Auburn Gresham Victorian Is 2000th Home Remodeled Through Cook County Land Bank

Developer Tytus Henry remodeled the four-bed, four-bath Victorian home “from the ground up,” with help from local youth who hope to work in the trades. Local officials and leaders at the Cook County Land Bank Authority joined Henry Thursday to celebrate the completion of the single-family home at 8514 S. Peoria Ave. The four-bedroom, four-bath Victorian home is the 2,000th Cook County Land Bank Authority property to be redeveloped in the organization’s 10-year history. The Cook County Land Bank Authority bought the vacant property in 2019. The 4,500-square-foot home was…

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2 in 3 Homeowners Have Gone Into Debt for Renovations

Nearly 2 in 3 homeowners (63%) have gone into debt to fund a renovation, according to new research from Clever Real Estate, a St. Louis-based real estate company. PR Newswire says with 94% of homeowners having completed a major renovation in the past five years, about 3 in 4 (78%) went over budget on their last project. Nearly half (44%) exceeded their budget by at least $5,000, while 35% exceeded it by at least $10,000. With three months remaining in 2024, 45% of homeowners have already spent $5,000 or more…

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NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI)

The NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) is based on a quarterly survey of NAHB remodeler members that provides insight on current market conditions as well as future indicators for the remodeling market. New Methodology as of Q1 2020 The NAHB/Westlake Royal RMI is based on a quarterly survey of NAHB remodeler members that provides insight on current market conditions as well as future indicators for the remodeling market. The RMI survey asks remodelers to rate five aspects of the remodeling market as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” Each question is…

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Bobcat to Debut Several New Machines, Product Innovations at Equip Expo 2024

Bobcat Company, a global equipment, innovation and worksite solutions brand, will showcase several all-new and recently introduced grounds maintenance and turf renovation machines at Equip Expo. New Utility Tractors on Display  Introduced in June 2024, Bobcat’s utility tractor lineup (UT6066, UT6566, UT6573) offers a competitive advantage for hauling, digging, raking, scraping and more. Bobcat will display its UT6573 at this year’s show.  Bobcat utility tractors feature 12×12 powershuttle transmissions that deliver smooth shifting without stepping on a clutch pedal. Powered by turbocharged, Tier 4 diesel engines, these tractors offer robust…

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Key Hardware Trends to Monitor

The Farnsworth Group, which conducts extensive research in the hardware and building materials markets, offers a slew of insights into what consumers are increasingly seeking (and buying). Here’s a look at top trends owners should consider to finish 2024 strong and plan for a healthy 2025. The outlook for 2025 looks positive. This year bas been down, but thing could be looking up. Farnsworth writes: “According to the August Size of Market release by The Home Improvement Research Institute, the hardware market is anticipated to rebound into positive territory in…

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Remodeling Spending to Tick Up Through Mid-Year 2025

Homeowner spending on improvements and repairs is projected to stabilize and gradually increase through mid-2025, with a slight annual decline of -0.5% expected by the second quarter, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Despite economic uncertainty and slower home sales, the home remodeling slowdown is predicted to remain mild, with annual expenditures reaching $466 billion, similar to the previous year’s levels. According to Harvard University, a modest downturn, homeowner expenditures for improvements and repairs are expected to trend up through the first half of 2025, according to the…

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Framing Lumber Prices

According to the NAHB, the framing lumber composite price increased 0.5% for the week ending on Oct. 4 compared to the previous week. Lumber prices are currently 3.6% lower than they were one year ago. NAHB continually tracks the latest lumber prices and futures prices, and provides an overview of the behaviors within the U.S. framing lumber market. The information is sourced each week using the Random Lengths framing lumber composite price which is comprised using prices from the highest volume-producing regions of the U.S. and Canada. A summary of…

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Alabama housing market showing positive trends in 2024

Alabama’s real estate market shows continued growth, with July home sales up 0.9% from last year and 13.1% from June, driving a total sales volume of $1.51 billion. With rising median home prices and a robust economic impact, the market’s upward trend is expected to persist, fueled by strong demand and potential interest rate reductions. According to Yellow Hammer, home sales reached 6,136 in July, up 0.9% from last year and a significant 13.1% from June. The total sales volume surged to $1.51 billion, marking an 8.6% increase from July…

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Home Building Geography Index (HBGI)

The Q2 2024 Home Building Geography Index shows continued growth in single-family construction due to limited inventory and pent-up demand, while multifamily construction declines amid tighter financial conditions and high apartment construction levels. Both sectors face ongoing challenges from labor and supply shortages, along with higher mortgage rates. According to the NAHB, the Home Building Geography Index (HBGI) is a quarterly measurement of building conditions across the country and uses county-level information about single-family and multifamily permits to gauge housing construction growth in various submarkets. The HBGI for the second…

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9 Emerging Home Building Trends

Homebuilders are adapting to material shortages and rising costs by embracing new trends such as prefinished engineered floors, which are cost-effective and structurally sound, and mixed-use spaces to address the shortage of affordable housing. Other emerging trends include dopamine decor for mental well-being, all-electric homes for environmental and cost benefits, and a growing preference for single-story homes due to their accessibility and aesthetic appeal. According to U.S. News, homebuilders have faced their share of challenges in recent years. Material shortages and increased costs have forced builders to be more mindful…

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