Posts Tagged ‘Energy Star’
MULTIGENERATIONAL HOMES
There is a new kind of home that is becoming more and more popular these days and it is being marketed to multigenerational households. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, these new multigenerational homes have increased by 30% from 2000 to 2010. Whether kids are moving back in with parents or parents moving in with their kids, an estimated 51 million Americans now live in homes with at least two generations of adults.
Many of these multigenerational homes offer a second master bedroom, a kitchenette and sometimes even a separate entrance. According to some, this is a niche that appears to be growing in popularity, and with the American economy still struggling, it makes this type of home very practical. While duplexes, granny flats and guest houses have had a long history of popularity over the years, the two homes in one multigenerational home is a fairly new concept and has become very popular over the past few years.
American Housing Builders, Inc. is very aware of this phenomenon and we are very busy designing new floor plans to accommodate this lifestyle. Call us for more details regarding this new trend and allow us to help you design a new multigenerational home for you and your family. American Housing is located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida and you can contact us at 727-546-6611.
Finally, Some Good News For Home Buyers
According to the Department of Commerce, home sales jumped 32% and new home sales rose 11.1% in March of 2011. Although this does not mean we are out of the woods yet, it is a very good indication that things may be starting to improve.
To add more good news on top of that, Fortune magazine just named the Tampa Bay area the fifth best area to buy a home in the country. Fortune magazine stated that even with the glut of foreclosures, it is cheaper to own a home in the Tampa Bay area than it is to rent the same house. Fortune magazine went on to say that retiring baby boomers flocking to Florida will help resurrect the housing market in the Sunshine State, putting it in the unique position of helping to lead the country out of the depressed market it has been in for the past few years.
So, with all of this good news, those seeking to buy a new home in the Tampa Bay area have a unique opportunity to buy now at prices that were unattainable just a few short years ago. If you have been considering buying a new home or have been patiently waiting on the sidelines to see what the market will do, now is the time to act.
So, without further hesitation, please contact American Housing Builders at 727-546-6611 or visit us at 6580 72 Ave N in Pinellas Park, FL 33781, for information on our quality, yet affordable, new homes and let us help put your home buying dream into high gear.
Home Sales jump 32% in Tampa Bay area
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Tankless water heaters cost more initially in new construction, and can be a nightmare to retrofit in a remodeling project. But in many use cases they save energy costs dramatically. This article gives some guidelines for evaluating what’s right for you, whether your project is an addition or a new home construction in the Tampa Bay area.
Cost could be a factor for the low penetration in the U.S. market–tankless heaters cost significantly more than a conventional system. But it also could be a matter of educating the American market about the product. In recent years, manufacturers say awareness has grown significantly, and so has usage, which has seen double-digit increases. The driving force? Consumers. They are “mainly the ones driving this demand for tankless water heaters more than builders,” Aikens says.
Does that mean that every builder and remodeler should install tankless in their projects? Maybe, maybe not. While tankless technology can reduce a home’s energy costs by as much as 25% annually compared to a standard 40-gallon tank heater, there are other considerations. Standard storage tanks now qualify for Energy Star certification. And tankless systems may have other issues that negate its energy performance and lower operating costs.
Read The Whole Story Here
Via: http://www.builderonline.com/default.aspx
Thanks: Nigel F. Maynard
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5 Reasons Homeownership Trumps Renting
A recent article posted on FloridaRealtors.org pointed to five reasons why it is better to buy and own a home than it is to rent a home. By owning your own home, you become your own landlord, by owning your own home your home comes an investment for your future, by owning your own home your fixed rate mortgage may actually allow your monthly payments to be less than if you were renting, and by owning your own home you can live in a better neighborhood with better schools.
Click here to read the entire article at FloridaRealtor.org.
Original Source: The New York Times, Ron Lieber (08/27/2010)
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“How New Construction Has Changed!”
