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The only thing more energy efficient than this tumble dryer is a clothesline.
The robotically named T 8881S EcoComfort is so crazy efficient that the European Union gave it its highest energy rating, an A+++; the dryer uses 80% less energy than a standard unit.
And, in an ironic twist, the T 8881 S EcoComfort uses water to dry your clothes.
Expected price movements depend on local conditions relating to housing demand and supply, demographics, and job growth. The difficulty in accessing mortgage financing and modest expectations about overall economic and job prospects are factors underpinning the modest price expectation. The expected price growth was highest (red) in states with low inventory levels, strong cash sales, and strong growth sectors (e.g., technology, oil).
Property Type: Residential
Ocean View Spanish Hacienda only 2-blocks to "The World's Safest... view details
Cash sales made up 32 percent of all sales, according to the April REALTORS® Confidence Index. However, for investors, cash clearly continued to provide an advantage, as 70 percent of investor purchases were made with cash.
REALTORS® generally expect prices to increase over the next 12 months with a median expected price increase of 4 percent, according to the latest REALTORS® Confidence Index. REALTORS® in most states expect prices to increase in the range of 3% to 5%. However, in states where inventory is very low and where cash sales are strong, the expected price growth is in the range of 5% to 7% (like in California).
Earl Lee, the veteran Prudential Real Estate executive who helped launch Warren Buffett’s new real estate franchise brand, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, will step down as CEO of parent company HSF Affiliates Inc. on Jan. 1 and hand over the reins to Gino Blefari, the founder of Intero Real Estate Services.
Lee, 69, served as an executive with Prudential Real Estate for 14 years before becoming the first CEO of HSF Affiliates, a joint venture between Berkshire Hathaway Inc. affiliate HomeServices and Brookfield Asset Management. Before joining Prudential Real Estate, he served as an executive for 20 years at Honolulu-based brokerage Prudential Locations LLC.
HSF Affiliates was established after HomeServices of America took a majority interest in the Prudential Real Estate and Real Living brands from Brookfield in October 2012. Nearly 500 brokerages representing 45,000 agents in 1,600 offices across the U.S. are affiliated with the company’s franchise brands, which include Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
Blefari, who founded the Silicon Valley-based Intero Real Estate in 2002 after serving for five years as an executive with real estate giant Realogy, will serve as a senior vice president of HSF Affiliates until he takes over as CEO on Jan. 1.
“Earl has been instrumental in developing and executing the initial business growth strategies of HSF,” said Ron Peltier, chairman and CEO of HomeServices, in a statement. “Gino is renowned for his vision, leadership skills and real estate experience, and will be a tremendous addition to the superb senior leadership team already in place at HSF.”
The last 18 months have been a whirlwind for Lee and HSF Affiliates, with Lee overseeing the launch of Buffett’s new real estate franchise brand, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices was created to take the place of the Prudential Real Estate brand, which is slated to disappear when the last franchise rights to the name expire in the 2020s.
Since welcoming its first brokerage on Sept. 23, BHHS’s network has grown to more than 70 firms.
Lee, a perennial member of Inman News’ 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders, will continue in a senior advisory role at HSF Affiliates through 2015.
The steady improvement in house prices and employment coupled with the 2013 refinance boom had a significant impact on foreclosures nationally. Across the country, the foreclosure rate fell dramatically. As depicted below, no state has seen an increase in its foreclosure rate over the 8-quarter period ending in the first quarter of 2014.
However, some states fared better than others. Florida, California, Arizona and Nevada all experienced significant declines following the bust of the sub-prime market and sharp declines in employment. However, Arizona and California experienced the sharpest declines in their foreclosure rate, respectively. By contrast, the improvements in Florida and Nevada were not as strong.
