The United States job market accelerated unexpectedly in March, while the figures for January and February were revised downward substantially. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2% in March, compared to the previous month’s 4.1%. This month’s jobs report highlights the continued resilience of the labor market despite sticky inflation, a drop in consumer confidence, mass federal government layoffs and growing economic uncertainty. According to Eye On Housing, Noticeably, residential construction employment has shown signs of weakness in recent months. In March, the six-month moving average of job gains for residential…
Read MoreDay: April 9, 2025
70s Kit-Kat Bathroom Tile Trend is Back, Set to be the Biggest Trend in 2025
Currently taking the internet by storm are kit-kat tiles. All the rage in the 70s, these slim and vertical tiles look a lot like a certain candy bar, and are now set to be one of the biggest bathroom trends for 2025. According to House Digest, But kit-kat tiles today are less about a nostalgic throwback and more about clean lines and texture. They work especially well in small spaces, like powder rooms or showers, where the vertical effect draws the eye up to make the space feel bigger. While white is always…
Read MoreSec. Rollins Announces Sweeping Reforms to Protect National Forests and Boost Domestic Timber Production
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Secretarial Memo establishing an “Emergency Situation Determination” on 112,646,000 acres of National Forestry System (NFS) land. This Memo comes on the heels of President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order to expand American timber production by 25%, empowering the U.S. Forest Service to expedite work on the ground and carry out authorized emergency actions to reduce wildfire risk and save American lives and communities. “Healthy forests require work, and right now, we’re facing a national forest emergency. We have an abundance of timber…
Read MoreAging Housing Stock Signals Future Remodeling Market Growth
Around 48% of the United States housing stock dates back to the 1980s and earlier. The median age of owner-occupied homes has rose to 41 years in 2023, up from 31 years in 2005, according to the latest data from the American Community Survey. The U.S. owner-occupied housing stock has aged rapidly particularly, particularly since the Great Recession, as the residential construction continues to fall behind in delivering new homes. According to Eye On Housing, Currently, new home construction faces headwinds such as rising material costs, persistent labor shortage and elevated…
Read MoreConfined 1959 Bungalow Cleverly Remodeled to Live Large
When setting out to remodel their 1959 bungalow in San Diego, California into an open, airy family home, interior designer Allison Garrison of Allito Spaces and her husband Jon asked themselves a question: How do you fit a busy family of four, a home office for a thriving design business, multiple living and dining areas both indoors and outside, plus tons of storage—all while maintaining a breezy, beachy vibe—into a modest 1,400 square feet of space? Figuring out just how to do that, and while working within the compact footprint…
Read MoreHome Additions and Renovations Rise Amid High Interest Rates
Many homeowners are turning to additions and renovations instead of buying and selling as interest rates hold steadily high with home prices still above average compared to before the pandemic. Homeowners are now sitting on “substantial” increases in home equity available to finance renovations, according to interior designer Sharon McCormick of Sharon McCormick Design. “Moving is expensive with Realtor commissions, closing costs, lenders’ fees, appraisals, inspections, title insurance, surveying fees, moving expenses and utility hookups adding up quickly. Uncertainty in the market and rising interest rates also play a role…
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