Indoor-Outdoor Layouts - Which Do You Like Best?

Here's a selection of Unique Indoor-Outdoor Layouts from Builder Magazine.  Which do you like best?

America's Most Affordable Cities - MB Left Out Again!

Alas, Manhattan Beach is not one of America's Most Affordable Cities according to Builder Magazine.  But I bet you'd like to know which ones are! -David

New Architectural Products from the AIA Show

Fun new architectural products from the American Institute of Architects show:

Cool Products Come Out to Play at AIA Convention - Products, Doors, Windows, Panels, Siding - Builder Magazine

- David

Homebuyers scramble as mortgage rates jump - Builder Magazine

Homebuyers are suddenly realized that rates have jumped 1/4% and are on their way up. So the best strategy for homebuyers is lock in a rate and a purchase while home prices are still near their 7-year lows. Rates are still excellent (around 5.25%), but there's no reason to ride them back up and wish you'd taken advantage of the waning buyer's market, especially in the South Bay where prices stabilized at the beginning of 2010. - David

"Home prices rose for the seventh straight month in December..." - Builder Magazine

What does it mean when home prices rise in a single month?  Not much.  But in this article we learn that this is the 7th month in a row, which is very significant:

Home prices rise 0.3 percent in December - Builder Magazine

The S&P/Case-Shiller index tells us that home prices maxed out in May of 2006, nearly four years ago.  So housing declines continued for about three years, then leveled out nationwide in the middle of 2009. 

Does that signal a big runup soon?

6 Prefab Houses That Could Change Home Building - Builder Magazine

Is there a place for high quality prefab homes in the Beach Cities? 

6 Prefab Houses That Could Change Home Building - Prefab Design, Modular Building, Design, Heat-Recovery Systems, Net-Zero Energy, Cost-Effective Design, Green Materials, Energy Efficiency - Builder Magazine

Even as a "botique" residential developer (http://www.vzwdevelopment.com/), I think there is.  Eager to research this channel more to be ready for the coming recovery.  What do you think? - David

The Right-Sized Home

Many would agree that the term "McMansion" is a fairly transparently biased, loaded, or perhaps even offensive term.  Lots of homeowners prefer larger homes, others prefer downsizing.  Regardless of your preference, here's an informative video from the recent Builder's show on using space more efficiently and effectively.

Builder's Show "McMansion" Video

Ignoring the loaded terminology, it's useful for us to see what both designers and builders are thinking these days. - David

8 Hot Kitchen Trends for 2010 - Builder Magazine

From the building show: latest & greatest kitchens. - David

8 Hot Kitchen Trends for 2010 - Design, Kitchen - Builder Magazine

2010 Builders' Show Products - Builder Magazine

More cool products for your home. - David

2010 Builders' Show Products- Products, Plumbing, Tile, Exteriors, Paints, Wood, Decking, Appliances, Doors, Tools And Equipment, Green Products, Green Technology, Bath - Builder Magazine

6 Ways For Builders to Beat REOs - Builder Magazine

Here's how homebuilders plan to compete with REO's (real estate foreclosed, and therefore owned, by banks).  - David

6 Ways For Builders to Beat REOs - Sales, Marketing - Builder Magazine

Market Grows for Live-Work Housing - Builder Magazine

Live-work housing represents one of several innovative solutions to the unmistakable shift of a sizable portion of America's workforce towards the home.

Market Grows for Live-Work Housing - Design, Live-Work, Economic Conditions - Builder Magazine

Like any new type of structure, it will probably take awhile for design and construction to respond to the instructive experiences of early adopters. But intelligent mortgage lenders should have no problem accepting what is essentialy the formalization of something that's actually been around for quite a long time - - the home office - - especially to the extent that the "work" portion of the space is designed to accomodate flexible use and adaptation. - David

Fewer Consumers Willing to Consider Foreclosures - Builder Magazine

Homebuyers are wisely beginning to be concerned about the hidden costs that freqently accompany a foreclosure purchase, as we learn in this article from Builder Magazine. - David

http://www.builderonline.com/housing-data/fewer-consumers-willing-to-consider-foreclosures.aspx?cid=BLDR091217002

Higher Mortgage Rates May Not Be a Bad Thing - Builder Magazine

Boyce Thompson of Builder Magazine expresses a bright opinion on mortgage rates and their potential motivational impact on the real estate market. - David

10 Coolest Houses of 2009 - BUILDER Magazine

More cool homes: Check out the 10 Coolest Houses of 2009 as rated by Builder Magazine. - David