Builder Magazine’s annual roundup of the top design trends usually doesn’t have much to say to TreeHugger types, but his year is very different, as the ideas we have discussed for years make their way into the mainstream. Trends include Make Mine Mini (malist), the shrinking of apartments and houses. People don’t need as much; one architect notes that “These kids use the city as their living room and their tiny apartment as their crash pad,They own little but their digital gadgets.” (more…)
Kelly Hoppen shares her interior design tips for 2012
Multi-award winning designer, Kelly Hoppen MBE, releases interior trends report for 2012 and shares with you all the knowledge you need to for this year.
“This past year has been an exceptionally busy year, an endless whirl of designing interiors, launching products, writing a book and filming the first series of my Channel 5 show Superior Interiors. (more…)
9 ideas coming to a kitchen near you
Anything that can help us stay organized and handle tasks efficiently is a real bonus for today’s families. In this niche, the necessities for breakfast are in one spot next to the refrigerator, making it a breeze to get breakfast ready. It all gets hidden behind the lift-up door. (more…)
Not so Green
I am expecting to get some criticism on our down play on Green construction. We have found, especially in our local market (Miami and Boca Raton), if Green costs more it is a tough sell. If the Green product saves energy or has a better life expectancy our clients will at least listen. However, just because something is Green does not do it in our market. We have had several clients inquire about the Green side of construction but inevitably it comes down to dollar choices that most are not willing to do in these tough economic times. Upgrading insulation and energy efficient windows and doors are still high priorities. It is an added benefit if they are Green but not if it costs more.
Harry Hollub president of Hollub Homes
Bright White
Whether you enjoy trend-spotting or wrinkle your nose at the very thought, recurring trends are worth paying attention to, if for no other reason than what they say about the public taste vis-a-vis the times we’re living in. We’re talking about the return of the white kitchen, and if you’ve been in the business long enough, you’ve seen the trend before. So, why now? Depending on your point of view—and your clientele—explanations vary. Economic: In a downturn, moderation prevails, and a white kitchen plays to a bigger variety of tastes than a red one. Strategic: A kitchen that’s all white probably makes a home easier to sell. Stylistic: If, faced with all that white, there’s a craving for color, a white kitchen makes it easier to add a splash of orange or apple-green. Psychological: In anxious, tumultuous times, white is calming. (more…)
The Joys of Homeownership
Today’s experts spout off the latest statistics about long-term wealth, home values, and interest rates, yet there’s a much more sentimental side to homeownership. In fact, many home buyers are drawn to homeownership for these warm and fuzzy reasons.
Owning a home allows you to put down roots, both figuratively and literally. On one hand you become part of a neighborhood and community. When you rent, neighbors come and go as quickly as leases renew. Homeowners, however, tend to stay put longer.
What does this mean for you? You can develop, many times, lifelong relationships. This also means your home will see you through many of life’s important milestones.
It makes sense. Many people enter the realm of homeownership as young couples looking to build a nest. They plan on starting their own family and need room to expand and grow. These family homes will see many firsts and will be the container of countless memories. Additionally, homeownership gives families more room to entertain and this means extended family will also share in building memories. (more…)
Mortgage Rates Fall, Housing Opportunities Getting Better
For four weeks in a row, mortgage rates are seeing historic lows. The 30-year fixed average interest rate fell from 4.09% to 4.01% in the end of September. This marks the lowest rate since 1951.
Also, economists call the 15-year fixed mortgage drop to 3.28% the lowest ever for that loan. It appears they could go even lower as the Federal Reserve announced that it will push long-term rates down further.
These historically low mortgage rates aren’t necessarily rapidly selling homes. Across the country contract signings have been down. According to USAToday.com, “July’s index fell 5.8% in the Northeast, 3.7% in the Midwest and 2.4% in the West. It rose 2.6% in the South.”
The index of sales agreements, tracked by the National Association of Realtors, showed a 1.2% drop down to 88.6 (100 is considered healthy).
Still the opportunities for homeownership keep getting better. Some markets are more affordable than ever; prices have been cut in half in some metro areas.
Of course, getting a loan can be part of the barrier to entry in the housing market. These days, to qualify for a loan a 20% downpayment coupled with a high credit score are required by some lenders. (more…)
Saving on solar
Rebates and tax credits are bringing down the price of home solar energy systems and boosting their popularity. FPL plans to make another $15.5 million in rebates available soon.
On rooftops scattered across South Florida, installers are adding blue solar panels that harness the power of the sun to operate household appliances and heat water.
“I believe in sustainability. I believe in a world that’s good for my children and grandchildren,’’ said John Van Leer, who is putting in a photovoltaic system that will supply about 85 percent of the power he needs for his house in unincorporated Miami-Dade County.
Even at this sunny end of the Sunshine State, though, adding solar power can be an expensive investment that takes years to pay off in savings on energy bills. Solar water heaters run about $4,000 to $6,500, while photovoltaic systems for typical South Florida residents are in the $25,000 to $40,000 range.
Probably in mid-October — the date has not been announced — Florida Power & Light will make another $15.5 million available in rebates to subsidize the cost of installing solar equipment on homes and businesses. It’s the second time the utility has offered the rebates, some of which were snatched up within minutes after they became available in June. That June allotment is reserved for about 825 solar water heaters and about 525 photovoltaic systems. FPL has not yet announced the specifics of the next round. (more…)
