Is Fractional Homeownership Any Kind of Solution for Housing Attainability? ibush Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:53 The imbalance between housing supply and demand is spurring some innovative options within the real estate industry The housing crisis is a pressing issue in which the search for solutions extends from local, state, and federal governments to trade associations, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, startups, and beyond. Among those startups is Pacaso, a property broker that buys single-family homes and sells them to consortiums of buyers (a practice known as fractional homeownership). Pacaso is ..read more

$5.5B in Grants Allocated for Affordable Housing, Homelessness ibush Wed, 05/08/2024 - 12:51 With this funding, the Biden administration aims to boost the housing supply, lower housing costs, expand rental assistance, and enhance renter protections The chronic housing shortage and staggering increase in home prices over the past decade have left many families struggling to afford rent or homeownership. Data show that about a quarter of renters—roughly 12 million households—are spending more than half of their income on housing costs, which far exceeds the recommended one-third threshold fo ..read more

Timber Talk Episode 2: Building a Greener Future with Sustainable Wood Solutions drubin Tue, 05/07/2024 - 16:19 Engineered Wood Sponsored sponsored In this episode, Kevin DeMars, CEO of Thermory USA, continues the conversation with host Nigel Maynard on the sustainability aspects of thermally modified wood. Tune in as DeMars clears up misconceptions around thermal modification and emphasizes the company’s commitment to quality and innovation. Plus, learn about Thermory USA’s “Factory in Five” mission. Exterior Paints / Stains / Finishes Decking + Railings ..read more

Residential Building Wages Rise Again in March ibush Tue, 05/07/2024 - 14:04 Wage growth for residential building workers continued during March, but at a slower pace than during the previous month Although residential building workers’ wages continue to grow during March, the pace of growth slowed from February's 6.2% year-over-year (YOY) growth rate. Wage growth rate for March was 5.1% YOY, the National Association of Home Builders' Eye On Housing reports. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, average hourly earnings (AHE) for residential building workers* was $3 ..read more

EPA Introduces New Certification: Energy Star NextGen ibush Tue, 05/07/2024 - 12:04 The EPA's newest certification aims to boost national energy and emissions savings and act as a catalyst for the construction of new, energy-efficient homes The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the launch of a new certification for energy efficiency: Energy Star NextGen Certified Homes and Apartments. This voluntary certification program for the residential new-construction sector aims to accelerate the building industry’s adoption of advanced, energy-efficient technologies and was d ..read more

2 New HUD Documents Address AI's Potential for Housing Discrimination ibush Tue, 05/07/2024 - 08:42 The documents seek to limit the ways in which emerging tech could violate protective provisions in the Fair Housing Act and discriminate against individuals seeking housing In an effort to enforce the provisions of the Fair Housing Act and protect Americans' civil rights from discrimination in the process of attaining housing, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released two new documents focused on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms in housing ..read more

5 Steps to Restore Customer Confidence ibush Mon, 05/06/2024 - 14:54 When things go wrong on a project, your ultimate objective should be to not only resolve the issue but to restore customer trust and confidence. Here's how Despite best efforts, mistakes are inevitable. What sets successful businesses apart is the way in which they handle mistakes when they do occur. But simply fixing the problem isn't enough, according to a blog from SiteOne Services, a software-as-a-service provider, which offers a simple five-step process for solving problems in a way that will transform even ..read more

NAHB Announces Plan to Address the Housing Affordability Crisis ibush Mon, 05/06/2024 - 10:27 The National Association of Home Builders has outlined a 10-step plan that would increase the supply of single-family and multifamily for-sale and for-rent housing The nationwide housing shortage has prompted policymakers at all levels of government to seek ways to provide more affordable housing opportunities at a time when housing costs continue to rise. A key cause of the crisis is a lack of new housing units, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), which has unveiled a 1 ..read more

IKEA Model Home Aims to Ease the Trauma of Homelessness ibush Fri, 05/03/2024 - 12:52 Blending innovation with empathy and eco-conscious design, IKEA US unveils a pioneering model home in its Live Oak, Texas, store On May 1, the U.S. arm of global home furnishing brand IKEA unveiled a model of a permanent supportive housing unit (aka a Small Home) at its Live Oak store in Texas. Built with sustainable materials, the model is an example of trauma-informed design, which bases design decisions on an “empathy-based approach.” Trauma-informed designs consider the needs of individuals who h ..read more

States Seek Long-Term Solutions to Reform Property Taxes ibush Fri, 05/03/2024 - 09:23 Rising home prices typically lead to higher property tax assessments, which has been the case in Mountain West states such as Colorado, prompting lawmakers to grapple with issues surrounding property tax relief In recent years, many states have seen property values skyrocket. For states in the Mountain West region, the surge in home prices has been partly due to an influx of new residents from the East and West coasts. That escalation in home prices has resulted in rapidly rising property tax rates for m ..read more