Sep 4 2008 9:44AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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I love my house, but can't help pondering its flaws, not the least of which is its lack of a dining room. It's an awkward floor plan to begin with: when you walk in the front door, you're standing in a small foyer that opens to the kitchen on one side and the living room on the other. The kitchen has an eating area, but it's small, seating only four people comfortably. More than that and a second table has to be placed at the end of the first, which forces some diners out into the foyer. I'm not crazy about this arrangement, nor do I care for the buffet option where people end up in the living room with plates on their laps. 

In some floor plans that do have dining rooms, though, I've noticed they're not always positioned for maximum functionality. What good is a dining room located down the hall and around the corner from the...Read More

Aug 29 2008 8:14AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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It's over...the judging for the Best in American Living Awards, that is. It's not surprising that there were fewer entries (351) than in past years. At the same time, there was no shortage of quality projects. 

This is my first time judging BALA in more than 10 years. It's an arduous task, but a rewarding one. The judges bring an impressive amount of expertise to the table, spanning building, architectural design and interior design. They're exposed to a wealth of ideas: creative solutions to tough problems, impeccable craftsmanship, cutting-edge design and visionary planning from all over the United States. We ponder, we discuss, we argue. Ultimately, we have to make some difficult decisions in order to make sure the most deserving homes and communities are honored. 

Thi...Read More

Aug 21 2008 2:22PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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Campouts. Remember them from the 1980s? Buyers would line up the night before (sometimes days before) a grand opening to grab one of a limited release of new homes, a premium home site or the model of their dreams. What better way to get to know your future neighbors than chatting around the hibachi? Builders loved it, too, often selling out an entire phase in a single day.

As I recently learned, campouts have happened as recently as 2004 (in Portland, Oregon) and even this year. In May, Phoenix builder Blandford Homes sold 106 houses in 1-1/2 days at the grand opening of its Mountain Bridge development, where prospective buyers camped out for a chance at a home. And 14 people camped out overnig...Read More

Aug 14 2008 9:02AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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Once upon a time, nearly all Americans expected to retire at age 65. I'm sure some still do, but statistics now suggest more of them are postponing retirement.

After scrutinizing the most recent Census data, Dr. Gene Warren of Thomas, Warren & Associates in Phoenix noted that in 2000, 81.6% of males age 65 and older were retired. In 2006, that number dropped to 80.3% -- the first decrease in nearly a century, Warren says. The 2006 Census data also showed a significant decrease in the percentage of both men and women who considered themselves retired at a given age -- a decrease visible in every age group from 45 to 74. Warren points out that the shift has nothing to do with the current economic downturn, since the data was gathered during a strong eco...Read More

Aug 8 2008 9:51AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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Much has been written about the drying up of funds for new-home construction. One article I read in Nation's Building News had the following quote from a custom builder: "As a builder, especially right now, when you try to get money, the lender says, 'Oh, you're a builder.' It's like a scarlet letter."

The credit crisis has seriously affected customers and builders alike, though some builders say  they still have clients with enough cash to forge ahead with their building plans. In the NBN article referenced above, Oregon builder Ed Busch said he was doing remodels and a $1.7 million parade house in addition to custom projects, and expected to make more money in 2008 than in the previous two years.