2011's green homes to be cheaper, smarter, tighter

By Wendy Koch, USA TODAY

2011's green homes to be cheaper, smarter, tighter

The Earth Advantage Institute, a non-profit research group, expects green homes this year to become more affordable and energy efficient such as this Passive House-certified home built by Bilyeu Homes in Salem, Ore.

CAPTION

Courtesy of Earth Advantage Institute

What will be the top 2011 trends in green building? A non-profit research group expects green homes will become increasingly affordable, smart and energy-efficient -- all trends that Green House agrees are likely."We believe it's going to be a promising year for the green building industry," writes Tom Breunig of the Earth Advantage Institute, a Portland, Ore.-based group that has has certified more than 11,000 eco-friendly homes. A recent report by McGraw-Hill Construction also gives a rosy forecast.
Breunig said his group compiles its annual top 10 trends based on discussions with builders, developers, architects, real estate brokers, appraisers, lenders and homeowners. Last year's trends focused on water conservation, "rightsizing" of homes and "eco-districts" where people could walk or bike to most services.

• Follow Green House on Twitter

This year's trends include increased recycling of "greywater," which is waste water from sinks and tubs (but not toilets) and greater use of smart meters as well as appliances that monitor their own energy use. Also expected: more accessory dwelling units or independent backyard cottages that function as rental units, studios, in-law suites or home offices.
What do you expect? I see a push to build homes that meet ultra-strict Passive House Institute standards for energy-efficiency. The Earth Advantage Institute cites these standards and a few other trends:

1. Rethinking of residential heating and cooling. Advances in applied building science in the U.S. and abroad have resulted in homes that are so tightly sealed and insulated that furnace-less, ductless homes are now a reality. The increasingly popular "Passive House" standard, for example, calls for insulation in walls and ceilings that is so thick that the home is actually heated by everyday activity of the occupants, from cooking to computer use.
2. Affordable green. Many consumers typically associate green and energy-efficient homes and features with higher costs. However, the development of new business models and technologies and the mainstreaming of high-performance materials is bringing high-performance, healthy homes within reach of all homeowners.
3. Sharing and comparing home energy use. As social and purchasing sites like Facebook and Groupon add millions more members, the sharing of home energy consumption data – for rewards – is not far behind. The website Earth Aid (www.earthaid.net) lets you track home energy usage and earn rewards for energy savings from local vendors. ... When coupled with other developments including home energy displays, a voluntary home energy scoring system announced by the Department of Energy, and programs including Oregon and Washington's Energy Performance Score, a lot more people will be sharing -- and comparing -- their home energy consumption.
4. Community purchasing power. Neighborhoods interested in renewable energy will increasingly band together to obtain better pricing on materials such as solar panels and on installation costs. The Solarize Portland program was initiated by local neighborhood leaders in Southeast Portland who wanted to increase the amount of renewable energy generated in their area by working together as a community. The program is structured so that the price of solar panel installation decreases for everybody as more neighbors join the effort.

Read the Full Story

Las Casas Realty Executive Offices

5713 York Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90042

(323) 254-2206

LasCasasRealty.com

EMAIL

Review LCR on Yelp!

OPEN HOUSE -Jan 22nd 2011- 633 S. Avenue 59. 11 am - 2 pm.

Call & Ask Jessy A. or Fernando A. for details: OPEN HOUSE - 633 S. Avenue 59. 11 am - 2 pm.

:: MLS LISTING INFO TO FOLLOW::  Email lascasas32@gmail.com for details.

Las Casas Realty Executive Offices

5713 York Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90042

(323) 254-2206

LasCasasRealty.com

EMAIL

Review LCR on Yelp!

OPEN HOUSE - 1912 Ramona Rd. Time: 11 am - 3 pm. Date: Jan 22nd & Jan 23rd MLS# 12146195

Contact: Camilo V. or Eddy C.

See Additional Pictures 1912 W Ramona Road Alhambra, CA 91803 $335,000 Traditional California bungalow. Adjacent to 10 Freeway, very private area. Some upgrades throughout, newer bathroom. Central heat and AC. Close proximity to Granada Park. Spacious detached 2 car garage with storage area. Pest inspection has been completed at seller's expense and is available for review. Directions: West of Raymond Ave. and North of Hellman Ave.

