House size is a tricky thing. Some folks want a feeling of space that's expressed in volume—soaring foyers, three-car garages, and cavernous master suites come to mind. Others, to quote Goldilocks, want spaces that are “just right,” with rooms that work for their particular lifestyle.
-
What a difference two years makes. The industry has officially cooled since 2004, when BUILDER debuted its list of the 50 most influential people in home building. Builders who couldn't keep up with the demand for their product then are now scrambling to sell aging inventory. In 2004, home builders were a shining light in the economy.
In the spring of 2005, Taylor Woodrow's Irvine, Calif.–based Western region found itself “in a tighter box,” where it was being squeezed by competitors that are “smart and great at what they do,” and where buyers were having trouble telling the difference between Taylor Woodrow's product and everyone else's, says Mike Forsum, the region's president.
About two years ago, Vienna, Va.–based Kettler (formerly known as KSI Services), one of greater Washington's largest developers, was looking for ways to enhance the buying and living experiences for residents of its rental and owner-occupied properties and communities.
It took C.P. Morgan Communities 18 months of research before it chose Charlotte, N.C., as its second home building market. But once it arrived in Charlotte, in January 2005, Morgan was ready to start cranking out houses almost immediately.
Walk a jobsite at Woodland Village—Lifestyle Homes' community 18 miles outside of Reno, Nev.—with Jon Delaurentis, the builder's former president, and he inevitably brings up how “clean” the site is: no wasted materials or equipment lying around, no mud being traipsed into houses under construction by contractors. Delaurentis notes in passing that subcontractors police the desert surrounding the construction area for loose debris.
On a sunny afternoon in late August, Kent Olsen, an assistant supervisor for MBK Homes, warmly greets Felecia Ash at Briar Rose, the builder's neighborhood at Ladera Ranch in Mission Viejo, Calif. As MBK's quality assurance auditor, Ash is there to check out whether imperfections she spotted during a previous visit inside some homes near completion have been fixed.
-
The
WE ALL KNOW THAT time is money, making it easy to see that time wasted is money lost—and there may be no industry where that point is made more plainly than in home building.
It's a curious thing. At the same time that houses are getting bigger and bigger, lot sizes keep on getting smaller and smaller. Just look at the numbers: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average size of new homes increased from 2,095 square feet in 1992 to 2,434 square feet in 2005.
The industry does not like the popular phrase “mobile home” —it reserves that term for units built before the federal government began regulating its product. Until 1976, house trailers were not subject to any building code. Since 1976, the industry has been covered by a federal rule known as the HUD Code, and in 1994, in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, the HUD Code was toughened for coastal high-wind zones. Manufacturers call units built after 1976 “manufactured housing” or “HUD-Code homes,” pointing to the national rules as an assurance of quality.
BUILDERS WHO THINK branding matters only when you're selling coffee, cars, and sneakers haven't been paying attention, says Mark Stevens, a White Plains, N.Y.–based marketing expert and author of Your Marketing Sucks. The added value of a builder's brand can be summed up in one instantly recognizable word: Trump.
WHEN CHRIS AND Meghan Driggers of Athens, Ga., were shopping for their first house in the fall of 2004, they spent hours with their real estate agent looking at neighborhoods. One day, the agent mentioned a new community, Milford Hills, where one of the other agents from his firm was selling houses.
ALMOST SINCE THE DAY HE FOUNDED his firm in 1991, Mark Scheurer has been a fixture on the Builder's Choice leader board, winning 19 of the awards for custom homes, production detached and attached units, and community design, including the 2002 Project of the Year for The Sentinels.
MARK MCINTURFF IS A BUILDER'S kind of custom architect in that he doesn't let his ego get in the way of designing great houses that suit, if broadly, the character of their surroundings.
THE LIST OF CREDITS FOR THE 18 Builder's Choice Awards Taylor Woodrow Homes has won since 1991 reads like a who's who of milestone projects and design partners, including fellow inductees Walt Richardson and Mark Scheurer. And, it underscores the builder's commitment to housing design in a production realm.
-
DURING HIS INDUCTION speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past summer, coach-turned-announcer John Madden theorized that once all the lights are turned off in the building's Enshrinement Gallery, the bronze busts carry on conversations with one another, about football, life, whatever.
-
For sure, houses have a huge environmental impact and a major affect on quality of life. So “greening” homes is clearly an idea with practical merit for the planet and for people. But “green” is also the hot new marketing fad—which makes a lot of people eager to jump on the bandwagon with green claims based on sketchy rationales.
By any standard of measurement, green building is hot. Green building has now spilled over into the residential world as well. According to the NAHB, 14,600 green homes were built in 2004, up from 2,500 in 2000.
-
THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER OF the Currency has issued new guidelines to lenders regarding non-traditional mortgages, requiring them to fully explain the loans and ensure that borrowers qualify for the life of the loan and not just for the initial rate.
