U r b a n T r e k k e r

Free: Energy Efficient, Healthy House Plans

You can now get free energy efficient and healthy house plans from FreeGreen. Free. Seriously. No joke. The guys at FG offer two types of plans: 1) official house plans and 2) plans offer via the open source network. The official house plans have 9 product lines depending on the size ranges. 

For example, the Modern Cube design, is targeted for lot in urban places, sloped and narrow, with size ranges from 2,700 to 3,200 s.f. Estimated price to build this kind of home is between $260k to $360k. 

The intent of the Modern Cube House Plans is to mix function and aesthetics with simplistic, easy to build forms. These House Plans modern exteriors fit well with their semi-open floor plans and unique 3-story roof deck options. The Modern Cube House Plans can be clad in a variety of different materials. Natural wood siding gives this home a clean Scandinavian feel. Fiber cement paneling is a durable budget friendly option that can be painted for a more colorful fresh look. Corrugated galvanized metal is another option and would give the home an industrial modern aesthetic. With their R-Control SIPs and Wolfers Lighting plan pre-packaged in, these house plans are some of the most energy efficient FreeGreen has ever created.

Using this house plan, you have two design options where design 1 uses cedar siding and the other design is more on industrial look uses corrugated metal and concrete. From here, you can customized the plan to your taste or simply download the plan. 

Modern Cube Design 1 (Cedar Siding)

Modern Cube Design 2 (Corrugated metal and concrete)

Furthermore, the plans give you the R control SIP layout, lighting ideas, open floor plan living room, ideas for kitchen, and annual energy savings performance if - you build your house with this plan. 

living room

Click on images for  (+) larger view

When you customize the house plan, it gives you also sample of customization and prices. So, you can figure it out if you want to use the freebie plan or customize it. 

I love the idea that people have choices available out there without breaking their bank, if one day they decided to build their own energy efficient and healthy homes. My favorite among the 9 plans, is Suburban Loft. With the low housing prices in our area, it's possible to find lot under $300k (tear down distressed properties) close-in. If we stick to the cube design, expect to spend approximately somewhere in the hood of $500k building this type of home from the ground up. 

By the way, if you are into home design, you can spend the whole day on the site just playing around with the plans imagining of what could be... (at least I warn you). 

images: FreeGreen

Lofts at Park Crest Turns Rental

You heard about condo to rental conversions before as market stay soft for the mid-to-upper condominium segment. Developer of Park Crest Lofts was banking on Dulles metrorail coming to Tysons Corner by building (aggressively) mid-to-high priced condominiums right in the heart of Tysons. Well, the rail is not a sure thing (it will be 2015 before you see them coming?) so they decided to change strategy...while waiting.

This was in 2006. [New Homes Trekker]

The Lofts still have good enough supply of homes available from 1BR to 2BR. What's unique about this loft is some of the homes will have raised bedroom. Living space ranges from 740 SF to 1600 SF. The lofts are priced from upper-$400's for 1BR to low-1M for 2BR (1600 SF). The Lofts at Park Crest scheduled for completion in 2008.

Sales may have been really show, it seems. Because here is what happens next. Convert those lofts to rentals.

 

Cromley Lofts not a Typical, LEEDing DC Green Condo

Cromley Lofts, is the first-and-only LEED certified condominium in Virginia. They received Gold Standard certification from U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit composed of leaders from every sector working to promote buildings that .."environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.  USGBC awarded the certification using rating system for each project. It is a voluntary program for green building. They received the LEED Gold Standard.

At least for now, Cromley Lofts, can enjoy their Gold Standard status -- until the next LEED certified condominium -- come into the pipeline sometime in the future. The building was originally a warehouse before it was converted into NY Style lofts. What is lacking here is the high ceilings higher than 9' to 10' that commonly seen in NY lofts.

What it Means to Be a 'Green' Condominium?

Though, when you look at the amenities, this building is a basic condominium, Cromley is not a typical condo you can find anywhere around our area. It is very 'different.' It carves out a niche. What makes it different is this: The green features. Because it features green living,  so- don't look for pool, elevator, roof top, etc.. things that commonly associated with new constructions, instead focus on simplicity, urban design, and healthy living. You won't find underground parking here. Instead of underground parking, you have bike storage for your bike, especially when you live in Old Town. Old Town has plenty of places you can bike to. Instead of poor lighting, you have plenty of natural day-lighting, which is good. Because most people associate daylight with positive feelings.

Bill Cromley, the builder of this lofts says that his goal in building Cromley as Virginia's first green condominium is "because he wants to bring good urban design and green to reality." The three important criterias that makes this building 'different' than the rest of new condominiums you commonly see. 

