Looks Old, Sure, But It's Faking It
As home owners increasingly seek out newly built properties with the settled-in character of much older real estate, custom homes are cropping up with such elements as antique hardware and fireplaces with already charred bricks. In line with the trend, the National Wood Flooring Association reports that more companies are selling reclaimed wood, bricks and carved stone for custom residential projects. Builders, meanwhile, are requesting old wood — which has a finer grain and lasts longer than young timber — more often. The aged material can be re-sawed into flooring, paneling, ceilings and decking for new homes. The key to making a new home appear as though it has been around for centuries, according to experts, is to chose limestone and other materials that will continue to hold up well over the years. (www.latimes.com)
Los Angeles Times (01/29/04) P. F5; Eastman, Janet
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Counter Culture: Stone, Composites Make Way to the Top
Today's home buyers increasingly are moving away from laminate as a surface material for their countertops. Instead, encouraged in part by lower costs as a result of automation in the manufacturing process, they are incorporating such stone and solid-surface materials as Corian, marble and granite. The most durable of the three is granite, a porous stone that requires resealing on an annual basis. Home owners can cut directly on granite countertops, as well as roll dough and place hot pots on its heat-resistant surface. Less durable but still popular is marble, which requires more frequent sealing to prevent staining. Corian, meanwhile, is a man-made material available in more than 40 different stone-like and solid-color variations. It typically is a more economical choice compared to natural stone and is easy to maintain. Sources in the building industry say that upgrading countertops, as well as bathrooms, granite, marble and Corian enhances property value for most homes and makes them more appealing to prospective buyers at resale. (www.bradenton.com)
Bradenton Herald (01/25/04) P. 1; Joseph, R.P.
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Demand for Maintenance-Free Living Grows Among Baby Boomers
An increasing number of baby boomers are moving from their long-time homes to single-floor, gated condominium communities that boast resort-style amenities and an active lifestyle. "This is a step between single-family and senior housing," remarks Coldwell Banker Professional Realtors general managing partner Dorcas Helfant. Baby boomers are looking to escape the maintenance tasks that accompany single-family homes; but rather than flee to Arizona, South Florida and other traditional retirement havens, many are settling down near their family and friends. In fact, a recent survey by developer Del Webb reveals that 31% of baby boomers intend to stay within three hours of their current residences. Those interested in cultural activities, top-notch medical centers and adult education courses are flocking to Raleigh, NC, and other college towns. (www.jacksonville.com)
Florida Times-Union Online (01/28/04) Shrivastava, Anusha
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Builders Survey Ethnic Priorities
NAHB has studied, for the first time, what different ethnic groups look for in a new home and come up with some interesting results. The findings show, for instance, that African-American home buyers want more residential space than any other group; that Asians are willing to pay significantly more than other ethnic groups for a property; and that Latinos want to pay less for their homes. NAHB research executive Gopal Ahluwalia said the trade organization decided to pursue the research because of the increasing number of minority new-home buyers each year. Across the board, the study also revealed that more than half of the poll participants would prefer a single-story home, contrary to the growing tendency among builders to put up two-story houses. Other findings include that 40% of respondents would purchase a home with no living room; that nearly a third desire a three-car garage; that 60% want two or two-and-a-half bathrooms; and that outdoor amenities such as porches, decks, patios, fenced yards and wooded lots are increasingly popular. (www.washingtonpost.com)
Washington Post (01/24/04) P. F1; Deane, Daniela
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A Housing Boom, Led by Boomers
Housing analysts are keeping a close eye on the home buying patterns of baby boomers, who are just beginning to retire. "As baby boomers are leaving the labor force, or preparing to leave the labor force, they are lining up their second home/retirement home," notes Credit Suisse Asset Management economist Kathleen Camilli. "Don't be surprised by a stronger than average U.S. housing sector in this decade." By 2010, agrees NAHB analyst Michael Carliner, home buying will become even more significant as even more boomers retire. This generation has had a wide-ranging influence on everything from the stock market to the automobile sector, and Carliner says boomers also will set housing trends in the upcoming years. Already, in response to their tastes and preferences, builders are developing "maintenance-free" communities for active adults and providing more and increasingly sophisticated amenities similar to those one might find in a country-club setting. Builders also are taking note that, unlike in the past, retirees do not necessarily want to live in smaller homes; and they do not necessarily wish to relocate to retirement communities far away from their family and friends. (search.csmonitor.com/search_content/0126/p01s04-usec.html)
Christian Science Monitor (01/26/04) P. 1; Scherer, Ron
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Super Bowl: The Big Picture
Digital technology is bringing the price of big-screen television sets down, subsequently driving consumer fixation on home theaters. Indeed, the Consumer Electronics Association reports that nearly one in three U.S. households boasts a home theater — which consists, at minimum, of a TV with 27 inches or more of viewing space combined with a VCR or DVD player and at least four speakers. In response to the boom in home-theater sales, marketers are feeding the frenzy by offering an expanding array of accessories that allow consumers to turn their residential theaters into elaborate productions. Many are choosing to punctuate the trend by adding such extras as big recliners or stadium-style seats, authentic concession stands, velour ropes and electric curtains that draw back to reveal the giant screen. Many homeowners are discovering, meanwhile, the need to spend thousands more for vibration-dampening material that keeps the surround sound from shaking other rooms in the house. In fact, the cost of outfitting a home theater — anywhere from $30,000 to as much as $500,000 — far exceeds the cost of the actual audio and video technology. (www.wsj.com)
