Posts filed under 'New Homes'
By Sandy Boda
Executive Officer, Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia
Each year, thousands of companies from across the planet gather for the Inte
rnational Builders’ Show® (IBS), a showcase of the latest products and technologies available to builders. This year’s show brought together a record 1,900 companies exhibiting products in 300 different categories over one million square feet space. “It’s like a mega-mall with something new every year,â€? says Robert Frost, a Missouri builder. “While the show is not open to the public, we do have a sneak peek of the latest products to come from the show. Look for them in show rooms and new homes in the upcoming year!”
New innovations in the world of bathrooms and showers were abundant. Notable was a shower with multiple spray settings that can work separately or together to create a full body shower experience. Another advancement in the shower world is a digital touch screen pad mounted on the shower wall that controls all showerheads, sprays, and temperatures, even allowing homeowners to customize and save their settings. On the subject of showering, imagine stepping right out of a hot shower into a warm towel. That’s possible now thanks to a new towel warmer that fits into an existing drawer or cabinet. Up to four towels can be warmed in as little as 15 minutes.
Fireplaces are smoking hot right now and there was no shortage of fireplaces with style at IBS 2007. An outdoor fire pit with an English granite top could come in useful to homeowners who enjoy nights outdoors. When you’re done with the fire pit, simply cap it with the coffee table-like top and the entertaining can continue. For those preferring their fireplace indoors, a new fireplace was unveiled that uses a combustion system to simulate the look and feel of a real fire without the hassle of using real wood.
For those who enjoy spending time in the kitchen, products at IBS 2007 proved that the kitchen can be the most stylish room in a home. New pull-down wand faucets were displayed where magnets reconnect the pull-down wand with the main faucet creating one clean and sleek line for the kitchen sink. New ovens were also hot — some capable of cooking up to 15 times faster than current conventional ovens. Oven capacity was also greatly increased in many models. A new drawer dishwasher was also displayed. A stacked pair is designed to fir into the same space as a standard 24 inch dishwasher and the look fits perfectly into the kitchen. Dishwasher capacity doesn’t change and electronic control panels hidden on the top of the drawer give it a sleek look.
Home security products were a huge trend. After becoming a must have feature on cars, keyless is making its way onto the home front. New home keyless entry systems displayed showed off new systems with easy to read keypads accessible for all ages and abilities that give you the additional peace of mind should you forget your keys.
The first ever complete home design package was launched during the show, allowing builders or buyers to customize everything in a home to match including lighting, ceiling fans, doors, locks, faucets and bath accessories.
For more information on the exciting things you have to look forward to in the world of home products, contact your local home builders association or visit www.nahb.org/forconsumers. To sign up for NAHB’s free consumer e-newsletter, visit HYPERLINK “http://www.nahb.org/housekeys” www.nahb.org/housekeys.
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(Sandra J. (Sandy) Boda attended the 2007 International Builders Show in Orlando, Fl. The HBA of Midwest Georgia serves a membership of approximately 800 builders and associatie members in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Meriwether, Heard, Pike, Upson, Lamar, Butts and Jasper Counties. The association can be contacted at 770-716-7109 or at hbamwg@bellsouth.net.)
March 22nd, 2007
By Sandy Boda, Executive Officer
Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia
The New Year is just around the corner and millions of Americans are once again agonizing over which resolutions they will take with them into 2007. The gym membership will be renewed, with promises that it won’t go unused after February 1. This will be the year you will fall in love, quit smoking, get a better job and finally go through the ominous stack of files that have been in the attic since 1985. Right?
Why not make this year’s resolution one that will last long into the future — long after you’ve stop bothering to set the alarm an hour early to go for a run and decided that attic organization is overrated. Buying a home is one of the best investments you can make. Resolve to assess your finances and get on the path to homeownership with these following tips.
First of all, figure out how much you can afford. This depends on many factors, including your credit rating, your current expenses, cost of a down payment, and interest rates.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recommends that potential buyers check their credit report carefully. This can be an important step. According to NAR, buyers with inaccurate information on their credit report may have a hard time obtaining financing, or may be offered loans at higher-than-market interest rates. Work with a qualified lender on getting together a budget and collecting helpful advice before buying a home.
When shopping for a mortgage, consider all of your options. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) recommends that potential buyers build a list of lenders you are interested in to stay organized. Word of mouth also can be powerful, and MBA recommends talking to people you know that own their home and see how they like their lender. Don’t fill out any paperwork until you have met with several lenders on your list and don’t settle for your first offer. There are many options in terms of a loan and not every option is right for every buyer. Make sure you are dealing with someone you trust and work well with.
Don’t forget that you will need a down payment up front and money to make monthly mortgage payments. Keep in mind that tax advantages to being a homeowner can help offset these costs. Being late on these payments can lead to foreclosure in a worse case scenario, so be realistic and shop around until you find something in your price range. Familiarize yourself with the mortgage process before you begin looking for a home. You will have a better idea of what is and is not in your price range. Don’t forget to research Federal Housing Administration programs that offer lower down payments. They are often a good option for first-time buyers. Get educated about topics such as predatory lending and fair housing laws. Make sure that you know your rights and are alert to anything that seems off.
