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Dispatches from Big Sky, Montana

Author:	Chad	Created:	3/18/2009 10:21 PM
News and insight from Chad Rothacher, owner of RMR Group.

Top 10 places to buy a vacation home

By Chad Rothacher on 3/9/2010 2:13 PM

There's at least one major upside to the bursting of the real-estate bubble: The kind of adventure-ready second home you've always dreamed about is suddenly within reach. From mountain retreats to lakefront outposts to slopeside condos, here's your primer on where to invest for the long haul.

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10 Must have home features

By Chad Rothacher on 2/9/2010 5:48 AM

Americans want smaller houses and they are willing to strip some of yesterday's most popular rooms -- such as home theaters -- from them in order to accommodate changing lifestyles, consumer experts told audiences at the International Builders Show here this week.

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10 Questions for Homebuyers who want to go Green

By Chad Rothacher on 2/9/2010 5:42 AM

For homebuyers, green is fast becoming a priority - whether its because they want to reduce their energy costs, minimize their carbon footprint or improve air quality.

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Powder Ridge Cabins

By Chad Rothacher on 2/1/2010 12:48 PM

The sun has long since set and the rosy glow on Lone Mountain is giving way to a smoldering purple as I sink into my club chair and gather my thoughts to write this letter.

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Geothermal Heating

By Chad Rothacher on 12/4/2009 1:11 PM

Geothermal energy has been used to heat and air condition buildings for several decades, and, during that time, these geothermal systems have been called many different things. Some of the more popular variations include geo-thermal, geoexchange, ground-water, ground-water assisted, ground-water-source, water-to-water, as well as water furnace heating and cooling.

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Ski in and stay a while

By Chad Rothacher on 12/4/2009 11:12 AM

This home is located slope side in the Diamond Hitch development of Moonlight Basin.

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Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

By Chad Rothacher on 12/4/2009 11:03 AM

If you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. Existing homes and new construction for primary AND secondary homes are eligible for a 30% return on cost with no upper limit.

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National Green Building Code

By Chad Rothacher on 11/28/2009 8:24 AM

When it comes to building projects, this one's a monster. The construction zone is essentially the entire country. The builders are a variety of specialists, including architects, plumbers, masons, and lighting, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning experts. Since July, they have been meeting in cities - they were in Philadelphia last month - to construct not with bricks and steel beams, but with words. The goal: a code to guide all development of green commercial buildings in the United States.

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Is the McMansion Dead?

By Chad Rothacher on 11/24/2009 5:14 AM

"In lieu of a 7,000-square-foot palace that antes up to the neighbors, they’re planning a house less than half that size with energy-efficient features, panelized construction to reduce waste, and a variety of flexible, multipurpose spaces. One of its four bedrooms will double as a guest room..."

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Who are the next wave of home buyers?

By Chad Rothacher on 11/20/2009 6:55 AM

Over the last several years, I have taken every opportunity to attend classes from Charles Shinn when I hear he will be in Northwest lecturing. When Charles talks - people listen. Take a moment to read a recently published article on the next wave of buyers.

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