That’s right it’s time for Snowdown 2010 in Durango!!! The theme this year is “Life’s a Beach”. Events begin today and continue through January 31st, visit the official Snowdown website here to view a complete schedule of events and get ready for a great time.
Also, if you’re planning on being downtown for the Snowdown Parade on Friday evening keep an eye out for our very own Alix Kogan, he is one of the Official 2010 Snowdown Parade Judges.
Have fun and see you out there !!!
According to the Durango Herald, the overall outlook has improved during the 4th quarter of 2009. Both pricing and home sales rose during the last quarter, with a 61% increase in sales volume. Some people are even speculating that we have already hit bottom and are on the way out. Click here to read more.
When we talk about “building green,” it is often assumed that we are talking about energy efficiency. Although energy efficiency is an essential element, building green is really about the thoughtful use of all natural resources, including water.
There are several ways we can help our homeowners conserve water in their new homes, no matter what style or design is desired. Our trade partners and suppliers join us in making sure that comfort and convenience are not sacrificed for efficiency.
To plan for water conservation, we take a close look at how, what, and where water will be used in a house. Naturally, we think of the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, but we also examine the use of water for irrigation and other outdoor needs.
Within each of those areas, we consider the appliances and fixtures. In the kitchen, for instance, dishwashers are far more water-efficient and energy-efficient than those of just a decade ago. By offering a wider range of cycles and cleaning modes, these appliances reduce the amount of water to the minimum needed for the job. Energy-saver cycles run for a shorter amount of time and with less heat.
Every kitchen also contains at least one sink and faucet pair, sometimes more in gourmet kitchens. New home owners can select low-flow and more durable faucets as well as self-contained hot water dispensers. Low-flow faucets dispense a lower volume of water without diminishing useful water pressure. Self-contained hot water dispensers save energy by delivering piping hot water without engaging the home’s water heater.
Bathrooms provide several opportunities to reduce water use. The engineering of low-flow faucets, shower heads, and toilets has improved the performance of these products to match or exceed that of the old, more wasteful designs.
Of all the water-using appliances, perhaps clothes washers have come the furthest in conservation design. Like dishwashers, they are engineered for a variety of cycles. Water level and temperature can be selected, depending on the type and volume of clothes being washed. Front-loading units, for example, allow homeowners to wash more clothes per load, thus reducing the number of loads (and water used) to get them clean. All machines have improved their per-load efficiency, as drum and agitation technology have advanced to do a better job with less water.
Finally, we often encourage homeowners to consider native and drought-tolerant landscaping for their new homes, which reduce the amount of irrigation water needed to keep them healthy and flourishing. Even with more traditional plant selections, the use of drip and in-ground irrigation systems is far more water-efficient than the use of a hose and sprinkler and will achieve a better result. More sophisticated rainwater collection and pump-irrigation systems can be an eco-friendly way for a homeowner to recycle water and to lower the use of potable (city-treated) water.
As with most features that affect the comfort and on-going costs of a home, higher performance standards are achieved through a partnership between us as a builder, in our design and the products and construction practices we employ, and our homeowners, as the users of those systems. Ultimately, the effective conservation of water depends on lifestyle choices that optimize the products and systems we install.
Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? While this article is particularly poignant for the first time home buyers, there are many lessons that carry over into other sectors of the real estate market as well.
With prices and interest rates so good, some people, even those who are financially stable, are still choosing to “wait.” Why is that?
Here are some of the reasons why people are waiting followed by some of the logic that this article brings into the picture.
Wait until the price drops more. Now suppose you save $30,000 on a given property if you wait for a seller to become more motivated. Now assume every quarter-point change in interest rates is roughly equivalent to approximately $6,000 for every $100,000 borrowed over the course of a 30-year fixed loan. If the interest rate goes up even a quarter point, any potential savings could be lost.
Wait until the property value of my home I need to sell comes back?How many years will it take to rebound? Is it worth it to get out at a loss, make a lateral shift in the market and invest in something that will appreciate faster? Is it possible that you could be waiting 8-10 years at a healthy appreciation rate to get back to that value? Another thing to keep in mind is that many people focus on perceived loss. If they paid $350,000 for the house and at one point is was worth $420,000, if they sell it today for $375,000 have they lost money? Many people feel that they could have sold for $420,000, thus selling at $375,000 would be a “loss.” Luckily in Durango many properties, while they are not valued as high as they were 2 years ago, often are still valued higher than when the homeowner purchased it.
