Going Home, Going Green

There is a movement underway to lessen the impact that homes have on the enviorment. Homeowners can do their part by taking some simple steps in the right direction.

Switch to CFLs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs not only last longer but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions created by your home's power needs. A CFL bulb uses 75% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb, generates 450 fewer pounds of greenhouse gases from power plants and lasts 10 times longer.

Use ENERGY STAR

When it comes time to replace your refrigerator, or washer and dryer, select only ENERGY STAR qualified products which cost 10 to 30 percent less in operating costs to run. Comsumers using ENERGY STAR appliances saved enough energy last year to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those emitted from 25 million cars-all the while saving $14 billion on their energy bills.

Be Water Efficient

Install low flow showerheads and faucet aerators- both of which help save resources without sacrificing water pressure. Use front loading washing machines that use less water.

Tune Up Your Home

A professional HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) check up costs about $100 and can save 5 to 10 percent on heating and cooling bills. Don't forget to change your furnace filter monthly or quarterly depending on the filter.

We all need to do our part for the enviorment.

You may have noticed some big trucks on the west side of Tassajara Road across from Silvera Ranch. They are building 2 bridges to access the 184 acres of land known as Wallis Ranch. The City of Dublin has approved developement of 935 residential units consisting of 257 single family homes and 678 town homes and condominiums. The developable area has been arranged into 6 distinct neighborhoods, with parks and open spaces intertwined to optimize pedestrian connectivity and protect the surrounding natural open spaces.

The Tassajara Creek Conservation Area comprises a minimum set back of 100 feet. The Wallis Ranch project will preserve and enhance the natural enviorment by cleaning and restoring native riparian and wetland vegetation throughout the creek.

A neighborhood park is located in the southern portion of the property and straddles Tassajara Creek. The park is to be designed and developed by the City of Dublin and will offer a variety of passive and active play facilities for other neighborhoods in the general vivinity

Home Sales Up-Prices Down

According to the California Association of Realtors, C.A.R., home sales increased 18.1 percent in May in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home fell 35.3 percent.
“Home sales exceeded 400,000 last month for the first time since early 2007. While this is a welcome sign for the market, it was due in part to the large share of distressed homes for sale in many parts of the state.” said C.A.R. President William E. Brown. “Sales also rose above their year ago levels for the second month in a row after 30 consecutive months of year-to-year decreases. The lower prices associated with distressed sales along with favorable interest rates both contributed to higher sales levels.”

Sales in Dublin Ranch do not seem to be mimicking the state average. Last year we had 17 homes sell in May and this year only 8 homes sold. However, the number of short sales and foreclosures i.e. distressed homes, are definitely up. In May of last year none of the homes that sold were distressed, this year 5 out of the 8 homes that sold were distressed.
The good news is prices haven’t fallen as much in our community as in the state as a whole. Prices of single family homes were down 22.1 percent from May of last year and prices of townhomes and condos were down 14.4 percent from May of last year.

Take a look at this image of the future Grafton Station! If you drive by you can already see the tower that's under construction and of course you can see Lowe's in the background. The big question is what's coming next. We'll keep you posted as information becomes available.

Dublin Ranch to have a gym at the Promenade!

Developer Charter Properties will work with Leisure Sports Inc. to build a new gym in Dublin.

The 50,000 square foot gym will be at the Promenade at Dublin Ranch. Leisure Sports will own and run the gym, which hasn't been named yet. Leisure Sports already owns and runs Clubsport Pleasanton and other gyms and hotels in Fremont, Walnut Creek and out of state.

The Dublin gym will have space for 8 studios used for group exercise, yoga and cycling as well as a spa and cafe. The gym will be in a 110,000square foot development that will include retail and office space.

The companies plan to start construction soon and open the gym in 2009.