I caught this article on one of the websites that I frequent, and I kind of liked it. Thought some other people might enjoy it as well.

By Dana Dratch • Bankrate.com

 When it comes to selecting greener choices, sometimes it’s difficult to separate fact from fiction.

Depending on whom you believe, a more eco-friendly lifestyle can either seem exciting, empowering and financially enriching — or depressing, deprived and expensive.

Having trouble sorting through it all? Here are 10 green myths, along with some real information, to make it easier.

Myth No. 1: Small changes don’t matter.


One of your biggest weapons in the green movement is your own wallet. Recent numbers demonstrate that a few smarter buying decisions translate to big changes in the planet. One that’s fairly easy: When you buy household paper goods (like paper towels, napkins, toilet paper and copy paper), look for products that use high percentages of recycled or post-consumer waste.

A lot of the major paper manufacturers are cutting virgin forests to make the items you use, says Jennifer Powers, spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group. But some well-known green-label brands, like Seventh Generation and Whole Foods Market’s 365 line, use recycled materials instead.

If everyone in the country elected to buy one package of 100 percent recycled napkins instead of the non-recycled variety, that act alone would save 1 million trees, says Powers.

Myth No. 2: ‘Green’ choices are painful and expensive.


How would you like to save $50 this year with a few simple clicks of your computer mouse? You would? Then turn off your screen saver, says Powers. Instead, select the “sleep” or “hibernation” mode for periods of inactivity.

Screen savers, which were created for old-style CRT monitors, are relics of a bygone age. The constantly changing pictures kept images from getting burned into the screen. These days, most people are using LCD monitors, which don’t run the risk of burned-in images. And with today’s software, sleep modes are a lot more responsive and user-friendly, says Powers. So, unless you still have that 1990s dinosaur, turn off the screen saver and use that cash for something you’d really like.

While some greener options (like some organic products), do cost more, others (like turning out lights, using water-saving faucets and keeping the thermostat at a reasonable temperature) are money-smart strategies, too. “They’re good ideas, and they pay off,” says Erich Pica, director of domestic programs for Friends of the Earth, an international grass-roots environmental group. And when you do shell out for eco-friendly equipment, like new appliances, “some of the upgrades pay themselves off far more quickly than you budget for,” he says. 

Myth No. 3: Keeping old appliances is a form of recycling.


Half right. True, you’re not clogging up the landfills, but keeping the old stuff isn’t necessarily the greenest choice either, says Powers.

If you’ve still got that avocado green fridge from the 1970s, you’re using 70 percent more power than you would with a new model. (With an Energy Star label, your savings will be closer to 90 percent, says Powers.)

That’s simply because newer appliances do a lot more with a lot less juice: If the old equipment is more than 10 to 15 years old, you can probably cut significant energy use by replacing it. And because many retailers will take your old appliances and recycle them (as will some collectors, like 1-800-GotJunk), you don’t have to fear that your old model will be lying in a landfill for thousands of years. Just ask a few questions before you buy.

Myth No. 4: The country needs more power plants. 


Actually, by making smarter choices, we can make the energy we have go a lot further, according to numbers from the Natural Resources Defense Council. For example, if everyone used more efficient lighting solutions, including compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, consumers would collectively save billions each year on energy and cut the need for 24 power plants, according to the group.

And yes, in this case, there are some trade-offs. CFLs last about 10 times as long as incandescent bulbs and use about one-quarter of the energy, says Powers. But they also contain a small amount of mercury, she says. So you definitely don’t want to break them. And instead of simply throwing them away, you need to call your local municipality or garbage hauler about safe disposal rules.

Myth No. 5: The cost of commuting is a fixed expense. 


Not really. How would you like to get 10 percent to 50 percent more gasoline every week for free? Regular tuneups will boost your mileage 4 percent to 40 percent, says Powers. A new air filter can add as much as 10 percent to your mileage. And keeping your tires properly inflated (not over or under) can give you another 2 percent.

And that doesn’t even count solutions like carpooling with a spouse, sharing a ride with a co-worker or e-commuting once or twice a week. 

Myth No. 6: Eco-friendly grocery options are expensive.

Not every green choice has to cost you extra green. Buying locally grown produce is a good example. The average food item travels 1,500 miles to 2,500 miles to get to your store shelves, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Locally grown produce — usually grown within 200 miles — saves all those transportation and fuel costs, along with tons of carbon. For that reason they are often less expensive and — because they typically get to ripen longer — tastier, too. What’s more, many smaller local growers don’t use pesticides, herbicides or artificial ripening agents, keeping petrochemicals out of the soil and reducing crude-oil usage even more.

