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The 15-Year Mortgage Gains Fans
WSJ.com Developments Blog
“Amy Hoak reported this weekend in the WSJ that a growing number of homeowners are choosing to pay down their debt at a faster rate—even if it means substantial jump in monthly payments.”

50 Ways for Home Builders to Waste Money
Builder Online
“Little things have a way of adding up. In the current economy, they could kill your business. Or they could save it. … If you’re looking to shore up your bottom line, run a tighter ship, and maintain the time-honored American tradition of turning a profit, then read these tips as a cautionary tale.”

Energy-Efficient Homes Generate Lower Utility Bills and Power Grid Returns
Green Homebuilder
“While having a home that is energy self-sufficient may seem like a futuristic dream, today it’s possible for anyone to build a home that produces as much energy as it uses. The net-zero energy home (NZEH) is a well-built, high-performance home that employs a combination of energy conservation measures with onsite renewable power generation to break even on energy use. … Through their Builders Challenge initiative, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has assertively started to promote net-zero energy homes.”

Building a Future
Remodeling
An interesting look at whether the Home Star Energy Retrofit bill will “put remodelers back to work or out of work.”

Here’s some Monday morning fun for you homebuilders out there!

Wood, stucco, brick…just some of the regular materials that regular houses are made of. Of course, shelter and home can come in any number of forms. MSN Real Estate recently listed a few. Here are our favorites.

Converted churches: Soaring ceilings and gorgeous light.

Airplanes: According to MSN, the owner of this airplane/home bought it for $2000, moved it for $4000 and renovated it for $24,000. Not too bad!

Shipping containers: Save the “living in a box” jokes. These homes, made out of old freight boxes, are stylish and comfortable.

What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever built or renovated for your customers to live in?

Photos courtesy of MSN Real Estate.

A couple of interesting items on the Wall Street Journal’s “Developments” blog delve into recent data showing a huge drop in home sales based on last month’s data and what impact — positive or negative — the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit might have had.

The first piece explores whether the tax credit might have been a mistake:

Clearly, temporary tax credits succeeded in getting buyers to change their behavior. But once the tax credits disappeared, so did the buyers. “Why would you have signed a contract in May and not in April when you could have gotten an $8,000 tax credit?” says John Burns, a housing consultant based in Irvine, Calif.

What’s less clear is whether stimulus has done anything else to change demand. While mortgage rates continue to fall every week into record territory, the expiration of tax credits shows that housing demand is not much better than it was 18 months ago, when the market was in freefall.

Some analysts say that even if the tax credit has simply shifted demand around, the tax credit did help to stabilize the market when the patient—the banking system, the economy, home-buyer psychology—was in the greatest need of help.

A second article examines the outlook for home builders:

This morning, the Commerce Department reported that new home sales hit their lowest-ever level in July, with just 276,000 homes expected to move in 2010, based on last month’s numbers. … So what do these record lows mean for builders? …

[M]ost analysts Wednesday were very cautious about the future, and some downright dismal about the prospect of seeing any good earnings reports next quarter. Buck Horne, an analyst with Raymond James & Associates Inc., said Toll’s balance sheet is weighed down with land assets, which will hurt their margins in the coming months. Analysts from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. predicted “a sharp slowdown in home sales over the coming months” and Ticonderoga Securities found “little to get excited about” in the new-home sales numbers.

A few analysts struck a positive note on the sector as a whole, including J.P. Morgan’s Michael Rehault, who predicted a return to profitability for the building sector by year-end.

What are you seeing in the marketplace? What’s your outlook for the coming months, years? Did the tax credit affect your business — positively or negatively? Let us know in the comments.

[chart via WSJ]

The iPad seems to be everywhere these days. It’s new, it’s cool and its innovative construction could make it very useful for…construction.

As technology has advanced, so have the opportunities for builders. When laptops became lighter and more transportable, it was easy to throw it in your bag on the way to a jobsite. And when technology became more mobile with the introduction of smartphones, it became even easier to stay connected on the jobsite. Now you could not only take calls from people, but also stay connected to the Internet and access important documents.

