Johnathan Mullaney, Broker, Flagstaff Real Estate

Ok everyone wants to go green. What does that mean? What is Sustainable Living? What if Off Grid? Going green is doing 1 or more things that benefit the environment that you didn't do before. You don't have to go live in a tent, recycle everything and never bath to help our environment. There are many things you can do. Just changing your light bulbs to compact fluorescents and turning your thermostat down 1 degree in the winter and up 1 degree in the summer can save all kinds of energy. Go to http://www.greenflagstaffrealestate.com for more green living tips.

Off the grid means living where utilities aren't available. These areas are usually rural and the cost is way to high to bring utilities in. There are several areas around Northern Arizona Including Alpine Ranches, Howard Mesa, Behind Mountainaire, Elk Park Meadows, Lake Mary Meadows, Hart Prairie & many others. So what do you do? Some areas have shallow enough water for a well, otherwise you haul water or collect if off your roof. For power, use solar & wind (Flagstaff start with solar, we have more sun than wind contrary to popular belief) with battery storage and a back-up generator. Heat can be mainly from passive solar with a thermal mass to store the heat. Other supplements or if you just can't do passive solar (too many trees or live in an area with lots of cloudy days) you can heat with woodstoves, electric forced air or in-floor(may need extra PV solar panels) or have propane delivered and have forced air or in-floor heat (more energy efficient than electric). Swap coolers and AC can even be incorporated if done right. So is off grid living green? If you are collecting energy from the sun, collecting your own water & using passive solar, then you are cutting way down on energy consumption and thus being green. Well what about all that gas used in the car because you live so far out. This is a valid concern but has many variables. Is it off setting all the good? If you drive a Hummer with 3 miles to the gallon then maybe. Going green doesn't need to be an absolute life change. Everything you do helps.

What is sustainable living? Sustainable takes green living even further using biodegradable building products, local building products, no harsh glues, non-voc paints, non-toxic paints, natural flooring, passive solar, alternative building styles, etc... Generally speaking it's goes further than just being green. Straw-bale homes & Earthships are a couple of the popular alternative building styles. Learn more at: http://www.greenflagstaffrealestate.com .

Flagstaff Homes & Land: http://www.villagelandshoppe.com Also see: Green Flagstaff Real Estate http://www.greenflagstaffrealestate.com , Flagstaff Homes: http://www.flagstaffhomes.net , Flagstaff Real Estate: http://www.flagstaffrealestatehomes.com

Potentially Harmful Environmental Hazards & Other Building Material Hazards When dealing with real estate in Flagstaff, Arizona or anywhere else you will run into enviromental hazards. Village Land Shoppe want's to make sure you are aware of these and take percautions in detecting, fixing and monitoring. It's better to know up front, rather than when it's too late. Here are some of the environmental hazards, links and general information. Village Land Shoppe wants to help protect you and your families. Radon - Radon is a gas that you cannot see, smell or taste. Radon comes from uranium in the ground that breaks down into a gas. Great so how do we detect it and what are the possible effects? Radon is known to cause cancer and ist the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer in america and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Detection: There are a couple ways of detction, 1. Electronicly with equipment 2. Canisters. Your local radon professional will have an expensive report giving contraption (recomended) or you may go to http://testproducts.com/ and order more inexpensive electronic tester (recommended for home use & continued monitoring along with caniters). The other method is to use a canister (available locally at Western Technologies or online). These canisters are placed inside the home and then mailed to a lab. There are two types of tests, long-term & short term. The epa recommends long term testing before mitigation. Radon can spike and go back down. In a real estate transaction your are not able to do a long term test because of the time constraints (typically a 10 to 15 day inspection period). So if high levels occur there is a choice to make, mitigate, buy and monitor or not proceed the home. The EPA says to mitigate if your home is at 4 pCi/L or higher. Other countries have different standards. Mitigation typically consists of using special fans to get the radon and disperse it somewhere else before it gets in your home. Whether you have a crawl space or a slab you will draw the air out from underneath and release into the are, now the way you do it is differnt (follow links for more info). For more information, information on how to mitigate, if you should mitigate and what the government believes safe levels are, visit: http://www.epa.gov/radon/ See the EPA's Home Buyers & Sellers Guide at: www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html Mold - A fungus that produces spores. Mold happens even in the "dry southwest". Mold can occur from just venting you dryer to a crawl space or attic or from a sink leak. Anywhere moister is present, there is a chance for mold. Mold can cause several medical problems however not all mold effect people or effect people in the same way. It is important to test your home for mold and take the necissary percations. Gernerally remediation starts with bleach and water solution, followed by sanding and then appling primmer paint (Kilz© is a good primer and has a mold resitant formula) to help keep the mold away. Mold can grow on almost anything and then can multiple, so it is important to stop it as soon as possible. What if the mold is in the walls? Your local mold specialist can take air samples from a small hole in the wall. For more information: www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html Asbestos - Asbestos is a mineral with long fibrous crystals. Asbestos was used in building for its ability to withstand heat, electricity and chemical damage. So its a miralce product? No, asbestos is know to cause tumors, cancer & other medical issues. Asbestos is no-longer used in the US for building, however if you have an older homes check for it and there are specific state laws dealing with disposal. Lead & Lead Based Paint - Lead was used in paints and a variety of other things. This use of lead in paint was banned in the US in 1978 and was generally stopped being produced earlier that that. Lead has been found to be toxic and should not be used. Lead can effect your kids even before they are born and can cause developmental problems. Lead can also effect adults leading to reproductive problems, high blood pressure, joint pain and other issues. Lead enters the body mainly through the mouth but can also be inhaled if there is lead in the dust. For more information: www.epa.gov/lead/ Carbon Monoxide - Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, almost odorless and tastless gas or liquid. Carbon Monoxide can cause chest pain, fatique, impaired vision, headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, flu-like sumptoms and even fatal. Carbon monoxide usually comes from burnt gasses (gas furnace, wood stove, gas water heater, gas stove, cars, buses & boats to name a few). It can be fatal and should be monitored by detectors in your home and can befound at your local department or home store. Yes vehicles and boats push it out their exhausts, so use caution in closed and OPEN areas. Some people think just because you are in the garage with a car started and the door down you will have a problem. Swimming behind an idling boat can harm you. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html Termites, Ants & other destrying organisms - When owning a home or buying a home it is important to protect against home destroying organisms. Termites and Ants are some of the most destructive, however not the only ones that can do damage. The easiest way to keep them out is to make it harder for them to get in. Keep wood from touching the ground to the house, don't store debris too close to the home or under, keep dirt away from all decks & fences and check your home for signs of infestation or deteriation. Your local termite & bug compainies can help educate on what to look for, how to treat or how to be proactive and treat before infestation happens. Formaldehyde Adhesives - Formaldehyde adhesives are used in several building materials (glues, paints, unbented fuel-burning appliances, fiberboards and much more). Formaldehyde is yet another colorless however pungent-smelling gas. It may trigger asthma attacks, lung issues, alergies, alergic reations, cancer and other issues. For more information see: www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html Biological pollutants, household cleaning products, nitrogen dioxide, pesticdes & other potentially harmful things visit: http://www.epa.gov/

