Understanding San Francisco’s New Affordability Requirement In a landmark decision, San Francisco voters recently approved a ballot measure that raises the affordable housing requirement for residential developments. The new law mandates that projects with 25 units or more must include 25 percent affordable units, a significant jump from the previous 12 percent threshold. This change […]
The term “top 1 percent” has become a staple of economic conversation, but for home builders, the real question is what this data means for housing demand. Income thresholds for the top 1 percent vary dramatically across the United States, creating distinct tiers of housing markets that builders must understand to price, design, and market
Why Fewer New Homes Are Built Under 1,800 Square Feet For decades, entry-level and attainable homes that buyers actually want have formed the backbone of the American housing market. But a quiet shift has taken place over the past several years: the number of new homes built at modest sizes has steadily declined. Data from
The housing market is often described as a barometer of economic health, and few measurements are as closely watched as the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index (HMI). After remaining flat at 58 for four consecutive months, home builder sentiment finally stirred in June, rising two points to 60. This modest but
Home buyers face a three-way choice when deciding where to live: rent an apartment or house, buy an existing resale property, or purchase a newly constructed home. For builders, the challenge is making the case for new construction when buyers are tempted by lower entry prices in the existing market or the flexibility of renting.
Why Timeless Kitchen Design Matters for Builders When home buyers walk through a new kitchen, they are not just evaluating cabinets and countertops. They are imagining morning coffee routines, holiday dinners, and years of daily life. A kitchen that looks fashionable today but dated in five years hurts resale value and homeowner satisfaction. That is
Hydrogen Energy Storage for Residential Construction: Understanding the Technology Behind Off-Grid Solar Power Systems Builders evaluating renewable energy options for residential projects are encountering a growing range of technologies beyond standard rooftop photovoltaic panels. One of the most promising developments is hydrogen energy storage, which solves the fundamental limitation of solar power: how to keep
Understanding the Divergence in Housing Sales Data Housing market forecasts can send mixed signals, and the latest projection from Zillow is a textbook example. According to the report, existing home sales were projected to increase by 5.6 percent to 5.03 million units in December, while new home sales were expected to drop 3.2 percent to
Zillow’s 2016 housing market forecast identified Denver, Seattle, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Richmond as the hottest markets. Here is what home builders can learn from that forecast.
What Houston’s 2015 Housing Market Teaches Builders About Navigating Market Cycles The Houston housing market in 2015 demonstrated how a regional economy tied to energy markets can deliver back-to-back record years, then face an abrupt shift in conditions. After posting the highest sales volume in history during 2014, Houston followed up with the second-highest sales