Myth No. 7: If an appliance is off, it’s not using power.


Up to 10 percent of your power bill goes to run appliances that you’ve already turned off, says Powers. Dubbed “vampire power,” it’s the energy a machine keeps using so that it can pop on quickly when you flip the switch. Don’t feel like plugging and unplugging every time you want to use the computer or play the stereo? Use a power strip. (Just beware of overloading too many gadgets and gizmos on the same one.) Then, when you’re not using the item, flip the switch on the strip, and you’ll know that “off” is really “off.” 

Myth No. 8: Hybrid cars are inherently better than non-hybrids.


“All hybrids are not created equal,” says Pica. Some hybrid cars, like the Toyota Prius or the Honda Civic, get some of the best mileage results, but manufacturers have started using hybrid technology on SUVs and trucks. And the mileage on those often is not much better than the non-hybrid version of the same vehicle, says Pica. In fact, in a lot of cases, a non-hybrid car might actually use less gas and produce less pollution. So look at the gas mileage, as well as the technology.

You can check the mileage on your car (or your dream ride) without even leaving your chair. The federal Environmental Protection Agency recently reconfigured the mpg formulas to give a more real-world estimate. You can look at city, highway or combined mileage for almost any vehicle at the agency’s FuelEconomy.gov site.

Myth No. 9: Millions of vehicles can run on ethanol.


What is true: There are millions of cars and trucks on the road capable of burning E85 (85 percent ethanol, which is vegetable-based alcohol and 15 percent gasoline). But “owners may be paying a premium for the vehicle,” says Pica, “and since most of the E85 fuel pumps are in the Midwest, nine times out of 10, they’re going to be pulling up at a station that is dispensing E10 (only 10 percent ethanol).” And you don’t need a special engine for that.

Myth No.10: There’s always one ‘right’ answer to your eco-dilemma.

The paper or plastic debate is the best example of this. Not even the experts can agree which is a more eco-friendly way to carry home groceries. The better answer, of course, is neither: Bring your own cloth bags to the store. Another debate rages over carbon offsets — when one company minimizes its responsibility for the amount of carbon dioxide it produces by buying or subsidizing another company’s carbon-saving behavior. While many green groups support carbon offsets, others view them only as a solution of last resort. Everyone generally agrees we’re poisoning the planet and ourselves with it. But conflicting information about what constitutes a green choice can leave many consumers stalled with indecision. The best way to break the logjam is to start by trying a couple of solutions that are doable and make sense to you.

Hope you enjoyed it, I know it doesn’t have much to do with Fort Collins real estate, but I figured, what the heck. As usual, let me know if you have any questions regarding real estate, ad I will help you in whatever way I can.

Mike Hazlett

www.mikehazlett.com

Again, I apologize for missing some days of posting, life has been a little busy around here.  So, I figured that I might just post the stats once a month, and generally let my opinion be known for other posts. So here are the July statistics for the Fort Collins real estate market, and new bank-owned listings have just been posted as well. I am actually pretty good at keeping that up to date every week.

Once again, these statistics are from our Northern Colorado MLS (IRES), and the information can be deemed reliable, yet not guaranteed.

In looking at the post before this, I found that I was remiss in posting an article about fractional sales.  Well, I haven’t yet heard back from the guy who is editing my article (a lawyer), who has been recruited by yours truly to make sure what I am saying is true.  So stay tuned, as I am at the mercy of other people’s timetables.

As usual, if you have any questions about the Fort Collins real estate market, drop me a line, or give me a call. I’m here to answer your questions.

Mike Hazlett, GRI, ABR

Associate Broker

RE/MAX Action Brokers

(970) 310-4127

mhazlett@remax.net

www.mikehazlett.com

I thought it would be interesting to post what was going on last year at this time as well:

Once again, these statistics are from our Northern Colorado MLS (IRES), and the information can be deemed reliable, yet not guaranteed.

I guess you can’t deny that the real estate market in Fort Collins is a little slower this year.  There are some out there that blame the media, and some that blame the mortgage crisis. Either way, we are creeping back up to 7.3 months of inventory in July from 6.7 months in June.

As a side note, if you are looking for a second or new home in Estes Park, Colorado, versus other Colorado vacation homes for sale, the inventory there has been freakishly steady.

