Fredericksburg, Texas ARCHITECT/DESIGNER Laughlin Homes & Restoration, Inc., Fredericksburg, Texas REMODELER Laughlin Homes & Restoration, Inc., Fredericksburg, Texas LAND PLANNER Land-flo, Fredericksburg, Texas PHOTOGRAPHER Blake Mistich The design-build team created spaces fulfilling the family’s need for a larger home, with emphasis on an open serene space. The challenge was to convert the cramped 1970s saltbox into an inviting place, suitable for entertaining, while respecting the original building form. Additions were designedto blend with, rather than overpower, the surrounding historic neighborhood.…

After years of being unable to ratchet up the number of new workers coming from outside the U.S. to help with persistent labor shortages, the construction industry reversed this trend and managed to attract over 90,000 new immigrant workers, levels unseen since the housing boom of 2005-2006. Native-born workers remain reluctant and continue joining the industry at a slower rate,… Read More ›

Over the first ten months of 2023, the total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 773,526. On a year-over-year (YoY) basis, this is 10.7% below the October 2022 level of 865,815. Year-to-date ending in October, single-family permits declined in all four regions. The range of permit decline spanned 8.6% in the Northeast to 16.1% in the West…. Read More ›

In an area where land value heavily outweighs appreciation of the past, this post-and-beam mid-century modern home was destined to be razed. The tightly formatted four-bedroom lake home sits on a relatively flat lakeside lot. Sitting just above water level, an all-glass south façade provided unforgettable summers — and extremely problematic winters. With a high water table, a slab on grade floor, outdated single-pane picture frame windows, and strong Michigan winters, the underutilized floor plan no longer worked for today’s…

The Census Bureau’s latest Survey of Construction (SOC) shows small changes in the share of number of bedrooms for new single-family homes in 2022 compared with the previous year. The current estimates indicate the share of new single-family homes with two bedrooms or less is 11.0%, three bedrooms, the largest share, had a share of 42.8%, four bedrooms make up… Read More ›

The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee held the federal funds rate constant at a top target rate of 5.5% at the conclusion of its December meeting. The Fed will continue to reduce its balance sheet holdings of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities as part of quantitative tightening and balance sheet normalization. Marking a third consecutive meeting holding the federal funds rate… Read More ›

According to the latest Producer Price Index report, the price level of inputs to residential construction less energy (i.e., building materials) increased 0.2% in November after declining 0.4% in October (revised, not seasonally adjusted).  The index has increased 0.8% (NSA), year-to-date, marking the smallest YTD gain through November since it fell 0.2% over the first 11 months of 2019. The Producer… Read More ›

Per the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) survey through the week ending December 8th, total mortgage activity increased 7.4% from the previous week, and the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) rate fell 10 basis points to 7.07%. The FRM rate has decreased by 54 basis points over the past month. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume,… Read More ›

We are pleased to announce that BALA 40th Anniversary Ceremony will be held on Wednesday February 28th, 2024, 5:30 – 8:30 pm at Las Vegas Convention Center.  Stay tuned for more information about the event! The post It’s BALA O’clock!!!!! first appeared on Best In American Living.

Consumer prices rose slightly in November, with a decline in the gasoline index being offset by an increase in the shelter index. The ongoing slowdown in inflation increases the probability that the Fed is done increasing rates. However, even after peaking in March this year, shelter costs continued to put upward pressure on inflation, accounting for nearly 70% of the… Read More ›