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…
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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…
Read MoreMillennial Buyers Prefer Better, Not Bigger Homes
Millennial buyers say they are willing to compromise when it comes to space. A National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analysis found that millennial buyers prefer more square footage than other generations, but most would choose a smaller feature-rich home for the same purchase price. “Buyers are willing to make compromises to find the best possible home for their families,” said NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes, a home builder and developer from Lexington, N.C. “Our nation’s builders are willing to meet buyers where they are and construct a high-quality home to…
Read MoreFirst Real Estate Report Released on the Power of Presale Renovations
Presale renovations are emerging as a crucial strategy for the real estate industry, transforming how properties are presented and sold in today’s tech-enabled housing market. Upgrading properties before they are listed has historically been the restricted purview of home flippers. The emergence of presale renovation firms has since changed this dynamic. These new firms deliver forward-thinking tech tools and solutions designed to help real estate agents maximize market impact while often significantly boosting home sellers’ return on investment (ROI), helping to create generational wealth. According to PR Newswire, To uncover the…
Read MoreGuide for California Wildfire Rebuilding Released
In collaboration with Arup, as well as a group of volunteers, the U.S. Green Building Council of California (USGBC California) is proud to introduce their California Wildfire Rebuilding Guide, a comprehensive resource created to help communities rebuild after the devastation of these wildfires. This guide can be an essential resource for homeowners looking to make critical decisions on their rebuilding journey and for professionals who will be needed to support these rebuilding efforts. The guide offers practical, step-by-step support for homeowners, community leaders, building professionals and recovery teams as they…
Read MoreRenovated Neglected Home Turns Into Coastal California Dream
Anders Lasater, owner of Anders Lasater Architects, and Sandra Vila, owner of Sandra Vila Design, saw one man’s neglected 1960s hillside home as a treasure to be restored. This breathtaking oceanfront property defies expectations and exists as a testament to what can happen when creative limitations spark extraordinary design. “This house is special because it shouldn’t exist,” says Lasater. “By all rules, it ought not to be there anymore, but we were able to transform this little ’60s cracker box tract house into the beautiful estate it is today.” According to Iconic Life, The…
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