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Tile Gains Popularity in the Home Decorating World
More and more home owners are incorporating tile into remodeling projects in all areas of the house — including the kitchen, bathroom, wine cellar, library, fireplace and mud room. Though tile can be costly to install, "Flooring Wall to Wall" host Jeff Wilson believes it offers the best value because it lasts longer than carpeting and needs little maintenance. Tiles are made of everything from marble, glass, stone, leather and cork as well as acrylic or clay with embedded river pebbles or duck eggshells. Today's home owners prefer polished, uniquely shaped tiles and earthy shades. (www.shns.com)
Scripps Howard News Service (10/06/03) Sergent, Jennifer
Concrete Carpet: Big Driveways as Welcome Mats
An increasing number of home owners want large driveways to complement their super-sized dwellings; and they are willing to spend $10,000 to $100,000 to achieve an elegant, inviting look. Bigger driveways offer additional parking spaces, serve as status symbols and can give the home owners more privacy. Circular driveways are the most popular, but the size and layout of a property often force landscape designers to turn to parking spurs, courtyards and entry courts instead. According to one industry source, large driveways should make visitors feel welcome, transition them from the main road to the home and function as both a parking area and entryway. A combination of asphalt, concrete, paving stones, Belgian stones, pebble rock, gravel and brick can be used to incorporate these design elements. (www.orlandosentinel.com)
Orlando Sentinel (10/04/03) P. G2; Dymski, Gary
State Constructs New Rules for Home Builders and Remodelers
As of Sept. 1, all home builders and remodelers in Texas must be registered with the state and register all projects with the Texas Residential Construction Commission. The panel was recently created to set warranty and performance standards and handle disputes with the help of an independent inspector. "It will cause builders, and their homes, to perform to a uniform performance standard," says Trendmaker Homes Vice President and General Manager Will Holder of the new law. Companies will pay $500 to register and another $30 per new home. Of the commission's nine members, four are registered builders, three are public representatives, one is a licensed architect or certified inspector and the last is a licensed professional engineer with experience in home construction. (www.houston.bcentral.com/houston)
Houston Business Journal Online (10/06/03) Dawson, Jennifer
Immigrants Seize on Homeownership
The Census Bureau reports that Asian and Hispanic immigrants who become naturalized citizens of the United States are more likely to become home owners than members of the same racial or ethnic group that are born on American soil. In 2002, 70% of naturalized immigrant Asians owned homes compared to just 57% of native-born Asians; and 63% of naturalized foreign-born Hispanics were home owners compared to 54% of Hispanics born in the United States. The report surprised some experts, but Robert Lang, a metropolitan development and planning professor at Virginia Tech, notes that immigrants are more willing to participate in American society. Lawrence Yun, senior economist at the National Association of Realtors®, adds, "Generally, homeownership in many foreign countries requires a much larger downpayment than in the United States, and many immigrants are surprised by the opportunity." (www.washtimes.com)
Washington Times Online (10/08/03)
The Driving Factor
In California, scores of home buyers are choosing to live closer to their jobs in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose in order to avoid lengthy commutes, spend more time with their families and save money on transportation. Rather than live in the suburbs, a growing number of first-time and trade-up buyers are looking at "in-town" and "transitional" neighborhoods, says Prudential California Realty President John Aaroe. University of California at Berkeley Transportation Research Center Director Elizabeth Deakin confirms, " People will pay a lot for housing in Santa Monica or Brentwood, more than those same houses would be worth further out in the suburbs, because those places are close to major employment centers." According to a study by the Surface Transportation Policy Project, the average U.S. household shelled out nearly 20% of its income in 2001 on car payments, insurance, gas and repairs — an expense second only to shelter costs. High car payments have made it especially difficult for low-income families to set aside money for downpayments or qualify for mortgages, the report concludes. (www.latimes.com)
Los Angeles Times (10/05/03) P. K1; Newman, Morris
Builders Urge Cluster Projects: Group Cites Affordability, Preservation of Open Space
Municipalities could boost their affordable housing stock and conserve open space by allowing cluster development, insists the Massachusetts Home Builders Association. Cluster developments have higher densities than traditional projects, but builders preserve a portion of the land in exchange for permission to build more homes per acre. Rather than undertake lengthy legal proceedings associated with such projects, group spokeswoman Diana Pisciotta says builders continue to erect McMansions that are unaffordable for the average buyer. However, the group has penned legislation designed to force municipalities that receive matching grants under the Community Preservation Act — which aims to create low-cost housing and preserve open space and historical sites — to pass cluster zoning laws. Such legislation already is in place in Gloucester, Hopkinton and Framingham. (www.metrowestdailynews.com)
MetroWest Daily News Online (10/03/03) Brodkin, Jon
Home Security
