• Amazing builder videos
• DeWalt-16 Nail Gun by David Wiggins
• Q&A with green builder Matt Risinger of Risinger Homes
• Case study: LEED silver-certified home in Oregon
• Remaking the American housing model

Tax Bill Keeps Energy Credits in 2011
EcoHome
“Homeowners looking to make upgrades on Uncle Sam’s penny have another year to do so, thanks to an extension of the home energy-efficiency improvement tax credits.”

Housing market perks up as economy strengthens
Washington Post
“The housing market is showing surprising signs of improvement in recent months, as the broader economy strengthens slightly heading into 2011.”

NAHB study: Small builders rule the housing market
Professional Builder
“Small home builders are the mainstay of the nation’s housing industry, including a sizable number of self-employed mom-and-pop operations, according to a new study by economists at the National Association of Home Builders.”

Pending Home Sales Rose 10.4% in October
New York Times
“The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that its index of sales agreements for previously occupied homes rose 10.4 percent in October. Contract signings were up in every region of the country except the West.”

40 Perspectives on the Decade Ahead
Qualified Remodeler
“Qualified Remodeler queried readers about what has changed and what hasn’t. The results presented here paint a picture of remodelers adapting to change — as they have always done. Interestingly some basics haven’t changed; tried-and-true methods and strategies are still favored in many cases, but other methods seem to have fallen by the wayside, their effectiveness diminished by changing lifestyles and economic realities.”

Housing Still Awaits Its Happy Ending
Wall Street Journal
“Housing is a different story. October new-home sales sank 8.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of only 283,000, just off record lows, while existing-home sales slid 2.2% in October to a 4.43 million annual rate.”

An article called “Downsizing the American Dream” on USA Today gave some more specifics:

• According to leading architect Sarah Susanka, “The whole glow of bigness kind of wore off all of a sudden.” Home square footage is now at a median of 2,100 square feet and could conceivably continue to drop.
• The rooms in a home are now rooms that people use; no need for separate formal living and dining rooms.
• Flexible space — with a few exceptions, a room is a room is a room. Space needs to grow and change with homeowners. Maybe that game room for the kids can become a home office for early retirement consulting that can be changed to a home theater for the grandkids.
• More focus on creative design — small doesn’t have to feel small.
• People are moving away from large expanses of lawn that need to be watered, mowed, raked and shoveled. Community green space in new housing developments is gaining in popularity.

What do you think of these assertions? Are you seeing them in your projects? Will this affect your future business?

Sub-Zero/Wolf Shares Kitchen Design Trends
Residential Architect
“Kitchen appliance manufacturers Sub-Zero and Wolf have collaborated with three notable designers to identify current kitchen design trends and predict future directions for the space that has become the heart of the home. New York–based interior designer Jamie Drake, Chicago-based kitchen designer Mick De Giulio, and Atlanta-based kitchen designer Matthew Quinn joined together to analyze kitchen designs entered into Sub-Zero and Wolf’s biennial Kitchen Design Contest, track the design trends illustrated therein, as well as through their own practices, and pinpoint potential evolutionary developments that may yield future trends in kitchen design.”

Socially Connected Remodelers
Daily 5 Remodel
Remodeling professionals talk about their experiences with social media.

Can We Build in a Brighter Shade of Green?
New York Times
“A so-called passive home like the one the Landaus are now building is so purposefully designed and built — from its orientation toward the sun and superthick insulation to its algorithmic design and virtually unbroken air envelope — that it requires minimal heating, even in chilly New England. Contrary to some naysayers’ concerns, the Landaus’ timber-frame home will be neither stuffy nor, at 2,000 square feet, oppressively small.”

Product Pros and Cons: Asphalt Roofing vs. Metal
BUILDER
“The roof is arguably the most important surface in a home, perhaps even more essential than the exterior walls. As the most exposed plane, the roof has a mammoth task. It’s under constant assault from the sun and rain, and, if leaky, could result in thousands of dollars worth of direct repair as well as ancillary damage. Still, a roof is one of those things that many consumers don’t think about until there is a blizzard, hail storm, or rainstorm.”

Right-sizing Your Price: How Architects Are Tweaking Fee Structures in a Touch-and-Go Economy
Residential Architect
“To sustain their businesses during what likely will be a long, slow recovery, some firms also are getting creative with their pricing, without cutting too deeply into their profit margins. Call it phase two in the survival of the fittest: When overhead is cut to the bone, the only thing left to flex is the fee.”

It makes sense. Without the housing boom engine powering sales, builders all over the country have to re-tool their plans. Of course, we’re not saying that a few years ago, only shoddily built homes were going up. Let’s face it — this recession has mostly kicked those sorts of builders out of the sphere.

But maybe other builders — good, honest builders — who had to focus on maximizing sales, sometimes to the detriment of quality and service. It’s important to make hay while the sun shines after all.

So maybe we should attempt to see the (very slight) silver lining of this recession: maybe it is bringing homebuilders back to high quality building and products, and allowing them to focus on giving customers the best service possible.

What do you think? Has the housing market helped you maximize value for your customers? Do you think this trend (if that is what it is) will stick around when the market recovers?

Check out WSJ’s post for more.

Most everyone would agree that green can be an attractive selling point — for some people. But how do homeowners feel about green? There can be a difference in perception between “green” and energy efficient.” Most people will eagerly replace appliances and devices when the cost is not too prohibitive and they know that there are savings to be had. If a low-flow shower head can save on their water bill, what’s not to love?

But there are certain green things that are not necessarily energy efficient. For instance, using reclaimed wood for flooring is certainly green, but will it really save money in the end? And what about less familiar materials? If you were to offer your customer a bamboo sink in a kitchen remodel, would they be intrigued by its many green qualities and overlook the fact that they are getting a wood (or technically, grass) sink? Or would they stay on the safe side and go for stainless steel or cast iron?

In this current housing market, are your customers focused on getting the most bang for their buck or is green a big factor in their decisions? Tell us in the comments!

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.

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.