Does Your Home Have Leaks?

Is your home able to handle the cold? It would be if you lived in Briar Chapel.

That's because all homes built in Briar Chapel must meet or exceed a Bronze rating in the GHBT Certification Program*, and be certified by a third-party auditor (Southern Energy Management).

In fact, Briar Chapel is the first community in the Triangle to require homebuilders to comply with the rigorous new home construction requirements and third-party testing of the North Carolina Green Build Initiative, in order to create high performance, healthier homes with measurable cost savings for its residents and contribute to an improved quality of life.

If you're ready to upgrade to a home in Briar Chapel, please contact me to schedule a private tour. Otherwise, I encourage you to get in touch with your power or gas company and ask about a home energy audit. PSNC Energy, for example, began offering $25 energy audits this fall for houses built before 1993. In addition, Duke Energy now offers free audits for home-owning customers who have electric water heaters or electric heat. As a Certified EcoBroker, I would be happy to recommend additional steps you can take to improve the efficiency of your home, save money and live comfortably.

* Note: The GHBT program is in the process of switching to the National Green Building Standard as the basis for certification.

Hot Water Recirculating Pump Installed

This past weekend, I decided to improve the efficiency of our Briar Chapel home even more by installing a whole-house hot water recirculating system. I picked up a unit made by Watts Premier at Costco a few months ago for under $200, and spent another $30 or so for plumbing supplies at the hardware store.

The system includes a pump that you install adjacent to the water heater, and a temperature actuated bypass valve that connects the cold and hot water supply lines at the fixture that is farthest away from the water heater. According to the manufacturer's website, this combination creates a pressure differential that allows the cold and cool water in the hot water supply line to "bypass" (at a low volume) into the cold water supply line through the thermostatically controlled sensor valve, keeping the water in the hot water supply line at a "no-wait" temperature throughout the home. The timer on the pump makes it more efficient during downtime.

It's going to take a few months to determine how much this system will save us each year, but most estimates I have come across are in the neighborhood of 11,000-15,000 gallons of water saved per year. Obviously, this is offset somewhat by the additional expense of running the pump, but this can easily be minimized by setting the timer on the pump for peak use.

There are other ways to accomplish the same results, depending on your needs and budget. If you are interested in installing such a system in your home, be sure to bring this up with your builder early in the process to avoid change fees. Better yet, hire me to represent you throughout the purchasing process, and I'll be happy to inform you of other energy-saving features you can ask for.

Next project... a whole house water filtration system!

ChathamArts 2010 Winter Classes Announced

ChathamArts will once again be offering classes this winter at Briar Chapel. All classes are held at the Briar Club, except for Art History and Voice (see website for details).

Classes include: Creative Dance for Children, Dance Choreography, Hip Hop, Intro to Improv, Screen Printing, Self-Publishing Children's Books, and more. For a complete list of classes offered, and to register, visit www.chathamarts.org. Be sure to mention you are a Briar Chapel resident to receive a 10% discount.

ChathamArts, the Chatham County Arts Council, is a not-for-profit organization that supports and presents the arts and artists in our community. They encourage community participation in the arts to enrich the quality of life of the county's residents. They foster arts awareness and education, and encourage the use of arts as a tool for economic development.

2009 BC6 Endurance Race Results

Congratulations to Lee Matthew, yesterday's overall winner of the BC6 Endurance Race! He completed 11 laps (66 miles) in 5:41:08. Alex Hawkins and Kip Clyburn came in 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

In all, 58 individuals or teams participated in this year's race. For a complete list of results, choose one of the following: Division Details – Overall Details – Division Summary – Overall Summary.

First Annual Briar Chapel Endurance Bike Race this Saturday!

Please join me for a day of thrilling excitement at Briar Chapel's first annual 6BC Endurance Race this Saturday (Nov 21st) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hosted by the Triangle Off Road Cyclists (TORC), the event will feature six hours of competitive biking through groves of pines and oaks, past Pokeberry Creek, and up (and down!) the rugged terrain of Bennett Mountain.

Registration on race day is $60 for all categories. Pre-registration is available online, with prices ranging from $35-$45. All race proceeds will benefit local trail projects. A map of the race course is available here (PDF). For more information, visit the TORC website.

Even if you're not planning to race, spectators are welcome and invited to enjoy guided trail walks, live music, delicious BBQ, and a beer garden. This is also a perfect time to check out the community. Please contact Peter Winkler to schedule a tour and take a look at the available homes for sale.

Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended & Expanded

With the new Homebuyer Tax Credit legislation passed on November 6th, now is the perfect time to purchase a home in Briar Chapel. The new credit extends the deadline to April 30th of next year, raises the qualifying income limitations, and expands the offer to include current homeowners who have lived in their residence for five consecutive years.

The tax credit program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reason to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years.

For more detailed information, please visit the IRS or NAHB websites. I also recommend that you check out this whitepaper, which addresses many of the questions my clients have been asking.

PSNC Energy Offers Discounted Rate to Customers in Briar Chapel

PSNC Energy, the utility that provides natural gas service to Briar Chapel, recently started offering a discounted rate for residential customers who qualify for service and whose homes meet the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR® for Homes qualification standards, or equivalent.

Since all homes in Briar Chapel are required to exceed the ENERGY STAR rating, they qualify for Rate 102 (high efficiency residential service). As a result, homeowners pay $.05 per therm less than under otherwise applicable Rate 101.

This discount isn't automatic, however. You must mail, fax or email the ENERGY STAR certificate or equivalent documentation you received from your builder or Southern Energy Management to PSNC in order to qualify:

Builder/Commercial Group

PSNC Energy

PO Box 1398

Gastonia, NC 28053-1398

Fax: 704-810-3118

E-mail: PSNCBuilderGroup@scana.com

Should you have questions regarding the discounted rate, please contact PSNC directly at 1-877-776-2427. Otherwise, if you're interested in purchasing a home in Briar Chapel and take advantage of this discount, please email or call me at 919-360-1285.

2009 Parade of Homes Starts Today

Now in its 26th year, the 2009 Parade of Homes showcases 59 new homes in our area and provides the chance for visitors to see the latest designs and features. This free, self-guided tour is on October 3-4, 9-11, 16-18 from Noon to 5pm.

The event also enables builders to enjoy some friendly competition, as each home on the Parade is judged by a panel of industry representatives from other markets in our region. These judges examine the design, quality, and creativity that each entry demonstrates, resulting in a numerical grade for each house. Awards are given to homes that achieve the highest scores in each price category.

This year, Briar Chapel has four entries in the Parade:

133 Saxapahaw Run: 3171 sqft / $549,900

207 Tobacco Farm Way: 2574 sqft / $425,000

1152 Great Ridge Parkway: 1402 sqft / $323,216

72 Grovewood Lane: 1584 sqft / $265,712

If you would like a guided tour of these homes, please contact me. I will be more than happy to point out the various green features that are available in these homes, as well as show you the amenities that residents enjoy throughout the community.

Minta Bell Designers Complete Model Home

Earlier this month, the Minta Bell Design Group started furnishing the McNeill-Burbank townhouse model in Briar Chapel. They stayed true to Al McNeill's vision of creating an authentic home by using real furnishings and accessories instead of props. The finished product is quite impressive!

A few of the special touches include an Eastlake Chest, in which they discovered some linens and old photographs of its previous owner. If you look closely, you will find some of these portraits framed and placed around the home.

In keeping with Briar Chapel's green philosophy, they also used local sources for furnishings and art whenever possible. The table in the art studio, for example, is made of an old door with a new base and a piece of glass on top. The canisters in the kitchen are works by Mark Hewitt, and the vase on the coffee table is by Joseph Sand. The painting over the fireplace is by Marvin Saltzman.

To see photos taken by the designers during the installation, check out their blog: part one, part two, part three, and part four. When you're ready to see the townhomes for yourself, or any of Briar Chapel's other model homes for that matter, please contact me to schedule a tour. I would be honored to introduce you to this wonderful green community.

Murry Handler Art Exhibit Opening at Briar Chapel

The first-ever Briar Chapel/ChathamArts Gallery Satellite Exhibit is set to open later this month. The exhibit will feature the work of NYC artist and award-winning illustrator, Murry Handler.

A reception will be held to celebrate this exclusive exhibit at one of Briar Chapel's model homes while Mr. Handler discusses his work. In addition, one lucky guest will take home a limited edition print of Handler's "Girl with Butterfly" giclee print (below), among his most prestigious pieces. If you wish to attend the event, please call me at 919-360-1285 for more details.

Used With Permission From the Artist

Handler lives in Fearrington Village, and is the author of "Almost a Jew: One Man's Search for God."

Briar Chapel Enjoys National Press Coverage

In case you haven't already seen it, the Associated Press ran the following story recently that featured Briar Chapel: "Homebuilder sentiment index rises in August." This story was picked up by a number of major news outlets around the country, including: New York Times, ABC News, Houston Chronicle, Union-Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and more.

