge of soil erosion technology, bettering the performance of high quality Bonded Fire Matrix products and erosion control blankets. This has strengthened the position of specialist hydroseeding contractors in the soil erosion marketplace, who can now use the hydroseeding equipment they already own to carry out market leading erosion control works.

For hydroseeding contractors and clients the major benefits of this new technique include.

• Effective application-bonds directly to the soil
• Stellar erosion control-99% effective in major testing laboratories
• rapid turf establishment-vegetation can grow eight times faster than bare soil and twice as fast as blankets
• Quicker to lay and lower installed costs than blankets
• Seduced soil preparation required
• Safe for wildlife-no nets, threads or staples to snare wildlife or become caught in mowing equipment

Once a hydroseeding contractor has applied FGM it effectively acts to seal off the soil from the impact of rain and concentrated flows, to out performing erosion control blankets in rainfall simulation tests. Once applied the FGM is able to hold on to water and maintain air space, this results in superior and accelerated growth.

A combination of Thermally Refined® wood fibres, crimped man-made fibres and performance-enhancing additives form an interlocking matrix that creates air space and water-absorbing cavities to accelerate germination, reduce the impact of raindrop energy and minimize soil loss once hydroseeding is complete. After hydroseeding Water-resistant tackifiers and flocculants chemically bond the matrix to the soil surface, absorbing water and enabling superior vegetation establishment. Some FGM's are able to achieve 98% effectiveness just 2 hours after hydroseeding and are proven to be 99% effective once cured.

As with BFM's, Flexible Growth Mediums hydraulically using a range of hydroseeding equipment. This hydraulic application carries all of the cost saving benefits of hydroseeding and BFM products by keeping labour and ground preparation requirements minimal.

Recently Profile Products has introduced the new Flexterra high-performance, flexible growth medium (HP-FGM). This is designed to be used by hydroseeding contractors and is capable of achieving 600-percent greater initial seed germination and more than a 250-percent greater biomass than its predecessor, whilst being totally biodegradable.

The original Flexterra FGM, initially set the standard in the market and it was widely used by hydroseeding contractors; It led the march towards hydraulically applied techniques that could be delivered using hydraulic machinery.

Tests following EPA protocol concluded the product is completely safe for aquatic and terrestrial life forms and after hydroseeding it immediately bonds to the soil surface to reduce turbidity of runoff for up to 18 months.

Green Housing and REAL Wellness: An Attractive Pairing

If REAL wellness ever takes hold, it will affect all manner of environmentally friendly choices, not just decisions connected with physical and mental well-being. REAL wellness is about quality of life. Thus, REAL wellness enthusiasts are likely to be responsive to opportunities for acting responsibly and creatively toward the environment. The ethic of REAL wellness includes respect for The Commons.

My urban planning background makes me alert and responsive to that part of futurism that deals with the land use, open space, ecology and designs for living. An area of special interest is the evolution of the home in response to environmental crises, changes and challenges. In a REAL wellness world, the home of the future will have to be transformed into an environment created for sustainability, energy efficiency, optimal nutrition, family fitness organically attuned to nature. The trend in this direction is already evident: despite the weak economy and a stagnant building sector, green construction is already evident in the construction industry.

Our homes might not look like contemporary plant-friendly, glass-domed arboretums in our lifetimes, but they must become a great deal greener than they have been in centuries since the Industrial Age came about. It's time to rethink our living spaces, given the impact homes have on the ecosystem. The electricity, heating and water consumed by housing is enormous. One estimate (the U.S. Energy Department) puts the percentage of energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions for private housing at 39 percent. The size of our homes is also critical - all green thinking favors compact housing that is small (at least when compared with so many of the Mc Mansions of the urban wealthy) but does not feel small or constrained. Of course, other things (e.g., energy efficiency, resources used) must be equal or superior environmentally in the smaller unit, plus size will have to increase with additional occupants. In Key West, Florida, The Blue City Waves of Change initiative exemplifies many promising sustainability trends in housing. Given their location, these homes are specifically designed in disaster-resistant fashion. This is a vital consideration in coastal and other areas of the US and around the world, given the onset of climate change and rising disaster insurance costs. The Blue-Green building plans are rated by FEMA as near absolute protection.

