Melissa Polce

ORLANDO, Fla. Ed Binkley has designed many costly mansions in his day, including a concept home for Tiger Woods. Now he is turning his attention to homes that are small but comfortable, affordable and green.

As the McMansion boom goes bust, "the focus is moving toward high-density, single-family houses on small lots," said Binkley, an architect who recently left BSB Design in Orlando, Fla., to launch his own company, Ed Binkley Design, in Oviedo, Fla.

The plans and sketches on the drawing board in his home office show cottages and duplexes in a variety of architectural styles. The designs in his Shelter Series range in size from 600 square feet to a little more than 900 square feet. Each features flexible spaces that can be used for cooking, eating, living and sleeping.

Four units could be fitted onto a 70-by-120-foot lot, he said.

This fall, he plans to build his first model home. He estimates the cost will be a modest $50per square foot, or about $24,000 for the smallest design.

He also is meeting with builders and developers, with an eye to erecting models in Sarasota and Sanford.

"I picture them incorporating parking for a Smart Car and IKEA-type fixtures," he said.

Binkley envisions his compact houses in a variety of settings, including on urban in-fill sites and suburban cul-de-sacs. The units also could serve as graduate-student housing on college campuses or as backyard guest houses or resort-area cabins, he said. Or as first homes for newlyweds, retirement homes for empty-nesters or relief housing for victims of natural disasters.

"I've long been interested in smaller, affordable housing," said Binkley, who won a national competition for a Habitat for Humanity house he designed in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1998. "How small can a space be, and still be flexible and livable? It has a lot to do with volume and light. I've created sloped ceilings to add volume, and big windows for light."

He admits the lack of storage space might be a turn-off to some people: "But the less storage, the less stuff. We all have too much stuff."

Created from precut and numbered SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) and precolored fiber-cement Hardie Siding, the houses can be assembled rapidly on-site, producing little waste. And the panelized system can easily be expanded in 8-foot increments.

The houses would be energy-efficient "because they're so tight," he said.

The 8-inch-thick roof panels would have an R-36 value, compared with the industry requirement of R-19. (The R-value is a measure of a material's heat-conductivity. The higher the value, the better the insulation.) Combine that with insulated walls and low-E windows, and you've got a "sealed system," he said.

The small size would eliminate the need for much air-conditioning duct work. Most electrical conduits would be external. And solar or point-of-service hot water could be an option. For more details, go to Binkley's Web site:

edbinkleydesign.com.

For homes like these to be built, "We need more flexibility with zoning laws. Governments need to release some regulations to make building quicker and easier," said Binkley. "Then all I'd need is the nerve to just do it."

What Is That Perfect Fit of Home For You? Give Me A Call Today!

Melissa Polce mjpolce@kw.com 704-450-4335

www.MyRelocation2Charlotte.com www.ExclusiveHomesofCharlotte.com

"Lake to Land, I've Got It Covered

If you remember last week, I had a seller who was fortunate enough to get an approval from his bank to wipe off $95k in current loan amount to sell his home...the guy then turns around and takes every appliance, fan, garage door...etc, out of his home...Me...I was ready to strangle him, the bank did let me lower the price on the home an immediate $25k and now we have 2 offers...still...he could have really screwed up his chances...if it were me, I would have foreclosed in frustration...NOT ALL BANKS ON SHORT SALES ARE BAD...

And now...I should have known I was going to deal with this again as the guy above gave me his friend as a referral...Call Melissa, She solves Real Estate Problems, especially Short Sales...don't pay your mortgage, CALL HER... while I am grateful,

I also have steps you must abide for taking on a Short Sale and one of them is COOPERATION...I did not get you in the mess, BUT...I am willing to help you out...key word...TOGETHER

So, as I listed this other friend's place and gave him a list of To Do's...he slowly did them, OK, but they eventually got done, we got an offer, Package was in, setting up FHA Counseling...on our way to Success(with Wells Fargo, niceness and neatness of Short Sale Packages goes a long way)...

