Lee Michael Homes of Albuquerque

Lee Michael Homes will, once again, be showing one of their special custom homes during the Spring 2011 Parade of Homes in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Spring Parade Dates: Friday, April 29 – Sunday May 1 & Friday May 6 – Sunday May 8.
Parade Times: Homes are open for viewing from 11am – 5pm, each day.
Lee Michael Homes Spring 2011 Feature Parade Home: 323 Nuevo Hacienda Lane NW (Rincones de los Ranchos)

We are so excited to present this very “Green” high performance home for the new Spring 2011 Parade of Homes event. This custom home was built in the heart of the North Valley of Albuquerque surrounded by Cottonwoods and walking paths along the Acequias. You can hear the faint sounds of the roosters in the surrounding farms and the distant whistle of the train as it passes. It is hard to find the community as it is tucked back away from the main streets through a private gate. There is an organic garden ready to plant this year’s salad crop along the South side of the home and the covered porch is perfect for evening cocktails watching the Sandias turn red as the sun sets. It is the perfect getaway from all the hectic activities of the City.

To see this exciting Parade of Homes house, you can find us on the map below:

Come visit us at the Albuquerque Home and Garden Show this weekend, Saturday & Sunday, April 16-17 from 10-4.  We are in booths 306 & 308, and are promoting our “Green” custom home building and remodeling company, Lee Michael Homes, and showing a 20′ array of solar panels from Solar Power Evolution.  Stop by for a free solar charged bag of popcorn!  The link below has more information for visitors and a free discount coupon to enjoy the show:

http://www.abqhomeandgardenshow.com/visitors.html

Do you need to get rid of some large items in your yard or garage?  Here are a few ideas on how and who to contact in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area:

•    Old or unwanted bicycles can be taken to the Community Bike Recycling Program (505)968-3444.  They will repair them or use them for spare parts then give them to homeless agencies and low-income children in the Albuquerque area.
•    What about a junker car that you would like to unload?  Donation Line (888)448-3345 will pick it up and sell it or the parts for their charity.  You can declare it as a deduction on your taxes.
•    Home building materials and hardware usually mean a trip to the dump but they can be put to good use. The Habitat for Humanity Restore (505)217-0130 will use the profits from selling them to build new homes for low-income families.

If you’d like any more tips on home recycling and where to go in Albuquerque, give us a call (505) 299-1500 or email us at builders@leemichaelhomes.com

Additional recycling tips from Lee Michael Homes of Albuquerque can be found here too:
2011 New Year Recycling Tips for Albuquerque

When you are ready to clear out old items around your house here are some suggestions for recycling your “trash” in Albuquerque:

•    Joy Junction appreciates all kinds of donations but linens and bedding are in high demand.  Their phone number is (505)463-4818.
•    If it is clothing you want to get rid of it can be taken to Big Brothers Big Sisters.  They have a drop box at 2917 Juan Tabo NE.
•    Have any old cell phones?  You can send them to ReCellular Inc., just visit their website at www.ncadv.org.  They refurbish and sell them and the proceeds go to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
•    And if you have any old computers lying around you can take them to Computer Reruns (505)343-7612.  They will get them up to date and donate them to nonprofit organizations or schools that need them.

If you’d like any more tips on home recycling and where to go in Albuquerque, give us a call (505) 299-1500 or email us at builders@leemichaelhomes.com

Lee Michael Homes will again be present in this year’s Homes of Enchantment Parade of Homes in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This year’s entry is a stunning custom remodel located at 9001 Eagle Rock Avenue in North East Albuquerque.

The dates & times for the 2010 Homes of Enchantment Parade are as follows:

Our Lee Michael Homes entry is open October 9-10 & 15-17 only

A marriage of contemporary and Southwestern warmth best describes this custom remodel/home completion. Lee Michael Homes turned it from an empty shell to a warm, inviting home with many green upgrades, including reclaimed wood floors, box beams, specialty counters and treatments, and outdoor living at its finest with a luxurious pool and spa. All challenges of the unfinished home were overcome, turning it into a stunning entertaining and comfortable living environment.

Remodel 4,138 sq. ft.
$225,000 (cost of remodeled portion of home)

For more information, check out the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico site here: http://www.homesofenchantmentparade.com/parade_2010/builders10/leemichael.html

With New Mexico at risk of natural disasters such as flash flooding and wild fires, it can always help to know how best to protect your home, new or old. Here is a Homeowners list of natural disasters by each US State and information on insurance and property protection.

Time is running out quickly…It is finally time to get off the fence…Federal Homebuyers’ tax credit is set to expire 4/30/2010!

If you are thinking of buying or building a new home, now is the time with huge tax credits available for a short time.  Read a summary of the details below:

Tax Credit for First-Time Homebuyers:  If you have not owned a home within the last three years may be eligible for the tax credit. The credit is 10% of the purchase price of the home (maximum of $8,000 credit). Both single and married taxpayers may qualify for the tax credit.

Tax Credit for Present Homeowners:  If you already own a home this offers strong reasons to move to a new home. This tax credit of up to $6,500 is for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for five consecutive years in the last eight years. Both single and married couples may qualify for the tax credit.

New Deadlines:  To qualify for the credit, all Purchase Agreements must be executed no later than April 30, 2010 and close/fund no later than June 30, 2010. Military personnel have special extensions on the timelines available.   This still offers you time to buy a new home, or to potentially build, if you start now!

Why Take Advantage Now:  The tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar benefit, and not just a tax deduction.  It is a dollar for dollar reduction in your tax liability.  Even better, the tax credit is refundable, if you have little or no tax liability, meaning if you qualify for the $8,000 tax credit, and you only owe $1,000, then you receive a check back for $7,000!

