In the latest edition of FourPlans from BuilderOnline.com, Aurora Zeledon features four plans with very basic footprints. But just because the footprints lack dynamic elements does not mean the homes do. Each of the four homes includes all of the modern amenities homeowners are looking for, but the footprints practically address smaller lot sizes faced [...]

Now that we’re well into 2012, we’ve compiled a list of top home trends. Are you seeing any of these in your work? Energy efficiency: Americans are looking for superior energy efficiency in every important feature of their home. ENERGY STAR-rated windows, high-efficiency furnaces and air conditioners, quality attic insulation – they’ll all save money and [...]

On Friday, we featured the top five kitchen trends from the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) recently released annual Design Trends Survey, which seeks to identify the materials, product types and styles gaining the most traction in kitchen and bathroom design. A total of 350 NKBA members throughout the United State and Canada participated in the [...]

A few weeks back, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) released results from its annual Design Trends Survey, which seeks to identify the materials, product types and styles gaining the most traction in kitchen and bathroom design. A total of 350 NKBA members throughout the United State and Canada participated in the survey. Today, [...]

Green Building Megatrends for 2012 BUILDER “Yudelson unveiled a list of 10 other green megatrends destined for growth in 2012, both in the U.S. and abroad. And while, like the rest of the home building industry, green building will certainly face headwinds in coming days—such as squeezed budgets among families and governments—the market is poised [...]

As the current recession turns in to years, the homes we live in are changing and the effects of this could very well influence home building for decades to come. The Wall Street Journal recently covered some trends they’re seeing, as well as things that are fading by the wayside. The end of the closed-off, [...]

According to NewUrbanism.org, new urbanism ”promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walkable, compact, vibrant, mixed-use communities composed of the same components as conventional development, but assembled in a more integrated fashion, in the form of complete communities.” Perhaps no one has championed the benefits of New Urbanist construction like architect Sarah Susanka, author of the best-selling [...]

We’ve talked a lot here about who today’s home-buying customers are. Are they young? Old? Families? Empty nesters? Etc. But what if you have no idea who they are? It’s important to watch trends closely, but sometimes it seems like people don’t even know what they want. We found an article on BUILDER that goes [...]

With the housing market continuing to decline it’s not difficult to guess at what keeps people from buying: it’s the economy, stupid! With people being laid off, working at reduced pay or worrying about getting laid off, fear is a powerful motivator for letting houses sit on the market. But it’s not the only thing. Over at [...]

We ran across an article with some interesting tidbits about what homeowners want in 2011. As a builder or remodeler, are any of these on your radar? Outdoor living areas: Are you paying more attention to things like porches and patios? An outdoor kitchen (from simple to grand) and a fireplace can add a whole [...]