"TAG! YOU'RE IT" Lakewood Ranch, FL teams up with Microsoft to become the first community in America to use "tagging."

TAG! YOU'RE IT … Just doesn’t have the same meaning these days as it did when we were growing up. Back then it related simply to running around and slapping your best friend on the shoulder so he could then chase you around and do the same. Today things are a bit more detailed but extremely accessible for anyone with a Smartphone. When this technology was presented to Debbie Gonzalez, Director of Sales & Marketing for John Cannon Homes at a Lakewood Ranch business meeting, she didn’t have to think twice about joining Microsoft in making LWR the first community in America to be “tagged.”

So what is “Tagging?” As Microsoft put’s it, it is “Connecting Real Life and the Digital World.” Wherever you see a “Tag” you will be able to scan it with your Smartphone and you will instantly be connected to information about that product, informational videos, product reviews or instantly connected with the company’s website. Microsoft makes it very easy for business owners to create their own Tags directly from their Tag website. They can then print the Tags off their own printer and use within the business, on their storefront, attach to print ads or include on their website. Smartphone users can easily download the app for FREE and being scanning Tags throughout town.

John Cannon Homes uses this latest technology in their newest model home located in Country Club East’s Camargo neighborhood in Lakewood Ranch, FL. As potential homebuyers walk through The Tauri model they can scan any of the 16 Tags displayed. Three tags will direct you to different videos where either John Cannon himself will welcome you into this home, TJ Nutter will give you a brief overview of the company’s construction philosophy or John Cannon Home’s Design Build Specialist, Mark Grigoli will discuss the features of the The Tauri model in particular. These videos will instantly play on your Smartphone once scanned. Imagine strolling though the model as you listen to one of these 3 videos with just the touch of a button on your phone. It’s that easy! Other Tags within this model share various information from the tankless water heater installed in the home to the energy efficient foam insulation or link you directly to a website featuring GE appliances.

John Cannon tells us, “We are excited to be the first homebuilder to use this technology here in Lakewood Ranch. Our staff is well versed on tagging and the customers coming into the model home think it’s really cool. We plan on incorporating Tagging into other areas of our marketing as well.”

WHO SAYS YOUR POOL IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE GREEN?

Did you know that your pool pump consumes more energy than all of your household appliances combined?

There’s a new law mandating energy efficiency standards in Florida swimming pools less than a year away and Sarasota/Manatee County pool companies are starting to educate and save our residents money by becoming energy efficient.
You can read the section of the 2008 Florida Energy Bill (House Bill 7135) that requires all new residential pool filter pump(s and) motors operating at 1 horsepower or greater sold in Florida after July 1, 2011 to be capable of operating at two or more speeds. Basically, your pool pump runs for about 8 hours a day. When it runs at such a high speed for the full 8 hours, it uses up unnecessary energy. Using a multi-speed pump for your pool will become mandatory, but the money you will save on energy costs will make this purchase an easy decision.

We recently spoke to Matt Russell with Coast to Coast Pools of Sarasota. He has already been offering these multi-speed pool pumps to all of their customers. Matt educates his customers and actually shows them how they can calculate their savings just by switching to a multi-speed pump. One of the tools Matt uses is the pool pump calculator offered on Pentair Pool’s website. You can easily choose your pool size and enter your zip code and it calculates the amount you will save each year. “It makes sense for pool owners to make the switch now, or for new home buyers to choose a multi-speed pump right off the bat.” Matt goes on to tell us, “It really is about educating our customers. The economy has caused everyone to price shop so there is still hesitation because of the initial out-of-pocket expense. However, in the long run, the pump will pay for itself and you will save hundreds of dollars each year.”

Coast to Coast recommends choosing a Pentair pump. Pentair invests a lot of time and money researching and developing energy efficient pieces that are not only better for our environment but also offer significant savings to homeowners. We’ve seen a lot of changes the past couple of years in the way we are buying our appliances and this is just another way we can do our part to stay “green” while saving energy costs.

**Pumps manufactured prior to July 1, 2011 can still be sold; however, per the 2010 proposals to the 2010 Florida Building Code, selling and installing the older, less-efficient products will most likely not be allowed beginning December 31, 2011.

OUR VERY OWN NEAL COMMUNITIES LEADS THE WAY IN BEING GREEN ...

We recently highlighted Drew Smith of Two Trails Green Consulting in our August blog post where we spoke about "green washing" & what you should look for when planning/building a "green" home. Well this month, our very own Parade of Homes builder, Neal Communities is featured in the September issue of Living Out East magazine. The article shares a story about Lakewood Ranch's two favorite snowbirds... Mr. & Mrs. Eagle. Two bald eagles who fly here every winter to enjoy the lush green, environmentally friendly landscape Neal Communities is known for in this area. As we stated last month in our blog, a lot of builders claim to be "green" but few actually have a proven track record such as Neal Communities. Neal has launched a "save the trees" campaign, preserved oak trees, restored wetlands and even helps keep phosphates & nitrates out of Manatee River by using a storm water re-use system. You can read more about the amazing things Neal Communities has done to protect our environment from the article by clicking here and scrolling to page 32-33.

BUILDING GREEN IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON, BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY NEW TRENDS AND ITEMS WE NEED TO STAY AWARE OF.

