We all know that green homebuilding is hot in new home construction. But do you know how to spot a green home? Today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution outlines some things to look for when choosing your new home:
Full Article: :What To Look For In A New Green Home
Green Home Building
2008 10 Jan
As builders get creative with rebates and incentives, Fannie Mae raises the red flag to lenders citing "Value Distortion". Situations such as this: "shows signs of price distortion is the sale of a home on Olen Mattingly Road in Avenue, Md. The two-story, 2,158-square-foot home, built within the past two years, was originally listed for sale in February 2005 for $635,000 but languished on the market for more than a year, according to local real-estate agents. The owner, builder Bennett Homes LLC, gradually reduced the price to $469,000 by March 2007. In May, however, the home sold for $600,000, far above the recent asking price. Vangie Williams, a real-estate agent who represented the buyers, says the sale involved a payment by the builder to an organization that collected fees for finding buyers." , are prompting Fannie Mae to tighten disclosures of incentives and rebates to ensure banks are loaning on true values of homes.Builder Incentives Distorting Values
Full Article: :Builder Incentives Can Distort Home Value
News
2007 24 Dec
Slowing to a snail's pace, construction spending continues to fall. This fact will have some effects on the overall economy at some point. "Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $863.2 billion, 1.4 percent below the revised September estimate of $875.2 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $503.7 billion in October, 2.0 percent below the revised September estimate of $514.2 billion."
Full Article: :Latest Construction Spending Data Shows Continued Slowdown
News
2007 01 Dec
A recent study by the California Association of Realtors shows that only 24% of Californians have enough income to qualify for a typical entry-level home at $482,910.
Full Article: :Only 24% of Californians Can Afford Entry Level Housing
News
2007 01 Dec
Home Building Costs are low. Builders are on the sidelines looking for new avenues of revenue. Dust off your plans, now is the time to build.
Full Article: :Now is the time to build
News
2007 30 Nov
It goes without saying that building your new home is probably the biggest investment you will ever make. It only makes sense to choose a home builder that has invested in their profession. Here are some requirements you should consider:
Full Article: :Choosing The Right Home Builder
Contractors
2007 09 Oct
Hot2o's polymer-based roof solar system heats 50% of a typical households water. Costing less than $500 and qualifies for the federal solar energy tax credit (EPACT).
Hot2o's Solar Domestic Hot Water System.
Full Article: :Let Mother Nature Heat Your Water, Qualify For EPACT Tax Credit
Products
2007 09 Oct
ADA Compliant and Green product lines by German based VitrA.
Evergreen Two Piece Elongated Bowl, Gravity Flush gives 25% water savings with its 1.2gpf over traditional 1.8gpf American toilets.
Check out their full line of ADA and Green Toilets.
Full Article: :Saving Water With VitrA
Products
2007 08 Oct
Interior and exterior building materials are making their way into new home designs. After years of technology advancements and research America's recycling efforts are paying off. From kitchen cabinets to exterior siding choices are many for the green builder
Full Article: :New Recycled Products Find Their Way Into Green Homes
Products
2007 08 Oct
Kitchen island ideas can help you a lot when you want to modify the area of your kitchen according to your needs. Your kitchen can become more functional and comfortable if you apply some of the kitchen island ideas. Some of this ideas remind us of the traditional farmhouse kitchen when the preparation work was done on a large worktable.
Full Article: :Custom Kitchen Island Tips and Ideas
Home Plan Design
2007 08 Oct
You might have a dream of building a lake home for retirement, for enjoying summers at the lake or for an investment. No matter what your reason for owning a lake home by starting out with a good builder and knowing some of the basics about home building, you will be able to have a positive experience during the home building process.
Full Article: :Building Your Lake Home
Contractors
2007 08 Oct
Full Article: :iRobot® Looj™ Gutter Cleaning Robots
Products
2007 08 Oct
You want a new home, but don’t want to wait 9 months to have it built. Well you’re in luck. Today’s housing inventories are at an all time high and creating a buyers market for the ages for those wanting a new home. But how do you find builders with inventory they need to move? This is where SpecHomes.com comes in.
Full Article: :Builder Spec Home Inventory Online. Home Builder Inventory by City and State.
Contractors
2007 08 Oct
Toll Brothers to build a 311 home community in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Toll Brothers Forbes Article
Full Article: :Toll Brothers Enters Atlanta Market
News
2007 06 Sep
All real estate markets are not created equal. 65% of the nations real estate markets saw median home price increases per BusinessWeek. Housing strong in many metro areas Slide Show Healthiest housing markets: Salt Lake City + 21.9% Binghamton, N.Y. + 19.8% Salem, Ore. +16.7% Farmington, N.M. +14.0% Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa. +12.8%
Full Article: :Housing Prices Increase In 97 of 149 Markets
News
2007 05 Sep
Despite a slowing home building market material costs aren't going down.
