 |
Home |
Remodeling | Feed Submission |
My Account
Professional Builder | Housing Zone
Holmes Beach, Fla., orders couple to take down ‘dream’ tree house
24 May 2013
Soon after completing a beach-side tree house, the town of Holmes Beach contacted the homeowners and said that the structure violated local codes; and if they did not remove it, they would be fined $500 a day. The couple says they put their heart and soul into the structure and dispute some of the points of fact in the city’s complaint.
Del.icio.us | Digg this! | Newsvine
HUD okays New York’s plan to spend $648 million in Sandy aid to elevate homes
24 May 2013
New York City's plan for how it will spend Sandy relief aid worth $1.77 billion has been given the green light by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Some $648 million will help homeowners elevate low-lying homes, while $294 million will be used to make the city’s infrastructure more storm-resistant.
Del.icio.us | Digg this! | Newsvine
Studies suggest utility, transportation expenses should figure into mortgage applications
22 May 2013
Recent studies strongly suggest a homeowner's utility expenses and transportation expenses can be meaningful determinants of delinquency, default, and prepayment. A new study by University of North Carolina economists found 30 percent better loan performance for Energy Star houses, and another paper found better loan performance for houses in "location efficient" neighborhoods.
Del.icio.us | Digg this! | Newsvine
Contractors call for state training programs to make up for shortfall of skilled construction workers
22 May 2013
Rising demand for residential construction is starting to outpace the number of workers available to do the work, some home builders say. The worker shortage was caused by those who left the industry after the housing downturn. Trade associations such as the Associated General Contractors of America want states to provide training programs to encourage more people to join the trades in the future.
Del.icio.us | Digg this! | Newsvine
Survey says “give us crown moldings”
20 May 2013
The 2012 NAHB study “What Home Buyers Really Want” shows a decided preference for crown moldings. Sixty-two percent of respondents rated crown moldings the third most essential decorative feature in the home, after ceiling fans and built-in shelving.