Atlanta Green Homes

Nowadays the idea of “green homes” is getting more and more popular among home buyers. They are definitely “going green”. What does it mean in real estate?

There are special green building certification programs of local and national scale which helps home buyers to make the decision about a purchase. These programs are Earth Craft House, Energy Star Homes, LEED for Homes and NAHB National Green Building Program. What are the advantages of such living in a “green zone”? Living in a “green” location promotes better health, a reduction in greenhouse gas, increased social capital and stronger local businesses. The way of life as a whole in these locations is eco-friendly. So, those who are going to buy a house in Georgia this year, pay their attention to special green certification programs and really win. And by the way - why not to try FSBO?

One more research: boats market

One more research in one more market sphere. Today we are going to say some words about the yacht and boat market.

The NMMA reports that 74 percent of boats are owned by individuals or families with a household income of less than $100,000. And 71 percent of boats purchased are used. That means there are a lot more used $10,000 vessels on local waters than new $40,000 pleasure boats.

The results of a NMMA study, conducted with Michigan State University, found evidence that the high cost of fuel was affecting the behavior of boaters.

''What rising fuel costs have created is a change among boaters' habits — shorter trips and more anchoring,'' NMMA spokeswoman Ellen Hopkins said.

''They are staying closer to home to do the boating and they are using the boat more to swim or fish off.'' NMMA President Thom Dammrich said boaters also were cutting cruising speed to save fuel costs.

''They are looking for ways to conserve,'' Dammrich said, ''but we expect boaters' passion for the lifestyle to continue to lead them to the water this summer.''

Drive Score at Fizber.com

And have you ever heard of Drive Score: http://drivescore.fizber.com/? This is one of the services available at Fizber.com. With Drive Score, buyers can see how close establishments are by car. Drive Score shows a map of what establishments are in a property's neighborhood and calculates a Drive Score based on the number of places within a convenient driving distance. Homes are often located in an area where restaurants, libraries, grocery stores, hospitals and other businesses are easier to get to by car than on foot. That's why it is really very important for home buyers to be aware of nearby infrastructure to make their choice.

When I married and we settled down in our nice cosy house I had never thought the day would come when we decided to move. But it happened and we had to change not only the house but also a city and even a state. Honestly speaking I was not just nervous but even a bit scared about this big business. I knew every corner in my town and now we had to find a nice safe area and a place we would feel at home in. And we had no idea what to do. Should we fly there or just look around??? It didn’t seem right. And at that very moment a colleague of mine advised me to look at FSBO site (http://www.fizber.com/).

At first I didn’t think it was what we needed. Till we checked the site. And it was the answer to our problem!! All we had to do is to go to the site and find the page “Moving and Relocation” (http://www.fizber.com/sale-by-owner-home-services/moving-relocation). Then we compared the cities (http://www.fizber.com/sale-by-owner-home-services/fsbo-city-comparisons) and made up our mind about where to go. And even after that the site kept being a great help. We looked at fsbo-crime-comparisons and saw the safest cities and towns in the area. I want to say thanks a lot to all who have created this great site. Good job, guys!!

The American stock markets

On Tuesday the American stock markets have demonstrated growth successively on a background of increase in activity in tertiary industry in the USA. The "blue chips" index Dow Jones Industrial Average has grown on 47.75 items, or on 0.4 %, up to 12331.60. "Hi-tech" Nasdaq Composite has added 3.99 items, or 0.2%, and it was closed on a mark 2452.38. The index of thick market S&P 500 has soared on 5.64 items, or on 0.4%, up to 1414.76, having reached a maximum since November 2000.

Major factors of Tuesday growth became economic data. The Ministry of Labour report has informed that specific costs for the wage in 3^rd quarter have grown on 2.3%. It is much more below the forecast of economists, who expected growth of a parameter on 3.8%. Contained growth of costs for the wage testifies to decrease in inflationary pressure and increases chances of fast reduction in interest rates.

Analysts declare that investors are assured of prospects of growth in 2007 as the cores sectors of the American economy show stable growth. According to estimations of experts, profits of the companies entering into settlement index base S&P 500, in a running quarter will grow on 9.4%, and in following year will increase for 9.3%. It is above the average parameter of growth of corporate profits, which makes 7.6%.

Shares of company Kroger have grown on $1.16, or on 5.2%, up to $23.49 on a background of the good quarterly report. The company has informed that its profit in 3^rd quarter has increased for 16% as it managed to entice a part of clients Wal-Mart Stores Inc. owing to new system of discounts. The profit has grown up to $0.30 on the share and has surpassed expectations of analysts.