Full Article: :Fuel Costs Hamper Savings, Lumber Prices Retreat Other Costs Rise
News
2007 26 Aug
West Coast Green Residential Building Conference + Expo September 20 -22, 2007. This 3-day conference and expo is aimed to green professionals, businesses, and individuals to network, display new technologies. Speakers include: Michelle Kaufmann Michelle of Kaufmann Designs, Eric Corey Freed Architect, LEED AP, OrganicARCHITECT and Sarah Susanka Author of the Not So Big House series and The Not So Big Life. Visit West Coast Green for more information.
Full Article: :West Coast Green Residential Building Conference + Expo
Green Home Building
2007 26 Aug
The slow real estate market is causing some new home buyers to sweat as the possibility of paying two mortgages becomes a reality when current homes remain on the market longer. Builders are offering record incentives, but would be buyers are struggling with the reality of selling the current home causing them to walk away from juicy deals.
Full Article: :New home buyers finding it hard to sell current homes in slow real estate market.
News
2007 26 Aug
The facts are somewhat surprising, but American homes have increased the square footage of their homes by 50% in the last 30 years. Now the trend for smaller home designs is gaining popularity as empty-nesters and green attitudes penetrate the housing market. Smaller homes, which offer energy-efficient and space utilization are more desirable as Americans become more conscious about energy efficiency and downsizing their lifestyle. 
Full Article: :Small Home Designs Gaining Popularity as Attitudes and Demographics Change in Housing
Home Plan Design
2007 21 Aug
The recent mortgage crisis is causing the publicly traded home builders to take a beating. This morning Bank of America analysts downgraded Hovnanian, Toll Brothers and Standard Pacific while reducing stock price targets by almost a third on all the home builders they cover.
Full Article: :Mortgage Crisis Up-ends Home Builders
News
2007 21 Aug
Show off the new view of these new doors and windows! New products blending design with functionality.
Folding Doors Exterior folding door system opens completely to the outdoors. It’s accordion style folding door hinging system allows fast and convenient expanding and collapsing for those backyard parties. Available from Jeld-wen with Custom Wood Series.
Full Article: :New Windows and Doors Offering Functionality and Design
Products
2007 17 Jul
Do you want your new home to be the main attraction for formal social settings, sporting events and children's parties? Then you will need to design with the end in mind. Here are seven tips to remember when designing your new home.
Full Article: :7 Home Design Tips For Entertaining
Home Plan Design
2007 21 Jan
Doors sticking, cracks appearing on your brick exterior, drywall starting to crack? These could be signs your foundation is settling. Don't panic, there are solutions available to remedy the situation. Hopefully your builder warranty hasn't expired, but if you have to tackle this problem a Pier Foundation System might be your answer.
Full Article: :Cracked Foundations and Settling
Products
2007 21 Jan
Cold, noisy, and bland floors are thing of the past. Check out these new products for your new construction.
Sound-deadening flooring
Sonic Floor by Kronopol offers sound-deadening, eco-friendly flooring with wood from FSC-certified forests. The under-padding diminishes impact noise for a quite home.
Full Article: :Out With The Old, New Flooring Technology is Spicing Up Your Flooring Options
Products
2007 21 Jan
Using the same technology as newborn incubators, these new infrared saunas aid in burning calories, reducing stress and detoxify your body. If your thinking of building a sauna in your home this may be a better alternative.
Full Article: :Infrared Sauna
Products
2007 21 Jan
Green home building can add 20% to 30% in additional costs as opposed to traditional construction. From a financial standpoint those considering green home building should weigh the dollars saved from energy efficiency and tax credits vs. the additional costs to build green. While financial incentives may not be the main point for most green consumers, they do play a major role in determining your construction budget. It's important to remember that green home building is not an all or nothing decision. One may choose which features best suit their objectives and budget. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides a variety of tax credits for homeowners, businesses, and manufacturers for purchase of energy-efficient equipment, completion of new energy-efficient buildings, and improvements to existing buildings. If you are interested in learning more about tax credits for green home building explore these resources.
Full Article: :Energy Efficient Home Building Tax Credits Resources
Green Home Building
2007 20 Jan
Finding a knowledgeable Green Builder can be challenging. While the concept is gaining notice with consumers, builders are slow to learn the new green building techniques. Here are three steps to finding a qualified Green Builder.
