And while you’re admiring the natural gas features – including gas ranges and outdoor kitchens – you’re likely to get hungry.  So NW Natural invites you to enjoy a free snack prepared on a natural gas grill while you’re on your tour.

NW Natural will have its catering staff ready and waiting for you from 1 to 3 p.m.:

• On Saturday, April 28, at the Made in America Home, 16173 SW Bonaire Ave. in Lake Oswego.
• On Sunday, April 29, at the Green Dragon Home, 13918 SW Braydon Ct. in Tigard, and
• On Saturday, May 5, at the Dreamscape Home, 11537 SW Riverwood Rd., Portland.

After lunch, take the time to explore these unique houses:

Made in America: A 2,500 square foot “first of its kind,” fully made in America. Check out the car-charging station!

The Green Dragon: Designed around the feng shui elements of earth, water, wood, metal and fire, this tranquil home was constructed with sustainable building materials.

Dreamscape: This fully restored 4,480 square foot colonial retains its traditional grace and elegance.  Energy-efficient upgrades and the most modern appliances are anything a new homeowner could want.

So schedule your tour around these treats and exciting homes.  We hope you’ll join us in experiencing the convenience of outdoor cooking – and admiring the creativity of Northwest homebuilders.

Scan with your smartphone to download the UOH mobile app

The HBA has created a new app for iPhone and Android users.  So when you’re between home visits, you can look at photos, learn about price and size and get driving directions, plus find a link to some builders’ websites.  You can bookmark favorites, select homes in close proximity and even email the builder through the app. (Of course, not while you’re driving!)

Join the mobile fun and download the new Ultimate Open House app on your smart phone.

As of April 28, 2012, type ultimateopenhouse.mobi into your iPhone or Android smartphone, and it will automatically take you to either the app store or marketplace so you can download the free Ultimate Open House Mobile App.

Maintaining a clean home is one way to ensure its longevity. Here are some tips for properly maintaining some of the systems in your new home:

Heating and Cooling Systems

• Late summer or early fall are the ideal times to do an annual inspection and cleaning of these systems.
• Change or wash the filters every three months.
• If you have a gas furnace, keep your pilot light burning during the summer to help keep the furnace dry and prevent corrosion.
• Registers help regulate the flow of air and maintain the desired temperature in your home.  Keep registers closed in rooms you don’t use to save on cooling/heating costs.

Plumbing

• Every member of your family should know where the intake valves are located.  Label each one.
• If any of your appliances develop a leak, inspect your drain trap.  A partially clogged drain can cause overflow. Use a plunger or a plumber’s snake to unclog the drain. If you need to, use boiling water to help unclog a partially opened drain. Call a plumber if these techniques don’t work.
• A worn washer, a loose part in a faucet or steam in a hot water pipe are generally the causes of a noisy pipe.  Do not hesitate to repair the noise — vibrations can follow the noise and lead to leaks.

Gutters and Downspouts

• Clear away leaves, tree limbs and other debris from gutters and downspouts.
• Turn the downspouts away from your home’s foundation.
• Every four to six years, paint gutters that are not made of aluminum or vinyl to help prevent rust.

Remember to read the instruction manual for every appliance in your new home.  The manuals provide recommended cleaning and maintenance schedules. Also familiarize yourself with any warranties you have on both the house and its systems. Some warranties may be voided if problems arise because of failure to perform routine maintenance.

This year, NW Natural and its partners are adding one more reason for you to go Blue and buy gas-fueled home.  If you’re one of the first 10 buyers of a qualified home with a natural gas furnace and water heater, you’ll receive an $800 credit on your NW Natural bill, courtesy of the builder.

Now there’s one more reason to go Blue, in addition to the comfort and reliability of gas heating; the convenience and beauty of gas fireplaces; the speed and control of a gas stove; and the clear price advantage of natural gas.  That’s an $800 credit on your gas bill.

Whatever your plans for your existing or future home, research from the National Association of Home Builders and Better Homes and Gardens magazine shows what features and floor plans will be popular over the next few years.

According to an NAHB survey of home builders on their expectations for homes in 2015, smaller homes with lower prices and more green features will be the predominant force in the marketplace.

