US Homes Today Are Most Affordable

Written by admin on . Posted in Green Homes, Uncategorized

By G. Kisselev

Some New Details about Affordability of Real Estate Housing Market for Foreign Homebuyers

According to the latest survey, United States home’s market is the relatively cheapest to incomes among nations that speak English language. It means that U.S. Real Estate offers a lot of bang for your buck.

The most unaffordable with a median price of $454,000 were found to be an Australian homes, according to the firm “Demographia” consulting report. According to the survey, Australian median home costs 6.1 times the annual gross household median income and 85% of the major Australia’s cities homes are more than 5.1 times of an average income. An affordability examine was done in the 3rd quarter of the year 2010.

In oppose to the houses in United States having median price of $168,000, which shows the home cost merely 3 times yearly income, or even less.

From being “the exemplar of modestly priced, high-quality middle-class housing”, Australia has gone now to “the most unaffordable housing market,” the report says.

The more restrictive regulations of lands characterize less affordable markets, that monetarily raising all land’s market prices, which make lesser the housing affordability for homebuyers in their speaking English countries. Any markets with prices for homes 5.1 times or more income of household, this report considers as unaffordable.

Hence among English-speaking nations the most priciest city, considering real estate home market, is the city of Hong Kong, with houses costing homebuyers 11.4 times income. In the past 2 years, due to the low-interest rate, Hong Kong home prices have increased by 50 % or more, which expanding entire country’s economy and allow flooding in many buyers from overloaded China.

The major and most affordable market today is the United State’s real estate market. For example: Atlanta, Georgia, in which house median price is $129,000, became to be the most affordable big city in U.S. However, in some States like California and New York, with cities like San Francisco (with cost of homes 7.2 times income), San Jose (6.7 times income), San Diego (6.2 times income), New York (6.1 times income), and Los Angeles (5.9 times income) are found the most unaffordable in the United States of America.

Nevertheless in the many other States of USA, the affordability for homebuyers has returned to the level of “pre-housing bubble” and even dropped below the median in most United States real estate markets and, according to Moody’s Analytic’s data, now is a good time to buy real estate. Read more about affordable certified Green Homes in Florida, USA.

Guennadi Kisselev

Lic. Real Estate Broker

Vice President Florida Green Homes Marketing, LLC

http://www.MyGreenHomeinFlorida.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=G._Kisselev

Continue Reading No Comments

Ask An EcoBroker®

Written by admin on . Posted in Uncategorized

Question:

I keep hearing more and more about issues with home indoor air quality. Should I be concerned?

EcoBroker Answer:

You may assume that air pollution is what is going on outside your home-smog, gas fumes, pollen, etc.  A number of years back we heard about “sick building” syndrome where some employees got sick working in large windowless, ventilation poor office buildings.  But you probably don’t think of air pollution as something that’s found in your home. The truth is, that you are in far more danger from what you breathe inside your home than outside or at your workplace. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is not something most people think about when they are buying, selling or living in a home.  The health consequences of not being mindful of the quality of the air that family members breathe inside the home are becoming more and more important. I know indoor air quality isn’t a sexy “green” topic.  It isn’t as interesting as eco-friendly kitchen countertops or solar power.  In fact it’s kind of a scary topic because, well, there seem to be so many unknown variables.  But every day, in our homes, we live with dangerous chemicals that we have complete control over and can choose to minimize and even eliminate from our homes.  This year for the first time ever the President’s Cancer Panel reported that the country is not doing enough to emphasize the risk posed to all Americans by their constant exposure to chemical carcinogens.  Here’s is little of what they had to say in the report:”Environmental exposures that increase the national cancer burden do not represent a new front in the ongoing war on cancer. However, the grievous harm from this group of carcinogens has not been addressed adequately by the National Cancer Program. The American people-even before they are born-are bombarded continually with myriad combinations of these dangerous exposures.” More than 20 Million people are affected by Asthma in the US.  Rates have risen steadily over the last 30 years, particularly among children aged five to fourteen.  And believe it or not, many of the environmental triggers are inside your home. Indoor air pollution sources release gases or particles into the air and are the primary sources of IAQ problems. Asthma can be triggered by things like mold on your shower curtain and dust mites in pillows and blankets and even children’s stuffed animals!
Another indoor pollutant that many of us that most people aren’t aware of and that can greatly exacerbate asthma and other allergies is formaldehyde.  Sources of formaldehyde in the home include building materials, smoking, and household products.  There are concerns, but inconclusive evidence that formaldehyde may cause cancer.  The EPA points out that: “In homes, the most significant sources of formaldehyde are likely to be pressed wood products made using adhesives that contain urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. Pressed wood products made for indoor use include: particleboard (used as sub-flooring and shelving and in cabinetry and furniture); hardwood plywood paneling (used for decorative wall covering and used in cabinets and furniture); and medium density fiberboard (used for drawer fronts, cabinets, and furniture tops). Medium density fiberboard contains a higher resin-to-wood ratio than any other UF pressed wood product and is generally recognized as being the highest formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood product.”