Wait until the market hits bottom? Since we don’t have a crystal ball, we need to use our best judgement on this one. In Durango we know two things. 1. Prices have dropped during the last couple of years, following suit with the national market. They may drop more in the next year or even two. But this brings me to the 2nd thing we know about Durango. 2. Prices will eventually be on the rise again, most likely sooner than later. Ask anyone who lives here. Durango is a destination. We choose to live here because of the community, public schools, natural beauty and lifestyle. When people invest here they are investing in a lifestyle. People will be seeking out Durango for many more years to come.
Take a look at the full article from Business Week. Some interesting food for thought.
If you don’t buy a house now you are either broke or stupid.
If you’re thinking about remodeling but aren’t sure how much to invest or what parts of your home to upgrade, start by reading this article about the top 10 big-impact, low-cost remodeling projects.
There is a lot of uncertainty about remodeling, especially these days. The rules of the remodeling and decorating are different, given the economy. There’s no guarantee that a costly gourmet kitchen, luxurious master suite, or added garage will offer the financial payback you’d expect.
At Kogan Builders we can help you decide what, if any, upgrades should be made to maximize your investment. We will look at variables like how long you plan to stay in the home, how much you plan to spend on the project and what materials you’ll be using. We can not only help you make cost-effective choices, but we can also point you in the direction of energy efficiency and sustainability.
If you are looking to upgrade your home, or make it more environmentally friendly for you and your family, ask us for a free remodel consultation.
http://www.realtor.org/rmohome_and_design/Articles/1001_costvsvalue_2009
We are proud to announce our first place win in the parade of homes!!
Our newly completed home, located in the Shenandoa subdivision in Durango, CO won first place overall in the People’s Choice category. This same home also received second place overall in the judges selection.
We are so thankful for the diligent staff at Kogan Builders, skilled trade contractors and most of all, our fabulous clients who had a great vision and who graciously shared their home with thousands of people.
Thank you to all!!!
Here are some images of everyone’s favorite home in the parade!
Hello Friends of Kogan Builders!
Check out Kogan’s page at Buzztown.com where you can see a sneak peek of our parade entry.
From this site you can:
Be sure to stay tuned, as all of the web pages are currently being developed. New additions, photos and articles are coming soon!
See you in Sept!!
-The Kogan Team
We found a great article from Builder Magazine. It talks about 10 cost-effective construction strategies that will increase energy efficiency of a home. Read the Article Here
Kogan Builders has a few favorites from this list, that prove to be very beneficial, especially in our climate. These design and construction techniques offer the most bang for your buck when investing in energy efficiency.
As a certified Green Builder and Energy Star Partner, Kogan Builders has the education and resources to offer our clients the most energy efficient home to fit their budget! If you have any questions about cost-effective ways to save on energy bills, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
Get excited, the 2009 Parade of Homes is less than a month away…
Join us September 12-13th and 19-20th at our home at 86 Roble Way. The Parade runs from 9am to 4pm each Saturday and Sunday and tickets are good for both weekends!
We are very excited to present this beautiful home, and Parade guests will also have a chance to meet the owners! Below is a snapshot of our page as it will appear in the Parade’s publication.
Get your tickets at BuzzTown.com or at the Bank of Colorado located on Main Ave in Durango.
Hello to all Kogan Builders Blog Followers!
Here is some more encouraging news as it relates to the National housing market and new construction for single-family homes. I clipped this information from an article on builderonline.com titled “Single-Family Construction Spending Grows For First Time in 40 Months”, enjoy.
-Trevor
For the first time in more than three years, spending for single-family construction grew in June on a monthly basis, increasing 2.4% compared to May. This translates into a seasonally adjusted level of $93.5 billion, which is 51.1% below June 2008’s level, according to figures released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
It represents the first increase in this category in 40 months, according to Patrick Newport, U.S. economist of IHS Global Insight, who predicts single-family construction will continue to grow in the months to come.
Overall, construction spending increased slightly in June, rising 0.3% to a seasonally adjusted level of $965.7 billion compared to May. Those June figures stand 10.2% below the same month one year ago.