The housing market in Phoenix is emerging from a historic slumber. Foreclosures are down, and new home sales are re-energizing the new home market -- up 20 percent from a year ago. If wide-open space is key and bumper-to-bumper traffic cramps your style, the private refuge of Encanterra in the Southeast Valley is the perfect choice for you (and your convertible). The secluded community is positioned between the breath-taking Superstition Mountains and San Tan vistas with open air all around—yet it remains only a short jaunt from the I-60 and 202 freeways new homes (ranging from the high-$100,000’s to the mid-$400,000’s) are Shea Green Certified, eco-friendly and energy-efficient; wide open floor plan, close attention to detail and customizable interiors make it easy to see why Trilogy b... 06/30/2012

Benefits of Geothermal Energy: energy efficiency. GHPs require 25% to 50% less electricity than conventional heating and cooling systems. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy consumption - and corresponding emissions - up to 44%, compared to air-source heat pumps, and up to 72%, compared to electric resistance heating with standard air-conditioning equipment. design flexibility. Geothermal heat pump systems can be installed in both new and retrofit construction. Equipment rooms can be scaled down in size because the hardware requires less space than is needed by conventional HVAC systems. GHP systems also provide excellent "zone" space conditioning, which allows different parts of a home to be heated or cooled to different temperatures. durability. Since GHP sys... 02/06/2010

ChimneyOf course, one cannot inspect the interior of the chimney from the attic, but an inspector can note whether the structure itself is solid within the attic. That portion of the chimney that is not exposed to the elements can also weather and deteriorate, and this especially holds true for older homes. Inspectors will look for cracks in the bricks and whether the mortar has crumbled 12/18/2009

Water DamageWater flows from the top down and rarely enters a home sideways. Inspectors will look for staining on the wood supports or on the walls which would provide evidence that water had leaked or is leaking through the roof somewhere. Condensation can form around pipes, which can cause wood to rot. 12/17/2009

Adequate Insulation Attics can be insulated in a number of ways, including blowing in insulation or laying fiberglass batts. Insulation is rated with an R factor, meaning the higher the R number, typically the higher the insulating factor. Ask your home inspector if the batts are facing the right direction (paper up or paper down). 12/16/2009

Previous Fire DamageIf the rafters are any other color than natural wood, that could be a sign that the home was on fire. If the wood is black, scorched and sooty, that's almost a sure sign it had been burned in the past. However, if the wood is painted white, that could indicate that the smoke and burned damage was covered up because painting wood helps to eliminate the smell. 12/15/2009

 Although inspecting attics is rarely foremost on a buyer's mind, there are a lot of good reasons why buyers need to get into an attic or send their home inspector into the attic before completing a home inspection.  Attics should not be overlooked. An attic reflects the history of a home. It can provide clues to serious problems that might not be disclosed or even known by the current occupant of the home. Supporting Truss or Rafter Damage Roof inspections won't necessarily turn up defects in the structural members inside the attic. While the roof might look sound and secure, inside the attic you could find broken trusses or rafters. An inspection would disclose stress cracks that could lead to a loss of integrity and would also give buyers peace of mind that the size of the lumber was... 12/12/2009