As the average size of new single-family homes continues to decline to 2,377 square feet from a peak of 2,521 in 2007, floor plans are focusing on frequently-used rooms. More than half of the builders surveyed said the size of the family room will increase, while the formal living room, entry foyer and dining room are expected to decrease or disappear.

Other features that builders predict are highly likely to be included in the average new home of 2015 include a walk-in closet in the master bedroom; a laundry room; ceiling fans; a master bedroom on the first floor in homes with two stories; and a two-car garage.

Nearly 70 percent of the respondents said that homes will be greener, and about one-third expect them to have more features related to technology.

The most common green features in 2015’s new homes will be low-E windows; engineered wood beams, joists or trusses; water-efficient features such as dual-flush toilets or low-flow faucets; and an Energy Star rating for the whole house.

The families who will be looking to move into new or renovated homes have high expectations for their new space as well.

A December 2010 survey of Better Homes and Garden readers who consider themselves prospective home buyers or who are planning a major improvement to their home indicated that home buyers don’t want any “wasted space” in their next home and they are seeking significant value for the money they spend.

Eighty-nine percent of consumers want high-efficiency heating and cooling in their next home, 85 percent want high-efficiency appliances, and 78 percent want upgraded features and fixtures such as granite countertops, wood flooring, faucets and lighting fixtures.

Efficient use of space also ranks highly in consumers’ desires. The top-ranked living spaces include a separate laundry room; additional storage space; walk-in closets or built-ins; a home office space, workspace or family computing center; and everyday eating space in or close to the kitchen.

You’re not alone.  According to a recent study, people prefer natural gas to electricity for many reasons. The study shows:

• Seventy-five percent of those responding to the survey prefer natural gas for cooking.
• They also prefer gas for home heating, water heating, cooking and clothes drying
• By four to one, people said they would recommend natural gas over electric heating to a family member or a friend
• Natural gas is the primary fuel for fireplaces in the Western U.S.

In case you haven’t discovered the benefits of gas, here are some reasons people prefer it for their homes.

• It’s cheaper, cleaner and energy efficient.
• It warms your home more quickly.
• A gas cook top gives you an instant flame and more control.
• You can use your stove, water heater and fireplace during a power outage.
• Gas fireplaces are easier to start and easier to clean – and a furnace-grade fireplace will heat large portions of your home.

So when you’re considering your choices among all the great homes in the Ultimate Open House this year, don’t overlook the fuel systems.  They can make a big difference to the pleasure you take in your home.

If you’ve always wanted that gorgeous gas fireplace, if you think you’re paying too much for water heating or you want to learn more about a gas dryer, check out the all-gas homes in this show.

Become a natural gas fan – and join the crowd.

EPS, developed by Energy Trust of Oregon, provides a clear and quantitative way to compare a home’s energy use to similar-sized homes in Oregon. The lower the score, the more efficient the home—and the lower your estimated utility costs.

Why is knowing home energy use important?

Purchasing a new home is an investment, and with any investment it’s important to make sure you’re getting the most value for your dollar. Just like a car,  a home incurs operation costs. Energy use is one of the largest operating costs to homeowners. If you build or purchase a home with a low EPS, that means you’re able to use less energy to complete everyday functions like heating and cooling rooms and running appliances.

Choosing an energy-efficient home not only benefits the environment but can also help you save money. In fact, the monthly energy savings you receive may even exceed the additional mortgage costs of those energy-efficient improvements.

Ask your builder about EPS, or visit www.energytrust.org/eps for more information on why it is the best way to compare homes based on annual energy use and environmental impact.

WHAT: The Ultimate Open House New Home Tour has changed the way homes built by premiere builders are sold. The tour not only provides a showcase for top builders, it simultaneously helps homebuyers find and purchase their ultimate new home. Homes run the gamut in size, price range, style (also incorporating townhomes and condominiums) and location across Portland and its suburbs.

The first ten people to buy a tour home during the dates of the tour with a natural gas furnace and water heater will receive a gas bill credit of $800 courtesy of NW Natural.

WHERE: New homes throughout Portland and surrounding suburbs will be featured. NW Natural has created a smartphone application for the event that can be used to navigate to each location.

