I would say that if we look at our numbers, it looks like our market (here locally Palm Springs and the area) we are doing OK…Yes we have a larger number of sales, yes prices are low but not catastrophic and yes there is demand. But again we are in a resort  area, this is our season and of course a large number of buyers from Canada made it happen and still will I think until way into the summer!! (they think and maybe they are right that the prices will drop in the summer). So nationwide not looking good ….but here I cannot complain I did not have less sales this year so far than the years before and still quite a few up ahead coming. This is shown in the NAR (National Association of Realtors article posted in the “real estate news” page on my website :  http://www.claudinereal.com/Real_Estate_News.htmIn our area we might have already touched bottom and we are slowly readjusting. I am seeing for the last two weeks US buyers , though still shy, attempting to get back in the market and understanding that writing an offer will get you the best price and not just looking at the listing prices. The interest rates and the Jumbo loans limit up lifted is certainly making it more attractive to buy. Waiting for “a better” opportunity and timing might just put you there where we were a few years when all the buyers “woke up” at the same time and got into the market at the same time and create “the bubble”. Browse the site and look at all the listings is country clubs in the area : http://www.claudinereal.com/Country_Clubs.htm  I would love to read your comments.

Check how much of your electricity comes from renewable sources,

like wind, solar. Then find green power options available to you. Use the green power locator.   http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/how-clean.html�

For additional questions contact your EcoBroker at  alvin at alvintherealtor.com

Buy water-efficient fixtures and products. The WaterSense label helps shoppers

 identify water efficient products and programs. Read more about WaterSense.
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/tips/cons.htm

For more info contact your EcoBroker      Alvin Fuchs     alvin at alvintherealtor.com

Run your dishwasher only when it's full; use the rinse-and-hold dishwasher 

feature until you're ready to run a full load. Read more about using 

water wisely at: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/links.htm

Contact your EcoBroker, Alvin Fuchs at alvin@alvintherealtor.com

Reduce your carbon footprint. Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions over 1,500 pounds per year.

Don’t idle. Don’t idle! Remind your school system to turn off bus engines when buses are parked to eliminate harmful exhaust pollution.

It’s electric. Check how much of your electricity comes from renewable sources, like wind, solar. Then find green power options available to you.

Tread lightly. Commuting without polluting! Use public transportation, carpool, walk, or bike whenever possible to reduce air pollution and save on fuel costs.

Make the switch. Buy or switch to energy efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs. Look for the EnergyStar label to help save you money on energy bills and pollute less.

eCycle it. eCycle - take your old computer, DVD player, or other electronics to a recycling center. This helps keep hazardous substances out of the landfill.

Everyone can make a difference. High school students can study links between everyday actions at their high school, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change.

Make your home an Energy Star! As you start your spring cleaning, do a home energy audit and switch to EnergyStar products.

For more tips contact your Ecobroker, Alvin Fuchs   alvin@alvintherealtor.com

I am amazed…I knew just by the amount of clients I have seen this last month and the same with my colleagues that the sales would be up but I thought that we would see the prices down by much more…I guess THIS IS NOT what is happening.The total number of sales for Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells and Sun City Palm Desert are up by 57% and the prices are also UP from the month before.So there are still people out there buying properties ! and they understand the time to buy in NOW… The best deals are being written now..Sellers will pull out the properties from the market and wait for next season.April and May are the best months….I am here waiting to help you and answer your questions. 

Both immediate and indirect economic savings can come from energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators, horizontal-axis washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, etc. Immediate and continuing savings accrue from lower utility bills for electricity and/or water. The performance levels of these appliances meet, and generally exceed, those of industry standard models. As a case in point, consider household refrigeration. By the late 1970s, refrigerators reached their most inefficient performance by requiring about 1750 kiloWatt-hours per year to operate. Modern energy-efficient refrigerators provide the same or better service at 450-550 kiloWatt-hours per year, and they are much quieter in operation.