Next week, fractional sales. This concept has been around for years, but has recently been gaining in popularity.  I will fill you in on the details. As usual, if you have any questions about the Fort Collins real estate market, drop me a line, or give me a call. I’m here to answer your questions.

Mike Hazlett, GRI, ABR

Associate Broker

RE/MAX Action Brokers

(970) 310-4127

mhazlett@remax.net

www.mikehazlett.com

If you would like to see more stats, let me know exactly what, and I will get it for you.  Basically, I would like people to get an idea of the local “weather” report up in Northern Colorado. 

For people that are wondering about the difference between the List & Sold and Co-Broker categories, that is basically the number of brokers that have both listed and sold a house versus the homes that are sold with a separate listing broker and buyer’s broker.

Again, I would probably be remiss if I didn’t mention that these statistics are from our Northern Colorado MLS (IRES), and the information can be deemed reliable yet not guaranteed.  Hope this is good info, and don’t hesitate to call me with any questions.

Mike Hazlett, GRI, ABR

Associate Broker

RE/MAX Action Brokers

(970) 310-4127

mhazlett@remax.net

Days on Market

If you would like to see more stats, let me know exactly what, and I will get it for you.  Basically, I would like people to get an idea of the local “weather” report up in Northern Colorado.  With an average DOM (Days on Market) of 60 days, as well as an average Sales Price/ List Price ratio of 98%, our area is moving pretty quick.

For people that are wondering about the difference between the List & Sold and Co-Broker categories, that is basically the number of brokers that have both listed and sold a house versus the homes that are sold with a separate listing broker and buyer’s broker. That ratio is pretty consistent with the ratio for the year.

Again, I would probably be remiss if I didn’t mention that these statistics are from our Northern Colorado MLS (IRES), and the information can be deemed reliable yet not guaranteed.  Hope this is good info, and don’t hesitate to call me with any questions.

Mike Hazlett, GRI, ABR

Associate Broker

RE/MAX Action Brokers

(970) 310-4127

mhazlett@remax.net

www.mikehazlett.com

Days on Market

If you would like to see more stats, let me know exactly what, and I will get it for you.  Basically, I would like people to get an idea of the local “weather” report up in Northern Colorado.  With an average DOM (Days on Market) of 60 days, as well as an average Sales Price/ List Price ratio of 98%, our area is moving pretty quick.

For people that are about the difference between the List & Sold and Co-Broker categories, that is basically the number of brokers that have both listed and sold a house versus the homes that are sold with a separate listing broker and buyer’s broker. That ratio is pretty consistent with the ratio for the year.

I would probably be remiss if I didn’t mention that these statistics are from our Northern Colorado MLS (IRES), and the information can be deemed reliable yet not guaranteed.  Hope this is good info, and don’t hesitate to call me with any questions.

Mike Hazlett, GRI, ABR

Associate Broker

RE/MAX Action Brokers

(970) 310-4127

mhazlett@remax.net

www.mikehazlett.com

Purchasing real estate with the intent of turning it into an apartment or a house for rent can be an excellent financial decision. When you buy a property with the intent of renting it, however, there are several factors you should take into consideration in order to guarantee the best chance of successfully finding a tenant and making money from your investment.

Assessing Your Goals Before Buying

Before you buy real estate with the intent of renting it out, you need to determine what your goals will be. For example, do you want to create a steady source of income for many years to come or are you looking to sell the real estate for a profit later? If you are looking for a property that you can sell for a profit later, you will want to purchase something that is inexpensive that you can fix up and sell later.

Determining If Your Real Estate Will Be Your Home As Well

When you get into the rental business, you will also need to decide whether or not you will live in the apartment building or housing unit that you purchase. If you do decide to live on that piece of real estate, you will probably be able to get your entire mortgage paid off by your tenants. As such, you will basically be living in your home for free. At the same time, you might prefer to distance yourself from your tenants. In this case, living in the same apartment building or housing unit may not be so desirable.

Choosing the Type of Real Estate You Will Buy

When deciding on the type of real estate you are going to buy, you will need to take some factors into consideration. For example, single-family houses are usually less expensive than apartment complexes since they are so much smaller. At the same time, a house will bring in less income than an apartment complex. Keep in mind that an apartment complex will often require more upkeep than a house. Take all of these factors into consideration when deciding on the type of real estate you plan to invest in.

Picking the Right Location for Your Investment

Obviously, when you buy real estate with the intention of renting it out, you want to find property that is desirable. Otherwise, you will have a difficult time finding someone willing to rent it out from you. Therefore, you should select real estate that is in an area where people want to live.

