ABoR Foundation to host Dell Diamond “Night at the Ballpark”
Join the Austin Board of REALTORS (ABoR) Foundation for an evening of summertime family fun as the Foundation presents scholarships to 10 recent high school graduates before the Round Rock Express game on Wednesday, June 18. The Dell Diamond Family Evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a hamburger and hot dog buffet in the United Heritage Center. The excitement continues with the on-
field scholarship presentation taking place in the Dell Diamond at 6:30 p.m., just before the Round Rock Express takes on the Omaha Royals at 7:05 p.m. Event tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for children and include reserved game seating and the buffet meal. Purchase tickets by contacting Laura Pagnozzi of Independence Title at 567-5491, Susan Patterson of Independence Title at 914-8984, Rita Barousse in the ABoR Education Department at 454-7636 or a “Friend” of the Foundation.
UPCOMING EVENTS: JUNE 18 CRS MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON Westwood Country Club - 11:30 a.m. JUNE 18 NAHREP MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON Holiday Inn Town Lake - 11:30 a.m.
JUNE 18 NIGHT AT THE BALLPARK - ABoR Foundation Dell Diamond - 5:30 p.m. JUNE 18 A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM HOME MERCEDES HOMES The Ranch at Brushy Creek - 6-8 p.m.
JUNE 23 CHEESEBURGERS IN PARADISE Falcon Pointe Residents Club - 4:30 p.m. JUNE 26 WCR NETWORKING LUNCHEON ABoR Auditorium - 11:30 a.m.
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JUNE 2008 • VOL. 13 • ISSUE 2
Enjoyable. Entertaining. It’s all About You.
Associates In Progress Hometrust Mortgage and DHI Title
Board fights quest for energy efficient mandates would be required to obtain certificates of compliance. The board also contends that the ordinance CONTRIBUTING WRITER would essentially require a license to sell a home Conserving energy—especially in homes—may and is not something the city should be spending not appear to be a divisive topic, yet it’s causing resources on. some real estate professionals to get their thermo“It’s a nightmare for every citizen in Austin,” stats boiling as City Hall ponders whether to require says Charles Porter, who is ABoR’s immediate past sellers to prove their homes are energy efficient chairman and is serving on the 28-member Energy before they can sell them. Efficiency Retrofit Task Force, which will be presentThe idea stems from Austin Mayor Will Wynn’s ing a recommendation to the City Council. “It is one goal to make Austin the greenest city in the country of the biggest challenges we have faced in years.” through a Climate Protection Plan that includes a Porter, of Bryker Properties, and Nathan Doxsey proposed ordinance establishing mandatory effi- of Texas Green Realty are the two real estate repreciency standards for existing homes. The city’s pro- sentatives on the task force. Wynn says in an e-mail posal would require homeowners to upgrade their responding to ABoR’s action campaign against the homes and obtain a “certificate of compliance” from point of sale ordinance that the task force recomthe city before they are able to sell. Many are refer- mendations will undergo an extensive public ring to it as the point of sale ordinance since that is review process, most likely in middle or late fall. when the standards will be enforced. “There is almost universal agreement that energy The Austin Board of REALTORS is against the efficiency is an important goal,” Wynn says. “Where proposal for three main reasons. The board claims folks differ is on their ideas of exactly what role the mandatory retrofits would make homes difficult to City should play.” afford, as upgrades would be costly, and would ABoR chairman Socar Chatmon-Thomas says the extend the sales process, as additional inspections board is against any language in the ordinance that would make the upgrades mandatory. Presorted Standard “We are absolutely U.S. Postage PAID dedicated and deterAustin, Texas mined to make sure we Paid Permit #715 protect the affordability P.O. Box 81366 of homes in Austin,” she Austin, Texas 78708-1366 says. “We are educating homeowners associations and the public and as a result, the city council is getting inundated by emails and phone calls Don’t forget: You can visit us online 24/7 at www.realtylineonline.com about this issue.”
By Linda McNabb
Wynn contends the changes being asked of homeowners will actually make homes more affordable because savings on electricity bills must clearly outweigh the expense of any required upgrades. “Things like weather stripping, efficient lighting and solar screens have a very short simple-payback period that will reduce the cost of homeownership and thereby help reduce foreclosures,” he says in his e-mail. Chatmon-Thomas says the board insists the free market is what should drive citizens to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes, not a law. “I upgraded my air conditioning system because I wanted to, not because I was forced to,” she says. “If there are two homes on the market at the same price and one owner has made improvements over time to make it energy efficient, then buyers are going to choose the one that saves them money.” Over time, this will mean sellers will voluntarily make energy improvements to their home in order to be competitive, she says. Porter says one reason he continues to fight against any mandatory language in the task force meetings is that he and others fear the requirements may be expanded. “What happens is 10 years later the bureaucracy grows,” he says. “They will want to add requirements and increase it to a different level.” Chatmon-Thomas agrees that it is important that the board focus on the long-term consequences. “After the first phase, it could be all up for grabs—like replacing windows and air conditioning systems. Plus, there are no exceptions, even if a home is going to be a tear down. I think they got caught up in the green movement without thinking everything through.” Green Continued on page 2