News You Can Use - Trends and Numbers

Homeowners Turning to Phased Remodeling Due to Down Market, Says NARI
Residential remodels are no longer those once-in-a-lifetime projects that keep homeowners dreaming years on end before they ever pick up a hammer. Instead, many homeowners opt to do a series of remodels as their schedules, budgets and lifestyles evolve over time, according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).

In fact, according to a recent Consumer Reports poll on home remodeling, 36% of homeowners who plan to remodel plan to do so in phases. Read more.

Builders Ask Congress To Extend and Enhance Home Buyer Tax Credit
To help create jobs and set the stage for a strong recovery, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today called on Congress to extend and enhance the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit due to expire on December 1.

Specifically, NAHB is asking Congress to extend the home buyer tax credit program through November 30, 2010 and make it available to all buyers of principal residences. Read more.

Consumer Satisfaction With Windows and Patio Doors Declines, According to Latest J.D. Power and Associates Report
As economic difficulties lead homeowners to curtail remodeling projects, overall satisfaction among consumers with windows and patio doors has declined in 2009, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction Study(SM) released today. Read more.

AIA Study Estimates up To 270,000 Construction Industry Jobs Could be Created if American Clean Energy Security Act is Passed
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) conducted a study to determine how many jobs in the design and construction industry could be created if the American Clean Energy Security Act (H.R. 2454; also known as the Waxman-Markey Bill) is enacted. The study analyzes two provisions included in the House-passed Act, the State Energy and Environment Development (SEED) program and the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (GREEN) program. Using studies that measure the extent of job creation in the building industry, the findings estimate that as many as 270,000 jobs could be created or saved if the building-related provisions in H.R. 2454 become law. Read more.

News You Can Use

The good news....

Home Builder Confidence Posts Largest Gain in Five Years
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose five points in April to the highest level since October 2008, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This gain was the largest one-month increase recorded since May of 2003, and brings the HMI out of single-digit territory for the first time in six months - to 14. Every component of the HMI reflected the boost, with the biggest gain recorded for sales expectations in the next six months. Read more...

First-Time Home Buyer Survey Reveals Increasing Demand Despite Concerns About the Economy
Century 21 Real Estate LLC, the franchisor of the world's largest residential real estate sales organization today announced the results of its recently commissioned first-time home buyer survey. The survey found that m ore than three-quarters (78 percent) of potential first-time home buyers say that now is a good time to buy a home, despite widespread concern about the economy. Out of the 1,000 prospective U.S. first-time home buyers surveyed in early March for the CENTURY 21 First-Time Home Buyer Survey, 68 percent think now is a better time to buy than six months ago. Read more.....



The bad news....

Significant Downturn Seen for Home Remodeling in 2009, According to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies
Reductions in the amount spent on high-end home improvement projects continue to hinder remodeling activity according to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies. For 2009, the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) points to homeowner improvement spending declining around 12%. Read more...

The odd request for news...

Roto-Rooter Seeks Submissions for Upcoming Book
Plumbing and drain cleaning service provider Roto-Rooter is looking for the strangest, wackiest, scariest and just downright oddest plumbing stories for their new bathroom reader. The book, designed to be a quirky, vignette style quick read will include commentary from Ghost Hunters stars Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson - real life Roto-Rooter plumbers - along with some practical plumbing advice and utterly useless trivial knowledge that will impress your friends. Read more, if you dare....