Higher Qualifying Income Levels:  Your income qualifying levels went up also!  Single tax filers earning up to $125,000 are eligible for the total tax credit. If you earn more, you still may qualify for part of the tax credit, up to $145,000. Married/Joint tax filers earning up to $225,000 are eligible for the total credit. If you earn more, you still may qualify for part of the tax credit, up to $245,000.

Purchase Price Limit:  If you qualify, the purchase price limit is set to a maximum sales price of $800,000.

Interest Rates:  It is important to consider the current low interest rates that are partially driven down due to the Fed’s Mortgage Backed Securities purchase program, which will most likely end on March 31, 2010. As this program slows down, it is expected that the rates will soon start rising again.

For more information on this very valuable program, visit these 2 informative sites – or call us directly at 505.299.1500 for help:

Home Buyer Tax Credit information from the National Association of Home Builders: 
http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/home.html

IRS.gov’s First-Time Homebuyer Credit information:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html

Who would have thought that Albuquerque would top the list as the Number 1 best place to live and best place to film movies and television! This came from a nice article by New Mexico Business Weekly on MovieMaker Magazine’s reported list of the best places to live and shoot films: http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2010/01/18/daily17.html

We know it’s because living in Albuquerque gives you at least 310 days of sunshine each year – never mind this week’s few gloomy days! The sun will be out soon enough! Then New Mexico gives tax credits and incentives to encourage film production in Albuquerque and surrounding areas of New Mexico which brings us some nice job opportunities and helps the State’s economy!

It’s great fun for us to see movies featuring our custom Southwestern style homes and the beautiful varied landscapes that allow for such creative expression. So, who’s filming here? – Mickey Rourke & Megan Fox are filming Passion Play right now in New Mexico. And Denzel Washington was there during filming of The Book of Eli along with Jackie Chan for the film The Spy Next Door. Which ones have you seen?

Yes… we do love living in New Mexico!

Building “Green” dishes out the green – the $ kind – with year-end tax credits from the State of New Mexico for homes using sustainable building practices.  It almost feels like free money that Lee Michael Homes gets back for its homeowners when building sustainable “green” custom homes in Albuquerque.  The latest tax credits provided back to Lee Michael Homes’ recent clients ranged from $10,000 to $12,000 that can be used to directly reduce the 2009 taxes their clients owed to the State of New Mexico.  It only makes sense to build green!

WHAT’S “GREEN” ABOUT LEE MICHAEL HOMES?

A lot of talk these days is about “Green” this and “Green” that…but what truly does that mean in words and actions that we all understand?

As custom home builders in and around Albuquerque, we, at Lee Michael Homes, would like to share what we are doing to really make a difference for you, your family, and the delicate environment in which we live.

OUR EFFORTS IN LAND DESIGN AND HOME PLANNING:
• Situating homes to take advantage of optimal solar energy potential.
• Actively develop and build in a certified “Build Green NM” community.
• Minimizing impervious (solid) surfaces to allow for better water retention where needed.
• Creating an efficient design that maintains the home’s functionality & provides a comfortable lifestyle.

OUR EFFORTS IN PRESERVING RESOURCES:
• Applying advanced framing techniques to minimize lumber waste & increase insulation effectiveness.
• Using recycled products wherever possible such as carpet, padding, hard surface flooring, etc.
• Using locally available indigenous materials wherever possible.
• Initiating an on-site recycling program.

OUR EFFORTS IN ACHIEVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR HOMES:
• Beefing up the insulation package to include blown-in fiberglass in ceilings.
• Sealing & insulating all HVAC ductwork, plenums and trunks in unconditioned spaces.
• Insulating cold water pipes in unconditioned spaces to prevent condensation.
• Providing a continuous air barrier between the garage and living areas including air sealing packages.
• Running conduit & insulated pipe for future roof-ready Photo-Voltaic & Solar hot water heater systems.
• Installing awnings and covered porches for controlled sun exposure where applicable.
• Strategizing the placement of windows for shade and solar gain, where appropriate.
• Installing low E glass thermal paned low-maintenance windows.
• Using energy star water-conserving appliances.
• Installing tubular solar skylights, where appropriate.
• Engineering for a high-efficiency combination HVAC system.
• Wiring all bath fans with timers for better energy use.
• Providing all recessed lights with insulated boxes.

OUR EFFORTS TO INCREASE WATER EFFICIENCY AROUND HOMESITES:
• Installing hot water re-circulating pump with timer.
• Selecting native & regionally appropriate trees & vegetation for landscaping designs.
• Installing low-volume water-use irrigation systems.
• Providing low-water-use toilets and faucets in all of the homes.

OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE INDOOR HOUSEHOLD AIR QUALITY:
• Using a mechanical ventilation system for fresh-air make-up & circulation.
• Integrating air sealing packages to reduce infiltration.
• Installing transfer grilles in all bedrooms for improved air flow.
• Providing low VOC (Volatile organic compounds) flooring, paints and finishes wherever possible.
• Allowing for all exhaust vents to be directed to the outside for better efficiency.
• Using direct-vent sealed energy-efficient gas fireplaces to improve indoor air quality.

OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HOME PERFORMANCE & TO MAKE A GLOBAL IMPACT:
• Performance of third-party blower door and duct leakage tests on every home.
• Installing a moisture resistant backer-board under tile surfaces.
• Supplying a homeowner manual to every homeowner to assist in the care & maintenance of the home.
• Suggesting a list of solid habits and actions to homeowners to optimize water and energy use.
• Encouraging and educating homeowners in recycle programs as part of a daily lifestyle decision.
• Applying universal design features in plans wherever possible.
• Enlightening the general public on sustainable living whenever possible.

Please do your part in working towards a “greener” lifestyle to provide a healthier way of living for you, your family, your home, and the future environment.