Stock quotations of company AutoZone Inc., the retail seller of auto spare parts largest in the USA, have grown on $4.82, or on 4.2%, up to $119.29 on a background of growth of quarter profit. On Tuesday the company has informed, that its profit in 1^st financial quarter has increased up to $1.73 for the share. It is above, than $1.68 on the share, predicted by experts.

Securities of Coca-Cola have soared on $1.17, or on 2.5%, up to $48 after analysts Merrill Lynch have informed, that the annual company profit can make $2.57 on the share. According to the previous estimation, profit Coca-Cola should reach $2.51 on the share. Cost of shares of the company during the following 12 months can grow up to $51.

Securities of NYSE Group Inc. have added $1.55, or 1.6%, and were closed on a mark of $97.60 after regulating bodies have agreed to company merger Euronext NV, the second largest stock exchange in the Europe. The world's largest transatlantic trade platform can be created as a result of the bargain in cost of $13 billion.

As a whole, at the New York stock exchange (NYSE) the number of the evolved shares has exceeded number of fallen ones in the ratio 20 to 11. The ratio of the evolved and fallen shares on electronic platform Nasdaq has made 15 to 14. Turnovers of trading floors were rather high: 1.54 billion shares on NYSE and 2.05 billion shares on NASDAQ.

The European share indexes

On Tuesday the European stock markets have grown the second day successively owing to the encouraged data about a state of the American economy.

• British index FTSE 100 was lifted on 36.00 items, or on 0.6%, up to 6086.40.
• German DAX Xetra 30 has soared on 77.57 items, or on 1.2%, up to 6372.80.
• French CAC 40 was closed with growth on 6.61 items, or on 1.2%, on a mark 5359.69.
• Summary all-European index Dow Jones Stoxx 600 was lifted on 2.32 items, or on 0.7%, up to 353.91.

As a whole, 16 from 18 European markets have demonstrated growth on Tuesday. The institute of management of supply (ISM) has informed that in November growth of services sector in the USA was accelerated. The business index of services sector has grown. These data have lowered fears of investors concerning sharp slowing down of growth rates of the American economy.

Shares of the mining companies have demonstrated growth owing to increase in the copper and nickel prices on Tuesday. The prices for nickel on Tuesday have reached a 19-years maximum. On this background prices for shares of BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company, have grown on 1.5% up to 980 pence. Shares of Rio Tinto, the third by size mining company in the world, have risen in price for 2.6% up to 2831 pence.

Securities of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the largest on a market value European petroleum company, have grown on 1.6% up to 1804 pence after analysts of ABN Amro Holding NV have increased a rating of its shares and the forecast of growth of profit. Shares of British Petroleum Plc, the second largest petroleum company in the Europe, were lifted on 1.9% up to 578 pence. Stock quotations of petroleum company Total SA, which is on the third place in the Europe, have grown on 2% up to 53.8 euros.

ABN Amro has declared that these petroleum companies should consider prospects of merge. In opinion of experts, creation of the large incorporated petroleum company in the Europe is inevitable.

Stock quotations of exchange operator Euronext NV was lifted on 2.1% up to 86.85 euros. It happened after regulating bodies have agreed to its take-over by company NYSE Group Inc. that is ready to pay $13 billion for the second-largest stock exchange in the Europe.

Gold on NYMEX

Price on gold has fallen below a mark $650 for troy ounce for the first time for the past four days on a background of growth of a dollar exchange rate against basic currencies on Wednesday. The dollar managed to win back a few losses against euro after the Institute of management of supply (ISM) has informed that in November growth of services sector in the USA was accelerated. The business index of services sector has grown from 57.1% in October up to 58.9% in November. Economists predicted reduction of index to 55.8%. Value of index ISM above 50 items testifies to expansion of activity in tertiary industry.

On results of the trade on the New York commodity exchange, NYMEX, on Tuesday February futures for gold have fallen in price on $3.00, or on 0.5%, up to $647.90 for ounce. Analysts predict that within the next few days there can be a further growth of a dollar exchange rate and decrease in investment appeal of gold.

The prices for other metals were closed differently on Tuesday. The March contract on delivery of silver has fallen on $0.22, or to 1.5 %, up to $14.025 for ounce. The March contract on delivery of copper was lifted on $0.071, or on 2.2 %, up to $3.247 for pound.

January futures for delivery of platinum on Tuesday have fallen on $23.60, or to 2.2 %, up to $1133.70 for ounce. The March contract on delivery of a palladium has decreased on $0.05 up to $336.45 for ounce.

On Monday, December 4th, gold reserves have remained on a mark 7.49 million troy ounces. Silver reserves have grown on 601100 troy ounces up to 108.4 million troy ounces. Cooper reserves have increased for 600 short tons up to 31899 short tons.