Two sources—the New York Times and Reuters—are reporting that Congress will likely be renewing the first-time homebuyer tax credit in the next few days. “After weeks of partisan bickering, the Senate voted 97 to 1 to clear a procedural hurdle and move to final passage on Wednesday or Thursday. The House of Representatives is expected to approve it quickly and send it to President Barack Obama to sign into law,” according to Reuters.

The original credit was set to expire on Nov. 30. Last week, we learned that the new version of the credit will extend to some current homeowners looking for their next purchase, and that it would apply to all contracts entered by the end of April, and closing before July 1 (via Wall Street Journal).

The Department of Energy has been getting some great publicity—definitely on this blog—this month for its gigantic Solar Decathlon competition sprawled across the National Mall. But as DOE officials were shaking hands, making announcements, and touring various homes, someone in their department managed to leak an important, internal document to the New York Times.

Yesterday, the newspaper broke the story that many products given the Energy Star label may very well be undeserving of the distinction, according to an internal audit.

Read More “Energy Efficient or Not Energy Efficient–It’s All Labeled the Same!” »

This summer, I was treated to a delicious meal of—are you ready for this?—brussels sprouts, glazed salmon, veggie potpie with chard, collared greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, onion, and a pizza dough crust; an egg souffle with mushrooms and onions; and a seasoned risotto boiled in an onion stock.

A ton–yes. But not when you live with roughly 20 people.

Read More “Intentional Communities on the Up-and-Up?” »

Another month, another round of housing numbers. Today’s big news is that new home sales were up 11 percent nationally in June over the previous month’s numbers. Let’s keep thing in perspective though:

The good news:

• “Sales of new homes in the United States posted their largest monthly gain in nearly eight years in June…” (The New York Times)

• A government program is working! “The uptick in new home sales was a pleasant surprise and probably reflects the impact of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, which expires in November…” (The Washington Post)

• “The figures were the latest evidence that a three-year slump in the country’s housing market was leveling off as prices fell back and some builders and buyers began to step tentatively back into the market.” (The New York Times)

Read More “New Home Sales Up 11 Percent in June” »

Today’s New York Times has a story about NoMa, D.C.’s next “hot address”…at some point down the line. “In eight or 10 years,” states one source, “it’s clearly going to be a thriving urban environment.”

The piece is a nice little roundup of what’s already established and what’s to come in the area. So, in case you’re wondering where actual life exists in that abyss of cranes, construction materials, and exhaust from New York Avenue, here’s a nice list compiled from the article:

• In 2001, the area became home to XM Satellite Radio.
• The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms moved in, with 1,500 employees, in September 2007.

And on the way…

• Major offices of the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and National Public Radio…The Justice Department said it had agreed to a 15-year lease, starting in 2010, for 521,000 square feet to house 2,000 criminal division employees in a proposed 12-story office building.
• Constitution Square, a project that will include a Harris Teeter supermarket (see what I mean, there’s always one around the corner!), a 440-unit rental apartment building and a 204-room Hilton Garden Hotel.

My problem with the area has always been/will continue to be its name. NoMa…NoBlah if you ask me!!!

Anyway. What the New York Times failed to do in its piece was dig up the original name for this section of D.C.: Swampoodle! Every city in the nation is desperate to mimic this New York-ism of naming neighborhoods according to street directions. Most recently, Esquire dug up a guy, who, at least, was having a bit of fun with the trend. Read More “NoMa: It Will Be Great in a Decade!” »