Wall Street Journal (01/30/04) P. W1; Fletcher, June
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Urban Redevelopment Program Features Cheap Homes, Rich Benefits
Chicago's New Homes program sells lots at steep discounts to non-profit developers interested in revitalizing the city's west and south sides. It also gives qualified low-income buyers between $10,000 and $30,000 in subsidies to help them achieve homeownership. Claretian Associates is using the program to redevelop rundown industrial neighborhoods in southeast Chicago, with plans to build as many as 37 single- and two-family homes priced between $123,000 and $165,000 and $196,000 and $230,000, respectively. Not only will the homes be affordable to lower-income buyers, they also will be environmentally friendly and highly energy efficient. According to Claretian project manager Kathy Kelleher, the dwellings will feature low-VOC paints, efficient gas furnaces, pressure-assisted toilets, recycled-glass bathroom tiles, dual-pane windows and carpeting and wallboard made from recycled materials, among other features. A rooftop photovoltaic system paid for by the city's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Commonwealth Edison and Spire Solar Chicago will be offered to the first 12 buyers. South Chicago Workforce Executive Director David Sullivan notes that the project is unique, considering the sluggish local economy and the ward's high number of vacant lots. Redevelopment of the area will not be easy, but city officials have already sunk $80 million into public transit, improved schools, retail construction and other infrastructure upgrades. (www.enr.com)
ENR (01/12/04) Vol. 252, No. 1, P. 30; Hampton, Tudor
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Home View/Wish Lists
U.S. home owners want more cooking space, according to research by Domania.com. In its survey of more than 1,750 home owners, 30.8% of them named a larger kitchen as the No. 1 item on their residential wish list. With 21.3% of the votes, more storage space was also in high demand. Coming in third, 18.9% of poll respondents expressed a top desire for a master bedroom suite. In terms of what they find irritating about their neighbors, meanwhile, 29% of the survey participants said their neighbors do not annoy them. However, 27% cited "junk in the front yard" and 14% complained about their neighbors' nosiness.
(www.wsj.com)
Wall Street Journal (01/23/04) P. W8; Reed, Danielle
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Taking Advantage of Wireless Multimedia Technology
Like their larger counterparts, smaller companies can benefit from equipping field workers with wireless technology. This lets staff members who are working away from the office have constant access to e-mails and corporate intranets. Companies may want to consider mobile phones with Internet capabilities as a way to link an office's computer systems with wireless networks. Depending on the firm, this process may range from simple to difficult. Ken Shaw, owner and president of Toronto-based All Canadian Inspection & Safety Services (ACISS) relies on a camera-equipped mobile phone to facilitate his work as an inspector for potential buyers of homes. He uses a $300 LG Electronics cell phone to take digital pictures, which are e-mailed via Telus's 1X network to clients; each picture costs only 20 cents in airtime charges to send. Similarly, George Gomory, a Realtor® with Remax Central Realty in Burnaby, British Columbia, uses an SX56 Pocket PC phone from Siemens AG to retrieve Multiple Listing Services real estate information via a company called Executive Wireless. The enabling software can vary from $42 to $229 according to appliance used, while the service can cost $10 to $18 depending on the real estate board. (www.smallbusinesscomputing.com)
Small Business Computing Online (01/27/04) Blackwell, Gerry
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Small Biz Gets Up to Speed
A Sprint and Covad Communications survey of 500 small business representatives reveals that most consider their telephone to be a necessity, though they spend more time on the Internet. Broadband Internet access boosts productivity and efficiency, but many small businesses still see the Web as a research tool and opt for conference calls and cell phones over e-mail, instant messaging, and Webcasts. Most companies choose cable broadband because it is faster, but a growing number of small businesses are adopting DSL. According to respondents, improved efficiency and productivity, industry trends, costs savings and the ability to offer online ordering to customers are the main reasons small businesses switch to broadband. (cyberatlas.internet.com)
Cyber Atlas Online (01/26/04) Greenspan, Robyn
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Making Sitely Changes
The availability of low-priced editing software makes it much simpler and inexpensive to design Web sites today. In order to retain their effectiveness, Web sites should focus on their intended audiences and what they want from the site, says Laurie Web-DesJardins of Webb Consulting in Lafayette, CO. Moreover, online content should be regularly updated and should also be completely revamped annually. Other things to note include avoiding lengthy pages, using proper grammar and spelling and always providing a link to the home page, clear text and a consistent look and feel. M. Teri Robnett of Whole Brain Technologies says that like other things, the Internet demonstrates evolving tastes, so a style that is popular now (such as Flash) could eventually go out of fashion. Carlos Espinosa, owner of RomanDesign in Boulder, CO, reports that a small company could expect to pay a professional Web designer up to $6,000 to build a useful Web site to which people can be referred. However, a shopping cart with "all the bells and whistles" could cost approximately $15,000 in addition to merchant fees, while a small upgrade would cost about $1,500, he says. The Cable Center on the campus of the University of Denver turned to a firm called NewGuard to develop an online newsletter, a sign-up form for events and a shopping cart, all of which were designed to cater to visitors' needs. (datajoe.bcbr.com)
Boulder County Business Report (01/23/04) Ellis, Caron Schwartz
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