Buy Local – Support Your Community

March 29, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Sure, it’s tempting to go for that deal online that saves you a few bucks…but when you look at the greater cost of sending your money out-of-state, it might be worth paying a little more and keeping that money here – in Salt Lake City.

The ripple effect created, as your money gets recirculated in your community, is major. By supporting local business, you are employing your neighbors, and putting tax money back into your neighborhoods.

Effect of Buying Local (source: www.localfirst.org)

Buy Local.

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9th & 9th – Eclectic, Walkable Salt Lake City Neighborhood

March 28, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

I may be a bit biased here, since this is my neighborhood, but I can’t think of anyplace in Salt Lake City that I would rather live. I’m able to walk to the grocery store (Smith’s), the movies (Tower Theater), yoga (Centered City), my vet (University Animal Hospital), dry cleaner, coffee shops (Coffee Garden), and so much more!

9th & 9th Neighborhood of Salt Lake City

And, if where I want to go is too far to walk, 9th & 9th is conveniently located to three bus lines (#9, #213 and #209), so I can use transit to get downtown or to the University of Utah.

Homes in the 9th & 9th area are primarily bungalow and Victorian styles. Sales prices average around $300,000 while rental homes run around $1,200 – 1,500/month.

Every September, Salt Lake residents can look forward to the 9th & 9th Street Festival http://www.9thand9thstreetfestival.com/

Filed Under: 9th and 9th, Hoods
Salt Lake City (84105) Home Sales on the Rise

Salt Lake City (84105) Home Sales on the Rise

March 28, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

I think it’s safe to say the real estate market in Salt Lake City has turned a corner: of 19 homes in zip code 84105 that sold in the past 30 days, 9 sold at or ABOVE list price…such as this cute bungalow that sold for $210,000 (list price $204,000). I think it’s going to be a good Spring and Summer for those needing or wanting to sell their Salt Lake City house.

Want to know how the home sales are in your neighborhood? Drop me an e-mail with your address: beverly@slcgreenhomes.com

Filed Under: Home, Real Estate in Salt Lake City Tagged With: , , ,

Salt Lake Real Estate – Signs of Recovery

February 23, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Salt Lake’s real estate market is showing clear signs of a recovery. More than 1,000 homes went under contract in January, a nearly 40 percent increase compared to homes under contract a year ago, according to Utahrealestate.com. The increase in pending home sales can be traced to the creation of more Utah jobs, rising home affordability and falling home inventories.

In fact, the number of new listings in Salt Lake County in the fourth quarter of 2011 fell to 3,686, the lowest level in 14 years (third quarter 1997).

According to a recent government report, “all of Utah’s industrial sectors are adding jobs, the lone exception being government … The industrial sector leading Utah’s employment growth is professional and business services — up 11,000 positions over the past year. Half of this is in high-paying professional and technical industries like legal services, computer systems design, consulting, and marketing research. The other half is through employment service businesses (temporary help services), which supply workers to other businesses and industries.”

Source: Salt Lake Board of REALTORS®

 

Filed Under: Home, Real Estate in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City Real Estate, Salt Lake City Real Estate News Tagged With: ,

Air Sealing your Home’s Envelope to Stop Losing Energy and Money

February 23, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

This is a great, short video explaining how important it is to seal your home’s “envelope” – the first thing homeowner’s should do to stop losing money by heating your neighborhood. In Salt Lake City, I’ve seen homes that leak up to 100% of their home’s conditioned air every HOUR…seriously! My own home was close to that…now it’s down to less than 50% (yes, I still have some work to do).

 

Filed Under: Green Living, Home Energy Efficiency Tagged With: , , , ,

What do Warren Buffet, and Vyrle Hanson, know about investing?

February 2, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Warren Buffet is seen by many as the greatest investor of our time. He recently advised his secretary of 37 years, Debbie Bosanek (you know, the one who pays a higher tax rate than her boss?) to purchase a second home. He told her it would be the best opportunity in her lifetime, since mortgage interest rates are at historical lows, and home prices have fallen dramatically. So, Ms. Bosanek reportedly purchased a second home in Surprise, Arizona.

