Albuquerque’s La Montanita Coop Spring North Valley Garden Party

April 7th, 2010

For all you Albuquerque locals, its already time for the Spring Valley Garden Party at the North Valley La Montanita Coop, this Saturday, April 10th between 10am-3pm!  The 40th Anniversary year of Earth Day is April 22, and what better way to begin celebrating this beautiful planet and all that we can contribute to restoring our health (earth’s health included here!) than by praticipating in a Garden Party! 

I love attending this festival, as it marks the beginning of spring and summer weather.  It is a great community event, with various vendors selling vegetable and herb seedlings and transplants, many information booths about growing your own garden, organic food, and live music.  And according to La Montanita Coop’s website, they will be giving away “free trees” while supplies last! 

Join the fun and get a head start on beautifying your home’s outdoor landscape.  And not only will setting up your own garden increase the beauty of your yard, but it will also provide you with delicious, fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits, depending on what you plant.  Even just planting one kale, chard, or tomato plant will provide you and your family with a great supply of heathly, nutrient-rich, and inexpensive food. 

Visit Earth Origins Realty website to learn more about green homes and living too!  Go Green.  Support Local.  See you there!

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Albuquerque Garden Time

April 6th, 2010

As the days warm up here in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I am struck with garden fever.  Although we are not free from frost-free nights yet, especially for those of us who live in the North Valley, South Valley, or Corrales, there are still many steps we can take to prepare our home garden.  Following is a list of some ideas:

Add compost to the garden space; consider building raised garden beds to increase the amount of uncompacted soil; hang bird feeders around to attract birds, they act as natural insect pest controls; install soaker hoses or drip lines to water plants; prune spring flowering shrubs; plant grapes, asparagus, strawberries, and raspberries; plant low-water, native perennials; if you plant tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and chiles this month, make sure to protect them from frost.

And how does this all relate to real estate?  If you are selling your home, a beautiful garden creates a wonderful, abundant, and peaceful outdoor environment.  Well-established, and low-maintenance landscaping is always a plus when buyers are searching for a home.  Visit Earth Origins Realty at http://www.albuquerquerealestateandhomes.com for more home buying, selling, and living tips!

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Affordable Green Homes in New Mexico

March 28th, 2010

As a green Realtor and builder, I often get asked the question if its possible to buy an affordable green home.  The prevailing assumption is that building green is much more expensive to build than a conventionally built home.  My answer to that is yes, and no.  It really all depends on how many “green” features is included in a home.  Of course, if the home includes a full photovoltaic system, 12 inch walls with top of the line insullation, all clay walls, no-VOCs in every and all products used, and features ammenetis that might be considered luxury or high end, then sure, the price per square foot is going to run higher than a traditional stick built home. 

However, it IS possible to still find an affordably build green, energy efficient home.  For example, it really does not cost any more to orient a home facing South to reap the amazing -free- benefits of passive solar heating.  And the cost of flooring can be reduced by staining and sealing the concrete slab, calling that the floor, and utilize it as thermal mass.  All homes have some windows, so why not make sure they are placed to best create cross ventilation.  Making sure all windows and doors are properly weather-proofed is a given (and should be expected in any and all homes!).  As far as paint and VOCs go, you can even purchase no or low-VOC paint at your local hardware store.  Really, the list of affordable, this just makes logical sense, steps a builder and or homeowner can take can go on and on.

If you are in the market for a home near and around Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Edgewood priced between $100,000-$200,000, and want it to be green and energy efficient, you will be happily suprised to see that there are currently over 19 green homes for sale listed in the SW MLS.  Visit my website at www.albuquerquerealestateandhomes.com to learn more about exciting, affordable opportunities to go green!

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Earth Origins Realty offers user-friendly ABQ MLS Searches

March 27th, 2010

With over 80% of home buyers using the internet to search for their next real estate purchase, Earth Origins Realty has created one of the most user-friendly and detailed MLS search tools available to consumers today.  www.albuquerquerealestateandhomes.com is designed for home buyers and anyone else interested in learning more about up-to-date real estate market conditions in Albuquerque, Corrales, Placitas, Rio Rancho, the East Mountains, and other NM communities to easily search the MLS for properties.  Rather than being about our real estate agency, Earth Origins Realty, our website is about providing an easy to use MLS portal.  Many real estate websites require people sign in and provide personal contact information before they can use the home search feautures.  Instead, we believe in honoring the privacy of internet users, and wish to make our MLS search tools accessible to anyone who wishes to use it without signing in.  Following is a parital list of search criteria you can use in our advanced IDX MLS search tools:

Search by: City, Zip Code, County, Area (like UNM, UNM South, Academy West, North Albuquerque Acres, Uptown, North Valley, Near North Valley, Far North Valley, Near South Valley, Pajarito, Valley Farms, Sandia Heights, Foothills North, Foothills South, Fairgrounds, Corrales, Placitas, Ladera Heights, Tijeras, Zuzac, Paradise East, Paradise West, etc),  Schools, Attached, Detached, Manufactured, Land, Lots, Farmland, Price, Number of Bedrooms, Number of Bathrooms, Minimum Square Footage, Year Build, Remarks, Construction (like adobe, partial adobe, green block, straw, ICF, frame, etc.), Style, Stories, Exterior Features, Interior Features, Appliances, Heating, Roofing, Fireplaces, Green Features, Zoning, Landscape, Cooling, Garage, Land Use, Orientation Facing, Exterior Finish, and too many other search features to name.     

