Local Green Building Tours Educate Public in Connecticut.

The United States Green Building Council is a National and Global group with local chapter to help educate the public, real estate agents, builders, architects, homeowners and more. One way is through tours of existing ‘green’ buildings where one can actually touch, see, experience the space as well as to see the actual numbers in costs & savings. Green building is not just about less maintenance, saving energy and resources but also about a healthier and more comfortable lifestyle at home and in the workplace.

To find your local chapter and educational tours click here to go to USGBC website.

The Connecticut chapter, CTGBC, of the U.S. Green Building Council and has organized two tours to learn more about sustainable residential buildings in March 2012:

1. A single family LEED home under construction. The tour is with the owner and builder in Greenwich, Connecticut that is midway in the construction process. Here you can see the cost-effective strategies used to “green’ a home and to learn more about the LEED program. This tour is on March 23^rd, 2012 and requires reservations; please click here to read more.

2. The second tour is at The Metro Green Residences in Stamford, Connecticut. This is a 7 story building consisting of one, two and three bedroom units. 40% of the units will be affordable housing. Tour is March 1^st, 2012 ~ click here to read more and sign up.

The Connecticut Green Building Council (CTGBC) is a chapter of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) which covers the State of Connecticut.

CTGBC Mission Statement:

The CTGBC is an efficiently run non-profit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in Connecticut through the promotion of intelligently designed and constructed high performance energy efficient building.

David Popoff is a Connecticut license real estate agent in lower Fairfield County. He has lived and worked in the area for over 30 years and now reside in Darien since 2004.

• Green Affiliations.
• Realtor GREEN designation by the National Association of Realtors.
• David Popoff is an accredited LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) Homes and USGBC member of the Connecticut chapter (CTGBC).
• Associate member and an accredited Certified Green Professional (CGP) of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the local chapter HBRA-Fairfield County, Ct.
• Member of the Multiple Listing Service, MLS.
• Darien
• Greenwich
• Greater Fairfield County
• Member of the Connecticut Association of Realtors, CAR.
• Member of the National Association of Realtors, NAR.
• Contact David Popoff for all your real estate needs in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Rowayton and the rest of lower Fairfield County.

First and foremost, I want to thank all of my clients for helping make 2011 a great year. I closed on 20 houses (13 sales, 7 rentals) in 2011, which was is my best year so far and owe it all to my wonderful clients. I enjoyed working with everyone and appreciate the business. I also want to thank the many people who referred business to me. The referral business is a huge part of my pipeline and I am grateful for every lead sent to me.

Looking back on 2011, I am pleased to say that the Greenwich Real Estate market held up well. I am not going to sugarcoat it and tell you that it was a banner year and that I only see signs of the market improving from here on out. When viewed from a macro-level, 2011 was still a very slow year. We did not see the level of transactions that we had a couple years ago and we might never again. As I mentioned in a previous blog/email, I think we might be witnessing the beginning of the new “normal” in real estate movement.

In Greenwich, CT, I feel that the baseline level of transactions should be roughly around 625 houses sold per year. This is not the 750+ that we saw in 2007, but also higher than what we have witnessed in the past two years. I am a strong believer that we are bouncing along the floor of our pricing, but also admit that I do not know when we will start to see price increases. I am confident in recommending a purchase (for investment purposes) with a 5+ year horizon, but have a hard time confidently supporting shorter horizons. I see several factors that continue to affect the Greenwich (as well as national) market and keep it from a proper level of equilibrium/harmony.

Obviously the biggest factor keeping the Greenwich CT Real Estate market out of sync is the questionable economy. As discussed in several previous blogs, residential real estate is almost entirely priced upon perception, so if anything were to affect perception and confidence the residential real estate market takes a hit. Certain areas of residential real estate are hit harder than others. For one, the second home market has been hit much harder than the primary home market. This is obviously because those who need money will unload their vacation homes before their primary residence’s. Another factor that we are starting to see is that second and third tier markets are taking a harder hit than first tier markets as those who have money are starting to realize they can afford to upgrade to the better location (flight to quality). Greenwich is fortunately on the right side of the trade for both of these factors.

