Builder back issues from March 2005:
Digital dreams: builders and homeowners may have different fantasies when it comes to digital homes, but they are quickly converging.(Editor's Notes)(Editorial)
Mar 01, 2005; ... I'VE BEEN HAVING THESE DREAMS LATELY WHERE I'M COOKing three-bean chili on a Saturday afternoon, listening to the latest Robert Randolph CD over speakers in the kitchen. Or we're on a safari in Africa, we've left the kids home with a sitter, and I call the home network from a cell phone to ...
Web wars.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
Mar 01, 2005; ... I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS REGARDING Parallel Universe (January; page 406). The article stated: "The two groups have set their Web sites up as clearinghouses for new-home buyers, offering up industry news, tips for filing a claim against a builder, links and advice for finding trial lawyers, ...
Guardian Development Co.: Integrity[R] windows a big benefit for this big builder.(Advertisement)
Mar 01, 2005 ... "We are not in the business of simply developing land and building homes," says Brett Malinski, Partner/Product Development, Guardian Development Company. "We create neighborhoods." Currently, Guardian Development Company is creating The Pointe Development, one of the largest ...
Seal of approval.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
Mar 01, 2005; ... WITH REGARD TO BUILDER'S ARTICLE "Off Limits" (January, page 194), I wanted to congratulate writer John Caulfield on a job well done. It was very well written and clearly conveyed the environment in which we developers find ourselves in today when completing an approval process. It was ...
Lighten up.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
Mar 01, 2005; ... I WAS INTRIGUED BY YOUR COVER STORY "Less Is More: The New Urban Challenge Homes" (January, page 208) and the 2,300-square-foot home. These were charming homes, and the article was of great interest--both for what it said and what it didn't. From the soft colors and countertops to the flat ...
Calendar.(Book It)(Calendar)
Mar 01, 2005 ... MARCH 7-10 Effective Construction Contract and Field Administration Course, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. Offered by the school's Department of Engineering and Professional Development, this course benefits field representatives of architects, engineers, ...
Supreme power: the NAHB sides with homeowners in a property rights case before the U.S. Supreme Court.(Property Rights Law)
Mar 01, 2005; ... THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IS REVIEWING AN important Fifth Amendment property rights case this spring that may help clarify what constitutes a public use under a municipal government's eminent domain powers. At issue is a case in New London, Conn., in which the city took over 90 ...
Hot or not?(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
Mar 01, 2005; ... A recent report by Standard and Poor's Ratings Services introduces a new tool for predicting where home prices are headed. In its report "Boom, Bubble, or Bust?" the rating agency uses its Housing Volatility Index to calculate the volatility of home prices in 331 ...
FHA aims higher.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Federal Housing Administration)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HUD just announced that it has raised the mortgage limits that can be insured by the FHA. Buyers in areas where homes are less expensive can borrow $172,632 (up from $160,176), while those in ...
Southern strategy.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Two of the nation's largest public builders have grown through Southern acquisitions. NVR announced its purchase of Columbia, S.C.-based Rymarc Homes in January. The builder closed 231 homes in 2004. Meanwhile, ...
No fees.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... A new study from the HBA of Maryland says that new houses generate far more tax revenue than the cost of the services they require. The trade group says the study proves that impact fees are unnecessary and that ...
Concrete sensor.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Nathaniel Hager III, a professor at Elizabethtown College, in the city of the same name in Pennsylvania, has developed a sensor that can be embedded in concrete as it's being poured to test how quickly and efficiently the concrete cures. Hager and ...
Lumber decision.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(lumber imports)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... The World Trade Organization (WTO) set up a panel in January to decide whether the United States has complied with the WTO's efforts to have the United States reduce its tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber imports. The United States ...
Equity disaster? A new report warns of potential economic disaster for millions in the United States, as home equity falls to its lowest level in 30 years.
Mar 01, 2005; ... DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF WALL STREET, most American household wealth still lies in the appraised value of their homes. But a new report titled "A House of Cards" suggests that the bedrock of family wealth has begun to crumble. The report, published by Demos, a public policy ...
Houston, we have a problem: HUD freezes $48 million in Houston's housing funds.(United States. Department of Housing and Urban Development)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... IN AN ACTION DESCRIBED AS "EXTRAORDINARY" BY A spokesperson for HUD, the agency has frozen $48 million in grant funding to Houston's Department of Housing and Community Development. The city has failed to rectify long-term deficiencies in its HOME program, which provides housing assistance ...
Hospital donation.(Good Deeds)
Mar 01, 2005; ... A Chicago-area builder/architect recently donated $100,000 to his local Children's Memorial Hospital. The donation was made by Mike Klein, president and CEO of Lincolnwood, Ill.-based Airoom Architects and Builders ....
Tools for success.(Good Deeds)(North Florida Builders Inc.)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Residents at a home for troubled teens recently received some tools from North Florida Builders, a Woodside company, to help them get back on track. The custom home builder in Jacksonville, Fla., donated two pairs of leather work gloves, a ...
Founder fired: Habitat for Humanity terminates founder Millard Fuller over sexual misconduct flap.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... IN A STUNNING MOVE THAT SHOCKED AND SADdened the housing world, Habitat for Humanity International founder Millard Fuller and his wife Linda were fired from the ministry they founded 28 years ago. The decision was announced by Habitat's executive committee of the board of ...
Clear solution: jobsite manufacturer launches Web-based tool to make van storage easier.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR ITS dealers and customers, Knaack Manufacturing--a maker of jobsite storage and truck and van equipment--has launched a Web-based design tool called Vehicle Solutions for people outfitting their work vans with storage. "The tool allows users to create ...
The reformer.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to "seek to reform onerous regulatory and planning laws to promote home building" in his proposed budget. The administration may propose changes to the 1970 ...
Target shooting.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... At a recent event marking the completion of the 2,000th manufactured home produced by Karsten Homes' Albuquerque plant, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announced goals for affordable housing in the state ....
Restricting renters: Phoenix-area lawsuit boosts trend toward locking out investors.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... A TREND TOWARD RESTRICTing home buyers from renting out their property in the Phoenix market appears to have gained some traction with a favorable court ruling. On Jan. 3, a Maricopa County judge ruled that a rental restriction imposed on members of the Scottsdale Country Club Village ...
Tipping the scales: how can you be sure your houses are the right scale? Two professors are working on it.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HERE'S THE SCENARIO: You DESIGN A HANDful of houses to be built on an urban infill lot and you think the scale is appropriate for the other houses nearby But are you really sure? This is the question a couple of professors are seeking to address. As more cities experience urban ...
The rail deal: an old neighborhood gives way to a large, mixed-use development next to a subway station outside Washington.
Mar 01, 2005; ... WHEN TRANSIT PLANNERS DESIGNed Washington's subway system, called Metro, almost 40 years ago, they envisioned a system that would spur development around its stations. In many areas in Maryland and Northern Virginia, that's happened. Around the Vienna station, at the end of ...
Nowhere to turn: regardless of location, rent is unaffordable for lowest paid workers.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... The real estate boom continues to have an impact on workers at the lowest end of the pay scale. According to the most recent data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a person working full-time at a minimum-wage job can't afford to rent a two-bedroom home anywhere in the ...
Builder indicted: state files first criminal charges in Poconos fraud case; three civil cases still pending.(Inside Story)
Mar 01, 2005; ... THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE in Pennsylvania last January filed the first criminal indictments against a home builder in the Poconos real estate fraud case. Allegations of builder fraud were widely published in the local press during the past few years, ultimately ...
Power play.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
Mar 01, 2005; ... THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUES ITS ENTREE INTO THE PNEUMATIC-TOOL CATEGORY with a new line of seven pneumatic fasteners that includes finish, framing, and roofing products. All tools feature lightweight magnesium housings; tool-free, depth-of-drive adjustment for accurate ...
True brew.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
Mar 01, 2005; ... THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THE BREW EXpress is the first built-in-the-wall coffeemaker that is truly plumbed. Installed easily in the stud cavity, the unit saves counter space. Coffee brews in a stainless steel carafe that can maintain ...
Go low.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
Mar 01, 2005; ... AS THE GREENING OF building products continues apace, one of the most recent entries is this line of caulk and adhesives that has low amounts of the volatile organic compounds that can harm people with chemical ...
Finish line.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
Mar 01, 2005; ... IN THE PAST, USING STAINED CEDAR SHINGLES ENTAILED A TWO-STEP PROCESS: FIRST, YOU installed the siding; then, you stained it on the house--or you stained it, then installed it. Not anymore. The manufacturer's pre-stained siding panels offer a more uniform and long-lasting stain because ...
Picture this.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
Mar 01, 2005; ... IT USED TO BE THAT PICTURE WINDOWS OFFERED DRAMATIC VIEWS of the outdoors but little opportunity to let in fresh air. The manufacturer's new venting picture window changes all that. Available in sizes up to 6 feet by 6 feet, the window projects 2 1/4 inches from the ...
Locked up.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
Mar 01, 2005; ... THE PARLIAMENT MORTISE LOCK features solid-brass construction, a pickproof triple-locking mechanism, a 1-inch hardened steel deadbolt, and a reinforced strike. It comes in PVD (physical vapor deposition) brass, satin nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, and antique brass. Cost: $670. Medeco ....
Prepare for peace: an expert on arbitration suggests that the trend toward settling disputes out of court is good for builders, but you need to lay the groundwork on paper.
Mar 01, 2005; ... ARBITRATION AND OTHER ALTERNAtive dispute resolution (ADR) techniques are the methods that more and more residential builders, re-modelers, homeowners, and subcontractors are using to resolve disputes between and among themselves. They generally find that it is faster, cheaper, easier, ...
For-sale facelifts: more apartments are being converted into condos, addressing land and affordability issues.
Mar 01, 2005; ... LAST YEAR CONFIRMED THE CONDO craze. Existing condo and co-op sales set their ninth annual sales record, according to the National Association of Realtors. Condo price appreciation outpaced single-family homes, and the median price for an existing condo nationwide--$193,600--surpassed the ...
Gourmet touch.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
Mar 01, 2005; ... GOURMET TOUCH: This wall-mount kitchen faucet is designed to impart a gourmet look to the room. Made from lead-free brass, the faucet features ceramic-disc cartridges, a double-jointed swing spout for ...
Match maker.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
Mar 01, 2005; ... MATCH MAKER: Wall-mount faucets such as the Avalon are a perfect match for above-counter vessel sinks. The modern-looking product is made from cast brass, features ceramic-disc valves, and is available with a 7- or 9-inch ...
Trendsetters: want to know what's hot and what's not? Read on.
Mar 01, 2005; ... KEEPING UP WITH WHAT BUYERS want is like trying to hit a moving target: You may score every now and then, but you'll probably miss more than you'll hit--unless you're really good, of course. We here at BUILDER found out from our sources in the field what's hot and what's not ....
Doorways.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
Mar 01, 2005; ... DOORWAYS: The Profile French door bottom-mount refrigerator allows easy access to the fresh-food compartment. It has spill-saver glass shelves, a shelf that slides out of the way to make room for tall items, ...
Cold storage.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... COLD STORAGE: This three-door, bottom-mount, 24.8-cubic-foot refrigerator features moisture control that keeps the cabinet exterior free of condensation. It also has a retractable water/ice filter and an electronic dual cooling system with ...
Dual force.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
Mar 01, 2005; ... DUAL FORCE: The Rockton dual flush toilet conserves water without sacrificing performance, its manufacturer says. The company's Dual Force technology offers a choice between two water levels for every flush: 1.6 or 0.8 gallons. The flapperless valve and trap-way design ...
New wave.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
Mar 01, 2005; ... NEW WAVE: NEOREST is perhaps the most advanced toilet ever introduced. The tankless unit sports a low silhouette, a "washier" warm-water cleansing unit, and an oscillating spray massage. It also features a heated seat, an automatic catalytic air deodorizer, and a warm-air dryer. The lid ...
Drawing closer.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
Mar 01, 2005; ... DRAWING CLOSER; In recent years, the manufacturer has introduced a dishwasher in a sink, and a dishwasher-in-a-drawer. Its latest effort is a double-drawer refrigerator that can be used in home lifestyle areas such as exercise rooms or entertainment centers. The unit offers 5.3 cubic feet ...
Slim fast.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
Mar 01, 2005; ... SLIM FAST: This 18-inch dishwasher is suitable for those with limited kitchen space or who simply want to add dishwashing capacity. Among the quietest on the market at 44 decibels, the unit features a sensor-touch control panel that automatically adapts the cycle to the ...
Shower me.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
Mar 01, 2005; ... SHOWER ME: The maker's Summer Rain shower series now includes an optional Ambient Air Body Dry System that provides complete head-to-toe, towel-free drying. Designed as a center shower column, the system uses 12 air jets that deliver warm ...
Hot 'n' steamy.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HOT 'N' STEAMY: To help buyers turn an ordinary bath into a luxury spa, the manufacturer offers the MrSteam Butler package, which includes a steam bath and a towel warmer ....
In control: software giant Microsoft introduces the entertainment and home control features of its new Media Center Edition PC.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)
Mar 01, 2005; ... IN JANUARY, AT THE INTERNATIONAL Builders' Show, home builders got a first glimpse of how Microsoft's new platform for home entertainment and home control, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, could very well become a strong force in the home building industry. The large ...
Pivotal venture.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(New Home Technologies )(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Software maker Pivotal Corp. has formed a joint venture with New Home Technologies to market software products and services to home builders. Pivotal is best known for its customer relationship management ...
360-degree turn.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(Builder 360 software)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HomeSphere's BuildSoft Enterprise, a back-office construction management and accounting package for mid-sized home builders, now goes to market as Builder 360. The new product is the result of HomeSphere's collaboration with the Technology Enhancement Project, a group of ...
Safe & sound.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(RFID equipment)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... At the International Builders' Show in January, Bosch Digital Power Tools announced its four-part Safe & Sound program. First, about 70 tools in the Bosch tool line can now be purchased on special order with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. While bar codes only store product ...
Home-tech stampede: distributor seeks to set up home builders as authorized technology dealers.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(Stampede Presentation Products)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... BUILDER AV, A NEW MARKETING PROGRAM from Stampede Presentation Products of Buffalo, N.Y., is an aggressive attempt to develop home builders as a channel for selling consumer electronics products. Stampede launched its program at the International Builders' Show in Orlando in ...
New name.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Constellation Software is now going to market in the home building industry as Constellation HomeBuilder Systems. The company's software lines now include back-office software FAST and ...
Z-Wave aligns: home-control companies form alliance around Z-Wave wireless technology.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)
Mar 01, 2005; ... SOME OF THE LEADING COMPANIES IN THE home-control industry created an alliance earlier this year to market Z-Wave wireless technology developed by Zensys. Z-Wave is a two-way wireless technology that lets homeowners monitor and manage home-control products such as lighting, ...
Interactive options: new software offers a Web-based system for tracking all home buyer information.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... NOW, 02 INTERACTIVE IS OFFERING SMALL builders a Web-based system that handles sales, warranty management, and options selections all in one software package. The software, OnSite Customer Relationship Management, integrates with Intuit's QuickBooks and Master Builder. Builders can ...
Backing AHPs.(NAHB Briefs)(association health plans)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005 ... In February, association health plan (AHP) legislation was introduced by Reps. John Boehner (R-Ohio), Sam Johnson (R-Texas), Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), and Albert Wynn (D-Md.). This new bill, H.R. 525, would help alleviate the rising number of uninsured and the high cost of health care, ...
Members only: the NAHB's 20 Clubs give members invaluable networking and educational opportunities that can help them grow their businesses.(From The President)(National Association of Home Builders)(Column)
Mar 01, 2005; ... WHEN I WAS SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT, I pledged that the NAHB would focus this year on doing what it does best--and do it better than ever before. We want to be our members' best business partner and an ally who provides valuable services that give members a competitive edge in a complex and ...
Balancing act: builders may see a better balance in materials markets.(Seiders Economy)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HOME SALES AND SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING starts hit new records in 2004, and NAHB surveys suggest that buoyant demand for homes carried over into 2005. In this environment, problems reported most often by builders relate to the supply side of the housing market. The cost and ...
Record high.(NAHB Briefs)(National Association of Home Builders )(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005 ... Sales of new single-family homes for 2004 topped one million and set a new annual sales record for the fourth consecutive year, according to U.S. Commerce Department figures released in January. "Sales were up nearly 9 percent for the year," says Dave Wilson, NAHB president ....
Easy access: the NAHB wants to increase accessibility in design and construction.(National Association of Home Builders)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005 ... IN JANUARY AT THE 2005 International Builders' Show, the NAHB Research Center released the 15th edition of the Directory of Accessible Building Products. The Research Center publishes the directory with the hope of increasing accessible residential housing for Americans with physical ...
Helpful guide.(National Association of Home Builders )(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005 ... The NAHB has developed guidelines to help home builders incorporate environmental practices into every phase of home building. The "Model Green Home Building Guidelines," first revealed at January's International Builders' Show, encourage builders to provide decent, affordable housing and ...
Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities.
Mar 01, 2005; ... Nature Lovers Welcome Summit at Sycamore Creek, Corona, Calif, WHY IT WORKED: Mother Nature might just be the biggest factor in this project's success. One-third of the master planned community's 717 acres has been set aside for open space and habitat conservation ....
Inspired neighbors: architecturally rich Alameda, Calif., lends charm and character to Bayport Alameda, a new community that's going up on a former naval base.
Mar 01, 2005; ... IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR ARCHITECTS to tour vintage neighborhoods to get inspiration for a new project. More often than not, though, these hunting expeditions take place many miles--even time zones--away from where the proposed development is poised to take shape. That's definitely ...
Tailor-made marketing: the Nationals 2005: innovation and creativity help builders zero in on specific audiences.(new-home sales and marketing )
Mar 01, 2005; ... IF THE ENTRIES IN THE 24TH ANNUAL COMPETITION of The Nationals are any indication, new-home sales and marketing efforts have never been more innovative, competitive, and exciting. Ten judges from various segments of the industry critiqued approximately 1,200 entries in 53 categories during ...
Gold winners not pictured.
Mar 01, 2005 ... Rookie Sales Person of the Year (tie) Jennifer Danko, The Ryness Co., Newport Beach, Calif. Emilio Epelman, The Marketing Directors, New York Sales Person of the Year Janet Shaffer, First Home Builders of Florida, Ft. Myers, Fla. ...
Cut your losses: Part 2: peering through the shell: our exclusive Builder research demonstrates that when it comes to energy use, new homes almost always outperform old ones. But don't be complacent--it's time to take the next leap forward.(Special report: green building update)
Mar 01, 2005; ... THERE'S SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL ABOUT INfrared photography That's especially true of infrared photos of older homes. From a heat-sensing perspective, the energy escaping from a 30-year-old home makes it light up like a cluster of stars in a dark sky But as Joe Lstiburek, founder of Building ...
Upward mobility.
Mar 01, 2005; ... New resorts are filling in the Las Vegas Strip, creating thousands of new jobs, drawing an international, high-rolling clientele, and spurring a population explosion. In the land-limited Las Vegas Valley, where will all the new people go? The same place everything else in Sin City's ...