-
The rap on builders in Larimer County, Colo., is that development is a drain on community services and that new homeowners don't pay their fair share.
KB HOME, THE INDUSTRY'S FIFTH-largest builder, accepted the retirement of its CEO and chairman, Bruce Karatz, after an investigation conducted by members of KB's board of directors concluded that he and two other senior-level officials were involved in a scheme to backdate stock option grants to increase Karatz's compensation.
-
AS FLORIDA REGULATORS SEARCH FOR middle ground on regional hurricane standards, builders and insurers remain at odds. This year's storm season brought with it a renewed bluster over the so-called “panhandle carve-out,” which holds certain Northwest counties to less stringent wind borne debris protection standards.
-
The marriage of convenience that joins actor Tom Cruise with NVR's chief executive Dwight Schar forms an alliance that's odd even by Hollywood's standards.
-
THE FIRST CASUALTIES OF THE HOUSING industry's downward slide have started to emerge. The biggest case so far is East Brunswick, N.J.–based Kara Homes, the industry's 127th largest builder in sales last year, which on Oct. 5 filed for bankruptcy protection from 1,000-plus creditors.
The manufacturer has introduced the Fassada Line of stainless steel wallplates to coordinate with its black dimmers, switches, and accessories.
Designed for architectural applications where aesthetics are important, the unit has a smooth, flush-mounted surface that blends in with the ceiling and a faceplate that can be painted.
Made with cast iron and and vitreous porcelain, the tub has 18 jets, a variable speed blower, a heater air system, and a control pad.
Tustin can be mounted on left-handed or right-handed doors.
Sporting undulating lines, the unit measures 36 inches wide and comes with a 450-CFM blower and triple illumination halogen lighting.
Designed for use under dark and vibrant shades, the product allows paint to show its true color.
-
This month's top shelf products include Lutron wireless dimmers, Desa forced-air propane heaters, and the latest in furniture pulls from MNG Hardware.
-
This month's top shelf products include an oversized casement window from Peachtree, Turkish-inspired bath designs from noted industrial designer Ross Lovegrove, and the Lancelot Professional line of stainless steel sinks from Moen.
-
Rising energy costs and an increased focus on conservation have inspired more of today's home builders to incorporate technologies and features in their new homes that not only make the houses more comfortable, but also more energy efficient with less impact on the surrounding environment.
-
Home buyer demand fell dramatically after mid-2005 as deteriorating affordability conditions moved many prospective homeowners to the sidelines (or into rental housing) and declining prospects for price appreciation sent many investors/speculators scurrying away from the housing sector.
-
Suppose you had exactly one minute to turn a “looker” into a “buyer.” What would you say? Would you talk about the quality of the homes you build, the upscale amenities you offer, or the community's great location, location, location? Under normal market conditions, any of those might close the sale.
-
- Millions of homeowners could face higher taxes in 2011, unless Congress acts to repeal or reform the estate tax.
- The Building Systems Councils of the NAHB releases a free publication as a resource for builders and buyers of panelized homes.
- The president of Magleby Cos., is named the NAHB's first-ever Custom Home Builder of the Year.
-
WHILE GREEN BUILDING continues to rise in popularity across the nation, many people remain unsure about what it means to build green or where to begin.
-
ON SEPT. 13, I TESTIFIED IN THE U.S. SENATE on “The Housing Bubble and Its Implications for the U.S. Economy.” My statement outlined the basic causes of the current housing downswing, estimated the depth and duration of the downswing, and discussed the likely economic consequences of the falloff in housing market activity as well as the likely impacts of several secondary effects of the evolving housing cycle.
-
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE HOUSING market is winding down from the record sales and production levels of recent years. Sales and starts are down; interest rates are up; inventories of unsold homes are up; and cancellations are on the rise.
-
- The NAHB encourages builders to plan for the future early by making homes user-friendly for all buyers.
- The NAHB and UPS join forces to offer NAHB members discounts of up to 30 percent on shipping.
- The NAHB actively seeks new foreign lumber markets to begin trade relations with the United States.
-
ROMANCE, JEALOUSY, GREED, BETRAYAL ... AND an explanation of prime versus sub-prime mortgages? These are the necessary ingredients for a killer made-for-TV drama about Hispanic life in the U.S. At least mortgage giant Freddie Mac is banking on it with the launch of Nuestro Barrio, a 13-episode Spanish-language mini-series that debuted this fall in select cable markets.
-
RECYCLED WATER, KNOWN AS effluent, has joined oil, gas, lumber, and real estate as commodities to be auctioned to the highest bidder.
-
FACED WITH HIGH LEVELS OF INVENTORY and contingency buyers and a sluggish resale market, builders are becoming increasingly creative in helping customers sell their existing homes.
-
STATE POLITICS INJECTED ITSELF INTO LOCAL planning issues in Loudoun County, Va., earlier this year when Gov. Tim Kaine directed the Virginia Department of Transportation to issue a study on a proposal to build an estimated 33,000 homes on the 9,200-acre Dulles South tract, near Dulles International Airport.