I have worked with a lot of clients recently who have said they want to buy in Greenwich because of the low taxes (about 1/3^rd of NY taxes), which is normal, but now I hear more and more clients say that they think they can afford to live in better neighborhoods than they used to look at because the prices have come down. You used to need well north of $1,000,000 to buy a decent first home in Greenwich, but now you can find some great single families in the $700k range, especially in areas of Cos Cob and North Mianus, and you can find apartments in the $200-$300k range all through town.

This doesn’t mean that all levels of real estate in Greenwich are lowering dramatically in price, it just means that there are many affordable areas of town. On the high-end we have still seen some major trades and there are some fantastic homes on the market right now in the $10 to $20m range, which once commanded prices starting with a “3” or even “4”.

I find myself fortunate to work in a town with such diversity in product. Covering over 65 square miles and housing a population of over 60,000 people, Greenwich has a lot to offer. I really consider it 4 neighboring towns that include Old Greenwich, Riverside, Cos Cob and downtown Greenwich, but within those towns we have several communities including Glenville, Byram, North Mianus and Pemberwick to name a few. I’ve been able to work $1,500 rentals and $23 million estate sales, which is what I find to be so much fun about the job.

If you know of anyone who is looking at the Greenwich (or Rye, I closed on 4 houses in Rye last year!) area and are in need of some help, I’d really appreciate it if you pass on my name.

Sincerely,

Scott

Scott Elwell
Real Estate Agent – MBA- GreenwichCT.com
William Raveis Real Estate
45 Field Point Road, Greenwich, CT 06830
Mobile: 203.940.0444 : Email: scott@elwell.com

Websites To Find Green Professionals.

Websites to help you find a local green professionals who specializes in green building techniques, materials, designs and lifestyles.

1. The National Assoc. of Home Builders (NAHB) has a Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation for builders. Here is a link to find local CGP’s in your region.

http://www.nahb.org/directory.aspx?sectionID=1434&directoryID=1415

2. The National Assoc. of Realtor’s also has a Green designation for real estate agents by state and towns.

http://www.greenresourcecouncil.org/find_an_nar_green_designee.cfm

3. U.S. Green Building Council has LEED AP Homes designation for architects, builders, consultants.

https://ssl12.cyzap.net/gbcicertonline/onlinedirectory/

4. Energy Star program for homes by the US government has a list of local partners.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=new_homes_partners.locator

5. Local and national green blogs such as Connecticut Snappy Green and National Greentowns.com.

Happy New Year! The first month of the year has been completed and here's where we stand.....

SOLD Single Family Properties: 28 Properties sold in the month of January. The least expensive property sold for $345,000, it was listed at $399,900. The most expensive property sold for $13,000,000 after it was listed for $13,900,000.

Active Properties: Currently there are 481 properties available for sale in Greenwich. Ranging from $385,000 through $39,600,000. The average days on market is 225 days.

Properties pending sale while under a fully executed contract: 32 are nearing the change of owner's hands. The listing prices begin at $479,000 through $6,495,000 - fingers crossed the sellers will sell and the buyers will be in their new home shortly.

If you are thinking of listing your Greenwich CT home in 2012, contact me for a Free Home Value and Market Anaylsis.

Mold Allergies and Asthma

Mold. It grows on bathroom walls, it makes basements smell bad, and it ruins perfectly good loaves of bread. And if you're allergic to it, there's a good chance that mold will add to your misery.

The spores from common molds function much like the pollen from ragweed. If you inhale the spores, you could get a case of allergic rhinitis, otherwise known as hay fever -- an unpleasant combination of runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, itching, congestion and coughing. And if you have asthma, the spores may trigger attacks. More than 80 types of mold have been associated with lung, nose, and throat problems, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI). (What's causing your allergies? Take this test and find out.)

