Month: January 2011

Sellers

What To Look For When Buying A Home In Palm Springs, Ca

Vic Yepello

What you look for when buying a Palm Springs Area Home and who you choose to work with makes all the difference in the world on how the process will work for you.

WHEN YOU VISIT PALM SPRINGS, BE A PART OF OUR ACTIVE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE.

Palm Springs is all about the Neighborhoods.

But isn’t that the way in many cities you ask?

Yes of course but here in Palm Springs, we have a few other things to consider too.  Many of our neighborhoods reflect varying forms of Palm Springs Style and of course, pricing just as in other cities.  But in addition, our neighborhoods will also reflect weather- yes weather.

In Palm Springs, as you travel north in the city, you will become more susceptible to desert winds.  Our windy season is generally in the Spring and early Summer but depending on other more global weather patterns such as El Nino, it can go far beyond that.  The winds can be, at times, relentless throughout the day in an abnormal year.  But in a normal year, they may only last for the afternoon and early evening.

What else would your Realtor tell you?  Well that we have an Airport runway just about in the center of town so some housing areas are going to hear jets taking off and landing.  Now we don’t have a lot of airport traffic and there is a night time curfew but this is just another example of why a Realtor can best assist with such an important purchase.  I mean let’s face it, you come here to buy an investment or retirement property and the last thing you’d want is to find out you’re right next to the Airport, right?

SO WHAT TO DO IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN PALM SPRINGS?

Talk to an experienced Realtor! Why you ask?

One who has the years of experience to know that a specific neighborhood or even a lot within a development may be more or less susceptible to wind.  With his or her knowledge close at hand, weather conditions or noisy areas can be noted so that the purchase process will be more successful right off the bat!

 

Information About Buying or Selling Palm Springs Area Real Estate

 

Buying or Selling in today’s real estate market is a challenge and a process that is easily accomplished with the help of a Real Estate professional. You will need an expert who has lived in the desert and knows the lifestyle and the unique housing market.

The market in the Greater Palm Springs Area is alive and the values are exceptional for those who are looking for an ideal investment or a vacation/retirement property. We have many choices for every need, budget and amenity list.

Is to be your primary residence? We have what it takes to get you settled into a great family home in the neighborhood of your choice.

Selling your home in the Greater Palm Springs Area? I will make the experience easy, friendly and professional. Our mission is to provide outstanding service while utilizing the best practices and Internet technology available.

If you are plan to rent your new home, we have the staff partners who will assist with any project or property management while you are away from the property.

For more information on how I can best serve your Greater Palm Springs area needs, please fill out the online contact form give us a call at 760-413-2871.

I won’t just sell you a house but I WILL help you find the home you will LOVE!

 

Ron is a Greater Palm Springs Area Realtor® specializing in Palm Springs vacation homes, investment properties in Palm Springs and primary single-family Palm Springs Homes for Sale. He has the long term knowledge necessary to make the buying and selling of Greater Palm Springs Area real estate a smooth enjoyable process.

WHY DOES RON JESSER LOVE PALM SPRINGS?

Why Does Ron Jesser Love Palm Springs

 

 

Lifestyle

Energy Efficiency Features of Homes – What Buyers Tell Us They Want

Vic Yepello

Energy Efficiency Features of Homes – What Buyers Tell Us They Want

By Arun Barman, Research Economist

Home buyers look at a number of characteristics of the properties when they are searching for a home to purchase. In addition to traits like size, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and convenience to schools, shopping or other amenities, commuting costs, energy expenses and environmental efficiency and concerns have increasingly factored into the homebuying decision. This month we look at energy efficiency and its importance to recent home buyers, based on findings from the 2010 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

Energy efficiency is an important feature for many home buyers. The Profile shows that almost nine in ten buyers felt that a home’s heating and cooling costs were at least somewhat important in their buying decision. Roughly seven in ten buyers felt that energy-efficient appliances and energy-efficient lighting were at least somewhat important.

Regional Differences
Buyers in the Northeast and South tended to place the highest premium on heating and cooling costs. According to the Department of Energy’s Residential Energy Consumption Survey, homes in the Northeast typically have the highest yearly energy bills: averaging $2,319, compared to less than $1,800 in each of the other three regions. In the South 23 percent of energy expenditures go to air-conditioning, compared with 14 percent in the West (the next highest region). Also, buyers in the South and West – the two regions where the housing stock tends to be newer – showed a stronger preference for energy-efficient appliances and lighting.

Preferences by Age
Interestingly, older buyers (those aged 55 and above) tended to have stronger preferences towards energy-efficient features than did younger buyers (18 to 34). Twenty-nine percent of older buyers felt that energy-efficient lighting and appliances were very important features, whereas just over 20 percent of younger buyers felt that those features were important. Part of the explanation may be the fact that younger buyers are more often first-time home buyers. Therefore older buyers may be more aware of energy-efficient appliances and lighting that can reduce monthly energy bills.

Differences by Buyer Income
Buyers with higher incomes tended to place less importance on environmentally friendly features. Twenty-nine percent of buyers with incomes over $100,000 per year thought heating and cooling costs were significant in their home buying decision, compared with 47 percent of buyers with incomes less than $45,000 per year. There is a similar trend for energy-efficient appliances and lighting features. The importance of each feature increases incrementally from higher to lower income groups. One reason may be that energy efficiency translates into cost savings, which is more important for lower-income home owners. That also indicates that the desire to be environmentally friendly is less important than the cost savings from energy efficiency.

Other Energy Savings Preferences
Half of all buyers felt that landscaping for energy conservation and environmentally friendly community features had some importance in their decision to purchase a home. Buyers in the West region showed a higher preference towards landscaping for energy conservation, with 17 percent responding that this was a very important feature. Also, about twice as many older buyers felt landscaping for energy conservation was very important compared with buyers 18 to 34 years old.

For more information:

The Home Buyers Energy Efficient Checklist produced for REALTORS® through an exclusive arrangement with the United States Department of Energy, provides homeowners with a checklist to review how energy efficient their home is based on reviewing 11 categories:

• Utility Bills
• Heating and Cooling Systems
• Insulation
• Windows and Doors
• Air Leakage
• Appliances
• Shading & Screening
• Water System
• Lighting
• Ask Your Home Inspector
• Financial