The introduction of the iPad is a game-changer for builders as well. It’s lighter and even more portable than a laptop, but with a larger screen than a phone. As Construction Informer points out, it can help reduce the need for builders to carry around hundreds of pages of drawings and specs. Handy!

How do you feel about this new technology? Do you have an iPad? Are you sticking with a smartphone or laptop? Or are you a proud Luddite? Let us know if mobile technology is helping your building business!

Photo courtesy of Apple.

Home Builders Likely to Consolidate, Merge
WSJ Developments Blog
“The likelihood of acquisitions among the public homebuilding companies has increased for five reasons. New home sales are slow and not recovering; executives sound discouraged on earnings calls; builders are focusing on grabbing market share; general economic outlook, especially for job growth, has gotten worse; and consolidation would make builders…wade into the acquisition game bigger and stronger.”

Mortgage Role for U.S. Is Affirmed
NY Times – Business Day
“Mr. Geithner said continued government support was important “to make sure that Americans can borrow at reasonable interest rates to buy a house even in a downturn.” The absence of such support, Mr. Geithner said, would deepen future recessions because unsubsidized private companies would curtail lending.”

Are Housing Tax Breaks In Jeopardy?
Big Builder Online
“The government spent $230 billion last year to promote homeownership through tax breaks and spending programs. The biggest chunk — $80 billion — went toward the mortgage interest deduction, according to the Congressional Budget Office.”

More Developers Are Building on ‘Spec’
NY Times – Real Estate
“Regardless of the economy, people always want a new home,” said Mr. Morris, the owner of Morgan Creek Development.

While he may be the exception rather than the rule, builders who stuck largely to custom building during the downturn are starting to follow his lead and give the “spec” market a try again.”

Replacement Housing Services specializes in full replacement and renovation of homes for move-up buyers who value urban living. Each project is supported by extensive research and analysis covering everything from the selection of the building site to the architectural fit within the neighborhood and community, as well as the current and future lifestyle needs of the homeowners. An example of this process at work is the Cape Cod-style new construction at Rutledge Avenue in Edina, Minnesota – a home that brings value to the homeowners, neighborhood and community at large.

The theme for the interior, exterior and landscape of the residence are carefully crafted to suit the historical fabric of the neighborhood and to maximize homeowner value. The combination of high-quality building materials, finishes and traditional design makes for a home with strong character and high appreciation potential, yet one that also conveys a sense of individuality, strength and permanence for the homeowners.

As a part of the inclusive design process of Replacement Housing Services and to remain consistent with the architectural design standards of the project, Integrity windows were selected for their exceptional quality and value at a competitive price-point. The clean, sharp lines of the windows align with the unique architectural design and detailed trim of the home. In addition, the windows enhance the livability of the indoor environment by providing plenty of natural light and well-ventilated spaces for improved air quality.

Wow…that’s all we have to say about this. A 2.4 cubic feet kitchen. Yes, you read that right: 2.4 cubic feet. For a kitchen.

It’s the Superconductor from Avanti and it contains a fridge, sink, two electric burners and two drawers. It even has a nice backsplash. In one tiny bit of space, you can store perishables and other food, cook on a stovetop and even wash dishes. Add in a microwave and a toaster oven, and you could have a complete kitchen that could go in a corner of your house.

The Superconductor could work for a variety of situations: dorm rooms, apartments with roommates, offices, even regular homes that need a little more kitchen power.

Is this compact wonder something your customers might go for? Would it be something useful for very small apartments? Or is it just a cool toy?

In 2004, Potomac Yard Development, LLC (PYD) collaborated with the City of Alexandria to execute a mixed used project, developing 167 acres on the edge of Alexandria, Virginia, into a walkable, urban community.  This now thriving neighborhood is enhanced by its unique town center, convenient office and retail space, affordable housing and 24 acres of park land.

It became evident to the city staff in spring 2006 that the effectiveness of the emergency services in Alexandria may be compromised by the desired layout and size of the proposed development. The resolution came in the form of the Station at Potomac Yard, a multi-use structure complete with a fire station on the first floor and upper levels consisting of retail space and four stories of residential housing. PYD and the city of Alexandria worked with architect Andy Caldwell and contractor Frank Curtis to create a building that was referenced in the Washington Business Journal as an “outstanding model of sustainable design.” The Station at Potomac Yard boasts 44 long-term affordable rental units and 20 apartments, built to the Atlanta area’s stringent EarthCraft standards for Green Building, while the ground floor was granted LEED certification.

