December 2011 – The number of improving housing markets continued to expand for a fourth consecutive month in December, rising from 30 to 41 on the latest National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. The December list featured 20 new additions, including several major markets such as Washington, D.C.; San [...]
Archive for the ‘Remodeling Industry’ Category
January 30th, 2012
Study Shows Fewer Consumers Are Buying Green Products
Survey finds that 65% of Americans have changed their green buying habits due to the recession. A new report has found that consumers who previously purchased green products have decreased their green purchasing as a result of the recession. In the study by Massachusetts-based Grail Research, 43% of “light green” consumers—those who buy some green [...]
January 5th, 2012
The Suburbs of the Future
In a recent New York Times blog, Allison Arieff suggests to her readers that it is time to rethink the status quo when it comes to home design and community development. She argues that the cookie-cutter, single-family home in the suburbs is not for everyone and that both the housing industry and policymakers should take [...]
November 22nd, 2011
Obama looks to preserve role of government in mortgage market
Federal loan subsidy would be extended for home buyers; Fannie and Freddie could be saved as well. President Obama has directed a small team of advisers to develop a proposal that would keep the government playing a major role in the nation’s mortgage market, extending a federal loan subsidy for most home buyers, according to [...]
November 15th, 2011
Mortgage rates at record lows.
Meanwhile, 15-year fixed-rate loans and 5-year adjustable rate loans hit record-low levels of 3.54 and 3.18 percent, respectively. Mortgage rates have fallen in recent days because of the debt deal — which averted a feared scenario in which the US Treasury ran out of funds to pay all its bills. That could have sent ripples [...]
November 15th, 2011
Home prices up in half of US major cities
WASHINGTON — Home prices rose in August in half of major U.S. cities measured by a private survey, a sign that prices are stabilizing in some hard-hit portions of the country. The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index showed Tuesday that prices increased in August from July in 10 of the 20 cities tracked. That marked the [...]
October 25th, 2011
Gen Y to Drive Real Estate Recovery
As 15- to 32-year-olds mature, they will produce a massive increase in housing demand. Population growth and demographic shifts – particularly the ongoing maturation of a diverse, well-educated Gen Y – will drive improvements in the real estate market over the next 10 years, according to economists with the University of Southern California Lusk Center [...]
September 9th, 2011
Universal Design in the Bathroom
Design considerations for aging-in-place, accessible spaces and adaptable dwellings have become the rule and not the exception. With that in mind, imagine a conversation with a Millennial couple about installing grab bars in their bathroom. Although they may not have a need for this feature at this time, as a design professional one should plan [...]
September 9th, 2011
New Home Sales Holding Steady
Sales of new homes were down 2.1% from April to May but up when observing a more appropriate 3-month average. New home sales dropped to a record low in February but rose 16% above that level by April and have since leveled off at about a 320,000 home sales per year. This level still remains [...]
June 16th, 2011
Cooking Appliances Focus on Time Savings and Ease of Use
While the recovering economy may eventually drive consumers back to restaurants in droves, the past few years have taught many that cooking and entertaining at home can be every bit as enjoyable as eating out – and a lot less expensive. Whether they want to create restaurant-style gourmet meals or quick and easy eat-and-run dishes, [...]
