Uncategorized Archives - Residential Contractor

Architects Are Redesigning Their Role

When a flood or wildfire sweeps through a community, firefighters, emergency management workers and local politicians are typically among the first on the scene. But Julia Donoho says architects, too, have a responsibility to follow close behind. Read More In the Face of Disaster, Architects Are Redesigning Their Role source: Houzz

Ramsey Co OK development on former Twin Cities plant

The Ramsey County Board has given the green light to Rice Creek Commons — a mix of homes and businesses planned for the site of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant. The master plan includes three residential neighborhoods, plus parks, retail and office space to be called Rice Creek Commons. READ MORE Source: MPR News

City Sets Record For Affordable Housing Development

While the New York City’s public housing troubles is in turmoil thanks to years of inadequate inspections, lead-based paint poisoning of some of its residents and other safety and health concerns, the city did accomplish a significant positive feat in 2017—a record number of affordable housing units built. The de Blasio administration reports that the city financed 32,116 affordable homes in 2017, which broke the all-time record set by the administration of Mayor Ed Koch in 1989 at 25,243 units. READ MORE Source: Globe St.

Report Importance of Private Helping Low Down Payment Borrowers Qualify All 50 States

U.S. Mortgage Insurers, the association representing five of the top six private mortgage insurance (MI) companies in the United States, today released a report on the role of MI in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report finds that nearly 30 million homeowners have been served by MI for more than 60 years, and breaks down on a state-by-state basis low down payment mortgage lending. The report underscores the historic importance of MI, how MI has helped promote home buying in the U.S., and the significant protection…

Direct homebuyer OfferPad secures $150 million in funding to power growth

There certainly appears to be no shortage of money interested in investing in the burgeoning direct homebuyer segment. Opendoor has been raising money hand over fist at a valuation of more than $1 billion, a newcomer named Perch launched last week with $30 million in funding, plus publicly traded real estate giants Zillow and Redfin both recently expanded into direct buying. The other growing player is OfferPad, which announced this week that it recently secured $150 million in new funding to continue growing its direct buyer business. READ MORE Source: Housing Wire

The Homes of Tomorrow are Here Today at Selah Vista

When you step inside the model home at Selah Vista, the first thing you notice is what seems to be missing: that new home smell. What you sense instead is fresh clean air. No paint fumes, no off-gassing from synthetic carpeting and glue-filled building products, just really clean air. The home’s energy recovery ventilator (ERV) — which is an air exchanger, provides a constant source of fresh air. And that’s just one of the many revolutionary amenities built into the homes in Selah’s new community and Central Washington’s first, healthy,…

Atlanta’s ‘Mews House,’ other intriguing moderns on upcoming MA!

Since its founding in 2007, MA!’s annual festival has trumpeted Atlanta as a surging creative destination where the design economy thrives, and 2018’s version promises to be no different. The expansive Atlanta Design Festival (formerly Design is Human Atlanta) returns to town from May 26 to June 3. A perennial favorite is the tour of modern homes (and offices), which highlights the best of Atlanta’s sustainable, contemporary, and otherwise innovative design. READ MORE Source: Curbed Atlanta

How 3D printing is revolutionizing the housing industry

If you build it, they will come. And if you 3D-print it, they will come faster, cheaper and more sustainably. We live in an era of overpopulation and mass housing shortages. Yet we also live in a time of phenomenal digital innovation. On the one hand we have major crises affecting the health, liberty and happiness of billions of people. But look at the other hand, where we have potential for life-changing technological breakthroughs at a rate never before seen on this planet. READ MORE Source: Tech Crunch

Far South Side senior housing project approved by city

The senior housing development, built by Des Plaines-based MR Properties LLC, is geared toward independent living, according to Colin Regan, a principal at the company and one of the developers leading the project. The seven-story building will be 71 feet and house a total of 134 units. Most of the property will be made up of affordable units with just 30 two-bedroom units priced at market rate. There will also be a community meeting room, fitness center, media room, art room, library, computer lab, beauty salon and laundry room. READ…

Could Higher Productivity Growth Lead to More Affordable Housing?

America’s cities have a problem: There isn’t enough affordably priced housing to go around. Today, city leaders and home-seekers alike are frequently left wondering why builders won’t simply build more housing that is affordable to a wider range of incomes, particularly middle- and lower- income households. For starters, the math doesn’t work. Private developers face an insurmountable gap between the cost of producing new housing and the amount that American households can afford to pay to buy or rent. READ MORE Source: Cities Speak