WHEN: April 28 & 29 and May 5 & 6 / 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COST:  Free

BUILDERS: Participating builders include: Arbor Custom Homes; Legend Homes; Gertz Fine Homes; Stone Bridge Homes NW; Renaissance Homes; Monza Homes; Everett Custom Homes; Portland Development Group, LLC; Maratona Homes, LLC; TA Liesy Homes NW, LLC; Fish Construction NW, LLC; JT Roth Construction, Inc.; Westlake Development; Olin Homes; Pacific Lifestyle; Pahlisch Homes; and Hutchinson Home Builders.

WHO: The HBA of Metropolitan Portland produces the Ultimate Open House New Home Tour, presented by NW Natural and Standard TV & Appliance. Additional sponsors include Energy Trust of Oregon and Metros.

“The American electorate is sending a clear message that owning a home remains a cornerstone of the American Dream and preserving a federal commitment to homeownership is essential to maintain a thriving middle class and get housing and the economy back on track,” said Neil Newhouse, a partner and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies.

Conducted on Jan. 2-5 on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders by the Republican and Democratic polling firms of Public Opinion Strategies in Alexandria, Va., and Lake Research Partners in Washington, D.C., the comprehensive survey of 1,500 likely voters includes data from key political “swing areas,” including National Journal political analyst Charlie Cook’s swing House and Senate seats and Stuart Rothenberg’s presidential swing states. The survey, which has a margin of error of ±2.5 percent, is a follow-up to a similar national poll conducted last May.

The poll shows that three out of four voters – both owners and renters — believe it is appropriate and reasonable for the federal government to provide tax incentives to promote homeownership. This sentiment cuts across regional and party lines, with 84 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of Republicans and 71 percent of Independents agreeing with this statement.

Also, two-thirds of respondents say that the federal government should help home buyers to afford a long-term or 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage.

Moreover, 73 percent of voters oppose eliminating the mortgage interest deduction. These figures held firm across the political spectrum, with 77 percent of Republicans, 71 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Independents against doing away with the mortgage interest deduction.

Meanwhile, 68 percent would be less likely to vote for a congressional candidate who proposed to abolish the deduction, a figure that was virtually identical across all party affiliations (69 percent of Independents and 68 percent of Democrats and Republicans).

A majority of voters are also against proposals to reduce the mortgage interest deduction, eliminate the deduction for interest paid for a second home, limit the deduction for those earning more than $250,000 per year, scale back the deduction for home owners with mortgages above $500,000 and do away with the deduction for interest paid on home equity loans.

“With the 2012 election season in full swing, candidates running for the White House and Congress would be wise to heed the will of the American voters, who have expressed broad support for government policies that encourage homeownership and oppose efforts to make it more difficult to get a home loan and to tamper with the mortgage interest deduction,” said Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners.

Among the poll’s other key findings:

• 96 percent of home owners are happy with their decision to own and 84 percent who are “underwater,” or owe more on their mortgages than their home is worth, expressed the same sentiment.
• 79 percent of home owners would advise a family member or close friend just starting out to buy a home, and 69 percent of those who are underwater on their mortgage would offer the same advice.
• 74 percent said that despite the ups and downs in the housing market, owning a home is the best long-term investment they can make.
• Homeownership and a retirement savings program are considered by voters to be their best long-term investments.
• 78 percent of respondents said that owning their own home is very important to them.
• Nearly seven out of 10 voters who are not currently home owners (68 percent) said it was a goal of theirs to buy a home.
• Job uncertainty and saving for a downpayment and closing costs are the biggest barriers to buying a home.

The survey findings are consistent with the results of other public opinion surveys. In a New York Times/CBS News poll conducted in June, 89 percent said that homeownership is an important part of the American Dream and more than 90 percent indicated that it is important for the federal government to continue the mortgage interest deduction.

According to a Pew Research Study conducted last March, 81 percent of respondents agree that buying a home is the best long-term investment a person can make and 81 percent of renters surveyed said they would like to buy a house.

“Even in a down housing market, homeownership remains a core American value, with the vast majority of citizens who do not currently own a home saying they want to buy a home,” said Bob Nielsen, president of the National Association of Home Builders and a home builder from Reno, Nev. “Those running for office in November need to understand that voters will not look kindly on any candidates who seek to dismantle the nation’s long-term commitment to homeownership.”

Poll results can be downloaded at www.nahb.org/homeownershippoll.