Everyone knows they should conserve energy. This saves your family money and has a huge impact on our environment. Regardless of your motivation, purchasing a newly built Energy Star qualified new home helps ensure great energy efficiency.

What exactly is an Energy Star house? Are all new houses “green” and good for the planet? How can I know whether the new house that I’m purchaseing is really energy efficient?

The U.S. government has defined standards as to what qualifies as an Energy Star rated new home. This is critical because terms such as “green” have no clear definition. Is a homebuilder claiming to be green simply because he used energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs? Is it really “green” just because the house has insulation? While are good things, it does not make your home “green.”

To be confident that new construction you’re looking at is actually energy friendly, look for the official “Energy Star” certification that is only given to qualified home.

Government guidelines at www.energystar.gov, list the criteria a new home must meet to become Energy Star rated:

First, the new home must make use of quality insulation that is both properly installed and inspected. Insulation should be used in the floors, walls and attics to ensure consistent temperatures throughout the new home. This can significantly lower energy use and provide increased comfort in your new home as it maintains level temperatures.

Next, the house should be built with air tight construction and well fitting duct work. Small cracks and holes can cause cold air in and warm air to escape, greatly reducing the energy savings of your new house. An opening the size of a quarter can be a problem.

Next, the new house should employ efficient windows with protective coatings and improved window frames. The goal here is to keep the cold out in the winter and to keep the warm air out in the summer. High quality UV coating on the windows also reduces fading of rugs, furniture and paint in your house.

Fourth, only Energy Star appliances should be used in the new home. These appliances use less electricity, oil and natural gas, and produce much less waste compared to their non-rated counterparts.

Fifth, Energy Star rated appliances should be used in the new house, including compact fluorescent bulbs, fans, lighting fixtures, appliances, air conditioning, refrigeration, dishwashers and washing machines. The more energy efficient appliances you have, the greater your savings will be.

Finally, Energy Star contractors can go through a third-party verification process to assure that the homes built meet these standards. This helps ensure that builders are reputable and deliver on their energy-efficient promises.

Craig Axelrod is one of the senior developers with Emmy Homes. Emmy is which is one of LI’s top home builders. Emmy’s Commack development features luxury homes in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more details.

When looking at real estate in Commack New York, you want to find the perfect new house. New construction in Commack, such as homes built by Emmy homes, you the chance to have a brand-house with beautiful layout that no family has lived in before.

More than just a house, when you move to Commack it is a community. In the suburbs of Long Island, homes in Commack give you and your family a solid school district and a real sense of community. With many parks, golfing, restaurants and beautiful property, Commack New York should be one of the towns on your shortlist.

When you buy a house in Commack, you have a tremendous number of choices. There are more than 100 restaurants, museums, a dozen parks, and many activities for the family. Whether you like movies, bowling, sports, shopping or outdoor activities, the choices are yours.

Within the town, there are many local communities. Manorwood Estates in Commack, a new development by Emmy homes, offers a range of choices from 3200 to 4000 sq.ft. with a variety of floor plans. Whether you’re looking for a classic design, open layouts or traditional designs, you’ll find many options available. On 1 acre parcels, these houses were spacious inside and out.

As you look a Commack property, ask yourself these 5 things:

1. is this a house layout or an old new home? Many older new houses have smaller rooms lower ceilings, lacking that open house feel.

2. Does the kitchen need to be renovated? This can cost $50,000 or more; with new construction, you have the brand-house of your dreams built into the price of the house.

3. Does the new house have enough bedrooms? Most people want at least one extra room for future family growth, visitors or a new home office. Make sure you don’t limit yourself with your buy.

4. How big is the basement? A few decades ago, people used their cellar for storage. Today, many families can pick up up to 2000 extra sq.ft. of living space by finishing your basement. Make sure that you have high ceilings (8 to 9 feet) with as few piping and low hanging duct work as possible. Some homes designed 20 years prior had high ceilings but piping and other items hung from the ceiling throughout the basement, creating a complicated maze that people are required to navigate around.

5. Do you like the people on the block? You are going to be living there, so be sure these are the people you want on your block.

As you choose your home, keep in mind-you’re purchaseing a house, not just the new house. Make sure that you choose your house in Commack – or any other area – that is a home you will be happy in.

