Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

Brunswick County, NC home remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to share an article by Triangle Business Journal’s Lee Weisbecker. The Journal announced this morning that North Carolina’s State Home Foreclosure Prevention Project has prevented over 2,500 North Carolina home owners from foreclosing. The FHFPP has also given financial and mortgage advice to over 5,000 home owners in our state. Below is an excerpt and to read the complete article, click here.

“The State Home Foreclosure Prevention Project, which works with one national nonprofit phone counseling agency and 34 local counseling agencies across North Carolina, has prevented foreclosures in 99 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, the commissioner’s office says.

Foreclosure filings in North Carolina are up 14 percent in 2009 due to the economic downturn and job losses. Even so, North Carolina continues to have one of the 15 lowest foreclosure rates among the 50 U.S. states, according to RealtyTrac’s latest foreclosure report.”

The Mother Nature Network reported earlier this month on what may become North Carolina’s first LEED Platinum Certified public facility. The North Carolina Botanical Garden is a 900-acre garden in Chapel Hill, NC that has been using the same facility since it was founded in 1971. With a $12.5 million eco-friendly makeover and the help of Raleigh, NC-based architect Frank Harmon, the facility will hopefully attain the LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Pender County, NC green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes fully understands the USGBC’s format for LEED Platinum Certification, as we built what is only the second LEED Platinum home in North Carolina. Below is an excerpt on the article from Mother Nature Network, and to read more about North Carolina’s latest Green undertaking, click here!

“The garden, which is part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has had numerous successes in its quest to be a leader in the sustainability movement. It was one of the founding institutions for the Center for Plant Conservation, took an active role in writing state laws that led to the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program and holds the honor of being the first garden in North America to establish an exotic pest plant policy. The garden has also set a goal to reduce the collection of native plants from the wild, propagating them from seed instead.

Planning for the project began in 2006. The ambitious design plans called for all aspects of the building from the materials to the energy sources to be as eco-friendly as possible. Raleigh-based architect Frank Harmon designed the building to meet the garden’s goal of achieving LEED Platinum status.

‘If we achieve LEED Platinum status, we’ll be the first public building in North Carolina to reach that rating,’ [Executive Director Peter] White says.

The list of green architectural features certainly appears impressive enough to allow the garden to reach its goal. The 31,000 square-foot facility comprises three buildings for offices, classrooms and exhibit space.”

New Hanover County, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes understands the intricacies of filing for Federal Tax Credits when you opt for updating your home with energy-efficient options. But just in case there is any confusion, USAToday.com posted an article today detailing the information. Below is an excerpt and to read the complete article, click here!  

“Many of the federal tax credits apply only to your primary residence and to existing homes. Not all Energy Star appliances qualify, so you have to do some of your own research. All products have to meet specific criteria. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star website offers partial lists and answers commonly asked questions.

You can claim 30%, or up to $1,500, for qualified improvements this year and next year in these areas: biomass stoves, windows, doors, HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) insulation, metal or asphalt roofs and non-solar water heaters. Note: You can only include the installation costs for biomass stoves, HVAC and water heaters.

The biggest tax breaks come if you install geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines or solar energy systems. You can claim 30% of the costs (including installation), without any cap, through 2016. This credit applies to existing homes, second homes and new construction.”