I’ve been a member of NAHB’s design committee for a few years.  This year, as part of that committee, I served as a judge for the Best in American Living national design competition.  What an eye-opening experience that was! I looked at the very best product our industry has to offer.  I worked with the other committee members to identify the trends in residential architecture and design. Now, I want to share with you – one builder to another –…

Using the Bureau of Economic Analysis most recent release of county level personal income per capita data and Census Bureau’s county level permit data, new NAHB analysis finds that single-family and multifamily construction takes place more often in areas where incomes are higher. Counties were grouped into five quintiles by the personal incomes per capita for each county. The high… Read More ›

According to the Federal Reserve’s latest G.19 Consumer Credit report, total consumer credit outstanding totaled $4.99 trillion (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in October, an increase of $5.1 billion over the month and $146.7 billion—or 3.0%–higher than October 2022. The monthly increase resulted from revolving and nonrevolving credit outstanding gaining 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively. The level of revolving debt—primarily credit card debt—rose… Read More ›

Charleston, South Carolina Architect/Designer | Danielian Associates Architects + Planners Builder | Crescent Homes KEEN EYE MARKETING | FRANZI ANNIKA PHOTOGRAPHY Each home is designed in the historical Low Country style and oriented around protected 100-year-old live oaks. This intimate community is one of Charleston’s best-kept secrets; promoting walkability with gas lantern-lit homes and walks with views of the surrounding wildlife preserve. The design team was challenged with incorporating the protected, natural landscape and aware of the flood zones. As such, a variety of…

According to the 2023 third quarter release of the Federal Reserve Z.1 Financial Accounts of the United States, household real estate assets grew for the second consecutive quarter. The continued lack of existing for-sale inventory has contributed to the growth in households’ real estate assets. The level of household real estate assets increased by $510.25 billion from $45.03 trillion in… Read More ›

In November, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 199,000 and the unemployment rate declined to 3.7%, from 3.9% in October. The labor market continues to moderate. The Fed held interest rates steady for the second meeting in a row at the conclusion of its November meeting. This month’s employment data will be one of the key components in determining whether… Read More ›

Aram Bassenian, AIA – Chairman & CEO and Carl W. Lagoni, AIA – President, Class of 2008  Devoted to design excellence, Aram Bassenian has more than 35 years of architectural practice. Still active in the visionary leadership of the firm today, Bassenian energizes the quest for new design solutions to satisfy an ever-changing new home market. Professional Builder Magazine’s Professional Achievement Award for highly marketable housing designs and the Max C. Tipton Award for Marketing Excellence attest to his position…

According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), 62.6% of single-family homes started in 2022 were built within a community or homeowner’s association.  This marks the second year in a row that the share declined, from the high point of 67.1% posted in 2020, and 65.5% in 2021.  Prior to 2021 the share had been on a… Read More ›

The BALA Home of the Year exemplifies several trends seen by the judges: smaller urban lots, contemporary planning in a traditional scheme, and a design that puts the house in context with the surrounding community.  The house includes such other trends as front and rear porches, inclusion of an expandable space, and a desire for high quality in workmanship, product and design.  The 3012 square foot home is situated on a 50-foot-wide by 150-foot-deep lot.  Its Mid-town Memphis neighborhood is…

Information obtained from the US Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) and tabulated by NAHB, shows the share of new homes with a two-story foyer slightly increased in 2022. The increase was particularly notable in West South Central and New England. However, most new single-family homes were built without a two-story foyer nationally and regionally. According to the Census, a… Read More ›