Not only can you save your searches, but you can sign up for daily emails which post any new listings which fit within your specified criteria.  And if you can’t find what you are looking for, we would love to help.  Finding the perfect home for you is what we do afterall.

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Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended

November 22nd, 2009

The US Congress passed new legislation to stimulate the housing market and economy.  The basics of this legistation include a maximum $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit for those who purchase a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.   To qualify as a First-Time Home Buyer, the buyer or her/his spouse may not have owned a primary residence for three years prior to the home purchase.  The amount of tax credit is determined by the price of the home and buyer’s income.  For those earning less than $125,000, the maximum applies.  The tax credit decreases as the home buyers income increases.  Those single buyers who earn more than $145,000 per year and couple buyers who earn over $245,000 per year do not qualify for the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.  (Talk to an accountant, tax professional, and or IRS to see where you stand on income qualifications). 

This legislation also gives current home owners who purchase a new prinipal residence between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010 a tax credit of up to $6,500, so long as the home being sold and/or vacated was their principal residence for five straight years within the last eight years.    

As long as the purchase contract is in effect by April 30, 2010, the buyer has until July 1, 2010 to close and still be eligible for the tax credit.  And as long as the primary home being purchased is not sold within three years after closing, the tax credit will never have to be repaid.  

If you have any further questions, please contact me.  Visit me at http://www.albuquerquerealestateandhomes.com .  I can refer you to excellent professionals who are very informed about mortgages, interest rates, and tax concerns.  And questions about real estate?  Call Earth Origins Realty!  505-688-1228.  Email paul@albuquerquerealestateandhomes.com

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Green Home Living Tips

November 22nd, 2009

“What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?”  -Henry David Thoreau

In the spirit of this question, this blog will post green living tips every few days.  How we live our lives is deeply interrelated to the continuous, ever-moving creation, imagining, re-imagining, and realization of home.  As someone whose actual job revolves around Homes, as a Realtor and green builder here in beautiful Albuquerque,  New Mexico, I am constantly engaged in conversations about Home.  What makes a home?  How do we create a home which invites creativity, balance and peace?  Home as not only the walls which surround us, but also as our home here on Earth.  Some very basic *and easy * steps we can all implement to create a more reciprocal relationship with our Home are:

eat less meat • compost • plant trees! • shop with reusable bags • make your own non-toxic cleaning solutions (baking soda, tea tree oil, and vinegar go a long way) • harvest rainwater • clean or replace air filters • use rechargeable batteries • ditch plastic water bottles and use safe stainless steel containers instead • bike or walk • eat local, organically grown food (and shop at Albuquerque’s wonderful farmers markets and La Montanita Coop!) • replace paper towels and napkins with cloth • borrow books from the library • shower instead of bath • aviod products tested on animals • turn off the computer at night and other times not in use • recycle • reuse • stop junk mail • landscape with native plants (not only are they beautful and consume minimal water but they will bring birds, bees, and butterflies to your yard!) •  switch to online billing • wash laundry in cold water • trade instead of purchase whenever possible • use glass containers for food storage in place of plastic (your food will taste better too!) • slow down • breathe fresh air!      

If you are interested in learning more about homes with green features, as a certified EcoBroker and green builder, I would love to discuss options with you, whether it be finding you a home with existing green features or one which has great potential for a green remodel.    

 

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Launching of Earth Origins Realty New Website

November 22nd, 2009

Earth Origins Realty is excited about our new website, www.albuquerquerealestateandhomes.com.  This website has been designed to to offer the most user-friendly property search options available through the web.  This website is about serving the consumer, as compared to promoting our real estate brokerage firm.  With the click of the mouse, consumers will be able to access detailed information about Albuquerque home listings, current market data, New Mexico resources and relocation information, green living tips and strategies, and news concerning and or influencing Albuquerque home living – all from the convenience of your own home.  Of course, we will be **happily** ready and available to consult with you on any real estate related!  Empowering clients to make the most informed, educated, and confident decisions realted to home buying and selling is our job afterall.  We hope you enjoy using www.albuquerquerealestateandhomes.com and would love hearing from you.

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