-
FACING A FEDERAL LEGAL CHALLENGE, THE CITY of Hazleton, Pa., in September adopted a significantly revised version of its Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which penalizes employers and landlords for hiring or housing illegal immigrants and makes English the city's official language.
-
- The Wisconsin state legislature passes a law that requires home buyers, not builders, to pay impact fees.
- California awards $210.7 million in housing grants to 42 counties.
- Global Green USA and actor Brad Pitt have announced that Workshop APD has won the Sustainable Design Competition for New Orleans.
-
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER PULLED OFF an election-year coup late last summer by signing a new law that puts home builders at the forefront of developing solar power usage in the Golden State.
-
The chief advertising officer for one of the Internet's most successful business sites details his company's approach to the Web -- and how the Internet is changing advertising habits.
FOR MANY OF THE HOMES HE DESIGNS FOR THE SUN VALLEY RESORT area, Idaho architect Rich Childress is asked to find wood flooring that has been purposely (and recently) distressed to look old, presumably so that it conveys character and authenticity. “It would be more authentic to put in a new wood floor and let it age naturally,” says Childress. “That would be an honest use of the material.”
Meet the judges for the 2006 Buider's Choice Awards.
-
IT'S AN URBAN LIGHTHOUSE, a beacon of color and wonder smack dab in the middle of a gritty Rust Belt neighborhood.
-
ANCHORED ON NEW ENGLAND'S rocky coastline and oriented to maximize coastal vistas, this 10,000-square-foot retreat reads like a polished outgrowth of the terrain.
-
FOR ARCHITECT ERNEST Wong, designing a space to accommodate a wide range of neighborhood needs was no walk in the park.
-
SOMETIMES ROTE INGREDIENTS in the housing equation are worth a second thought. Such was the case when architect David Baker turned a critical eye on the notion of on-site parking at Curran House, a 67-unit, low-income apartment building in San Francisco's hardscrabble Tenderloin district.
-
COVERED PORCHES AND breezeways serve as connective tissue in this airy beachfront home, loosely bridging the otherwise discrete building blocks that make up the main house, master suite, guest cottage, and carriage house.
-
THE RENOVATION OF this 1928 Washington residence included the replacement of all the existing glass openings to help maximize the visual connection to the site.
-
THIS EXQUISITE LITTLE screened porch addition extends this home's dining room and does so without darkening the interior spaces.
-
AS ELEGANT AS THEY ARE utilitarian, these four-bedroom houses slip comfortably into the confines of their 45-foot-wide lots.
KELLER HOMES AND Scheurer Architects looked to European mountain villages for inspiration on this Rubik's Cube–like community, composed of 48 detached homes on 15 acres. The first cluster housing project in suburban Denver, each trio of rustically detailed homes is designed around a shared motor court, and jewel-like private patios are formed by the walls or fences of a neighbor. It all adds up to an appealing, interlocking puzzle that puts every inch of outdoor surface to good use.
IT'S WHAT MARIE ANTOINETTE might have built had she lived in Southern California—a 10,000-square-foot, French-style farmhouse of hand-cut stone, detailed with steel windows and doors, plaster walls, and truss ceilings.
RED BARREL-TILE ROOFS and smooth white stucco exteriors speak of the Spanish inspiration behind this townhouse community geared to first-time buyers, couples, and small families. One of three floor plans, the 1,492-square-foot Medley offers a design that is distinctive and yet efficient to build. Entry is through a walled courtyard, while in back, an alley provides garage access. On the second floor, three bedrooms form a neat rectangle. Dark wood accents on the master balcony complete this home's Spanish medley.
ARCHITECT BOB MECHELS breathed new life into this century-old building in Ft. Collins, Colo.'s historic district with a fresh, modern façade and an updated, mixed-use purpose. The 32,000-square-foot structure now houses chic office space on the street level and three floors (17 units) of residential loft space above. Each loft unit has an oversized bay window that frames views of the nearby Rocky Mountain foothills. The handsome exterior is clad with a combination of brick, cinderblock, stucco, and locally quarried sandstone in buff and crimson colors.
-
WASHINGTON'S ONCE industrial, now trendy 14th Street corridor is home to new restaurants and shopping, as well as a surge in upscale multi-family development.
-
THE MAKING OF ANY mixed-use community involves the usual hurdles of nervous neighbors, density requirements, and roadway access.
-
AS LAND PARCELS SHRINK near urban areas, builders face the proverbial puzzle: How to disguise multifamily housing in a single-family neighborhood.
-
HONORING REGIONAL SURROUNDINGS is a top priority for architect Bob Hidey and his team.
-
COST CONTROLS WERE crucial in the remodel of this 10-story residence for low-income seniors.
-
STRADDLING RESIDENTIAL and industrial areas, the Railroad Spur Block live/work project blends residential scale with materials such as metal and thick-walled stucco that reference the site's industrial lineage.