Full Article: :3 Steps To Selecting a Green Builder
Green Home Building
2007 20 Jan
From the HIVE website: "A HIVE home is an eminently practical, somewhat whimsical, always functional, affordable expression of how you want to live. For those who value a modestly sized, well-designed residence, be it modern or more traditional, there is a Hive home to meet your needs."
Full Article: :HIVE Contemporary Modular Homes
Modular Homes
2006 21 Sep
Looking for a one piece shower or the perfect whirlpool tub for your new construction? Take a look at "America's Bathtub Company" for ideas. 
Full Article: :One Piece Showers and Tubs Ideas
Products
2006 24 Aug
Make your home to stand out with Azek Cellular PVC trimboards.
See a 30min instructional video here.
Azek Trimboards the ultimate in craftsmanship.
Full Article: :The Ultimate Trimboards
Products
2006 24 Aug
Full Article: :Single Coat Rapid Set Stucco by Eisenwall
Products
2006 24 Aug
Full Article: :Commercial Product Guide
Products
2006 24 Aug
Clean, wall-mount shower heads for the ultra shower by none other than Kohler
Full Article: :Shower Power WaterTile bodyspray tiles
Products
2006 24 Aug
Building on or near the hurricane coasts? Consider products which have been tested and certified to stringent ASTM and Miami-Dade Product Control standards to ensure they resist hurricane force velocity. These new windows are an example of forging new technologies to protect your home from the elements.
Full Article: :Impact Resistant Windows
Products
2006 24 Aug
Trussway is one of the nations largest manufactures of building componets. Many usages; multifamily and single family homes Trussway
Full Article: :Trussway- Roof and Floor Trusses and Structural Componets
Products
2006 24 Aug
Saflok manufactures automatic, interconnected, and reinforced dead bolt locks for residential and comercial useage Saflok.
Full Article: :Super Secure Door Locks
Products
2006 24 Aug
Integrity from Martin has a window that they claim is eight times stronger than standard vinyl widows. They also manufacture doors.
Full Article: :Super Strength Single Hung Windows
Products
2006 24 Aug
Want to feel like you're staying at the Ritz? Go visit the [url=http://www.crescentrod.com]http://www.crescentrod.com[/url] by Shower Solutions, Inc. of Houston Texas
Full Article: :Shower Crescent Rod
Products
2006 24 Aug
Two panel plank smooth interior doors
Full Article: :Cheyenne Interior Doors by Masonite
Products
2006 24 Aug
Full Article: :How to Buy an Energy-Efficient Home Appliance
Products
2006 25 Jun
Before you sign a contract or make the first payment, take this simple test. It will give you a better idea of what you can expect from your contractor and the home improvement process.
Full Article: :Test Your Skills at Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor
Contractors
2006 25 Jun
Full Article: :Interview with an Owner Builder
Owner Builders
2006 24 Jun
It goes without saying that knowing your credit standing is important. Credit plays a major role in the construction process; obtaining loans, qualifying for a good rates on insurance and being extended credit by local suppliers are all are impacted by credit rating.
Full Article: :Credit Requirements
Calculating Costs
2006 24 Jun
The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has generated the following list of the top ten things that homeowners can do to provide good indoor air quality.
Full Article: :ASHRAE’s Top 10-How to Ensure Good Indoor Air Quality
Home Plan Design
2006 24 Jun
Full Article: :Building with Modular Homes
Modular Homes
2006 24 Jun
It's important to understand the importance of permits. While this may seem common sense to many, it is not uncommon for an owner builder to experience significant delays for lack a plan approval form their county. Delays cost the owner builder valuable time and money.
Full Article: :Permits and Plan Check
Permiting
2006 24 Jun
What is a building consultant? Building consultants can help steer the owner builder in the right direction in building their home. Building consultants are experts in construction and offer a wide range of services to fill the owner builder's needs.
Full Article: :Building Consultants
Contractors
2006 24 Jun
Today thousands of new home owners are bypassing traditional general contractor agreements and choosing to be owner builders. With the advent of new building technologies and the acceptance of the practice by lending institutions, owner builder projects are sprouting up all over the United States.
Full Article: :Do you want to be an Owner Builder?
Owner Builders
2006 24 Jun
If you've been searching for financing for your owner builder construction project undoubtedly you've heard the phrase "Site Supervisor" by now.
Full Article: :Site Supervisors
Owner Builders
2006 24 Jun
Full Article: :Calculating Land Equity
Calculating Costs
2006 24 Jun
Lot selection is a far too often over-looked aspect of building a new home, and oddly enough; it is one of the most important.
Full Article: :Selecting A Building Lot
Land
2006 24 Jun
Finding the right lot can be a difficult task. Here are some helpful ideas to make the process eaiser.
Full Article: :How do I find lots for sale?
Land
2006 24 Jun