Craig Axelrod is one of the partners with Emmy Homes. Emmy is one of Long Island’s premier home developers. Emmy’s Commack development features new construction in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more information.

As the summer closes and fall approaches, many home buyers thing about whether it’s the right time to buy a house. This can actually be the best time to purchase since most home buyers wait for the spring. You can locate many opportunities on desirable homes. This is especially true with new construction, such as with Emmy Homes in Commack New York.

If you visit EmmyHomes.com, you will see a variety of new construction homes available. Even in this fall, you may be able to purchase a new construction home that had not sold over the summer. Similarly, if you want to choose your home and have construction begun, now is the time to speak to the builders. If they can get a foundation in the ground before the frost sets in (more of an issue in the North) your construction can continue through the winter. If you’re looking for a new home to move into at the close of this new school year, start construction now.

As you look for a new home, what questions should you ask?

First, is this a one-off builder or is this someone who builds entire developments? You want to work with a larger scale construction company because they are more likely able to complete the task in the timetable that you’ve allotted. While we have nothing against small builders, if this is the only house that a contractor is working on, what will happen if he runs out of money? What if his electrician gets sick? What if his roofer walks off the project – you could be pushed back for weeks or months.

When you’re dealing with a more substantial builder, they have assorted people in each trade. If they are shorthanded, they can quickly find replacement workers. In the end, you are far better off with an established reputable builder who will finish the task, as opposed to a small construction company who, unfortunately, can bring a great amount of uncertainty.

Second, look at homes that the builder has already finished. Do you like them? The artist drawing may be beautiful, but the house may be something else. A construction company who is consistently delivered high quality construction is worth their weight in gold. A shoddy contractor who under delivers is not worth the savings he may bring.

Finally, consider the long-term cost of the house. Not only does it carry a buy price, but it must be maintained. A well built home may have lower maintenance costs. Also, is it rated as energy efficient? An “energy star” house meet certain government requirements on energy efficiency. Not only is this great for the environment, but can yield substantial savings on your energy costs. An energy Star rated house is also desirable on resale. You may plan on living here for 20 years, but unexpected issues happen and you want to choose a house that, if you need to, will be very marketable for resale. So yes, the summer of 2009 has elapsed. Nonetheless, there are great options to purchase new construction as we go into the fall season. Websites, such as www.EmmyHomes.com can show you many options of homes that are available in your area.

Tips by Craig Axelrod, with Emmy Homes. Emmy is one of Long Island’s most trusted real estate developers. Emmy’s Commack real estate features new construction in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for details.

The real estate market, including the market in Commack New York, has been hit hard over the last couple years. This nationwide recession has certainly had an impact on the real estate market, creating opportunities for those who are ready to buy.

Interest rates are at historic lows, making real estate in Commack more affordable than ever. Interest rates usually range from 4 to 6%, about half of what the rates were just a decade ago.

If you’re getting ready to buy a home , whether you are a first time home buyer or moving from an existing home, there are many questions to ask yourself:

Is buying a house now a solid long-term investment? Given that the real estate market has declined 20 to 30%, you’re purchasing a home at deep discount to prices from three or four years ago. You’re buying at $.70 on the dollar. When prices return to normal levels, you will see an appreciation of almost 50%.

Are you a good investor? Most people are not. They lack the discipline to make long-term investments, and often put off investing and saving-until it is too late. When you invest in a home, you are making a long-term commitment. This, in a very real sense, represents forced savings. Every month, you have the opportunity to build equity in your house as you pay into your mortgage. Historically, real estate appreciates greatly over time. Taken with a long-term view, real estate remains one of the best investments available.

Am I purchasing in the right area? Commack New York is a wonderful area to live in and to raise a family. An established community, it provides the resources of a major suburb with high quality of living standards. With new construction, you are able to get the home of your dreams. The builders have designed beautiful homes, and very often you are able to customize to suit your needs. Given the current economic conditions and lowered real estate prices, now is a great time to purchase your first house or your next home.

