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.”