As we head into 2013, social media continues to establish a strong presence across all industries, with the home and building being no exception. In 2012, we saw increased usage of LinkedIn, while other professionals continued to explore the likes of Facebook and Pinterest.
Additional social trends that emerged included:
Read the rest of this entry »
With time running out to resolve the impending fiscal cliff, negotiations are in full swing with both political parties offering differing solutions of how to best address the impending federal tax increases and spending cuts set to kick in on January 1, 2013. And, once again this month, concerns over what the resolution will look like, if one is developed in time, ultimately overshadowed a bevy of positive economic news this past month.
Read the rest of this entry »
Photo courtesy of HTVremodels.com.
You’ve thoroughly researched your target audiences before marketing to them. We’re sure you know them as well as your family (if not better). We recognize how important it is to educate your audience about your specific industry so they can understand the key benefits of your products. But what we don’t always think about is what the most significant factors are in each audience’s consideration set.
The BuildIQ team recently learned some interesting insight into what a few key audiences are looking for when selecting products for their next project. Take a look and let us know what you think.
Read the rest of this entry »
After a close race, the country has voted to return President Obama to the White House for a second term. While Democrats picked up two seats and retained control of the Senate with a 55-45 majority, the Republicans were able to keep control of the House, 234 to 197 (some races are still being decided), in spite of gains by Democrats. This division in leadership will certainly continue to have an impact on the pending economic issues lawmakers will be turning their attention to now that the election is over, with the most imminent being the fiscal cliff. But, they return to their lame duck session with bright spots in the economy that were overshadowed by campaign rhetoric. The economy quietly continued to show its resiliency, with a surge in job additions, a healthy jump in consumer confidence and significant gains in the construction industry.
Read the rest of this entry »
Just as the social sharing site Pinterest has taken hold of consumers, comparable sites tailored to design and
remodeling audiences like Houzz have gripped pros and DIYers.
Houzz bills themselves as the “leading online platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world.” Read the rest of this entry »
With less than a few weeks remaining until the presidential election, the political rhetoric about the economy is at an all time high and all eyes are focused on the presidential race. In the background however, Europe’s debt crisis and the impending “fiscal cliff” here at home continue to create uncertainty and hinder the economic recovery. Despite those economic headwinds, September saw continued progress across a number of key indicators, including unemployment, consumer confidence and housing.
Employment Situation
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Consumer Confidence
Housing Prices
New Home Construction
Permits
Home Sales and Inventories
The American Institute of Architects: Architectural Billings Index (ABI)
The latest numbers show that the economy continues to demonstrate resiliency and progress forward toward a full recovery. Housing remains a positive force and consumers appear to be feeling more optimistic. Still, the election results are certain to have an impact on consumer opinion, as well as the outcome of the current “fiscal cliff” divide, regardless of which candidate wins on November 6th.
According to a rash of recent articles that might be the case. When the housing market burst in 2008 many architects found themselves out of a job as firms, both large and small, closed their doors or laid off a majority of their workforce. In addition, recent architecture graduate students found the prospective of even a low paying internship daunting, with many exiting the industry within months of graduating.
For those architects who decided to stick it out and weather the economic storm, the last four years have been an uphill battle. Projects have been sparse and far between and many older architects, who younger architects considered their mentors and teachers, decided to “retire early” to avoid the effects of a failing economy. Many industry insiders believe the combination has left a large hole in the growth of the architecture profession, both by the numbers and in terms of skills and experience. Unfortunately, the negative effects may be felt by the industry as early as 2014.
Read the rest of this entry »
With hurricanes seemingly increasing in size, frequency and strength over the last decade, the building industry has begun to better prepare homes for disasters. From the Gulf Coast to New England, hurricanes have caused billions of dollars in damages to commercial buildings and homes over the past few years alone, a lot of which could have been avoided.
It starts with enforcing the building codes. The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) recently conducted a study on how the building codes enforced now would have reduced the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, which barreled through South Florida 20 years ago. Read the rest of this entry »
Although the ideas that root New Urbanism are nothing new, the term only emerged during the 1980s and 1990s. The idea of taking the convenience of commercial retail and finding a balance with residential life so that destinations are close and easily navigated on foot can be traced back through generations and different cultures continuing to be relevant today.
This idea is continuing to evolve as developers try to recreate the feel of city living in the surrounding suburban settings outside major U.S. markets as homebuilders look to develop new residential dwellings.
In a Sept. 7, The Washington Post article entitled ‘Can city life be exported to the suburbs?’ Jonathan O’Connor looks at both sides, both for and against the success of recreating city life in suburbs, and mentions, “Instead of building more typical suburban developments, in the past two decades builders increasingly have been bringing city life to the suburbs and exurbs. Street grids are plotted around central plazas surrounded by condos, apartments and shopping. Public transportation is arranged, parking garages are hidden from view, and all the things that people love about D.C. and cities like it are layered on: public art, sidewalk performers, outdoor movies, street festivals, block parties and food carts.”
Most interestingly, O’Connor observes that the “spread of ‘town center’ projects…make it harder to distinguish what makes a city a city. What I enjoy most about New Urbanism is how, when done correctly, it doesn’t forget about the rural settings…”
In the same Sept. 7, Washington Post article, Patrick Phillips, president and chief executive of the Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit group that studies cities says that “just as planners are doing today in the exurbs, Pierre L’Enfant ‘planned out the streets, and builders came in and bought lots and built the houses [of D.C.]. All of these places were contrived in that they were consciously planned and built.”
As developers continue to innovate in their quest to bring neighborhoods closer to the local movie theater, elementary school, athletic fields and shops, prospective young homebuyers will continue to look for options to suit their desired lifestyle and that location may just be 20 minutes north of their favorite urban center, with much of the same feel.
What are your experiences with New Urban development? Are developers and builders taking advantage of the growing trend in your region?
The housing industry is gaining momentum as several important housing indicators have shown substantial year-over-year gains. However, the gains have been shadowing the fragile economic recovery, which is now being hindered by developments from both inside and outside the U.S. With Europe’s debt crisis pushing the Eurozone towards a recession and an impending “fiscal cliff” creating uncertainty at home, economic growth is being held back. While the European Central Bank is taking measures to address the situation, it is unlikely that Congress will overcome their differences to address the fiscal cliff before the November election. Consequently, uncertainty looms on the horizon and businesses remain reluctant to hire or invest. Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Elmendorf recently noted: “Economic growth right now is being held back by the anticipation of this fiscal tightening.” In the meantime, economists and the markets are eagerly monitoring the Federal Reserve to see if it will undertake another round of accommodative monetary policy to jumpstart the economy.
GDP Growth
Consumer Confidence
Employment Situation
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Housing Prices
Home Sales and Inventories
New Home Construction
Permits
The American Institute of Architects: Architectural Billings Index (ABI)
Although the housing industry seems to be a bright spot, multiple pressures are impeding a more robust economic recovery. It is hoped that a resolution of Europe’s economic situation is reached and that lawmakers in the U.S. overcome their differences and resolve the impending “fiscal cliff” to avoid further economic damage that could erode the progress seen in the housing industry. In the meantime, all eyes will turn to the Federal Reserve to see how they will handle the delicate nature of events. These actions will not erase the concerns with the Eurozone or the fiscal cliff, but have the potential to help jumpstart the U.S. economy as a whole.