On my merry way of thinking I was doing great on this one...then a Phone Call..."Melissa, your guy informed us that he rented his primary for 3 years, but does not have records, and that he can only rent it 18 months, case closed, it will FORECLOSE"

Are You freakin kidding me...what the heck was he doing? I feel Sabotaged, what's worse is he said he thinks he did not count correctly with renting, blah, blah, blah...then the proverbial "I tried to Call 3 times and no one called me back"...I know they pick up at Wells, Trust Me...

He now wants me to list his other property(yup, another Short Sale)...I am thinkin "No Thanks"...I bet I would get far enough and find out buried oil tanks in the back yard or something...

Moral of the Story...Follow My Direction and Tell Me The Whole Truth Upfront...Chalk this up as Lesson Learned and Time Wasted!

Melissa Polce mjpolce@kw.com 704-450-4335

www.MyRelocation2Charlotte.com www.ExclusiveHomesofCharlotte.com

"Lake to Land, I've Got It Covered"

After being involved on the selling side of these NACA transactions, I finally went and got approved to be a buyers agent for NACA...what a great deal! They do not look at your credit score but rather what you can afford. They "Leave No One Behind" so they will continue working with you until you finally get to the point of being Approved! The max price allowed under the program is $200,160 but, you have no closing costs...instead, any money you negotiate from the seller for "Closing Costs" are used to "Buy Down" your rate...with current rates through NACA hovering around 4.75%(Loans are through Citi & BofA only)it is a fabulous deal! Affordable Homes for Everyone! Wait...what's better? You can do House Charlotte & Gastonia Housing Grant at the same time...obviously restrictions and more detail for these programs...but if you are renting but paying your bills...and you would rather own a home? CALL ME TODAY!

Contact Me About The NACA Program and We Can Get You Statred Today!

Melissa Polce, Broker

"Lake to Land, I've Got It Covered"

mjpolce@kw.com 704-450-4335

www.MyRelocation2Charlotte.com

Will It Finally Be My House?

Thanks so much for all of you who have been seeing me through trying to pick this house up to be my "Home Sweet Home"...I can tell you that the President of First Trust Bank in Charlotte and the Senior VP of Finance were wonderful enough to finally contact my husband and I to send in our offer directly to them!

I am not sure they knew what was being done with the home either so I am glad they are at least giving us a crack at it! It's not everyday here in Cornelius, NC(Lake Norman) that they sell an almost 100 year old home, if you are familiar with the area you know that really goes on in Charlotte...most people up here at The Lake look for the new rather than the old! Some people have already called it a money pit, but I think I secretly miss Home Depot & Lowes, I am up for the challenge...and, if we get it, you will see me leaving feet first...I am not moving again!

Anyhow...my fingers are crossed, if we get it...it is right down the street and if you see us at home, come over for a drink, that porch will be busy and really is a great place(it looks like) to relax!

"Lake to Land, I've Got It Covered!"

Melissa Polce, Broker www.MyRelocation2Charlotte.com mjpolce@kw.com 704-450-4335

We all have those listings...the ones where you hope they really sell only to have them sit on the sidelines of the RE Market. We all have them or have had them at one time or another...sometimes you don't know what to say or do...maybe it's because the area is overbuilt, too many homes for sale in the neighborhood...sometimes, price does not matter...I have had a few priced so low for the community that I still can't buy a showing on the Home...that always makes for a great Seller Update Phone Call.

So, what do you do? It is happening in low end and luxury end homes...we have alot on the market and I think buyers are very picky, quite honestly...if you are an approved ready to go buyer at the moment, you should be picky...your are 1 of only the chosen few! Still, it would be nice to get that showing on my home that has had ZERO to date...again, LOVE THAT SELLER UPDATE ON THAT HOME!

"Lake to Land, I've Got It Covered!"

Melissa Polce www.MyRelocation2Charlotte.com mjpolce@kw.com 704-450-4335