The typical new home being built today is actually quite different from homes built just a couple of years ago. In the last few years, some of the extravagant extras that were once being taken for granted by homebuyers, are disappearing and many new homes are reverting back to the basics. After all, when it comes right down to it, your home does not really have to be a real “castle,” it just has to be your home.
The size of new homes has gotten smaller and because of this, homes are being redesigned to make homes more functional by taking advantage of the smaller living areas. Being more practical in designing a new home allows you to get much more use out of your home with less square footage. This concept seems to be a win / win for everyone.
Cutting back on the type of materials being used is another change that has taken place. Instead of using so much tile and wood as flooring, vinyl is making a comeback. Instead of using granite, mica countertops have returned. Instead of 10 and 12 foot ceilings, 8 foot ceilings seem to be more in fashion. This does not mean that new home builders are cutting corners, it just means they are replacing higher cost products with good quality alternatives, including materials that are just a little less expensive than some of the higher line products.
Also, more and more “green” technologies are being incorporated into the design of new homes. Products such as low-e windows, energy saving fixtures and appliances, such as “Energy Star” dishwashers, light fixtures and “Energy Star” heat pumps are becoming more and more common. These products, along with many other products and energy saving design changes are making homes much more energy efficient, saving the homeowner money in the operation and the maintenance of their home.
Another area of change in today’s homes are changes that were made because of the many new building codes that have taken effect. It is certainly true in the State of Florida, where many code changes have been made because of the storms and hurricanes that Floridians have witnessed over the years. Homes now have to meet demanding wind load designs that are obtained by adding either impact windows and doors or by adding window and door protections over the openings, more stringent nailing and strapping of the roof, garage doors designed and installed to withstand high winds and other safeguards that help a home endure severe weather.
Values have pretty much hit bottom and with the changes that have been implemented over the past few years, along with the lower costs and lower interest rates, you can rest assured that now is one of the best times in history to buy a new home. Along with low interest rates that are available, there is also an FHA program that requires only 3.5% down payment, and even lower if you have your own lot, making it an even better time to buy. So, if you have been considering buying a new home but have been holding off to see what the economy will do, now may be the perfect time to take that plunge. Only you can make that call, but with costs where they are, it is certainly time to consider making that move.
For more information on our new homes and what type of financing is available, including a 3.5% down payment FHA program, contact American Housing Builders, Inc. at 727-546-6611 and we will provide you with the information you need to decide if the time is right for you and your family.
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Going “Green” is something we keep hearing about because the environment is something we all care about. We all want our world to be a clean and healthy place to live.
But, there is a certain mania that can sometimes go along with being “green” and that is why we each have to decide how “green” we each want to go individually. It is a personal thing we each have to decide on our own.
As builders, we feel that incorporating many “green” products and procedures into the homes and room additions we build as standard features just makes sense for home buyers and homeowners. Products like Low e windows, high efficiency heat pumps and programmable thermostats, Low VOC paints, low water consumption commodes, water efficient faucets and Energy Star appliances are just some of the products that we use as standard building products in our homes and jobs, but we also know that building “green” actually goes a little further than that.
Going “green” also includes using procedures like silt fencing around the property when construction is under way, having floor plans designed to maintain a home’s functionality, having job site plans drawn to help reduce material waste during actual construction, making sure water is being diverted away from the home, and sealing all of the home’s penetrations during construction. These are just some of the ways used to help make our projects more energy efficient and more “green.”
There are also many optional “green” products available today, with many more coming out every day, giving home buyers and home owners a wide selection of products for their homes. Each home owner has do decide on how “green” he or she may want to go.
Although we are NAHB Certified Green Professionals, we do not claim to know everything about “green” technology. We do try to stay current on “green” trends and products, in order to be able to provide pertinent information to our home buyers and room addition clients, so that they can make educated decisions as to what products they may want for their home.
Just saying that we are a “green” builder does not make it so. We know we have to put our money where our mouth is. That is why we not only try to stay current on the most current “green” products and technologies available, we try to incorporate the ones we feel can truly make a difference into our new homes and remodeling projects when it is economically feasible.
