Copyright (c) 2010 FineHomebuilding.com en-us Fine Homebuilding - "The Daily Scoop" blog entries http://www.finehomebuilding.com/blog/daily-scoop Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:41:05 -0400 Fine Homebuilding - "The Daily Scoop" blog entries http://www.finehomebuilding.com/assets/images/cs_logo_sm.jpg http://www.finehomebuilding.com/blog/daily-scoop Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:35:00 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6323/reason-for-hope-when-homebuyers-get-tired-of-waiting http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6323/reason-for-hope-when-homebuyers-get-tired-of-waiting FHB_Building_News
In Columbus, Ohio’s housing market low mortgage rates, the $8K tax credit, and diminished interest in waiting for prices to bottom have real estate pros talking about a possible thaw in the market. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6323/reason-for-hope-when-homebuyers-get-tired-of-waiting Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:37:17 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6224/the-enduring-power-of-curb-appeal-in-green-construction http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6224/the-enduring-power-of-curb-appeal-in-green-construction FHB_Building_News
Samuel Matchett, who in 1999 purchased the first home built under the EarthCraft House program, was drawn to the house primarily because he liked its design. Its energy efficiency and construction quality were icing on the cake. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6224/the-enduring-power-of-curb-appeal-in-green-construction Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6128/oklahoma-builder-local-government-team-up-on-green-home-construction http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6128/oklahoma-builder-local-government-team-up-on-green-home-construction FHB_Building_News
Red Rock Builders, based in Edmond, Oklahoma, partnered with the city to build an Energy Star-rated home that will be used as a showcase for sustainable, energy efficient residential construction in Central Oklahoma. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6128/oklahoma-builder-local-government-team-up-on-green-home-construction Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:45:00 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6126/economic-predictions-revisited http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6126/economic-predictions-revisited FHB_Building_News
Economists and housing analysts have become mordantly adept at extracting optimism (and pessimism) from the recession's hard-boiled statistics. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6126/economic-predictions-revisited Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:02:42 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6119/practical-ideas-for-political-debate-tax-credit-proposals-aimed-at-homebuyers-investors http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6119/practical-ideas-for-political-debate-tax-credit-proposals-aimed-at-homebuyers-investors FHB_Building_News
House Republicans suggest a $5K credit help borrowers cover refinancing closing costs, up to $15K in tax credit for homebuyers, and a tax break for investors who buy distressed homes and rent them out. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6119/practical-ideas-for-political-debate-tax-credit-proposals-aimed-at-homebuyers-investors Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:52:02 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6091/february-new-home-sales-an-uptick-toward-stability-or-simply-another-byproduct-of-low-prices http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6091/february-new-home-sales-an-uptick-toward-stability-or-simply-another-byproduct-of-low-prices FHB_Building_News
Economists expected a decline in new-home sales for last month, but Commerce Department figures show a 4.7% increase. The reality is, though, this happened as the median price fell 18% year over year. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6091/february-new-home-sales-an-uptick-toward-stability-or-simply-another-byproduct-of-low-prices Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:17:20 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6080/detours-on-the-road-to-recovery-second-liens-and-unemployments-drag-on-multifamily-housing http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6080/detours-on-the-road-to-recovery-second-liens-and-unemployments-drag-on-multifamily-housing FHB_Building_News
The government's refinancing program is aimed at first mortgages, but the Treasury Department still needs to come up with a way to satisfy lenders holding second liens. Also, NAHB summarizes builder concerns over unemployment and multifamily housing. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6080/detours-on-the-road-to-recovery-second-liens-and-unemployments-drag-on-multifamily-housing Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:58:09 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6076/couple-who-developed-transhumanism-architecture-are-among-madoff-victims http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6076/couple-who-developed-transhumanism-architecture-are-among-madoff-victims FHB_Building_News
Japanese artist Arakawa and his wife, Madeline Gins, who say their intentionally disorienting housing designs prolong occupants’ lives by keeping them challenged, face a serious challenge of their own after losing their live savings to Bernie Madoff. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6076/couple-who-developed-transhumanism-architecture-are-among-madoff-victims Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:53:37 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6059/restoring-hope-that-credit-will-flow-again-to-builders-homebuyers http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6059/restoring-hope-that-credit-will-flow-again-to-builders-homebuyers FHB_Building_News
If private investors buy into the government’s program for clearing troubled assets from big banks, builders, buyers, and the housing market in general could benefit. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6059/restoring-hope-that-credit-will-flow-again-to-builders-homebuyers Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:34:39 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6057/nahb-now-selling-national-green-building-standard-document http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6057/nahb-now-selling-national-green-building-standard-document FHB_Building_News
