According to the latest U.S. Census Construction Spending data, private residential construction spending increased by 1.5% in December 2024. This was the third consecutive monthly increase since September 2024. On a year-over-year basis, the December report showed a 6% increase. According to Eye On Housing, The monthly increase in total private construction spending was primarily driven by higher spending on single-family construction and residential improvements. Single-family construction spending was up 1% for the month. This marks a continuation of growth after a five-month decline from April to August, aligning with steady…
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President Trump Delays Implementation of Tariffs on Goods From Canada and Mexico
Following President Trump’s announcement delaying the proposed tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2024 Chairman of the Board and a custom homebuilder from Wichita, Kansas Carl Harris, issued a statement as follows: “We commend President Trump for reaching an agreement with Canada and Mexico to delay the proposed tariffs, avoiding additional strain on a housing market already facing affordability challenges. Stability and certainty are essential for American businesses, consumers, and the strength of our economy. We urge all parties to remain committed to…
Read MoreThe Top Home Remodeling Projects of 2024, According to a New Survey
2024 was the year of routine maintenance, not major undertakings, according to Angi’s 2024 State of Home Spending Report. The report found that 47% of the nearly 7,000 responding homeowners spent their home budget on around-the-house maintenance, with millennial homeowners committing the most funds to upkeep than other generations. “This reflects a practical approach to ensuring the longevity of their homes amid rising costs,” the Angi report reads. According to Apartment Therapy, Outside of routine maintenance, last year’s most popular home projects were interior painting, installing new appliances, and bathroom…
Read MoreAmericans Spend More on Home Improvement as Housing Market Rebounds
Americans are beginning to spend more on backyard decks, spa-like bathrooms and other vanity improvements. Home remodeling and repair spending is anticipated to reach $325 billion this year, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. This level of spending hasn’t been seen since 2007. Marketing services company Hanley Wood offered a similar remodeling market outlook, projecting that the industry is to make a full recovery this summer following 12-straight quarters of growth. “The forecast looks very bright for the remodeling market,” said Tobias Morrison, national sales manager for…
Read MoreGut-Renovated Remodel Comes Out With Farmhouse Kitchen in Boston, Massachusetts
The 2,301-square-foot single-family home, which dates to 1897, blends historic charm with coveted modern upgrades. The home, now equipped with a farmhouse-style kitchen, was renovated with timeless design in mind. The highly-anticipated 182-square-foot renovated kitchen features checked floors, stainless steel appliances and two-tone solid wood cabinetry. Additanlloy, the island countertop tastefully matches the backsplash material. “They bought this as a fixer-upper in 2019, and put blood, sweat, and tears into this thing for the last five years,” said Sam Reifman-Packett of the RP Group at Compass, who has the listing.…
Read MoreRemodeling Through Preservation-Based Renovation Model
Jordan Bagus, founder and creative director of Larapin design studio, is working through her business’ preservation-based real estate model to save character-filled homes from demolition and reconstruction. This means she purchases older residential propertied, restores them and resells them. Denver publication, 5280, sat down with Bagus to detail a once-dilapidated City Park West home that she purchased for $350,000, fixed up, and sold for $690,000 in a lengthy conversation: 5280: What exactly is preservation-based real estate development? Jordan Bagus: Preservation-based real estate development means that the work stems from the goal to…
Read MoreLoving an ‘Untouched’ Modernist House, and Then Getting Down to Work
In September 2019, Emlen Fischer and Ayla Christman saw a listing for a 1966 modernist home with a low roofline in Palo Alto, California that they couldn’t ignore. The couple had been recreationally looking at houses on weekends simply out of curiosity and activity. Designed by Aaron Green, an architect who was a close associate of Frank Lloyd Wright, and built by Eichler Homes, the 1,590-square-foot house was found to essentially be a time capsule. The home retained most of its original finishes and fixtures, including custom furniture Mr. Green…
Read MoreHomeowners are Looking to Elevate Spaces in 20225 With Remodeling Trends On the Rise
Recent remodeling trends on the rise are reaching new heights following trending renovations Los Angeles homeowners have enacted. Looking to stay in place amidst high rates, not quite looking for minimalist features, homeowners are seeking simple, healthier, more practical and more peaceful living environments. Two design qualities that Patch has pointed out for 2025 include: Simplicity The “less is more” mentality is being adopted by owners who are doing a home remodel in Los Angeles. The rule of the day is neat lines and uncluttered areas. Given how busy people…
Read MoreStrong Q4 Performance Fuels Optimism Among Remodeling Businesses
Houzz Inc. recently released its Q1 2025 Houzz U.S. Renovation Barometer. The Q1 2025 report finds that businesses across the building industry are optimistic about activity in the first quarter of this year. Expectations among construction professionals are at their highest since Q3 2022. This rising optimism follows improved Q4 business activity compared with Q3. Recent business activity indicators for both industry sectors have increased and are above the 50-point benchmark, indicating that more firms reported improvements than declines in business performance. “Strong Q4 performance and recent federal interest rate…
Read More1950s-Era Home Completely Transformed
A family of four undertook a gut remodel of their Falls Church home located in Norther Virginia, dramatically transforming the three-bedroom, 1,522-square-foot, 1950s rambler into a five-bedroom, 3,052-square-foot, two-story home “We decided to move forward with this renovation because we needed more living space and storage as our kids grew,” the wife said, and loving their neighborhood, staying put proved to be the right move. Design-build firm, Batu Homes + Remodeling, drew up the architectural plans, while Juli Brocato, founder and principal designer of Brocato Design + Co., made initial…
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