1. It was designed to provide sustainability
2. To promote healthy living and,
3. Safety

When I asked him, how he thinks about the Gold certification, he says that "..the LEED System is holistic. It is not just one thing but a lot of things combined. And for this building we have 42 different things combined." The information on USGBC website, mentioned that LEED certification for existing buildings comes with four levels depending on how many points a project met its criteria: 1) Certified - counts for passing 32-39 points in the rating system, 2) Silver 40-47 points, 3) Gold 48-63 points, 4) Platinum, which is the highest level only awarded when a building get 64-85 points.

Most builders use only a little bit here and there to green their buildings or new homes, featuring mostly energy efficient appliances.. like, front-loading washer and dryer, radiant floor, Energy Star appliances, but not completely green. Sometime, it is because not economically feasible [read: profitable] or they don't have the expertise to manage big development. Cromley himself said that "the hardest challenge in converting this building is the management of the project itself."

There are only 8 unit of lofts in the building. Six of those are above ground and two units are below ground (lower level). All of the units feature a combination of energy efficiency design and products use come from natural and renewable sources.

• Custom bamboo cabinets, soapstone counters
• R-25 wall insulation
• R-50 ceiling insulation
• 14 SEER rated A/C [the current minimum Energy Star models are 13 SEER or more]
• Freezer drawer refrigerators
• Micro/convention ovens
• Cork tiled laundries
• Energy Star appliances
• Water saving faucets, dual flush toilets
• Antique heart pine and Jerusalem limestone floors
• Low or no VOC paints

eco-products: 1- Soapstone counters, 2- broken tile, 3- custom bamboo cabinets

image: flooring is beautiful recycle lumber [antique heart pine]

The renovation of the building is carefully designed by Mr. Cromley and his team. All the things you see inside, like bamboo cabinets (there is no bamboo cabinets on the market!), shoji screen, they are made in their shop. Cork tile installed in the laundry room act as sound insulator. They use recycle wood for flooring for units above and limestone floors for units below ground. One of the best features of this building - is the green roof or vegetated green roof.

image: Green Roof

Green roof is not common in our area yet. Despite the fact that Washington DC is the US capital around here -- buildings in our area are not there yet -- especially in residential buildings. There will be another condominium featuring green roof coming to the pipeline in 2008. However, look at Chicago. It has transformed itself to become the home to 200 green roofs covering 2.5 million square feet, more than any other U.S. city. Some of the benefits of green roofs include reduce heating and cooling loads, and reduce urban heat island effect. According to Bill Cromley, "..because the vegetation helps reduce the impact of direct sun, green roof actually helps extend the life span of the roof itself."

The lofts are listed from low-$535,000 to low-$600's for 2BR/ 2ba with 1200 s.f. of living space.

Cross-posted with New Homes Trekker.

Close-out New Condominiums: Whitman, 1800 Wilson, Cameron Station, and Byron

[This is a long due post, because I visited these condominiums a couple of weeks ago.]

Image: Whitman

New Condominiums: Whitman, 1800 Wilson, Cameron Station and Byron

Having gone through so many different new condominiums the last few years, there is only few things that separates one condo to another, i.e. location, structural, exterior, interior including features offered, condo fee and prices. You might not care what a building is built from. But, from noise level perspective, a better quality condominium building is usually built on concrete using class A material. Once inside, you can tell the difference. Building built on wood, have high noise level!

I know what you're thinking. Before you go out there and try to deal direct, here is a word of advice.

One more thing, regardless who you are dealing with, make sure that you use the service of a Realtor. The sales rep works for the builder and not- you! 

It's all about representation. A builder's rep does NOT represent you! They represent the builder and their interests! And a Realtor, represents YOU. BIG difference.

Find out more about the prices, units available, features, amenities, etc., here.

* New Condominiums: Whitman, 1800 Wilson, Cameron Station and Byron [New Homes Trekker]

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Stampede at Hovnanian's Condo..

I was out with a buyer on Saturday, checking out different condos in the Alexandria area. We then stopped by at Hovnanian's Cameron Station new condos. I remember reading something in the news, about their efforts to boost sales and inject funds at the same time -- by slashing prices of their new homes nationwide -- of up to $100,000! This was a three-day "fire sale event" over the weekend that ended yesterday.

Hovnanian had 35% cancellations in the last quarter.

Here is the picture I took while we were there. These people were waiting for the sales rep to show them the units.

When we got to the sales office, there are a couple of buyers looking around their floor plans. We didn't see a big crowd there. But, wait... because from there, the sales rep took us to the building and the actual units available for preview. There, we saw a big crowd!! I meant, it was like a zoo.. in a small 2 bedroom condo. I would say, there were about at least 20 people in the room! I am not kidding.. it's crazy.

The sales rep looks like a tour guide when she help us navigate the building. And she said that she'd never seen a crowd like this since.. they had lottery. Meaning, back in the hot year of housing market, they had so many people waiting in line and coming to buy.. that what they do was to pick people's name like lottery!