ML#:12146195 Year Built: 1945 Price/SqFt $427.30

Property Type Residential Map Coordinates 635, J1

Property SubType Single Family County Los Angeles

Tax ID 5353002054 School District Alhambra School Dist

Beds: 2 Baths (FTHQ): 1 (1 0 0 0) Roofing Composition Shingle

Approx Square Feet 784 Terms Cash to New Loan, Real

Lot Sq Ft (approx) 4247 Estate Owned

Lot Acres (approx) 0.097

Presented By: January 2011 Tricia L Bautista Lic: 01474872 Primary: 818-521-3060 Secondary: 818-521-3060 E-mail: tlbautista@aol.com Web Page: http://mysoldinthecity.com Las Casas Realty, Inc. Lic: 5713 York Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90042 323-254-2206 Fax: 323-254-8619 The above featured property may not be listed by the office/agent presenting this brochure. Information is provided as a courtesy by the i-Tech MLS, has not been verified, is not guaranteed, and is subject to change. The method and manner of calculating Days On Market (DOM) may not reflect the total number of days a property has been made available for sale. Copyright ©2011 Rapattoni Corporation. All rights reserved. U.S. Patent 6,910,045

MLS Report Flyer (218)

Las Casas Realty Executive Offices

5713 York BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90042

(323) 254-2206

LasCasasRealty.com

EMAIL

Review LCR on Yelp!

OPEN HOUSE - 615 N. Ave 56 90042 Jan 19th 11 am - 4 pm.

Contact Reyna & Emily for more information:

See Additional Pictures 615 N Avenue 56 Los Angeles, CA 90042 $299,900 Take advantage of this opportunity. This is a Fannie Mae HomePath property. Purchase this property for as little as 3% down! This property is approved for HomePath Mortgage Financing and HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing. This is a must see as the property has undergone numerous upgrades. This property features new exterior and interior paint, new carpet, new kitchen flooring, new stove, new garage door as well as some new fixtures. This property is located on a very large lot that is perfect for entertaining and comes with a large driveway capable of fitting multiple vehicles. This property shows well. Sold as is, Seller makes no guarantees. Buyer to perform their own investigations regarding information pertaining to this property. Directions: South of York, East of North Ave 50, North of Figueroa, West of North Avenue 59

ML#:10497233 Year Built: 1902 Lot Acres (approx) 0.147

Property Type Residential Price/SqFt $352.00

Property SubType Single Family Map Coordinates 595, C2

Tax ID 5478019018 County Los Angeles

Style Other School District

Beds: 2 Baths (FTHQ): 1 (0 0 0 0) Floors Other

Approx Square Feet 852 Terms Real Estate Owned

Lot Sq Ft (approx) 6390

Presented By: January 2011 Tricia L Bautista Lic: 01474872 Primary: 818-521-3060 Secondary: 818-521-3060 E-mail: tlbautista@aol.com Web Page: http://mysoldinthecity.com Las Casas Realty, Inc. Lic: 5713 York Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90042 323-254-2206 Fax: 323-254-8619 The above featured property may not be listed by the office/agent presenting this brochure. Information is provided as a courtesy by the i-Tech MLS, has not been verified, is not guaranteed, and is subject to change. The method and manner of calculating Days On Market (DOM) may not reflect the total number of days a property has been made available for sale. Copyright ©2011 Rapattoni Corporation. All rights reserved. U.S. Patent 6,910,045

Get Details Here: MLS Client Detail Report(294)

Las Casas Realty Executive Offices

5713 York BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90042

(323) 254-2206

LasCasasRealty.com

EMAIL

Review LCR on Yelp!

Hecho in El Lay - Los Angeles magazine

Hecho in El Lay

Mixing West Coast hip-hop with Mexican brass band sounds, the duo Akwid raps for a changing city
By Josh Kun

Los Angeles magazine, September 2010
When Sergio and Francisco Gómez were teenagers in South Los Angeles in the early 1990s, they lived across the street from a drug house. Watching the dealers from the windows of the small apartment they shared with their factory worker mother, they received a firsthand lesson in the finer points of the rock cocaine trade. But the drugs never interested the two brothers, who came to L.A. from Michoacán, Mexico, as young kids in the late ’70s. They were more drawn to the music booming from the car that seemed permanently parked in front of the house.

“They would bump hip-hop all night long,” says Francisco. “They always had their windows rolled down so the whole block could hear it. That’s when we first heard rappers like Toddy Tee and King Tee. It became the model of how music should be for us. We wanted to sound like those guys.”