It's possible that mold may even lead to the development of asthma. Until recently, there was no strong evidence that mold could cause asthma, and there's still no medical consensus that it does. But a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2005 found that children who grew up in homes with a mold odor had more than a 100 percent chance of developing asthma in the following six years. (How bad is your asthma? Get personalized recommendations to manage it better.)

Fortunately, only about 25 percent of people with allergies are allergic to mold, according to the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). The organization estimates that 10 percent of Americans are allergic to mold, and for about half of them, the allergy may result in an actual illness. The good news is that you can reduce your exposure to mold with a few simple steps.

What is Mold, and Where Does It Grow?
Mold is a type of fungus, a diverse kingdom that also includes mushrooms and yeasts. Unlike plants, molds and other fungi feed on organic material, whether it's a rotting tree or a carpet in your basement, by breaking them down and absorbing their nutrients. (Learn about other common environmental allergens.)

Mold thrives in warm, moist environments. The air can be full of it in warm summer months, often causing seasonal cases of hay fever. In the South, where it's warm and humid enough for mold to live all year long, allergies to outdoor molds can be a constant nuisance.

Molds can live indoors, too. They've even been found in subfreezing temperatures: The only thing they need is oxygen, something to feed on, and moisture. A damp basement is the classic hotspot. Mold can also thrive on carpets in other moist places, such as basements, closets, and bathrooms. Other potential moldy places include tubs, shower stalls, air conditioners, humidifiers, garbage cans, mattresses, and upholstered furniture.

How Do I Know If I Have a Mold Allergy?
Your doctor can give you a test to see if you're sensitive to mold, but the test isn't exactly foolproof. For one thing, doctors don't have samples for every common type of mold. (Molds can be surprisingly hard to grow in a lab). In most cases, however, you can find out with reasonable certainty if you have anything to fear from mold.

How are Mold Allergies Treated?
The best treatment for mold allergies is avoiding mold in the first place. But if you live in a place where mold is unavoidable, your doctor can offer additional help. You may need an antihistamine medication to control your symptoms. In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe a series of allergy shots to help reduce your sensitivity to mold.

What Can I Do to Get Rid of Mold?
Even if you aren't sensitive to mold, you don't want it to take over your house. Not only is it unattractive, but it can start to smell if left unchecked. If you happen to see a patch of mold growing in your bathroom or anywhere else in your house, you can quickly kill it with a dilute bleach solution or any other product that is specifically intended to treat mold or mildew.(Does your home also have these common household pollutants?)

There are also extra steps you can take to keep mold under control. Wash your bathroom once a month with a diluted bleach solution or another mold-killing cleaner, whether you see any mold or not. Cut down moisture in the bathroom by turning on an exhaust fan and opening a window after a shower. If you live in a humid climate, use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier to keep the humidity at no more than 50 percent. A recent ACAAI report also suggests sealing all leaks to prevent water accumulation, using a sump pump in basements to avoid flooding; and using an exhaust fan to ventilate the kitchen while cooking.

To prevent mold from taking hold, your kitchen and bathroom should be well ventilated. If possible, get rid of carpets in your basement or bathrooms. If a carpet or upholstery gets soaked, have it removed or replaced immediately.

References
Portnoy JM et al. Health effects of indoor fungi. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. March 2005. 94: 313-319.

American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Mold allergy a bigger concern than toxic mold. March 18, 2005.

Jaakkola JJ et al. Home dampness and molds, parental atopy, and asthma in childhood: A six-year population based cohort study. March 2005. 113(3): 357-361.

National Jewish Medical and Research Center. Mold Allergy. March 2009.

The University of Texas School of Public Health. Fungus Among Us. 6/28/01.

The Cleveland Clinic. Allergy overview.

Medical College of Wisconsin. Mold Allergies. 03/17/05.

BioEd Online. The Kingdom Fungi. Introduction to Organisms.

The American Industrial Hygene Association. The Facts About Mold.