Gerry Angel

Autumn has officially arrived! While I'm happy to have a break from summer's high temperatures the real estate market is experiencing a "heating up" of its own. As the year winds down we're reaching the deadline for our Buyers to benefit from the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. The home buying process is time consuming and before you know it we'll be in December so these few weeks will be a pivotal time for taking those next steps in purchasing a home.

When I came across this article I thought it was a great opportunity to remind buyers of our time crunch but also a few points about preparing to buy and the reality of closing on a property before the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit deadline. You still have time to purchase your dream home and benefit from the tax credit but you need to plan.

Here are a few points to help you navigate the buying process fast.

How to Nail Down $8,000 Tax Credit on New Home

Came across this Green Guide video during lunch and I think it's worth watching. Short and informative. Enjoy!

Westchester County has implemented a spectacular new plan to fuel county vehicles with discarded cooking oil. The plan cuts costs for Westchester taxpayers and reduces carbon emissions.

Just announced two weeks ago, the county presently has 7 vehicles running on cooking oil alone with an additional 125 vehicles running on a mix of cooking oil and diesel fuel. This free alternative fuel is being provided by local restaurants. Restaurants are welcome to join and reap the rewards. With the county willing to collect the grease, restaurants will no longer have to pay for discarded oil to be hauled away.

A win-win situation that saves money for restaurant owners and taxpayers.

Realtor® magazine had a great article by Melissa Dittmann Tracey on maintaining your home and its appliances. The article "How Long Should It Last?" lists the average longevity you can expect from many of our household materials and amenities.

100 Years or More

Brick Siding: Lifetime of the home

All wooden floors: Lifetime of the home

Cellulose insulation material: 100-plus years

50-100 Years

Slate, copper, and clay and concrete roofs: 50+ years

Copper gutters: 50+ years

Kitchen cabinets: Up to 50 years

Modified acrylic kitchen sinks: 50 years

Vinyl floors: 50 years

30-50 Years

Thermostats: 35 years

Wooden windows: 30 years

Wood shake roofs: 30 years

French interior doors: 30-50 years

10-20 Years

Built-in audio system: 20 years

Aluminum windows: 15-20 years

Asphalt shingle roofs: 20 years

Faucets, kitchen sinks: 15 years

Gas ranges: 15 years

Cultured marble countertops: 20 years

Dryers and refrigerators: 13 years

Air conditioning units: 10-15 years

Lighting controls: 10+ years

Interior and exterior paints: 15+ years

Electric or gas water heaters: 10 years

Air conditioners: 10-15 years

Furnaces: 15-20 years

5-10 Years

Security systems: 5-10 years

Heat and smoke detectors: 5-10 years

Dishwashers: 9 years

Microwave ovens: 9 years

Carpet: 8-10 years

Sometimes the benefits of an Eco-friendly product are negated by the distance it travels to reach the consumer. When choosing products or services it's a good idea to see what your local businesses can offer. It's good for the environment and helps your community thrive.

Seek out local farmers or produce markets. Beyond the environmental benefit, the privilege of face time with local business owners translates into fresh foods and business accountability. To find local farmers markets visit: www.localharvest.org

Another great idea that is also simple:

BUY IN BULK! You're going grocery shopping anyway so why not fit more into the car? This means less trips overall. Buying larger containers of concentrated detergents goes further as does buying a large container of a food product and then dividing it up into smaller reusable storage containers.

Super size your wine... "The American Association of Wine Economists estimates global greenhouse gas emissions from wine production and distribution to be 5,336,600 tons- roughly the same amount that one million passenger vehicles would emit in a year." A great suggestion from The Green Guide, buy larger bottles of wine. "The bigger the bottle, the smaller the carbon impact per ounce."

Home Improvments:

There are innumerable Eco-friendly products on the market to help build or renovate your home but keep in mind how these products will come to you.

While it's great if you install floors with wood from a protected sustainable forest it's also important to recognize that the forest may be in China. By the time that wood arrives at your home it's been on trucks, trains, planes and many carbon emitting vehicles. The transportation could possibly negate the entire effort.

Look for local companies, look for a way to use reclaimed hardwood or just refinish the hardwood floors you already have. A change of stain or color may be all you need. The same goes for slate, tile and driveway gravel.