Read The Story: Columns - Hecho in El Lay - Los Angeles magazine

Las Casas Realty Executive Offices

5713 York Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90042

(323) 254-2206

LasCasasRealty.com

EMAIL

Review LCR on Yelp!

Beautiful home with lots of character on a quiet tree-lined street.

Listing #22147133 $699,000 (LP) Price/SqFt: 338.66	1062 Del Rey Ave, Pasadena, CA 91107 Active
	Beds: 3*	Baths: 2 (2 0 0 0) (FTHQ)	Sq Ft: 2064	Lot Sz: 7050sqft*
	Area: 646	Yr: 1939*

Beautiful home with lots of character on a quiet tree-lined street. Well established family neighborhood, walking distance to Victory Park for picnics, sports and the weekly Farmer's Market; Eaton Canyon trails and waterfall; and Rose Parade and Float viewing! This graceful home has been wonderfully maintained and tastefully updated - original hardwood floors, vintage fireplace, crown molding, and charming windows are just some of the features. Great home for entertaining with an open floorplan that leads to a wonderful backyard with beautiful mountain views. The backyard has a large grassy area that children will love and a perfect patio for tables and chairs. The yard boasts fruit trees including plum, fig, lemon, peach and more! Move in ready

Listed by:Redfin Corp

Listing Detail #22147133 - Residential

Check out Las Casas Realty's current property listings of homes for sale in Los Angeles

Check out Las Casas Realty's current property listings of homes for sale in Los Angeles

 

Click Here to view listings

Contact Us:

323.254.2206

lascasas32@gmail.com

Las Casas Realty Executive Offices

5713 York Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90042

(323) 254-2206

LasCasasRealty.com

EMAIL

Review LCR on Yelp!

Foreclosure Angel: Stranger Buys Foreclosed House at Auction and Gave it back to Owner!

YouTube - Foreclosure Angel: Stranger Buys Foreclosed House at Auction and Gave it back to Owner!

 

Las Casas Realty Executive Offices

5713 York Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90042

(323) 254-2206

LasCasasRealty.com

EMAIL

Review LCR on Yelp!

Veteran Latino Real Estate Broker Celebrates 32 years of business in Los Angeles

For Immediate Release

Contact: Trish Bautista

818-859-7800

trish@getprsmart.com

“Lead by Example”

(Highland Park, CA)-- That’s been the motto at Las Casas Realty Inc. for over three decades. The highland Park-based, Latino-owned real estate brokerage, which celebrates 32 years of real estate service this October 2010, prides itself on connecting buyer with seller and contributing to creating roots throughout Los Angeles.

A native of Ecuador, and married with a family of three, broker/owner of Las Casas Realty, George Izquierdo’s vision has never wavered. He envisioned not only the need of the Hispanic community to invest in LA real estate but also recognized their ability and willingness to be homeowners.

As a result of Izquierdo’s vision and detemination, today Las Casas Realty is thriving and bursting with success and opportunity. George Izquierdo continues to serve but in ways others only now are dreaming of. Las Casas Realty is a buying and selling agency, and one of the few in North East Los Angeles with a long standing relationship with the government-sponsored enterprise, Fannie Mae. The agents at Las Casas Realty, who offer a combined 100+ years of experience are adept at handling short sales as well as with REO management and recruiting.  

Izquierdo offers entry-level, mid-level, and professional employment opportunities to hundreds of Latinos in greater Los Angeles, serving as mentor and leader. “After all, to be first, we must first be servant,” he says.

Today, success is new and vibrant at Las Casas Realty. And what hasn’t changed is Izquierdo’s vision and philosophy: Action springs from thought and from readiness for responsibility. Izquierdo has done well by doing good. For what lies behind Izquierdo and what lies before Las Casas Realty are tiny matters-- compared to what lies within. Izquierdo and Las Casas Realty is not just another Chicken Soup success story. It’s a realization about Los Angeles, and America, and Latino America. 

---

Las Casas Realty, Inc. is located at 5713 York Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90042. Visit lascasasrealty.com for more information. For Press Information About George Izquierdo and Las Casas Realty, Inc., contact Trish Bautista at PR SMart 4100 w. Magnolia Blvd. #D Burbank, CA 91505 (818)859-7800 trish@getprsmart.com

Join Las Casas Realty in the Socialsphere!

facebook

Twitter

Linkedin