Nobody local seems to want to build tiny homes anymore. The reason is purely economic. Housing is primarily valued on square footage, all else aside. Yet, years ago in Redding, small homes were quite common. How much space do you really need? Here’s a really interesting blog about tiny homes and their owners. A thoughtful group. Check it out:
Here’s a unique program to help people buy New Construction homes in the Redding California area. Local bankers North Valley Bank, and local builders Ochoa & Shehan have teamed up to create a new finance option for people to buy or build new homes.
Here’s the issue they address: A lot of potential buyers have had unusual conditions prevent them from getting traditional financing. NVB has developed ARM loans specific to new construction with Ochoa & Shehan that removes obstacles to good buyers who have maybe bad credit scores, or some other financial obstacle that an ordinary FHA type loan wouldn’t consider. This isn’t Sub Prime lending! While it is Creative Financing, its not the type that crashed the economy. This program is targeted for specific buyers. Those whom a smaller local bank can determine is a good risk, and who may not have any options with a big box lender. NVB is going to “portfolio” these loans, which is to say they won’t sell them in the secondary market. So they will be looking for good candidate buyers, who they expect to pay them back. Perhaps a high earner with a good job, who was foreclosed on, or had some other financial setback in this economy that was unusual. The upshot is that they can buy a high quality local home at a terrific rate. Ochoa and Shehan build excelent high quality Earth Advantage homes, and becasue they use local contractors, it’s a win-win for the local economy. Call us for more info.
(530) 255 4070
On Wednesday April 13 2011, The Green Committee of the Shasta MLS was pleased to present Ashley Wagar of Ochoa and Shehan Builders at the General Membership meeting. Ashley spoke about the many aspects to building Green in the current housing market.
It’s a complex subject, but one in which every informed REALTOR should be proficient. The rules are ever changing, and new materials and techniques arrive on the scene all the time. Of interest was the number of trade-offs that must be made, like say between a tight building envelope and good air quality for the interior. What can seem Green practice at first might not be so environmentally responsible when the whole picture is taken into consideration, including materials manufacturing waste, and shipping distance.
Ashley brought a presentation that included several examples of Green building materials and Title 24 (building Code) mandated fixtures. Thanks go to the Green Committee of our local REALTORS for this informative and thought provoking discussion. Skip Murphy.
The design and planning of Shasta County and Redding revolves completely around the automobile. Here’s a documentary you can view for free online that examines the implications of this design emphasis for our future in a world where oil will inevitably be increasingly scarce and expensive. Well worth your attention. Are we wasting away our national wealth planning, building, and maintaining, road and city infrastructure for a world that will soon no longer exist?
Small homes are easier on the environment. Just how much space do we humans truly need to live comfortably? Here is a link to an interesting article about 18 small green homes that live large.
Then, if you find yourself inspired by appropriate-sized housing, here’s a link to the 10 smallest homes currently listed in the Shasta MLS. There are some interesting and unusual habitats to be found, including this solar powered home pictured to the left, located on 160 lovely acres west of Redding California.
Prices start under $40K, so apparently living smaller and greener can be kind to your wallet as well.
Here’s a video remix featuring the voice of Carl Sagan. Remixing Carl seems to be a popular internet phenomenon. The videography on this one is really lovely in HD.
We Humans Are Capable Of Greatness from physicisttv on Vimeo.
I miss Carl Sagan very much. Apparently, I’m not the only one.
This has little to do with homes in Redding, hopefully. But it is a video worth spreading around. Created by by artist Isao Hashimoto, this is a timeline of all the world’s known nuclear explosions, war and tests alike, until 1998. It really gives you a feel for the atomic age. And resulting nuclear proliferation. It’s well worth your time, and sharing with others. Even if it’s just a tiny bit disconcerting.
Real estate is inextricably entwined with population. This National Geographic video features illustrative graphics which put our planetary population in perspective. Worth a view.
