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This has nothing to do with Denver real estate, but a friend of mine from High School published a website with a discussion on his participation of the Flight 93 promotions. Gary is an audio engineer, his job placed him at the screenings with the families of the victims of the infamous flight on 9-11. The website has some interesting audio clips from the victims family members.
Insulation...How much is enough?
Source & thanks to: David Roos, Colorado Home Inspector, ASHI #243378 Safe and Sound Home Inspection
When I step off my ladder to report to a prospective home buyer how much insulation exists in their attic, they often ask "is that enough insulation?: That question seems simple enough, however there are quite a few variables one must consider in determining the amount of insulation that is required. Some of the variables are: type of insulating material, amount of insulation elsewhere in the home, type of heating system, number and size of windows in the home, climate, and local building codes. This article will help you assess whether your insulation is adequate.
Why do we insulate?
Heating and cooling acount for 50 t0 70 % of the energy used in the average American home. Unless your home was constructed with special attention to energy efficiency, adding insulation will probably reduce your utility bills. Much of the existing housing stock in the United States is not insutlated to the best level. Older homes are likely to use more energy than newer homes, leading to higher heating and air-conditioning bills. Even if you own a new home, adding insulation may save enough moey in reduced utility bills to pay for itself within a few years.
Priority areas for insulation are:
Types of InsulationRype (R-value per inch)UsageBlanket Fiberglass
Regular (R2.5)
High performatnce (R3.7 to R4.3) Attics, ceilings floors, wallsLoose-fill
Fiberglass (R2.5)
Callulose (R3.5)
Rock Wool (R2.8)
Ply foam spray (R5.9)
Vermiculite (R2.7)Attics, walls, Good for hard to access areas or areas with obstructions.
Vermiculite and Perlite are no longer used.Rigid
Poly foam (R3.6 to R5))
Polyisocyanurate (R5.6 to R7)
brand name Celotex
Basement walls, exterior walls, low slope roofs.
Must be covered indoors for fire safety.
Must be covered outdoors to weatherproofing.
Your choice of insulation is mainly dependent on the area it will be used. The effectiveness of insulation is stated in terms of R-value, which is a measure of resistance to heat flow.
The following table shows common types of insulation, R-value per inch thickness, and typical usage.
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Area
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R-value
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Thickness (fiberglass blanket)
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Attic
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R-38
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12"
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Floor (over unheated space)
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R-25
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8"
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Basement wall interior
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R-11
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3"
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Crawlspace wall
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R-19
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6"
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Unlike some other states, Colorado does not have building codes for energy efficiency. Each municipal code is different and some towns do not have codes at all! The following suggested amounts of insulation are based on Department of Energy recommendations for new construction in Denver, Colorado assuming a natural gas heating system. See the Further Resources section for a website that does insulation calculations for you.
Cost to Insulate (materials only)
Add 6' fiberglass blanket to 1,000 square foot attic: $365
Add 6" blown in cellulose to 1,000 square foot atttic: $215
Further Resources
Calculate insulation needs for your homeMarch 2006
| Single Family Average Price: (Detached Dwelling) | Mar 2006 | $313,339 |
| Feb 2006 | $305,017 | Mar 2005 | $292,046 | Condo Average Price: (Attached Dwelling) | Mar 2006 | $182,727 | Feb 2006 | $175,422 | Mar 2005 | $184,409 | Combined Average Price: | Mar 2006 | $284,489 | Feb 2006 | $276,746 | Mar 2005 | $269,254 | Percent of Sales Price Change: from Mar 2005 to Mar 2006 | Single Family: | +7.29% | Condo: | -0.91% | Combined | +5.66% | Total Combined Number of Homes for Sale: | Mar 2006 | 27,309 | Feb 2006 | 25,484 | Mar 2005 | 23,023 | Percent of Change in Available Inventory: (Mar 2005 vs. Mar 2006) | +18.62% | Number of Combined Homes Sold this month | Mar 2006 | 4,405 | vs. previous month | Feb 2006 | 3,273 | vs. same month last year | Mar 2005 | 3,778 | Average days on Market: (Combined Sales) | Mar 2006 | 104.96 | Feb 2006 | 109.58 | Mar 2005 | 99.87 | Absorption Rate: (number of weeks necessary to sell current combined inventory at current rate of sales) | Mar 2006 | 26.86 weeks | Feb 2006 | 33.74 weeks | Mar 2005 | 26.41 weeks | Median Sold Price:Single Family | Mar 2006 | $247,500 | Feb 2006 | $238,500 | Mar 2005 | $236,500 | Condo | Mar 2006 | $159,900 | Feb 2006 | $149,440 | Mar 2005 | $158,500 |
Seven years running, Colorado has managed to maintain the highest concentration of Tech workers. Our tech workers are among the best paid ranking #8 out of all the U.S. locations.