Are there advantages in buying new construction? Yes. New construction tends to be bigger, more current and can easily be customized to suit your taste. In contrast? When buying an existing home, you must very often go through costly renovations to customize that home to your needs. New construction offers you the opportunity to make those alterations before the houses built. Generally, it cost 2 to 4 times as much to make changes to an existing house as opposed to simply modifying the plans on a home that is yet to be built.

What questions should I ask of a home builder?

If you’ve never bought a new house before, there’s several things that you can ask the builder:

1. Does the builder have experience within the neighborhood? To build a home, you need permits, zoning approvals, and compliance with county and local ordinances. An experienced builder is aware of these requirements; and inexperienced builder is not. Mistakes here can be extremely costly and presents huge delays.

2. Does this builder put up one house at a time, or have experience in building developments? Often, you are better off with the builder who works on multiple projects at once. While this may sound counterintuitive, a small builder who only handles one task at a time works with a small crew. If any member of the crew-a plumber, painter or electrician-is unavailable, your construction may come to a stop for weeks. In contrast, a larger builder has assorted craftsmen available to him, and may deliver a steadier construction project.

3. Do you want to be in a new community or a single renovated home within an old neighborhood? The community around you not only impacts the resale value of your house, but also impacts your lifestyle. If you are in a neighborhood with dilapidated homes, and yours is the only new construction in the area, your home will feel out of place. If the builders will bring a new development, and you are one of the new homeowners in that new community, there is a much better fit for you and your house. Additionally, all of the people living in that development will be moving in at about the same time and will have the opportunity to form friendships and relationships. If you are moving into a block with families that have lived there for decades, you may be the outsider and maybe quite some time for you to “fit in”-if at all.

Craig Axelrod is one of the principals from Emmy Homes. Emmy is which is one of Long Island’s most trusted real estate builders. Emmy’s Commack development features luxury homes in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more information.

If you’ve ever thought about buying new construction on Long Island, then now is the time for you to be looking. With the real estate market where it is, it is more affordable than ever for you to buy new construction. On Long Island, your choices are limited. The amount of free real estate available in this once farmland area, is almost fully developed. Many neighborhoods have placed restrictions on construction, preserving the remaining farmland and open areas.

Still, new construction is still available and can be perfect for the new homeowner. If you’ve been looking for real estate, you can consider this:

1. Older homes, while “unique” on the outside, are, in fact, old homess. Over time they age. Many homes in the 50 to 75-year-old range have become “knock downs” purchased by builders to put up new construction. If you’re buying an older home, it may cost you more in the long run with maintenance and repairs.

2. New construction gives you more flexibility. Very few people ever find the “perfect home” of their dreams. Generally, they need to paint, tile, change carpeting, move walls, renovate bathrooms and kitchens and a list of other projects that become increasingly expensive. That older house that looked like a bargain becomes very pricey once you’ve estimated the improvements and modifications you need.

3. With new construction, you do not have to live through renovations. Kitchen remodeling, expansions and modifications to your home may take months-even years. All the while, you are living in a hazard zone. 4. You also have the additional expense of doing these renovations, which must be paid on top of the purchase price of the house. Many families have to save for many years to have the available cash renovations. Others may try to take second mortgages or home-equity loans, but this may prove unsuccessful-especially with more stringent lending requirements. You can look to borrow an additional $200,000, but your home is not worth an additional $200,000 today. Therefore, you lack the collateral to justify the home equity loan. In contrast, new construction, even if slightly more expensive, has the full value in the home already, which is what mortgage companies want to see. 5. When choosing real estate, and evaluating existing houses, you have very little choices. The real estate is “as is”-meaning the lawn is what it is, the plantings are what they are, and the yarn is what it is. Usually, with new construction, it is either newly landscaped or in raw form so that you can landscape as you choose (generally, unlandscaped new construction is less expensive than landscaped). With new construction, you are getting gorgeous new property or freshly graded land that is set for landscaping.

When you’re ready to consider new construction, be sure to keep all of these factors in mind. As you examine the cost of the house, consider the true costs beyond the purchase price. Many families find far better values with the newly built house versus a less expensive existing home that needs renovation. Even if you are handy, improvements are not free. You also need to come up with the cash to pay for those renovations (whereas with new construction, those improvements are factored into the purchase price and are covered by the mortgage).