The Homestead Revival Stairwell is a captivating testament to the harmonious blend of history and modernity. This newly renovated space pays homage to the original charm of the early 1900s farmhouse while infusing it with new life and character. One of the most striking features of this stairwell is its custom wainscoting, meticulously crafted to provide an elegant backdrop for the art pieces that adorn the walls. The wainscoting not only preserves the vintage aesthetic but also showcases the home…

This month guest speaker is Wanda Gozdz  from Golden Age Living LLC. Baby Boomers are retiring, downsizing and moving and most often to warmer     climates.  Your target is the female who is looking for security, safety, ease of use and comfort in a beautiful environment with minimum maintenance. Come and take a tour from the curb, through the building and into the livable environment for a prospective “aging in place” client. View April’s Design Bite The post April Design Bites is now…

After reaching the 12-month high last month, existing home sales retreated in March due to lingering high mortgage rates, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Meanwhile, low resale inventory and strong demand continued to drive up existing home prices, marking the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year median sales price increases. Eventually, mortgage rates…

Half of payroll workers in construction earn more than $58,500 and the top 25% make at least $79,450, according to the latest May 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). In comparison, the U.S. median wage is $48,060, while the top…

As economist Milton Friedman once quipped, monetary policy has a history of operating with “long and variable lags.”[1] What Friedman was expressing is that it takes some time for the true effects of monetary policy, like the changing of the federal funds rate, to permeate completely through the larger economy. While some industries, like housing,…

Located in the impoverished Kensington section of Philadelphia, the client wished to provide the area with a much-needed resource: affordable housing. Utilizing a historic property, a former textile warehouse built in 1893 that has been abandoned and fallen into despair, the project sought to reuse and convert the building as affordable housing, and to become a beacon within the community representing an investment into the betterment of the neighborhood. t By working in tandem with historical architects and funding through…

According to the latest What Home Buyers Really Want Study*, the vast majority of home buyers are looking for a home with at least one home office (or space dedicated to work/study).  More specifically, 66% would prefer to buy a home with exactly one home office, 13% want at least two offices, and 20% want…

Housing starts fell in March with interest rates somewhat higher than expected last month as the latest inflation readings failed to show improvement. Builders are also still facing higher supply-side costs and tighter lending conditions. Overall housing starts decreased 14.7% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.32 million units, according to a…

An earlier post based on the report The Building Sustainably: Green & Resilient Single- Family Homes 2024 SmartMarket Brief focused on the prevalence of green home building. This post will examine commonly used practices in green building. This is the second part of a four-part series that will be published about the report.   Top Green…

Be sure to check out the April Design Bite, Graceful Living: Tour Your Ideal Retirement Haven, April 18! Baby Boomers are retiring, downsizing and moving and most often to warmer climates. Your target is the female who is looking for security, safety, ease of use and comfort in a beautiful environment with minimum maintenance. Come and take a tour from the curb, through the building and into the livable environment for a prospective “aging in place” client. Free for NAHB…