It’s tough times for everyone in the real estate industry, even though the future looks bright. For people who are looking to refinance their loans, now is the right time, since getting a mortgage in 2014 is going to cost you a lot of money, and you may not even qualify for one! According to… Continue Reading
The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers announced its support for federal legislation that would improve the mortgage underwriting process by ensuring appraisers are provided relevant property information relating to green and energy-efficient features. The Appraisal Institute expressed its backing of the recently introduced Sensible Accounting to Value Energy Act of 2013. “We… Continue Reading
Let’s face it – moving is hard. Along with the stress of leaving a familiar place and adapting to new surroundings, moving means packing, loading, transporting, unloading and unpacking everything you own – as well as everything you forgot you owned. While relocation may never be completely carefree, there are ways to ease the anxiety…. Continue Reading
As home prices begin to rebound – as much as 9.7 percent this year by some estimates – more home sellers are purchasing extended home warranties (also called service contracts) to give themselves a competitive edge. “Securing your home with an extended warranty is a great way to set yourself apart from other sellers,” says… Continue Reading
As home builders and homeowners become increasingly aware of the quality design and cost value associated with environmentally-sound construction, production of green homes will rise significantly over the next several years. In fact, according to a survey released at the 2012 International Builder’s Show in Orlando, Fla., green homes—which comprised 17 percent of the overall… Continue Reading
According to Buildipedia.com – here’s what to watch for in the next few months. Many of these trends will sound very familiar; some have evolved out of economic necessity, while others exist thanks to great advances in technology. Whether you already own a home or plan to build a new one, there’s bound to be… Continue Reading
4 projects that prove lavish homes don’t have to be wasteful! Many green-building advocates would say that “high-end green” is an oxymoron — that large, lavish custom homes can’t possibly be sustainable. While clients may not walk into a builder or architect’s office thinking green, much like other home buyers they’re still looking to reduce… Continue Reading
It sure can, according to Abhinand Lath, who was exploring an abstract idea about bamboo for his graduate architecture thesis at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor when he invented a revolutionary surfacing material called SensiTile. Lath puts it in simple terms, “the product bends and plays with light by incorporating fiber optic–like matrices… Continue Reading
Four innovative homes ignore conventional wisdom in this article by Jenny Sullivan of the The Builder. Credit: Courtesy Connor Homes/Jim Westphalen Photography This prim home’s symmetrical façade is the spitting image of the Wells Thorn House in Deerfield, Mass., which was built between 1711 and 1780 and is considered one of America’s finest specimens of… Continue Reading
It’s hard to predict what products, technology, and systems will be important in the next 10 years, but green experts say the looming energy crisis can give us a pretty good idea. The best way to predict the future is to create it. ~ Peter F. Drucker Sometimes all you have to do to see… Continue Reading