This led to a number of other follow-up stories, which also mention Briar Chapel...

Salt Lake Tribune: Home building rises for a fifth month; San Jose Mercury News: Single-family home building rises for 5th month; New Brunswick Business Journal: Construction of US homes falls one per cent in July...; Examiner.com: US home construction falls 1 percent...; The Plain Dealer: New-home construction flat, but builders optimistic of housing

Experience the Briar Chapel Lifestyle

Throughout the year, Briar Chapel invites my clients to amazing events that give them a taste of what life is like in the community. Past events have included a Sustainable Living Event that featured a cooking demonstration by executive chef of The Fearrington House Restaurant and Country Inn as well as a Wellness Event with the University of North Carolina Wellness Center.

Most recently, we celebrated the 17th annual National Trails Day with guided tours of the trail system in Briar Chapel by the Triangle Off-Road Cyclists (TORC) followed by a cookout and pool party.

If you are interested in participating in upcoming events planned for this summer, and experiencing the Briar Chapel lifestyle, please contact me to start receiving invitations.

Trail and Art Guide Maps Now Available

Already, over six miles of trails are now open at Briar Chapel. As I've mentioned in previous posts, there will eventually be about 24 miles of trails throughout the community. These will include a mixture of single-track mountain biking trails, boardwalks, paved or mulched walking trails, and sidewalks.

If you are interested in exploring the trails, I suggest you stop by the Information Center and pick up a copy of the new Trail and Art Guide. The free guide illustrates the best routes to see the community’s new art installations, including “Art in Nature” added in spring 2009. When you do, please be sure to let the great folks there know I sent you!

Once you've had a chance to explore the trails, I encourage you to consider helping the Triangle Off-Road Cyclists (TORC) build the emerging network of mountain biking trails in Briar Chapel. They are doing a wonderful job, and deserve everyone's support.

See you on the trails!

First-Time Homebuyers Take Advantage of Tax Credit

A number of first-time homebuyers have already taken advantage of the tax credit when purchasing a home in Briar Chapel, and so can you!

In case you haven't already heard, Congress recently approved an $8000 First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit for principal residences purchased between Jan 1st and Dec 31st, 2009, with no requirement for payback. Since I'm often asked about this tax credit, I thought I would share some of the most frequently asked questions here:

1) Who is eligible for the tax credit? Only first-time homebuyers are eligible. Someone is considered a first-time buyer if s/he has not had any ownership interest in a home in the three years prior to the day of the 2009 purchase.

2) How much is the incentive worth? Any home that is purchased for $80,000 or more qualifies for the full $8000 credit. Otherwise, if the home costs less than $80K, the credit will be equal to ten percent of the purchase price (i.e. $7500 credit on a $75K purchase).

3) How does the tax credit work? Every dollar of the tax credit reduces your income tax by a dollar. All you have to do is claim the credit on your individual income tax return. In other words, a qualified purchaser would first calculate their total tax due and then reduce this amount by the applicable credit. For example, if someone has a tax liability of $8,500 and is eligible for the full $8000 credit, they can reduce the total tax due to $500. In the event that someone is eligible for the full credit, but they entire tax liability for the year is only $6500, then the IRS would send them a check for $1500.

4) How do I apply for the credit? There is no pre-purchase authorization, application or similar approval process. Eligible homebuyers simply claim the credit on their tax return. The credit will be reflected on a new Form 5405. Visit the IRS website for more details.

PLEASE NOTE: I'm a real estate broker, not a financial advisor! Therefore, I strongly encourage you to talk with a CPA or tax specialist if you have any questions or concerns about this program and its impact on your tax liability. Otherwise, if you'd like to put the credit to good use, and purchase a home in Briar Chapel, I'm here to help!

Briar Chapel Wins Six MAME Awards

Briar Chapel was a big winner at this year's MAME Awards (Major Achievements in Marketing Excellence) from the Triangle Sales and Marketing Council of the N.C. Home Builders Association. They took home top honors in each of the following categories: Best Advertising Campaign for a Master-Planned Community, Best Web Site for a Master-Planned Community, Best Community Information/Welcome Center, Best Community Ad for a Newspaper, Best Community (On-Site) Signage, and Best Brochure.

This competition recognizes local advertising, marketing, merchandising and product design efforts as well as sales volume. Honor recipients included area builders, developers, advertising agencies, graphic firms, interior design firms, landscaping firms, sales professionals and sign and display designers/fabricators. Winners of these coveted awards are recognized as leaders in the industry, providing cutting edge solutions to the home building industry. Kudos to the entire team at Newland for this accomplishment!