Data & Research
Data & Research
How the Zero Energy Ready Home Update Emphasizes Resilience and Decarbonization
ZERH Version 2, released in December of 2022, will boost the efficiency and performance of single-family homes, preparing them for the increasingly oppressive weather
Business
How to Attract and Retain a Multi-Generational Workforce
Attracting skilled laborers remains a top priority for the construction industry, but according to Steve Bench, founder of Generational Consulting, the biggest roadblocks to recruitment and retainment are generational differences
Construction
Small-Duct, High-Velocity HVAC: What It Is and Why It Pairs Well With Modular Homes
Modular home manufacturers, builders, and owners now have many choices when it comes to indoor climate systems, but small-duct, high-velocity (SDHV) systems may be the perfect fit for these types of homes
Codes & Standards
An Introduction to the Zero Energy Ready Home Program
Late in 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy's Zero Energy Ready Home program announced the rollout of ZERH Single Family Version 2
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Economics
Moving rate lowest since WWII
Americans moved across states lines in 2010 at the lowest rate since World War II, according to Housing Predictor.
Financial
New year opens with more mortgage applications
Home buying activity is on the rise to open the new year. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that the number of applications for home mortgages crept up 2.2 percent last week. However, when the index isn’t adjusted for the New Year’s holiday, the numbers are 47.5 percent higher compared to the previous week.
Cabinets, Countertops & Hardware
7 trends in kitchen design
The recession has had a major impact on kitchen design. Gone are the ornate and formal styles with travertine marble flooring and intricate decorative trim. Clients today are moving toward cleaner-looking cabinet faces and richer, more rural themes. These are among the latest trends in kitchen design.
Business
Survey Defines Custom-Built Home Demographics
New research by Custom Builder magazine provides insights into client profiles, home specifications, and top business challenges. Among the findings: homes are getting smaller, purse strings are tightening, and move-up buyers rule the market. Check out our full report.
Leadership
Snapshot of the custom-home market
Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau released the first batch of the freshly collected 2010 census data of the nation. The big news so far: The official resident population count increased 9.7 percent over the 2000 census to 308.74 million people (the slowest growth rate since the Great Depression), with most growth occurring in the South and West regions, led by Texas.
Financial
Study shows delinquent borrowers don’t always default on second mortgage
A study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia shows that 20 percent of homeowners that go into foreclosure on their first mortgage continue to make payments on a second-lien mortgage. The story was reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Data & Research
Housing affordability hits highest level in years
For the seventh straight quarter, housing affordability hovered around its highest level in decades, HousingPredictor.com reported. In the third quarter, 71.1 percent of all homes sold were affordable for families earning the median income of $64,400. The record high was set in the first quarter of 2009, when it hit 72.5 percent.
Financial
Homes Lost To Foreclosure Jump 25 Percent in August To Recession Record
August is one for the books, as mortgage lenders repossessed more homes in August than in any month since the start of the housing crisis. According to foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc., the rise occurred as the number of properties entering the foreclosure process slowed for the seventh consecutive month. Banks repossessed 95,364 properties in August, up 3 percent from July and an increase of 25 percent from August 2009.
Financial
70 Percent of Americans Surveyed Tell Fannie Mae It's a Good Time To Buy a Home
Almost three quarters of Americans give home buying the thumbs up, from 64 percent in a Fannie Mae survey conducted in January.