One of the most dangerous pollutants-one that can’t be seen, smelled or tasted, is radon gas. A little known fact is that radon gas causes approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year.  As a Realtor, I am appalled by the number of agents who do not advise their buyers on the importance of having a radon test at the time of the home inspection.  Some time ago a woman from India who taught Yoga in her basement for years, was diagnosed with lung cancer and eventually died. When she was diagnosed she was mortified and ashamed.  She had never smoked and had been a healthy vegetarian all of her life.  I have always believed that radon gas was responsible.
Radon is a naturally occuring gas formed from the breakdown of uranium found in nearly all soils.  It is estimated that nearly 1 in 15 U.S. homes has elevated levels of radon. Radon can AND SHOUD be mitigated if the levels reach or exceed the current EPA recommended levels of 4 pCi/L. Have your home tested if it hasn’t been.  And test every couple of years.  Here is a link to the EPA’s Home Buyer and Home Seller Guide on radon. Radon gets into homes by the following ways:
1. Cracks in solid floors
2. construction Joints
3. Gaps in suspended floors
4. Gaps around service pipes
5. Cavities inside walls
6. Water supply.
In April of this year, the Presidential Cancer Panel called for better action on Radon.  The 2008-2009 Annual Report of the President’s Cancer Panel, entitled “Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We can Do Now” has been released and highlights the risks from radon and states that “the cancer risk attributable to residential radon exposure has been clearly demonstrated and must be better addressed.”

Volatile Organic Compounds  (VOCs) represent a myriad of dangerous chemicals emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids.  Some of the products we use daily that contain VOCs are household products including: paints, paint strippers, and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive products; hobby supplies; dry-cleaned clothing.  The EPA website has a section on how to minimize risk such as using products only according to manufacturer’s instructions and using good ventilation with products such as paints and strippers.

I’d like to offer some other suggestions and alternatives.  When you paint use only very low or no VOC paints.  A few years back you had to go out of your way to find these paints.  But now all of the major traditional brands sell low and no VOC paints.  Aside from the health and safety issues, you will be pleasantly surprised that there is virtually no paint smell immediately after the painting is finished. Cut back on all the chemical household cleaners that are dangerous and expensive.  I use vinegar and baking soda to clean EVERYTHING. Perchloroethylene is one of the most dangerous VOCs there is and we wear it around on our bodies all the time.  This is a chemical used by dry cleaning companies and has known carcinogenic implications.  Recent studies show that people breathe this chemical when clothes are stored at home and when they wear them.  If you must wear dry cleaned clothes, use Green Earth Cleaners affiliates.  They use a non-petroleum based cleaning product that has no chemicals that are harmful to you or the environment. A holistic approach to living a greener life involves your health, the health of your home and the health of the planet.

Provided by Certified EcoBroker® Gayle Fleming

Gayle Flemingwith Keller Williams Realty Arlington VA.
Contact Gayle at gaylefleming48@aol.com

Continue Reading No Comments

Powered by WP Robot