If Mr. Buffet is advising those people close to him to invest in real estate – do you think it might be good advice?

My father, Vyrle Hanson, advised me to do the same when I started my first “real” job. You see, he was a REALTOR® and believed in the value of homeownership. It has served my mom (widowed, sadly, 29 years ago). Now 87 years old, she doesn’t have to worry about how to pay for medical care, decent care and housing. She draws a nice rental income from properties purchased in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

I believe that this is the time of our lives that we’ll look back on and either think “wow, am I glad I bought a home/investment property when I did!” or “boy, did I miss an opportunity of a lifetime!”

Which of these will YOU be thinking 20 years from now?

Think about it. Think about your family.

Filed Under: Buyers, Investors Tagged With:

Fourth Quarter, 2011, Salt Lake County Home Sales Rise 18% over 2010

February 2, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Sales of previously-owned single-family homes in Salt Lake County in the fourth quarter were up 18 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, according to the Salt Lake Board of REALTORS®. The number of single-family homes sold in Salt Lake County in the October-November-December period totaled 2,330 sales compared to 1,972 home sales during the same period a year ago.

More people purchased single-family homes in the Kearns/Taylorsville area (ZIP code 84118) in the fourth quarter than any other ZIP code along the Wasatch Front. Lehi (84043) ranked No. 2 in the most single-family homes sold at 148 sales. South Jordan ranked No. 3 at 133 sales. Farr West (131 sales) and Clearfield (119 sales) rounded out the top five highest sales areas.“Seven in 10 homes in Salt Lake County are now affordable when measured against Utah’s median householdincome of $57,000 ,” said Donna Pozzuoli, President of the Salt Lake Board of REALTORS®. “We project home sales this year to rise another 15 percent to 20 percent over 2011 levels.”
Source: Salt Lake Board of REALTORS®
Filed Under: Salt Lake City Real Estate News Tagged With: ,

Salt Lake County Real Estate Inventory Dropping

January 10, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Is Salt Lake City moving to a Seller’s Market?

A year ago Salt Lake County had a housing inventory of a nine-month supply. Today, that inventory has dropped to less than a seven-month supply. This is a good indication that Salt Lake County could be moving to a Seller’s Market, since industry experts consider it to be a Seller’s Market when inventory dips below a six-month supply.

November was the sixth consecutive month of increasing home sales in Salt Lake County. Home sales in November were up 15 percent compared to the same month in November 2010.

Filed Under: Home, Salt Lake City Real Estate News Tagged With:

Rocky Mountain Power Rate Increase

July 13, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Rocky Mountain Power has requested an 11% rate increase (if approved, this would add about $4.50/month or $54.00/year to our electric bills). While this is down from their original request of a 13.7% increase, it’s still just the first of many, annual rate increases RMP says they’ll need to keep up with our growing demand for electricity.

Utah enjoys one of the lowest rates in the country (8.51 cents/kilowatt hour compared to a national average of 11.93 cents). And, for those who care about air quality and environmental issues, 82% of Utah’s electricity comes from coal.  What if RMP put the rate increases towards renewable energy sources such as solar and wind?

This increase is just one more reason for homeowners to consider making their homes more energy efficient. With most homes “leaking” air to the outside by a rate of more than 50% per hour, homeowners are paying to cool (and heat) their neighborhoods! And, for at least a few more months, homeowners can take advantage of a $2,000 rebate the state of Utah is offering for energy efficient upgrades (Utah Home Performance with Energy Star program).

 

Filed Under: Energy Efficient Homes, Home Tagged With: , ,

Salt Lake City – #7 for Real Estate Investors

June 3, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

In a recent Inman News study, Salt Lake City, Utah ranked #7 in the nation for real estate investors. The rankings were based on data such as local unemployment, home sales, affordability and percentage of distressed properties.

According to SmartZip data, homes in Salt Lake City are expected to appreciate 41.1 percent in the next 10 years. In part due to the anticipated increase in population and the fact that housing starts aren’t keeping up with this increase (we’re expecting to add 1.5 million people by 2040).

Filed Under: Green Box, Home, Real Estate (general), Real Estate in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City News Tagged With: , ,
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