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Building a Model Home in the Land of Electrons
Major builders such as Toll Brothers, Pulte Homes, Shea Homes and Trammell Crow are warming up to virtual tours that helps prospective buyers envision how a particular model as well as an entire planned development will look in its finished state. The software programs, offered by Quebec's 3D Virtual Solutions and a number of other companies, are designed to produce a certain mood that will inspire house-hunters to buy into a specific development. Alpha-Vision of Scottsdale, AZ, even embellishes its virtual reality tours with images of people attending to daily tasks. It also has the ability to add music and voiceovers. "We match the demographics of what the developer seeks," explains Alpha-Vision's Kevin Small, noting that the details are so specific that preferred brands of dishwashers are used and televisions are tuned into specific programs. Despite their technological capabilities, virtual model homes are highly affordable, costing only about 5%-10% of the cost of constructing a bricks-and-mortar representation. The virtual model homes typically are offered at the sales center of new developments, often on a DVD or in CD-ROM format. (www.newsday.com)
Newsday (07/25/03) P. C2; Murray, Christian
Home Builders Laud New Licensing Law
The Home Builders Association of Tennessee supports a new law that requires previously unlicensed builders in 58 counties to abide by state licensing requirements. Those failing to secure a license over the course of the three-year grace period will be forced to complete the full examination process. Though unlicensed builders basically will be given a free license during the grace period, Home Builders Association President Keith Whittington believes the provision is better than allowing them to continue operating with no license at all — especially since they still will be held accountable to regulators even during the grace period. Instead of taking builders straight to court, the law requires home owners to file complaints with the state licensing board, which then can revoke the builder's license if the problems are not resolved. (www.ap.org)
Associated Press (07/24/03) Sharp, Tom
Boomers Making In-Home Changes
Recognizing that their good health will not last forever, baby boomers increasingly are building new homes or remodeling their existing dwellings in a way that will allow them to stay put even if confined to a wheelchair. Many are opting for wider doorways and hallways, higher countertops and dishwashers, door and faucet levers and lower light switches — all of which are easier and cheaper to incorporate into a floor plan before the home is built. Indeed, remodeling projects that let home owners age in place can run as high as $15,000 or more. Ranch-style housing plans allow boomers to prepare for old age by moving all of their living space to a single floor, and building a ramp or sloped sidewalk makes entrances more accessible. As for the bathroom, many older home owners want showers without thresholds; a larger turning radius to maneuver a wheelchair; grab bars and slip-resistant tiles. Some are even transforming their dens into first-floor bedrooms to accommodate their aging parents. The baby boomer's influence on the housing market is so significant, in fact, that NAHB even sponsors a Certified Aging in Place training program that seeks to help contractors evaluate the shelter needs of older clients. (www.chicagotribune.com)
Chicago Tribune (07/23/03) P. 6D; Beatty, Allison E.
Taking It All Apart
A growing number of home owners and builders are taking on deconstruction projects — which are cheaper than demolitions, reduce construction waste and allow antique features to be reused in newer dwellings. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that home renovations and demolitions accounted for 51.6 million tons of waste in 1996, but the Deconstruction Institute figures that as much as 23 million Btu's of embodied energy is saved when the average single-family home is systematically taken apart. Cabinets, doors, windows, flooring, fixtures, furnaces, appliances, siding, bricks and lumber are often recycled; but stucco, plaster, drywall and roofing materials usually are thrown away. he cost of a deconstruction project is based on the location and layout of the home site, the building's components, disposal fees, whether or not the construction team is experienced, tax incentives and the value of the recovered materials. Though deconstruction offers cost savings and protects the home's landscaping, some people prefer demolitions because they are quicker. Numerous organizations nationwide are working to promote deconstruction through financial incentives and educational programs. (www.homeenergy.org)
Home Energy (08/03) Vol. 20.4, P. 21; Boon, Miriam Lara
Members Only: Gated Communities Becoming Popular in Georgia
Residential communities encircled by gates have been embraced by home owners in the U.S. Southeast for decades, but the trend especially is gaining ground in middle Georgia. "The gate concept has been around for a while," confirms University of Georgia sociologist Doug Bachtel. It's just getting to be more popular." According to Bachtel and other sociologists, the main appeal of gated developments is the security: the desire for it and the perception of it that gates lend. While developers readily concede that enclosed communities are not impenetrable, they say the gates generally discourage burglars and other troublemakers. However, critics worry that the proclivity for gated surroundings is leading Americans into an isolated and elitist way of life. And with African Americans accounting for just 15% of households in gated communities, there are some concerns about discrimination creeping into the picture. Meanwhile, even as the popularity of gated communities is going up, many developments are choosing to take them down. Instead of paying an annual fee to their neighborhood association for road maintenance, removing gates usually transfers that responsibility to local government. (www.macontelegraph.com)
Macon Telegraph (07/20/03) Beverley, Gray
Retirees Altering Life in Suburbs
Active-adult communities for people over the age of 55 are popping up in non-traditional retirement locales like Pennsylvania, whose senior population exceeds that of all other states except Florida. In fact, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission expects seniors aged 65 and older to account for 20% of the regional population by 2025. Most older home owners are drawn to active-adult communities for the lifestyle, not the homes, and many find themselves involved in more activities and groups than in the past. According to All Ways Healthy President Roger Landry, the social networking afforded by these communities safeguards their residents against depression, dementia, heart disease and other ailments that can cause health to deteriorate. However, some are worried that the growing popularity of active-adult communities will dramatically change the suburban landscape, separating seniors from young families with children and sparking battles over school taxes. Local governments prefer senior developments because they raise tax money without burdening the school systems, but some planners are concerned about those built miles from shopping, transportation and other necessary services. (www.philly.com)
Philadelphia Inquirer (07/21/03) P. A1; Kadaba, Lini S.