Many home buyers choose gated communities manned by guards for the feelings of safety and security they afford. Security guards check identification cards and license plate numbers and deny entry to those who are not authorized, among other duties. Though law enforcement officials believe the presence of security guards helps to reduce crime, most violent acts are committed by residents of the community or by someone the victim knows. Armed with this knowledge, many communities are cutting costs by replacing guards with cameras, which have the added benefit of recording everyone entering or leaving the community and providing valuable evidence in the event of a crime. However, the human element is not completely eliminated, since many communities have someone watching the cameras at all times. In the Silver Lakes Phase IV community in Miramar, FL, for instance, visitors must insert their driver's license into a camera-equipped box so that their photo can be recorded. An off-site dispatcher then checks a permanent guest list or calls the home owner to determine whether or not to admit the visitor. Cameras have proven effective in many communities, but some still prefer human interaction and are willing to pay for it. (www.miami.com)
Miami Herald (10/05/03) P. 1B; Kripalani, Jasmine
Just Draw and Pour: Home Building of the Future
University of Southern California engineering professor Behrokh Khoshnevis hopes to automate the home building process using rapid prototyping technology. The system — dubbed Contour Crafting — uses software to design concrete homes and robotic equipment to build and paint them as well as to install plumbing and electrical systems. Khoshnevis' goal is to construct an entire home in a single day, without human labor, and complete developments in just weeks. However, Khoshnevis faces the difficulty of designing a large-scale system for the technology, which already is used in smaller applications such as automotive manufacturing. "For decades we've been doing much more complex things with robotics," he explains. "This is all very simple assembly." He also concedes, however, that the time frame for completing a home by this method depends on how long it takes the concrete to dry. Though builders will most likely oppose automation, Khoshnevis insists that it can resolve the shortage of skilled workers, slash home prices by 50%, minimize waste and accidents and cut construction costs. (www.theage.com.au)
Melbourne Age Online (10/05/03) Wertheim, Margaret
Beyond Bamboo: India's Feng Shui
Like the Chinese concept of feng shui, the Indian art of vastu shastra involves the use of spiritual principles in redecorating and redesigning to balance a home's energy. Yoga's move into the mainstream has helped make vastu more popular. While feng shui employs rock gardens, waterfalls and crystals to improve home owners' lives, vastu focuses on "sunrise" and "sunset" colors. Home owners incorporating vastu into their homes also incorporate natural fabrics, wood, pottery, flowers, brass and copper. The growing influence of vastu can be seen at Fairfield, IA-based Maharishi Global Construction, an architectural and development consultant firm specializing in the practice. The firm advised on the construction of $90 million of residential and commercial properties last year, up from $13 million in 1999. (www.wsj.com)
Wall Street Journal (10/03/03) P. W12; Boncompagni, Tatiana
Voting With Their Feet
According to Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association Technical Director Mickey Moore, hardwood flooring sales rose 90% from 330.2 million board feet to 627.5 million between 1995 and 2002. Manufacturers agree that hardwood floors boost home values. By one estimate, from Kentucky-based Monticello Flooring & Lumber Co., they enhance resale values by $7,000 to $10,000. (www.realtormag.com)
Realtor (10/03) Vol. 36, No. 10, P. 22
Investing in New Technology Can Yield Big Returns
Businesses that learn how to use technology to make their operations more efficient and productive will see huge returns on their investments. Technology can facilitate communication between companies and their customers, which leads to strong business relationships and more loyal customers. However, businesses must not use Web-based tools as a replacement for direct interaction. In order to remain competitive, companies must be willing to change the ways in which they conduct business. Those who put off technology purchases could weaken their bottom lines and lose their competitive edges. (www.cincinnati.bcentral.com)
Cincinnati Business Courier Online (10/06/03) Faulkner, Crystal
Changing Accounting Systems Doesn't Have to Bog Down a Business
Growing companies often look to upgrade their accounting software and financial systems when their volume of transactions becomes a burden for their accounting systems. Companies look to make a change when their accounting staff is no longer able to perform their duties as efficiently because computers are bogging down, and when it takes employees more time to enter transactions and print reports. However, with the emergence of introductory accounting packages like Peachtree and QuickBooks over the past five years, companies have access to products that are able to handle more transaction volume than ever before. Companies continue to upgrade their accounting systems, but rather than focusing on transaction volume capabilities, they now are looking for products that offer sophisticated financial information — such as greater visibility into inventory controls, better cash management, job cost and profitability analyses — to improve their overall operation. When embarking on a project to upgrade accounting systems, companies should not expect the new accounting software to produce accurate financial information; companies will have to address this problem before the conversion. Managers should keep in mind that it might not take six months to install new software, but it will take at least that much time to get the system performing at its peak level, which means expectations of efficiencies and productivity gains should be adjusted accordingly. (www.houston.bcentral.com/houston)
Houston Business Journal Online (10/06/03) Wilkinson, Jim
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