Estimated Cost Savings:
The direct economic savings achieved by efficient appliances are a function of how much the appliance will be used, the performance level of the equipment being replaced, and local costs for utilities. When you replace older equipment, it is not uncommon for electricity consumption for that appliance to decrease by 50% or more. In general, if the appliance being replaced is more than 15 years old, and it is replaced with a state-of-the-art unit, you may expect utility savings of 20%-60% compared with the energy required by the previous appliance. Horizontal-axis washing machines typically save consumers 50% in both electric and water utilities. Additional savings come from reduced quantities of detergent. Your monthly electrical bill is for all electricity used by all electrical loads in the building, so changing a single appliance will lower the bill, but in proportion to the amount of electricity formerly used by that appliance. If refrigeration represents 15-20% of your electric bill, a new refrigerator that is twice as efficient as the unit being replaced will lower your total bill by about 7-10%.Any increase in initial cost is usually more than made up in monthly savings. Availability of the most energy-efficient appliances may be an issue. Sometimes the best equipment is in demand, which can mean that discounts and sale prices are either unavailable or of lower value. Over time, as manufacturers and suppliers clear inventories of less efficient models by offering discounts, expect the price of efficient appliances to come down as well.

Installation (Getting It Done):
Be sure to price shop and to get two or three (or more) prices. Inquire about installation and removal of your old unit. For any refrigeration unit, be sure that the refrigerant will be removed and recycled responsibly. Refrigerants are very potent greenhouse gases and must be captured and contained. Shopping for price and availability will give you perspective on the true costs of equipment and installation in your area.

This article was posted on the EcoBroker website. For more info on environmental issues contact Alvin Fuchs, EcoBroker. alvin@alvintherealtor.com

I did not write in my blog because I have been just very busy showing properties and writing offers and getting into escrows.It is exciting and certainly surprising people whom I meet and with a kind of a “pity” or “concerned” voice ask me “So Claudine how are you doing ? especially in this market ? Are you alright ?” and all I have to say is “I am doing great – I am busy – business is good” Yes business is good. Yes clients who are ready to write offers now are getting some great deals. The sellers are seeing some “action” and offers …which we did not see during 2007. I do not know about recession …all I know is that I am having a fine season. Prices are dropping especially in gated golf communities, properties that are also investment and also for the snow birds personal use.It also sounds like we will be busy until the summer …including the summer.

Very odd times…

Am I living on another planet ? I am just as busy as I have been during the best years of real estate.Running around showing properties, being contacted all day long to answer questions to potential buyers …We are blessed in Palm Springs and the area….The word is out that it is the TIME TO BUY and people are asking us to write offers (yes I must admit sometimes low offers) and after a few back and forth we are in escrow.Buyers are happy to buy a worth while property in our wonderful area , in the sunny Palm Springs and sellers who really want to sell see offers and sell. We are in a micro market very typically outside of all the media ( I am not saying they are lying..but again we are not part of the average calculation of foreclosures and such. The country clubs get most of the attention because the buyers are “snow birds” who will not spend more than a few months in the home they buy. The gated communities are now selling better than the free standing homes in regular areas. I am not complaining…and I will be happy to answer your questions…Please do share with me your thoughts.

While working with a client, it was made clear that they wanted an affordable property that provided them with 100% untreated natural mineral water.  I got some great info from Desert Water Agency who handles Palm Springs and part of Cathedral City and from Coachella Valley Water District who handles most of the remainder of the Coachella Valley.  A majority of the water, from  DWA, is pumped from underground wells and is delivered untreated. There are a few communities that are supported by above ground sources and those are treated with the minimum allowable chlorine. CVWD had a similar explanation. In fact, I was told that the best filtering system you can have is sand. We happen to live in a very sandy area allowing our well water to be some of the best filtered mineral water there is. Additional information is available and can be obtained from either of the two agencies. For those who need to filter out the chlorine, a simple activated carbon filter would be the best. For information about environmental issues regarding your home contact your local EcoBroker certified Realtor. In this case, that would be me. alvin@alvintherealtor.com or 760 219 1504.