Learn about the areas and neighborhoods you are interested in buying. The internet can be a great resource when home shopping. According to NAR, 77 percent of potential home buyers use the internet to search for homes. Shop extensively and don’t limit yourself to just one neighborhood. In today’s market, you may be surprised at how much house you can realistically afford. Find a real estate agent that you trust and you feel represents your needs well.
Deciding to become a homeowner is possibly the best resolution you can make, and one that will last long after future resolutions come and go. Find out what current homeowners already know. According to a recent nationwide survey, 69 percent of homeowners think of their home as their most valuable investment. By contrast, this was followed by 401(k) and other retirement accounts, with just 11 percent citing this as their top investment.
With careful and thoughtful planning, you will be moving into your new home before you know it. If you have questions about the home buying process, contact youR local Home Builders Association or visit the National Association of Home Builders at www.nahb.org/timetobuy. To sign up for NAHB’s free consumer e-newsletter, visit www.nahb.org/housekeys.
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(Sandra J. (Sandy) Boda is executive officer of the 650-member Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia, and she has also been serving as president of the Georgia Executive Council (GEOC) for the Home Builders Association of Georgia for the 2005-2006 year. As executive officer of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia since December 2001, she coordinates the association-related activities of HBA members in 10 counties , including Butts, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, and Upson. )
December 15th, 2006
By Jeff Waddle,
President, Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia
Houses are getting larger and amenities more abundant, according to a report on new homes released by the United States Census Bureau.
“Home builders are listening and responding to the needs of today’s consumers,” according to Jerry Howard, executive vice president and CEO of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in Washington, D.C. “Central air conditioning, more bedrooms, large garages, fireplaces and multiple stories have worked their way into the majority of homes built today.”
Between 1975 and 2005 the portion of new homes built with central air rose 43 percent. In the southern U.S. last year, 100 percent of new homes were built with central air conditioning.
Garages are getting larger. Twenty percent of new garages have space for three or more cars. An average garage door used to measure seven feet by nine feet, but has expanded to eight feet by 10 feet. Data from NAHB indicates that growth in garage size may be related to an increase in vehicle size as sport utility vehicles become more commonplace.
The percentage of homes built with four or more bedrooms has steadily risen to a high of 39 percent. However, the vast majority of new homes are still built with three bedrooms, as has been the case for the last three decades.
The use of the once common “split-level” design has mostly disappeared. Split-level homes made up less then one percent of the market share of new homes in 2005. In 2005, 55 percent of new homes were built with two or more stories. One-story homes made up 44 percent of the market share.
The report also showed that homeowners are getting more use from their outdoor space. The proportion of homes built with patios increased to 46 percent and the percentage with porches grew to 53 percent. In contrast, deck popularity is declining in most regions of the U.S. Only 27 percent of new homes had decks in 2005. The northeastern U.S. was the exception in the deck-building area with an 18 percent growth in new homes built with decks.
There was a small growth in fireplaces in new homes. The number grew to 55 percent in 2005, up from 52 percent three decades ago.
The report also sheds light on new trends in exterior wall material. Vinyl siding is now the most-used wall exterior. According to NAHB data, vinyl siding is most popular in the northeast, where 83 percent of new homes last year were clad in the material. The use of stucco also rose, being used in 22 percent of new homes last year. Brick and wood exteriors both declined over the same period.
“Because of the high cost of labor, builders have increasingly limited the use of brick to the front of the home,” said Howard “However, it is still very popular as an exterior material in many areas.”
Warm air furnaces remain the most common way to heat a home, accounting for 67 percent of the 2005 market, down from 72 percent of the market in 1975. The decline, according to NAHB research, is most likely because of construction practices in the southern U.S. The use of warm air furnaces fell from 82 percent of new construction to 47 percent over the last 30 years in the South. Heat pumps are found in just over half of the southern market.
Lot size has been shrinking because of the rising cost of developed lots. Census data showed a drop from a nationwide median of 10,000 square feet in 1990 to 8,500 square feet today.
For more information about housing trends, contact your local builders association or visit NAHB at HYPERLINK http://www.nahb.org/forconsumers www.nahb.org/forconsumers. To sign up for NAHB’s free consumer e-newsletter for all things home, visit HYPERLINK “http://www.nahb.org/housekeys” www.nahb.org/housekeys.
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(Jeff Waddle, who is with David Weekley Homes, is 2005-’06 president of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia, which serves a membership of approximately 650 builders and associate members in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Meriwether, Heard, Pike, Upson, Lamar, Butts and Jasper Counties. The Midwest Georgia association can be contacted by calling 770-716-7109 or at hbamwg@bellsouth.net. Formerly Southeast project manager for David Weekley Homes, Jeff became the company’s senior manager for Hilton Head/Savannah in February of this year.)
August 1st, 2006