The city’s goal to incorporate sustainable building principles in all facets of the project aligned perfectly with Integrity’s dedication to innovative, energy efficient products and practices. PYD selected 434 Integrity Wood-Ultrex Double Hung windows for their Energy Star performance, further reinforcing the building’s green design. Integrity’s 10 day delivery schedule and commitment to timely information exchange facilitated all communication and the resolution of any difficulties. Unparalleled service, matched with strong relationships in the industry gave this commercial project the opportunity to change and revitalize the Potomac yard community.

Although the fire station was only completed it 2009, its appearance is much more traditional and its architecture transforms the previous regional rail center. The Evergreen finish on the double hung windows flawlessly complements the station’s brick exterior and frames an even greener landscape outside. The fire station looks out to an open recreational area, ideal for socialization and fostering a sense of community. By improving public safety and infrastructure, exhibiting Smart Growth principles and meeting crucial requests for affordable housing, the Station at Potomac Yard stands as an excellent example for future collaborative housing authority projects.

Photos courtesy of Integrity Windows and Doors, Hayman Studio Inc.

The Mortgage Mess’s Dirty Details
Smart Money
“The housing crisis is far from over. U.S. house prices remain about 30% below their mid-2006 peak. More than 3% of mortgage holders are in foreclosure, and another 9% are at least 90 days late on their payments.”

Connect the Lots
Big Builder
“As the housing market fell, lot t development stood still. After more than a year’s land rush for ready-to-build lots, the pickings for right-priced finished lots in prime locations are slim to none. So, even while home sales remain lackluster, many production builders find themselves keenly in need of land.”

Breaking Down the Housing Policy Debate
The Atlantic (Blog)
“With the Wall Street regulation bill behind Congress, it has already begun to tackle the next big fiscal issue: housing policy reform. With the government sponsored entities (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shaping up to be the most costly of all bailout recipients, it’s a problem that deserves serious attention. What should Washington decide?”

Women as a Growing Force in the Housing Market
Fine Homebuilding (Blog)
“…Generation Y women are now 1.5 times more likely than men to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees, and, in many metropolitan markets, single women in their 20s earn 105% of what their male counterparts earn.”

The Web is full of valuable information about green building, home improvement, the housing market and first hand homebuilding experience and more. Today, we thought we would weed through some of those resources to compile a list of some of our favorites. No list like this could be comprehensive, but you should find some of these interesting.

Please let us know which sites you find the most informative, and feel free to post any of your favorite blogs or twitter accounts in the comments section!

Twitter Accounts:

NAHB Green –  “The National Green Building Program offers resources & tools to help builders, remodelers, home building associations, and homeowners learn how to build green.”

NAHB Remodelers –  The National Association of Home Builders has its remodeling experts keep you up-to-date on what is new in the remodeling industry.

Green Intel – Christine Costa, Sustainability Practice Leader, tweets on environmental issues. Check out her blogs as well!

Sarah Susanka -  Architect and best-selling author of “The Not So Big House” comments on architectural trends, the homebuilding industry and why bigger isn’t always better.

Blogs:

Construction Informer – This blog, geared toward the construction industry, is an excellent place to find quality information and discussion about building. Topics covered range from products to processes, finance to industry news.

Build Intel – “Marketing experts [with construction/homebuilding industry expertise] share their views on the building industry.”

Matt Rinsigner’s Blog –   Homebuilder Matt Risinger writes a very informative blog with his first-hand experience in the business.

Constructonomics -  “[This] blog covers everything in the architecture, engineering, construction and real estate industry and focuses on economics, leadership, and management. Constructonomics tries to provide readers with valuable and useful content that is also quite fun to read. ”

Ebuilders -   “From flooring to roofing and everything in between, find valuable technical advice and design ideas to ensure your success and boost your pride of ownership.”

The Handy Guys Podcast -  Two avid DIYers share their experiences working around the house. Q&A, tool tests, how-to’s, the works!