A product of collaboration between NAHB and the International Code Council, the "National Green Building Standard" describes green practices for all phases of residential development and construction. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6057/nahb-now-selling-national-green-building-standard-document Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:30:00 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6004/more-novices-find-their-way-to-foreclosure-auctions http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6004/more-novices-find-their-way-to-foreclosure-auctions FHB_Building_News
Once a niche market, auctions of in-default or foreclosed properties nowadays attract not only veteran contractors and other investment pros but plenty of newcomers (who might soon need a contractor’s help). ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6004/more-novices-find-their-way-to-foreclosure-auctions Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:46:27 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6006/green-news-from-both-coasts http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6006/green-news-from-both-coasts FHB_Building_News
That beater you’re driving? It could become metal studs for green housing. Also, a green-building supply manufacturer opens a plant in North Carolina. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6006/green-news-from-both-coasts Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:49:32 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6005/beating-the-sell-by-dates-on-green-tax-credits http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6005/beating-the-sell-by-dates-on-green-tax-credits FHB_Building_News
The more consumers learn about tax credits for energy efficiency upgrades, the more likely they’ll be to take advantage of them before the credits time out. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/6005/beating-the-sell-by-dates-on-green-tax-credits Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:19:57 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5985/nahb-big-marketing-potential-in-8k-tax-credit http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5985/nahb-big-marketing-potential-in-8k-tax-credit FHB_Building_News
The industry group says promoting the tax credit for first-time buyers could be the most potent way for builders to clear off excess inventory. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5985/nahb-big-marketing-potential-in-8k-tax-credit Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:42:27 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5981/nahb-big-builders-meet-to-ease-tensions-over-strategic-issues http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5981/nahb-big-builders-meet-to-ease-tensions-over-strategic-issues FHB_Building_News
Big builders concerned with Jerry Howard’s stance on a long-sought tax break proposal met with NAHB leaders this week to address the issue. The upshot: Both sides agreed to set aside differences for now and resume talks soon. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5981/nahb-big-builders-meet-to-ease-tensions-over-strategic-issues Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:42:41 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5979/housing-starts-surge-in-february-led-by-apartment-construction http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5979/housing-starts-surge-in-february-led-by-apartment-construction FHB_Building_News
The Commerce Department reported a 22.2% increase in construction of new homes and apartments as attention turns to strategies for freeing up credit. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5979/housing-starts-surge-in-february-led-by-apartment-construction Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:23:33 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5975/nahb-builder-confidence-stays-static-from-february-to-march http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5975/nahb-builder-confidence-stays-static-from-february-to-march FHB_Building_News
The NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index for March matched the HMI for February as homebuilders hold out hope for the stimulus package and spring selling season. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5975/nahb-builder-confidence-stays-static-from-february-to-march Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:42:25 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5972/new-homes-green-emporiums-to-take-aim-at-home-depot-lowes http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5972/new-homes-green-emporiums-to-take-aim-at-home-depot-lowes FHB_Building_News
In April, California-based New Home Inc. plans to open the first of eight showrooms featuring green supplies and services for homeowners, builders, and remodelers. Company CEO Rich Rifkin says the stores will take on long-established competitors. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5972/new-homes-green-emporiums-to-take-aim-at-home-depot-lowes Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:35:00 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5803/nahb-chairman-to-congress-establish-uniformity-in-mortgage-market-standards http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5803/nahb-chairman-to-congress-establish-uniformity-in-mortgage-market-standards FHB_Building_News
Joe Robson tells a House committee that more efficiency and continuity need to be introduced to the operation of residential mortgage markets. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5803/nahb-chairman-to-congress-establish-uniformity-in-mortgage-market-standards Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:52:03 -0400 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5786/foreclosure-filings-where-are-the-brakes-on-this-thing http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5786/foreclosure-filings-where-are-the-brakes-on-this-thing FHB_Building_News
RealtyTrac says foreclosure filings in February climbed 30% over those during the same period in 2008. And with unemployment still on the rise, it remains uncertain the housing plan will do much in the short term to tame the foreclosure rate. ]]> http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5786/foreclosure-filings-where-are-the-brakes-on-this-thing