Kastera Communities include South Hill, Stream View, Burney Glen, Caymus Cove, Kylee Cove, Pavilion, Two Rivers, The Shores, Hidden Springs, and Messina Meadows.

1. Seminar date: August 28, 2008—Thursday.
2. Topic: Green Building & Energy Star Construction
3. Location: 7512 W. Skylight Street, Boise, ID 83709
4. Time: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
5. Directions: Take the S Cole exit off of I-84 (Edwards Cinema exit). Go 2.6 miles south on S Cole and turn right on W Skylight Street to 7512.

Kastera Homes (Kastera) and Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Group (CBTG) announced a sweeping and innovative plan to educate consumers on the benefits of energy efficient, ‘green’ homes, complemented by superior architectural design.  Free public seminars will commence in August and continue monthly thereafter.

The two companies will also create and co-brand unique energy-focused marketing campaigns on 84 Kastera Homes properties in outstanding communities in Boise, Meridian, Eagle and Star.

To launch this new ‘green’ approach, the companies are holding a grand opening at Kastera’s South Hill subdivision, just 2.6 miles south of Costco on S. Cole at W. Skylight, in one of Boise’s fastest growing areas.  The South Hill grand opening will feature an ‘August Only’ offer of a $5,000 enhancement program with the purchase of any South Hill home.  In addition, attending members of the public will be issued invitations to the first green, new home construction educational seminar.

“This laser focus on energy efficient, green education for new home construction is new to the Treasure Valley,” said John Holland, Principal and Director of Sales & Marketing for CBTG.  “In addition, we’ll be detailing construction techniques and architectural styles, while educating the home buyer public on what to look for in a newly constructed home.”

Builder marketing campaigns typically involve publicizing a new home’s features and the community’s amenities with a single agent sitting a subdivision and media advertising designed to entice traffic to the site.  The Kastera/CBTG plan differentiates in the following ways:

• It will offer ‘green’ educational seminars on what to look for in new construction to the general public at no cost, commencing in August
• The companies will co-brand (utilizing both companies’ brands, not just the builder’s brand) to heighten awareness of the properties and their energy efficient design
• CBTG will tap into their 423-local-Realtor network as the human element, driving qualified buyers to these Energy Star properties
• In addition, CBTG will utilize their industry leading, Coldwell Banker national website to direct relocation traffic to Kastera’s energy efficient properties
• Coldwell Banker’s international luxury division, Previews, is the nation’s leading seller of exceptional homes.  Previews will feature Kastera’s Palazzo home located in the pristine Two Rivers community in Eagle

“We interviewed several residential real estate companies during the last several weeks,” stated Ken Harden, DBSI Senior Director of Marketing (Kastera Homes is an affiliate of DBSI).  “I was very impressed with the quality of the residential real estate community in the Treasure Valley,” continued Harden. “However, Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Group’s expanded programs, unique tools, national website and recent merger with Holland Realty, created just the right co-branding marketing partner for Kastera.  Further, their strong regional and national presence fits perfectly with Kastera Homes future regional and national expansion plans.”

“I knew going into this about the tremendously high quality of Kastera Homes and their solid one year warranty,” said CBTG Principal and Designated Broker, Larry Laraway, “but I was surprised by the many affordable homes in the Kastera portfolio, starting in the mid-$200s.  Kastera Quality at Value Pricing is absolutely true!”

About Kastera

 Kastera Homes, an affiliate of DBSI, was founded in Boise in 2005.  Its mission is to provide high quality, yet affordable, housing to Treasure Valley residents.  It specializes in premiere quality, energy efficient new homes with exciting architectural features.   Kastera’s home designs and quality construction have produced numerous Parade of Homes awards.

About Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Group (CBTG)

CBTG is a partnership between Tomlinson Real Estate of North Idaho and Eastern Washington and the former Coldwell Banker Aspen Realty and Holland Realty of the Treasure Valley.  The merger forms the largest brokerage in Idaho, as well as the 3rd-largest brokerage in the Northwest and a top 5 affiliate of Coldwell Banker in the United States.  With closed volume in 2007 of more than $2.2 billion and more than 9,000 closed transactions, Tomlinson Group of Companies is the only company in its markets to rank inside the top 100 in two categories of the Real Trends list – the Top Brokers in the U.S. Report.

About DBSI

DBSI is a 29 year old leader in diversified investment real estate.  The company currently manages over 18.6 million square feet, encompassing 280 properties in 34 states with an aggregate value of over $2.65 billion.  DBSI specializes in the acquisition and development of real estate in all four stages—land banking, land entitlement, development & construction and income producing assets.  Learn more about DBSI at www.dbsi.com.

 

 Kastera Energy Star Rating [10:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Kastera Homes has partnered with OnPoint, Idaho’s largest energy efficiency and consulting contractor, to adopt the Energy Star certification process for all future home construction.

The Energy Star brand is currently recognized worldwide as the symbol of homes and appliances that improve quality of life and save resources. In this podcast interview with OnPoint’s Tad Duby, you’ll learn why Energy Star homes are healthier and safer, and are at least 30 percent more efficient than homes built to existing code. According to Duby, Kastera Homes is building to more stringent standards than those currently required by Energy Star. He also points out that bringing an existing home up to Energy Star standards would cost between $10,000 - $20,000. By constructing to Energy Star standards, Kastera is adding additional value to every new home it builds.

It is time to fertilize, please do not let your dog help with this in your neighbors yard, according to our landscaper John Irby. If you have questions or would like him to take care of your landscaping needs give him a call at 887-1456.

Daylight Savings Time Starts Sunday March 9th. Don’t forget to move your clocks forward one hour.

Help us support our community and The Boise Rescue Mission’s Homeless and Hungry. Being homeless is not seasonal or a choice. We want to continue to support those families in need throughout the whole year. We are encouraging the community to bring 2 or more cans of soup to to our Caymus Cove location in Meridian and enter to win a dinner back.

If you arer having problems with the circuit tripping off that your outside christmas decorations are on its because they are overloading it. All outside plugs must be on a GFI circuit breaker. If this is happening you will need to use a plug that is on a different breaker. The GFI breakers are very sensitive and low amps. To reset them you will need to find the plug , not a panal breaker, that has tripped and hit the reset button. Any questions give me a call or Email me.

Have a great Christmas and New Years,
Fred

I recently attended an energy code conference to educate builders on the changes for 2008. It was a great feeling for me to know that we at Kastera Homes are ahead of the curve. Starting in 2008, the energy inspectors will be enforcing the new code that will require builders to insulate their walls to an R rating of 19. (This is in relation to the Boise area climate zone-5.) If you frame a wall using 2 X 4’s this will only allow an R rating of 13. So those that frame their exterior walls with 2 X 4’s are looking at only a few choices to solve this. One is they can sheet the entire outside of the walls with a 1″ rigid insulation in addition to the R-13 insulation inside the walls, this would give them the R-19 they would need. This would also create siding issues as well as an added expense. They are also going to let builders calculate our energy conservation a little different so that those who continue to use 2 X 4’s can install a 90% efficient furnace and earn enough credits from that, alosdfng with a few other adjustments, to meet code. Kastera Homes already builds to energy star standards, which means, our clients are already experiencing the benefits of the R-19 wall insulation, the 90% furnace, and sealed duct work that is tested to meet energy star standards. See more to come on energy star and the benefits, this is a very important issue to us.

Don’t forget to have your sprinkler lines blown out. Also now that we are getting some freezing temperatures don’t leave your garden hose attached to the faucet. The water in the hose can freeze and damage the faucet even though the faucet is an anti-freeze hosebib. The manufacturer’s warranty for the hose bib does not cover this.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Fred