The different measures of consumer confidence showed differing results this June. The Thomson Reuters and University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index was more or less unchanged from May, falling a small 0.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The Consumer Confidence Index from the Conference Board rose 9.6% in May from April on a seasonally adjusted […]
Energy Efficiency Should Yield 10 Percent-Plus Return, Study Says
A recent study published on HousingEconomics.com supports the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) policy that a change of building codes is only cost effective if it returns at least 10 percent in energy savings within the first year. The common alternative to this policy is one in which the current mortgage rate is used […]
Property Tax Collections Reach Nominal High
According the most recent data from the Census Bureau, state and local government tax collections reached a nominal high from the second quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of 2013. During this year, approximately $478 billion of taxes were collected from property owners. This number may be surprising to some, as analysts predicted large […]
Can We Get Rid of Plastic Foam in Our Buildings?
Complaints about plastic foam use in building generally raises eyebrows. They are cheap and provide great, effective insulation. Even the argument that foam is created from fossil fuel can be casually dismissed by the fact that the great insulation will end up saving more fossil fuels in energy efficiency than it takes to make the […]
Assessing Trends in the Building Industry
Trends in 2013 so far show that the building industry is on the rise across the board. A recent NAHB and Wells Fargo Housing Market Index showed that one of the biggest concerns for builders in 2013 is the cost and availability of materials. While that may sound bad at first, it is a sign […]
Should You Remodel or Move?
Many homeowners reach a point where they feel they’ve outgrown their home. The next step from there is deciding whether or not to live with it, remodel it, or find a new one. The decision can be a difficult one, but it is far from impossible with the right research. In addition to the research, […]
8 Tips for Increasing Home Value
Different home remodels will offer different returns on their investments. For homeowners looking to increase the value of their home for a possible resale, there are some remodeling options that are better than others. It might seem wise to follow the latest trends to increase value, but sometimes simple and sound remodels can actually provide […]
Baby Boomers Influence Home Construction Trends
Baby Boomers in the United States number about 77 million, representing about 26 percent of the population. The Baby Boomer generation represents those who were born between 1946 and 1964; a generation that is advancing in years but not ready for retirement homes. The fact that Baby Boomers represent 45% of the national work force […]
Selecting a Home Builder or Home Remodeler
A home remodel is a big project and it pays to have the right contractor working on it for you. A good place to start in finding the perfect contractor is to consult a local Home Builders Association Directory to find builders and remodelers that are registered locally. Once you have some in mind, it […]
10 Tips to Get You Started on Your Summer Remodeling Projects
Many people can get excited about a summer remodeling project, thinking of the sawdust and the work, as well as the final result. It is important to keep the planning stages in mind as well, perhaps beginning with a decision on how much to spend on the project. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry […]