Most homebuyers that are building a home will need a construction loan. And the typical homebuyer will only have built 1 to 3 homes over their entire lifetime. That means getting a construction loan is an entirely new process. Even if they have done it …
Home sales today are off the charts. Interest rates are now at historic lows! Realtors and home builders are all busy. Homebuyers are doing their research and looking at homes on the internet. Four items seem to be at the top of the search list for those investigating building their new home.
In the last six months, lumber prices have drastically increased. By drastically, we are talking by more the double the price they were at in March. This has driven the price of a house up sharply as we approach the end of the year. But we have also seen, historically, the lowest interest rates for a home mortgage. We are talking near record lows for a home mortgage. Most home buyers take out a 30-year loan to finance their home. So now we have what is called a quandary
Residential off-site construction is the term used to describe the manufacturing, planning, design, fabrication, and assembly of a home’s elements at a location other than its final installed location.
Perhaps the most famous quote attributed to Henry Ford is this: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” While most people agree that Ford never actually said this, it does illustrate a great point. People don’t know exactly what they want until they see it. But once they see it, they will flock to it in droves. And typically when they do, it will happen fast! The main picture in this article illustrates this exact point. The picture on the left was taken on 5th Ave in New York in 1900. You see just one car. However, in just 13 short years there was a complete change. In that same area of 5th Ave in 1913 try and spot the lone horse.
COVID has also changed the way many people think about the livability of floor plans. Over the past 20 years, the move has been towards open floor plans. The kitchen, dining room, and family room have blended into one large great room. Formal dining rooms and living rooms have been disappearing from today’s home plans. But at the same time, today homes have become more energy efficient. Some of this can be attributed to stricter local building codes and requirements, while in other cases, it is just because building products have gotten better.
Building a custom modular home is a process. A process that is done successfully thousands of times across the country every year. You can look at builder websites, on social media sites, and at brochures and see beautifully finished custom homes. But it isn’t your …
My wife (a slightly over 55+ woman – if I tell you her real age, I’ll be sleeping in the garage) has a funny saying. When she’s getting ready in the bathroom early in the morning she’ll say, “The time from wakeup to pretty keeps …
How do you know that the new home you are living in meets current building code? Does your state observe a written building code? Does your state, county, or city require a building permit to build a new home? What does getting a building permit …
Hotels, colleges, franchises, and many others are facing the same issue as every custom home builder in the U.S. today, a shortage of skilled construction workers. Just like custom home builders, they require quality construction for their commercial construction efforts. Not only do they need …