New Building Practices Can Clean Indoor Environments
The U.S. Green Building Council gives its seal of approval to structures with energy-saving components and standards that improve indoor air quality (IAQ). The number of green-certified buildings jumped from 230 in 2001 to 331 last year. Those with favorable indoor air feature paints, furniture, carpets and glues with low volatile organic compound (VOC) content; less hazardous cleaning and pest control products; and better ventilation. In California, furniture and carpet suppliers must comply with stringent gas emission standards; while public schools in Minneapolis must have adequate ventilation and only small traces of chemical odors. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency has released the Tools for Schools guidelines, which are helping some 10,000 schools across the country to implement sensible, low-cost changes that improve IAQ. Meanwhile, the home building community also is showing interest in IAQ protections. Residences can be protected from moisture and dangerous gases, for example, with a thick polyethylene sheet on the floor of the crawl space. However, these and other measures can boost home prices by 5%-25%, according to one estimate. (www.accessatlanta.com/ajc)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (07/21/03) P. 6A; Miller, Andy
Housing Conversions Spark Worry — And Opportunity
Thousands of low-cost U.S. housing projects built in the past 15 or 20 years are facing the prospect of conversion to market-rent shelter now that their federal subsidies are on the verge of expiring. While most of the buildings constructed under the federal government's Low Income Housing Tax Credit, HUD 236 or Mitchell-Lama programs are being folded into new subsidized-housing initiatives, many others are being sold to investors eager to renovate the properties and charge the going rate for rent. According to statistics provided by Sister Lillian Murphy of the Denver-based religious organization Mercy Housing, about 300,000 of the 1 million subsidized-housing units that have reached expiration have been converted into market-rate rentals. At a time when the country's population is expanding, housing advocates balk at any reduction at all in low-income shelter, especially in coastal markets. On the other hand, many private developers are finding that it is worth their while financially to keep the buildings as subsidized properties after taking advantage of tax breaks, low-cost financing and other attractive incentives dangled by states. Meanwhile, David Robinson — president and CEO of Aimco, a major heavyweight in the market — counts off the many other appealing attributes of subsidized housing, including "very high occupancy, very secure cash flow because of the subsidies and a very stable portfolio." (www.barrons.com)
Barron's Online (07/21/03) Bergsman, Steve
Convert a Garage Into a Living Space
Research reveals that 45% of the nation's home owners have renovated their garages, transforming them into workout rooms, living spaces, play or party areas and home offices. However, these projects can be difficult — especially if the local building department deems certain structural, electrical, mechanical or plumbing upgrades necessary. Once the building and planning departments have been consulted, home owners need to hire a designer to draw up the building plans, which will be used to obtain the required permits and pass inspection. In addition to building codes, other factors that need to be addressed include whether the garage floor will need to be elevated and if heating and cooling or electrical systems need to be installed. Home owners also must decide if they will replace the garage door with windows and determine whether plumbing and mechanical components will be moved. Finally, the placement of windows and doors to meet light and ventilation requirements, as well as insulation, caulking and other energy-efficient improvements, are also important considerations. (www.chicagotribune.com)
Chicago Tribune (07/25/03) P. 3; Carey, James; Carey, Morris
A Touch of Glass
Windows are playing a bigger part in modern residential design, according to NAHB — which reports that today's average home features 16 windows, compared to a dozen in 1988. High-end houses with between 4,000 and 5,000 square feet of space have even more, usually not less than 20. New technology, meanwhile, has paved the way for windows that do more than just let in light and frame outdoor views. With suspended particle device (SPD) technology, or smart windows, home owners can darken their windows with an electric dimmer switch. These windows are energy-efficient and keep rugs, artwork, furniture and other belongings from fading in the sun. Experts believe photocells will be used someday to automatically darken and lighten glass depending on the time of day. There are also self-cleaning windows with a layer of titanium oxide on the outside so that dirt and debris are removed when it rains; although they cost 15% more than traditional models, some substances do not slide off and home owners in drier climates will need to rinse them frequently. Yet another high-tech offering converts a normal, clear window into an opaque movie screen or computer monitor. (www.uniontrib.com)
San Diego Union-Tribune (07/20/03) P. I22; Ignelzi, Bobbi
When You Move, Take Your Kitchen
Kitchen remodels can be extremely pricey, but Realtors® agree that home owners are likely to recoup most of the cost when they sell. With modular kitchens, however, home owners can take the entire room with them when they relocate to another dwelling. They can choose from modular cooking, sink and storage units that can be moved into other rooms or pushed together to create large islands. These movable units let home owners avoid extensive kitchen renovations in their new residence and give buyers the chance to create their own dream kitchens from scratch. ((www.accessatlanta.com/ajc)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (07/24/03) P. 5HG; Gandy, Charles
Subdivisions to Mate With Nature
Developer Peter McGarey plans to build more than 150 homes on 148 acres in Ohio's Anderson and Union Townships in a development that could be considered part-subdivision and part-nature preserve. Says McGarey, "It will cater to the land as it is now with all these trees and creeks." Over a third of the land will be preserved, and residents will enjoy miles of walking trails. Township officials appear pleased with McGarey's plans because of all the open space. The homes in Anderson Township will fetch $450,000 to $1.5 million, while those in Union Township will be geared toward empty-nesters and priced from the high $300,000s to $600,000. McGarey expects the homes to be completed by the end of next year. (www.enquirer.com/today)
Cincinnati Enquirer Online (07/24/03) Forgrave, Reid
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