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN. Seems that’s all we hear about these days. GREEN businesses, GREEN homes, GOING GREEN, GROWING GREEN, and so on and so on. But one thing is crystal clear, building green means we are preserving our environment for our children and our grandchildren. There is a misconception that “building green” is too expensive when in the long run we save so much time and money on maintenance and replacement.

There is a lot of “green washing” out there. A term used when products or services are claiming to be green without third party certification. Drew Smith of Two Trails Green Consulting, recently shared this term with us as he expressed his concern for homeowners who are not educating themselves enough to know what is really green. Let’s face it just because a company recycles paper or prints on recycled paper doesn’t mean that their products are “green” or that their company is “green” certified. Building or buying a “green” home means that it encompasses all things required to be green certified. Homebuyers should be ensuring that the home is certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), or The National Association of Home builders Green Building Standard (NAHB). Things such as the use of existing trees, stacking of 2 stories for best efficiency, exterior envelope planning which can save on HVAC size, minimizing hallways, water heater either centered in the home or tankless, hard surface floors to keep home cool and healthy (easy to clean), low flow fixtures & cross ventilation in all major rooms (windows on opposite walls if possible) are taken into consideration for a third party to certify a home green.

So how do we really know if what we are doing is green? “Third party certifications are the only way to really know, as the certification validates the level of green.” When looking at specific products Drew went on to tell us to make sure they are certified by GreenGuard, FSC, Greenlabel, GreenSeal or Energy Star. You can click here to view a complete list of Green Product Labels & Certifications. You can click here to view a complete list of Green Product Labels & Certifications.

We also wanted to mention a trend that we are seeing more builders start to offer: insulating the attic by way of spray foam. Here in Florida temperatures in our attics can range from 150 degrees to 180 degrees. By using spray foam insulation in your attic the temperature may only be 5 – 7 degrees higher than the temperature in your home. The US Department of Energy (DOE) studies show that 40% of your home’s energy is lost due to air infiltration. The spray foam prevents air & moisture infiltration. Now of course in Florida we can appreciate this because of our extreme heat but in northern parts of the United States spray foam insulation benefits homeowners just as much during their winter months.

It can seem overwhelming to think about “going green” or building your new home “green.” Proper planning and decision-making in the beginning stages will make the process a lot easier and you will reap the benefits in the long run. If you are planning on building green it’s a good idea to have a “meeting of the minds” before construction begins and include architect, builder, owner and all subcontractors. This way everyone is on the same page.

The REAL State of the Real Estate Market in Southwest Florida

Did you happen to see the headline in the Daily Herald Homes section, July 12^th? It read: Home Building in Southwest Florida is on the mend.

Yes, you read that right! According to a report from the Manatee County Building Department in last Sunday’s Herald Tribune, new home permits from 6/15/09 – 6/14/10 were up from a year earlier (6/15/08 – 6/14/09). And we’re not talking up just a little.

For example, the number of permits for Neal Communities and Medallion Homes have soared. And the median home price has remained fairly consistent – in a few cases, these figures are higher now than a year ago.

We spoke to two members of the 2010 Parade of Homes Home Builders Association Manatee-Sarasota Counties. And what we heard is not only consistent with these figures, it’s very positive.

Leisa Weintraub of Neal Communities is not only seeing a “lot of pent up demand”, they’re seeing “tremendous interest”. With interest rates and home prices at an all time low, this is the “best time to buy in a generation”.

They are seeing a lot of 1^st time homebuyers as well as Boomers with active lifestyles. In fact, Neal is opening an exciting new community at Lakewood Ranch within the next week. More on that after the grand opening….for now, suffice it to say that the amenities are outstanding. And it’s a green-certified community.

John Cannon of John Cannon Homes says they are “definitely selling”. But the sales are somewhat different than they were during the Boom years. The sales process is longer, and buyers are being more careful than they were a few years ago. They still want custom luxury homes but are spending much less freely. This is fine with Cannon where they specialize in putting together detailed packages to ensure that each buyer gets what he wants.

Who’s buying John Cannon homes? “We’re seeing the same buyer as before,” according to Cannon. “Successful active baby boomers. Most are relocating and retiring to their dream home. The difference is that dream home is now 3000 sq ft rather than 5000. The custom features and quality materials are still there. The space is simply smaller.”

How are builders able to do this? How do you build quality homes and still stay in business? Not easy. Margins are slimmer. Subcontractors are asked to hold down costs and work with the builder. Everyone bands together in this “new reality”.

For the new homebuyer, it’s a great time to buy. For the builder, it’s meeting the challenge of delivering the best product they can – the most value – at price points that buyers can afford.

In the end, it’s a win-win for all as we continue to build quality homes that allow new owners to enjoy our outstanding Gulf Coast living.

BP OIL SPILL: Michelle Obama Urges Tourists to Visit the Gulf Coast's "thousands of miles of beautiful beaches”

We agree with Michelle! Here on the Suncoast we are NOT affected by the BP Oil Spill and we urge families to spend their summer vacations with us.

NO OIL HERE ...

Not a drop of oil in sight.

This photo overlooking the north end of Anna Maria Island along the gulf out to the Skyway bridge, was taken recently by Troy Morgan of Photos From The Air.