Energy efficiency, now that is what we have been talking about for the last decade. So what makes a new home more efficient than an older home? Well lets see, alot depends on your climate, me I live in one of the hottest places in the United States, Lake Havasu City, AZ. here we are concerned with our extreme summer heat ( that reaches 115 to 120 degrees ) not our winter months as they are very mild. So when you talk about construction methods you have to consider your climate. Here in Lake Havasu we build new homes on slab foundations as opposed to a subfloor, you see here our plumbing & air conditioing piping are ran thru the ceiling since we don't face the threat of freezing weather. Cold climate construction runs on the theory that you must insulate all piping to protect from the winter freeze, but in Lake Havasu & dersert climates you are concerned with the heat and how to cool your home with the least amount of effort from your a/c unit. So if you look at the theory of keeping it cool then you need to understand what happens to heat in a home in Lake Havasu City. We all know that heat rises and when you are in a home the heat risies to the ceiling from there it enters the attic and then escapes out the roof venting. That is why one of the most important features in new homes is roof venting, ( to conform to the city standards is one thing but quality builders understand that the faster you remove the heat from the attic of the home the easier it will be for the a/c unit to cool the home, there for reducing the time the a/c unit needs to run. This proceedure can be accoplished in many ways but one that we have found to be very effective is two inch soffit vents. Soffit vents help force the heat up to the ridge & gable vents. By doing this you are forcing the heat out of the attic much sooner. So when you ask old home vs new construction I say there are many advantages that are built in todays homes that an older home just was not built with because of the type of construction methods they used to build homes many years ago. Think about it new homes have dual pane Low E windows & 2 x 6 framing. Just those 3 items in a home can save you a ton of money to maintain a comforable climate in your home when we are facing are extreme summer heat.
Am I seeing things, or are we starting to see some new construction in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. It has been a long time since we have seen the signs of new construction in our little desert oasis, but believe me we are in need of some positive signs in this beautiful lake town. I remember when I moved to Lake Havasu in 1992 and there was very little construction, then we went on a construction boom, everywhere you looked there was a new home being built. We had so many contractors in town. Today we are starting to see a small movement of new homes being built again, WHY? I believe the answer to that question can be answered by looking at the available properties on the market currently, and the price drop in the vacant lots available. New home construction prices have leveled to a point that is very comparable to the bank owned properties we are all so happy to compete with. When you can build a new home with the colors and features you choose and have a new home warranty along with piece of mind that your contractor will be there to service your home if you have a problem, well that makes for a new choice that brings new construction back into play. So what will new construction do for the town of Lake Havasu City, that is easy to answer. It will bring back the construction industry that has fed our town from day one, restaurants will reopen, suppliers will come back and all those contractors will spend their hard earned money buying toys and playing on the lake. Now that is what I call money in motion. Well time will be the answer to my question, but if things keep moving in this direction then we might have a great year to come.
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Thank you for visiting my Active Rain profile & Real Estate Blog. I have been a Lake Havasu City, AZ. resident & full time Realtor for over 19 years specializing in residential resales & construction.
Wayne Somers has practiced real estate in Lake Havasu City, AZ. since 1992. When you are looking to move to a new community that you have very little knowledge of you rely upon the experts in that area, especially when the community is very young with many unknowns. Having knowledge of your market just as Wayne Somers does of Lake Havasu City, AZ. allows you to guide your clients thru the muddy waters to get the ideal closing that they are looking for. Wayne Somers has had a great deal to do with the growth of Lake Havasu City, AZ. with hundreds of new construction projects that have allowed Wayne to get very involved with the city regulations and development codes that restrict a home buyers desires. Wayne Somers has also served on his local Lake Havasu Association of Realtors Board as a director and has gained knowledge from the many different cases that have come before the Lake Havasu Board. In 2003 Wayne Somers decided to add more education to his resume by acquiring his brokers license then opening his own real estate office Red Sign Realty. Whether you are looking to construct a new project, rebuild an existing structure, add features to a new purchase or know just what a buyer needs to know before they purchase a property Wayne Somers with Red Sign Realty can guide you thru with the knowledge that is needed to keep the buyer & sellers happy.
"When I moved my family & practice to Lake Havasu City I needed to find a realtor to help me locate a home & office that would work for me. I relied on the referal of a professional college who sent me to Wayne Somers of Red Sign Realty, Wayne went out of his way to find what I was looking for, he was very professional & had great knowledge of the community. Since then I have purchased multiple homes & investments from Wayne." DR. Kevin & Heather Obrien.
"I met Wayne Somers of Red Sign Realty over 15 years ago when I had him list a new home I had built. Over the past 15 years I have done over 75 deals with Wayne Somers as my realtor and I am proud to say that Wayne has went above & beyond on every deal we have done, he knows what I expect from him and he preforms on every time. I refer Wayne Somers to everyone that I know is looking for property." Keith Filter.
"When I want to know about real estate in Lake Havasu City, I talk to Wayne Somers. When I want to learn about construction trends and costs in Lake Havasu City, I talk to Wayne Somers. When I want to find prime locations in Lake Havasu City, I talk to Wayne Somers. Wayne is one of the most knowledgeable real estate professionals in Lake Havasu City and I benefit from knowing him." Tom Basile, County Manager at Stewart Title Mohave County Arizona.
"Wayne is a very dedicated, honest, and reliable person. He can be counted on to provide excellent service to his customers." Monica Hall, Senior Vice President at Mohave State Bank.
"Wayne is a true professional that I have worked with for many years. I have always enjoyed working with Wayne and respect his work ethics. He also has a great personality and alot of fun to be around. All of our mutual clients have always had nothing but favorable things to say about him and his performance as their realtor." Patti Woodward, Branch Manager Evergreen Home Loans.
"Wayne is a well informed Leader of the Industry, he has a high level of integrity and always looks out for the best interest of his clients. Wayne works at a very high level of efficiency and is well respected by all his peers." Russell Ideishi, Mortgage Banker.
When buyers choose to call Lake Havasu City, AZ. their home or vacation destination they do so for the following reasons, Lake Havasu City, AZ. was built upon the idea that if you take a warm climate, lots of water, & clean air people will come from miles away just to enjoy the area. Since Robert P. McCulloch purchased the Island property and brought the now world famous London Bridge to Lake Havsu City, AZ. people from all over the world flock to see the famous bridge. Lake Havasu was incorporated in 1978 and since that date the city has remained a sun seekers paradise, a southern California's play ground for water sports, & a magnet for world class boat racing & the jet ski world finals. Summer is a great time to live in or visit Lake Havasu City, AZ. but Winter has some of the best temperatures in the United States. Averaging 65 degrees thru our winter months allows you to understand why our snowbirds come this little town of Lake Havasu City, AZ. that geographicaly sits between Phoenix, AZ., Las Vegas, NV., & Southern California. Lake Havasu City, AZ. is the best over all year around small town in the United States.
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