This means they are tornado proof, insect proof, fire proof, earthquake proof and capable of withstanding hurricanes up to 300 mph. (Let's hope the builders used the equivalent of #4 rivets, not those cheap #3 rivets that Harland and Wolff of Belfast, Northern Ireland used to build the Titanic quickly and at reasonable cost, which fatally compromised quality and is now seen as the cause of the rapid sinking of the Titanic.) To learn more about Key West's Waves of Change, click here.

Recently, The Wall Street Journal asked architects to participate in a futurism exercise to design an energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable house without regard to cost, technology, aesthetics or the way we are used to living. What a neat idea. Designing for REAL wellness-oriented inhabitants to live in such housing was not a criterion, but the criteria that were assigned made resident health a key factor for participating architects and students. (See Alex Frangos, The Green House of the Future, The Wall Street Journal, April 27, 2009, P. R1.) The results of the brainstorming provide a sense for what might well evolve as new norms for housing come into play. Imagine homes with some of the following features:

* A garden façade. Plants that give shade and cooling and special housing surfaces that capture condensation for water use, decreasing reliance on wells that drain aquifers or municipal systems that lower lakes and other reservoirs.

* Spatial layouts conducive to work. This is key to energy efficiency in that work at home reduces, if not eliminates, driving - a huge energy-consuming custom.

* A rooftop reservoir that collects water and keeps the building cool and windmills that generate energy.

* Homes that emulate a characteristic of trees, wherein the surface contains a photosynthetic layer woven into the fabric of the exterior that captures sunlight.

* Design features that heat water and generate electricity, create oxygen and thereby offset any carbon produced elsewhere in the home.

* Gardens on walls. The plants not only nourish inhabitants; they offer shade and cooling and absorb heat more effectively than wood, brick, stucco or glass.

* Prefabricated stacked containers that allow uniformity of quality control and mobility for the homeowner.

* Ponds stocked with fish - the kind of fish people consume (e.g., tilapia), not just look at (e.g., goldfish).

* Structural features that convert sunlight into energy and carbon dioxide into oxygen. One striking possibility is a "biomorphic" outer surface material designed to function like reptile skin. It adapts to conditions - in bright sun, it turns dark and insulates; on dark days it allows light to absorb maximum radiance and heat.

* Attractive and functional design features (e.g., curved roofing) that facilitate shade in order to reduce the need for such energy drains as air-conditioning.

* Self-cleaning glass with special coating that uses ultraviolet sunlight to break down organic dirt which is washed away by rainwater.

* Self-repairing paints, glass and cladding - all infused with microscopic capsules of color that break open and automatically repair scratches and other damage.

* In lieu of wood or metals for upright framing, lightweight, environmentally friendly carbon tubes are utilized.

One of the most striking changes will be in heating and cooling sources. The homes of REAL wellness-oriented homeowners are likely be warmed by ground-source, heat-pump exchange systems. The temperature of the soil is relatively constant, so heat can be drawn in winter, cooled in summer.

As with most of the changes noted above, these systems exist, but technology advances are needed to bring costs within practical levels. One of the designs using new green technologies foresees a construction industry able to produce homes wherein nearly everything used therein is reconstituted and recycled. The illustration noted is a home like a tree. In the forest, a fallen tree biodegrades. In the home, as with the tree in the forest, building materials could be reused or, capturing the green spirit, returned to the Earth.

These features only begin to describe possibilities based on current uses and expanded technologies within range of feasibility. Our REAL wellness lifestyle passion does not operate in a vacuum. Those of us with a commitment to a cleaner environment, to safeguarding natural resources, to mitigating climate change, to protecting endangered and other species (including our own), to planetary citizenship, to saving the oceans and to all that is needed for restoration, sustainability and preservation will welcome the kind of advances described. It does not take a great stretch of the imagination to connect such awareness to our prospects for continued and expanded happiness, meaning and purpose and all the rest associated with quality of life for all people, everywhere.