Flagstaff Homes & Land: http://www.villagelandshoppe.com Also see: Green Flagstaff Real Estate http://www.greenflagstaffrealestate.com, Flagstaff Homes: http://www.flagstaffhomes.net, Flagstaff Real Estate: http://www.flagstaffrealestatehomes.com

You don't need to navigate the twists and turns of a real estate transaction yourself. Below I've listed several reasons you should seriously consider using a REALTOR.

A REALTOR can provide an objective look at your home and suggest steps to make it more marketable.
As professionals, REALTORS understand the market and the special considerations of your neighborhood. They know what will sell and what buyers are looking for.

REALTORS have an understanding of the current market conditions and values
This understanding may lead to a quicker sale and possibly top dollar. They will know how to price your home so that it will sell in a reasonable amount of time and you will get the most value from that sale as possible. The longer a home is in on the market due to lack of exposure, the more likely a prospective buyer assumes there is a problem with the home.

A REALTOR can get more exposure for your home
The Multiple Listing Service is a database of homes for sale that most REALTORS have access to. It's the fastest and easiest way to get your home in front of thousands of REALTORS instantly. Additionally, your home will be placed on Realtor.com as well as our company web site to provide even greater exposure for your home to potential buyers.

REALTORS will write your ads and place them in a professional real estate magazine

REALTORS are not only real estate experts, but they also understand the methods of successfully marketing your home to get the interest of buyers. They have the resources and mechanisms to get your home in front of thousands of buyers.

A REALTOR provides quality and eye catching yard signs to insure high visibility, along with flyers containing details of your home
A professional looking and attractive sign in front of the home with easy to access details sets the expectation to the buyer that they are dealing with professionals. That gives everyone confidence in moving forward in the sales process.
You don't need to be present to show your home

A professional REALTOR works with buyers by appointment and brings them to see your home. You can continue your daily routines and weekend activities without having the disruption of waiting for potential buyers who never come when they say they will or don't show up at all.

REALTORS can provide an electronic lockbox so other REALTORS

Sole and Separate (AKA: Tenancy in Severalty) - Title is held by one person.

Community Property - Requires a valid marriage between two persons. Each spouse holds an undivided one-half interest in the estate. One spouse cannot partition the property by selling his or her interest. Requires signatures of both spouses to convey or encumber. Each spouse can devise (will) one-half of the community property. Upon death the estate of the decedent must be: cleared: through probate, affidavit or adjudication. Both halves of the community property are entitled to a "stepped up" tax basis as of the date of death.

Community Property With Right Of Survivorship - Requires a valid marriage between two persons. Each spouse holds an undivided one-half interest in the estate. One spouse cannot partition the property by selling his or her interest. Requires signatures of both spouses to convey or encumber. Estate passes to the surviving spouse outside of probate. No Court Action required to "clear" title upon the first death. Both halves of the community property are entitled to a "stepped up" tax.

Joint Tenancy With Right Of Survivorship - Parties need not to be married; may be more than two joint tenants. Each joint tenant holds an equal and undivided interest in the estate, unity of interest. One joint tenant can partition the property by selling his or her joint interest. Requires signatures of all joint tenants to convey or encumber the whole. Estate passes to surviving joint tenants outside of probate. No court action required to "clear" title upon the death of joint tenant(s). Deceased tenant's share is entitled to a "stepped up" tax basis as of the date of death.

Tenancy In Common - Parties need not be married; may be more than two tenants in common. Each tenant in common holds an undivided fractional interest in the estate. Can be disproportionate, e.g. 20% and 80%, 60%, 20%, 20% ect. Each tenant's share can be conveyed, mortgaged or devised to a third party. Requires signatures of all tenants to convey or encumber the whole. Upon death the tenant's proportionate share passes to his or he heirs by will or intestacy. Upon death the estate of the decedent must be "cleared through probate, affidavit or adjudication. Each share has its own tax basis.