In order to determine if the property is in a good area, consider the available shopping and activities that are near to the property. You should also consider the schools and the crime rate, as well as the general attractiveness of the neighborhood.

I didn’t write this article, but I thought it was a good one.  I really have no idea how to link these things, so I went ahead and copied it.  I hope you don’t mind.  As always, if you have any questions on buying homes in Fort Collins, give me a call and I can help you out.

Mike Hazlett, GRI, ABR

Associate Broker

RE/MAX Action Brokers

(970) 310-4127

mhazlett@remax.net

www.mikehazlett.com

1. Check the selling prices of comparable homes in your area. Talk to your Realtor, he/she can give you a general idea of what you should expect to pay. You can also do a quick search of actual MLS listings in your area on a number of Web sites, including the National Association of Realtors.

2. Use an internet mortgage calculator to get an idea of what your monthly mortgage payments would be if you bought today.  (http://www.mikehazlett.com/Calculators/page_1238075.html)

3. Find out what your total monthly housing cost would be, including taxes and homeowners insurance. In some areas, what you’ll pay for your taxes and insurance escrow can almost double your mortgage payment. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average yearly premium can range from $477 a year in Utah to $1,372 a year for unlucky Texans.

To get an idea of what you’ll pay in insurance, pick a property in the area where you want to live and make a call to a local insurance agent for an estimate. You won’t be obligated to get the insurance, but you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll pay if you do buy. For an idea of what you’ll pay in taxes, Zillow publishes property-tax information for homes all over the country. Just remember that exemptions and the intricacies of local tax law (like Florida’s Save Our Homes value cap) can create differences between what a homeowner is currently paying and what you can expect to pay as a new homeowner.

4. Find out how much you’ll likely pay in closing costs. The upfront cost of settling on your home shouldn’t be overlooked. Closing costs include origination fees charged by the lender, title and settlement fees, taxes and prepaid items like homeowners insurance or homeowners’ association fees. Any Realtor should be able to give you a good idea of how much that should be for any given house, or at least be able to point you to a good title company for estimates.

5. Look at your budget and determine how a house fits into it. Fannie Mae recommends that buyers spend no more than 28 percent of their income on housing costs. Go much past 30 percent and you risk becoming house poor.

6. Talk to a reputable Realtor in your area about the real estate climate. Do they believe prices will continue falling or do they think your area has hit bottom or will rise soon?

7. Remember to look at the big picture. While a buying a house is a great way to build wealth, maintaining your investment can be labor-intensive and expensive. When unexpected costs for new appliances, roof repairs and plumbing problems crop up, there’s no landlord to turn to, and these costs and can quickly drain your bank account.

Spring is a popular time to move as children are between school terms, working adults have just received their tax refunds, and nice weather provides the opportunity to inspect houses thoroughly — both inside and out.

While there are numerous upsides to house-hunting in the spring season, title companies and real estate attorneys are busiest at this time, which may add to the amount of time it takes to complete a transaction.

If you are in the market to buy a new home, or sell an existing property keep these things in mind and call us with any mortgage related questions you may have.

Also, remember to get pre-qualified before you begin shopping.

Buyer’s Agent: A buyer’s agent works solely on behalf of the buyer to promote the interests of the buyer with the utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity. The agent negotiates on behalf of and acts as an advocate for the buyer. The buyer’s agent must disclose to potential sellers all adverse material facts actually known by the buyer’s agent, including the buyer’s financial ability to perform the terms of the transaction and, if a residential property, whether the buyer intends to occupy the property. A separate written buyer agency agreement is required which sets forth the duties and obligations of the broker and the buyer.

The sentence that should grab your attention is the very first one. “A buyer’s agent works solely on behalf of the buyer to promote the interests of the buyer with the utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity.” Buyer’s Agents work for you, and only for you. All information about the transaction that the agent knows, he is obligated to tell the buyer.

On the liability front, Buyer’s Agents are liable for more than the commission. Which provides incentive for them to do their job right.

Out of all the choices for the buyer’s out there, I cannot think of a reason to pick any one that does not have the agent working only for you. After all, that’s what we get paid for.

That’s it for today, as usual, give me a call if you have any questions, I am here to help.

Mike Hazlett, GRI, ABR

Associate Broker

RE/MAX Action Brokers

(970) 310-4127

mhazlett@remax.net

www.mikehazlett.com