When it comes to total exports, tech exports total more than half of Colorado's total.
The top ten high tech states are as follows (stated per 1,000 private sector workers):
The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth...or at least Colorado :)
Information source: Rocky Mountain News/Cyberstates 2006 American Electronics Association
As a parody of Google, this site hilariously translate websites into jive. Go to Gizoogle
Here's my site,
http://sites.gizoogle.com/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kristalsellsdenver.com
Sometimes I think some people don't have enough to do.... :)
I often work with buyers relocating form other parts of the country or even the world. My job is never dull, every assignment is always different from the last. The best part is getting to meet a diverse group of people with interesting backgrounds and some fascinating expectations.
Colorado is a wonderful place to live. It's so easy "selling" people on a place I love. Of course most of the folks I work with are enamored by the thought of moving here, so my job becomes even easier.
Questions I get to answer are about our low property taxes, automobile insurance rates, lack of crime, excellent schools and amazing weather.
Our appreciation has not been record braking, but it is steady and consistent. Over the past 3 years Denver has had 9% appreciation.
Denver residents only spend about 16% of their income on housing compared to 16% nationally and 30% in the top 20 metro areas.
Average annual employment in the Metro Denver area has been increasing also.
The current average home price is about $248,400 above the national average, but well below the larger metro markets. These are the markets that truly are fueling our industry right now. Relos are fleeing these markets, cashing in their equity for a less expensive, simpler life.
Less is more.
Should we talk? Denver real estate and relocation
Only two states in the U.S. do not have licensing laws for lenders, Alaska and Colorado.
Amazing to think as progressive as Colorado is when it comes to setting trends in real estate, we let the people who handle the biggest transaction of our lives run around with all that personal information on us and there is no training, no liability, no requirements no nothing to be a lender.
Yes, anyone can wake up in the morning and decide to become a mortgage lender or broker.
That is very scary!
The fact is we have lots of regulation, rules and guide lines. The trouble is we have little if any enforcement.
If Colorado mortgage lenders were licensed at least there would be accountability if they did a consumer wrong. They could lose their license and livelihood (assuming they actually had one) if they were unethical.
As things stand now, it's really tough to tell the good guys from the bad.
I generally work only with local lenders, those I know I can count on to deliver the funding on time. Recently, there was an instance when the lender came back to the purchaser (not my purchaser) with a much higher rate than had been initially agreed upon. The buyer did nothing to change their financial situation, but yet the lender couldn't deliver the loan with the numbers as promised. He could deliver it at a higher rate...duh!
Of course these situations tend to happen on the eve of closing. The buyer was in a bind, the lender knew it. When the buyer felt the push, he developed a very strong backbone and told the lender he wouldn't accept the new terms.
Guess what the lender said..."What are you going to do? Walk away from your earnest money?"
The suddenly wise buyer said, "YES!"
And he did. Most buyers don't have the luxury of such a choice. Good for him.
Bully on the bad lender, scum bucket....he deserves to hang by the toe nails over a bucket of vinegar.
The consumer should be treated honestly with dignity and respect...first and foremost.
If you are or know of someone who is a Teacher or Police Officer, you need to be aware of some very special programs that may save thousands of dollars!
The Teacher Next Door/Officer Next Door are HUD-sponsored programs allowing qualified buyers the ability to purchase designated HUD properties at 50% off the purchase price. Buyers are allowed to finance up to 15% more to include closing costs, commissions and capital repairs.
If the borrower fits all the requirements, these programs can benefit them greatly. For additional information you can get all the facts here.
A pedestrian friendly shopping center is being planned by Village Development for the southeast corner of South Dayton Street and East Mississippi Avenue. Named the Sunflower Village markets, features the anchor Sunflower Farmers Market (28,000 sq. feet of store!). The entire center is expected to be 75,000 sq. ft.
Additionally, another 15,000 sq. ft of retail outlets and two additional retail pad sites are planned by the Village Development.
Let's watch the construction as the design is to create a "quaint village feel."
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