Sponsored Content It is almost impossible to name all the benefits of the effects of natural light on the human body. Light is a source of invaluable vitamin D, a key ingredient for the growth of strong bones. It’s also a guarantee of a good night’s sleep, increased energy, productivity, and well-being.  Unfortunately, according to statistics, the average American spends as much as 87% of his or her life indoors, thus risking daylight deficiency. The solution? Design a living space…

Interest for new home construction weakened in the fourth quarter of 2022, driven by high mortgage rates and elevated new home prices.  The latest Housing Trends Report (HTR) shows that the share of prospective buyers looking to buy new construction dropped to 20% in the final quarter of 2022, down from 27% a quarter earlier. The latest decline in interest… Read More ›

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 32 states and the District of Columbia in December compared to the previous month, while 18 states lost jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 223,000 in December, following a gain of 256,000 jobs in November. On a month-over-month basis, employment data was strong in Texas, which… Read More ›

The Best in American Living Awards ceremony is almost here.  If you haven’t already done so, make plans to join the celebration and honor the award winners of 2022. Come and see the judges’ top picks for the most creative home and community designs, meet new friends, and raise a toast to the value and importance of good design!   There are a limited number of tickets still available. Don’t take a chance on experiencing this prestigious event and purchase a…

The share of adults planning a home purchase in the next 12 months dropped to 13% in the final quarter of 2022, down from 15% in the previous quarter.  The drop is not surprising, given that housing affordability worsened during this period, as mortgage interest rates surpassed 7.0% and reached levels not seen in nearly 20 years. In the third… Read More ›

As elevated mortgage rates and tight inventory continue to weaken housing demand, the volume of existing home sales declined for an eleventh consecutive month as of December, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This is the longest run of declines since 1999. While mortgage rates have retreated in recent weeks due to recession concerns, they are likely to… Read More ›

Led by a decline in multifamily production, overall housing starts decreased 1.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.38 million units in December, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. Also of note, single-family housing starts ended the year down more than 10%, marking the first annual decline since… Read More ›

The NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter of 2022 posted a reading of 66, falling 17 points from the fourth quarter of 2021. While there is a sharp decline in RMI year-over-year, it remains in positive territory as remodeling continues to outperform the rest of the residential construction sector, whether one looks at construction spending or… Read More ›

The International Builders Show is right around the corner and comes with plenty of design-related opportunities.  From IBS education to programming and networking in Design Central and culminating with the Best in American Living Awards (BALA) ceremony, you won’t want to miss a thing!    The Best in Americal Living Awards, held on Wednesday, February 1, 5:00 – 8:00 pm, will showcase and celebrate the most creative and innovative home and community design winners of 2022. Attendees will have a chance…

The producer price index (PPI) for inputs to residential construction less energy (i.e. building materials) rose 8.3% in 2022 (not seasonally adjusted) according to the latest PPI report—less than one-half the increase seen in 2021. On a monthly basis, building materials prices declined 0.3% in December—the fourth consecutive monthly decrease. After increasing an average of 1.8% per month the first five… Read More ›