Not sure if these prospects actually turn into sales! At Cameron Station, HOV cuts the prices of condos up to $30,000 regardless of using their lender or title company. Plus- they're throwing another $10K, if you use their title and mortgage! Prices of 1 BR starts at mid-$300's, 2 BRs at low-$400's and 3 BRs at low-$500's. They're selling the 3BR condos at townhouse's price.

TLC's Moving Up is coming to MD/DC/VA

TLC needs home BUYERS and SELLERS in MD/DC/VA!

TLC's hit show MOVING UP is looking for great families in MD/DC/VA  to appear on the show.

TLC, the network that brought you Trading Spaces and While You Were Out, is now producing 13 fresh new episodes of their breakout home design hit, Moving UP. We are looking for people who are moving between July and August of 2007.

Each episode follows three families as they move into their new houses, while struggling to leave their old homes behind. We will watch as they each spend the next few months remodeling, decorating and transforming their new spaces into their own.  Moving UP is ultimately about the choices we make to turn a house into a home. After a few months, we will bring the former owners back to see what they make of the new changes.

Trading Spaces designer Doug Wilson hosts Moving UP, guiding our homeowners through the moving and remodeling process. He will meet the families before they move, and visit over the next few months to observe how the renovations are coming along.

How it Works:

We will follow the 3 (A -> B -> C) families through these basic stages:

• Family A is the buyer of Family B's home and Family B is the buyer of Family C's home.
• Film all 3 families, A, B and C before they pack and move out of their old house.
• Film all 3 families packing and moving out of their current homes.
• Film only the A and B families in the process of into their new home.
• Film the A and B families as they renovate their new home.
• After 3 months, we film the B and C families as they return to their former home to see what they think of how the new owners have renovate/redecorated.

For more information on the program please visit our website at http://tlc.discovery.com/guides/property/moving-up/moving-up.html or contact our casting department directly via phone 212-974-9050 or email Tom Langan TLangan@bbcnyproduction.com, Nicole Ford NFord@bbcnyproduction.com, Sabrina Bove SBove@bbcnyproduction.com and Jessica Winton JWinton@bbcnyproduction.com.  To apply for consideration to appear on the show please fill out our online application at http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/apply/getontlc.html.     

Any realtor that helps us cast an episode will receive a text credit in the episode they help cast as well as $150 finders fee.

UPDATE: Somehow, the links don't work. Moving Up website, click here. To apply, click here. 

New Urban Neighborhood: Mount Vernon Place

Cross-posted with  New Homes Trekker.

Mount Vernon Place, a transit-oriented and vertical urban communities in the mixed-use Mount Vernon Triangle area in DC. Build by the team of Quadrangle Development and the Wilkes Company. There will be a total of eleven  buildings with a total of more than 2.1 million s.f. of office, residential and retail. The neighborhood is located off Massachusetts Avenue, where you see cranes everywhere.

THE BIG PICTURE: Mount Vernon Triangle [MVT]

According to the Washington Post, here are what's coming to the neighborhood:

• City Vista, a $215 mln project that will feature 115 condominiums and a 58,000 s.f. Safeway supermarket.
• Dumont, Madrigal Lofts, the Sonata.
• Altogether 1,700 apartments and condominiums and and 238,000 square feet of offices under construction.

THE SONATA

The Sonata, is the first luxurious condominium for the neighborhood completed recently.  Features include, 10'-6" ceilings, private roof decks, hardwood flooring. Granite countertops, stainless applliances in the kitchen.I haven't seen the actual units yet -- but, according to the sales rep, the view from here is amazing. It is overlooking the Capitol...

Condo Alert!! Only two (2) remaining residences for sale on the Penthouse level, 11th and 12th floors with stairs to roof deck. Priced from the-$800's.

MADRIGAL LOFTS

Madrigal Lofts, is the second residential building in Mount Vernon Place under construction. This is a 12-story loft style condominium at the corner of Fourth and I Street, N.W. According to the information on the brochure, "this loft project designed by Davis, Carter, Scott Ltd., it has historical roots in the second half of the nineteenth century, when a design revolution took place, giving New York City its Cast Iron District..." Interesting.

The lofts features: 10' ceilings, exposed ductwork and open floor plan. You'll find granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and hardwood flooring in the kitchen. Oversized closets, and bathroom feature ceramic tile, porcelain steel tubs and granite countertops.

There are different floor plans available. These homes priced from $365,900 to low-$400's for the one bedroom. The two bedroom homes starts from mid-$400's. Parking -- is available for purchase. In DC, you pay extra for a parking space. While in the burbs, parking is included. Delivery estimated around Nov/Dec of 2007.

* Mt. Vernon Triangle Edges Upward [Washington Post]
* Mt. Vernon Triangle [website]
* Downtown DC Business Improvement District [website]