Utah home builders who have gone ‘green’

I know I’ve been talking a lot lately about ‘going green’ in your home, but it has really sparked my interest and I think it’s important.

One thing that I didn’t talk about last time is who to hire to build a green home for you. I became interested in this question after I paid a visit to my sister and saw a house being build behind her that claims to be entirely ‘green’. So who can you turn to?

Instead of compiling a list myself, I’ll refer you to a good website that has a bunch of information on green builders – this website calls them Energy Star builders, but it’s the same thing. The website is Energy Star Builders in Utah.

They have created a list of builders who have a minimum five-star rating on the HERS scale. Some names I think you’ll recognize, but some I had never heard of.

You’ll probably find that building a green home will cost more than a regular home. It might make sense to some people, but others might not be able to justify the cost. We’re not here to vilify people who don’t build green home – everybody can do something to be environmentally responsible. If building an energy efficient home fits into your plans, then more power to you.

Tags: Utah home builders,Green Utah homes,energy efficiency,utah real estate,real estate

My favorite homes in Salt Lake City (1)*

Many people I know have mentioned the McCune mansion as a place they admire as one of the gems of Salt Lake City, but few know it by that name, or know the history of the place. It truly is one of my favorite homes in Salt Lake. During the summer, when the landscaping is perfect and the colors are vibrant, I don’t think it has an equal.

The mansion is located on the northeast corner of 200 East and Main Street, right to the east of the LDS Conference Center. It was built in 1901 for Alfred and Elizabeth McCune by the architect S.C. Dallas, and served as their home until 1920 when they moved to California. The mansion was then donated to the LDS church and has been used as a music school, a BYU Salt Lake center, a dance school, and now as a private reception center. I hear that wedding receptions at the mansion are amazing.

The tornado that passed through Salt Lake in 1999 did some damage to one of the mansion’s chimney, at which point Philip McCarthey came in and bought it to restore it. It is fully restored today and it looks great.

Take a tour of it now if you’d like, but like I mentioned before, the grounds are even better in the spring, summer and fall. Oh, and I forgot to mention that some people say the home is haunted. If you are into that, you might like this website.

*My service doesn’t stop here! In addition to maintaining The Salt Lake City Utah Real Estate Blog, I also help people buy and sell homes in Utah. When you need help with either of these, contact me!

Salt Lake urbanizes a little more with developments like Murray’s Birkhill at Fireclay

Some parts of Salt Lake City are doing an admirable job at building more walkable, public transit-friendly communities. Hamlet Homes is among the builders who have recognized the growing need for more mixed use developments where driving your car becomes less of a necessity and walking is preferred.

Birkhill at Fireclay is one of these new communities, located in a formerly industrial section of Murray City. I’ve liked what I’ve seen of this place and I think it will be a big hit.

First, I like the style of the buildings. The Georgian and Federal style designs are appealing to me, as they remind me of older cities like Boston. I think the style will remain appealing and not date like some other development around here.

I like the idea of tree-lined streets and retail space on the first floors of the buildings. It’s nice that they’ve put in some energy efficient features, central air, UTOPIA fiber-optic technology, and that they’ve attached a modest price tag.

I also like that it encourages TRAX use and walking. With such big plans for public transportation in northern Utah, we will need more developments like this. They’ll become more commonplace too. It will be great for people who like city life, and there are more and more of them coming to Utah every year.

These condos and townhomes sit on a 97 acre redevelopment area located on about 4250 South. When all is said and done, there will be 30 acres of more than 330 residential units and 250,000 square feet of commercial space centered along Fireclay Avenue. The main website is here.

*My service doesn’t stop here! In addition to maintaining The Salt Lake City Utah Real Estate Blog, I also help people buy and sell homes in Utah. When you need help with either of these, contact me!

Utah home sales drop, so does median sales price*

The National Association of REALTORS released a report yesterday that shows Utah homes sales dropping by 33.8%. That is, from fourth quarter 2006 to fourth quarter 2007.

Our median sales price in Utah also dropped 7.13% from 3rd quarter to the 4th quarter of 2007.

What does this mean for our market? Simply that we are in a correction. We are not in market freefall, or panic mode – we are just returning to normal. This return scares a lot of people because they see what has gone on in other states as a preview of what will happen in Utah. I think prices may continue to drop throughout 2008, but I don’t believe that Utah will see it to the same degree as other states have.

I think Dave Mansell of the Utah Association of Realtors is right on when he said in an interview that historically, Utah hasn’t seen the same peaks and valleys that other states have. He said we don’t go up as fast, or fall as fast or as hard, so we are more stable here.

I have the feeling he’ll prove to be right as we see what unfolds in 2008. Additinally, with the passage of the economic stimulus plan that raises the limit on conventional and FHA loans, Utah’s market will benefit by easing the crunch that jumbo loan applicants have felt lately.

I think we’re in a fairly good position in Utah. I can’t predict what will happen this year, but I’m hoping for the best.

*My service doesn’t stop here! In addition to maintaining The Salt Lake City Utah Real Estate Blog, I also help people buy and sell homes in and around South Jordan, Utah. When you need help with either of these, contact me!