Now, builders and architects are turning to reclaimed materials and classical decorative elements to give high-performance new homes and remodeling projects a less “cookie-cutter look” and give them more character. Some are doing so by giving new life to reclaimed or vintage materials like antique slate roof, reclaimed barn stone, and salvaged timbers as accents inside or outside the home. Others are replicating historic architectural styles, with cornices, columns and all!

One place in the home that is perfect for using recycled or reclaimed materials is the bathroom. Reclaimed wood or stone can be used for countertops. Recycled glass tiles create a unique look for bathroom walls. The giant, old-style cast-iron tubs and sinks are in high demand.

Check out this Star Tribune article for more ideas on how the bathroom can be particularly eco-friendly in a remodel or new home construction project.

The poll, conducted this May by the firms Public Opinion Strategies and Lake Research Partners on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders, had a sampling of 2,000 likely voters. It found that 94% of respondents ranked owning their own home as at least somewhat important. A decided majority of the respondents, 74%, said it was “very important” or “one of the most important” priorities in their lives. Owning a home ranked just below being successful at work and slightly more important than the ability to pay for an education or that of a family member.

Three out of four of those polled said they agreed with the idea that “owning a home is the best long-term investment they can make,” even with the ups and downs in the market. Even 20% homeowners who were underwater on their mortgage agreed with the statement.

“Despite the current housing downturn, Americans still see homeownership as a core value and a key building block of being in the middle class and creating strong jobs in their communities,” said Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners, in a press statement. “The bipartisan consensus outside the Beltway is that owning a home remains an essential part of the American dream.”

Having the money to invest in the first place seems to be the biggest challenge. When non-homeowners were asked about their biggest obstacle to buying a home, lack of savings for the down payment and closing costs came first, at 31 percent. Presumably, that answer stems in some measure from the fact that 20 percent of those polled indicated that either they or a member of their immediate household was out of work and looking for a job.

Respondents were evenly split in their feelings on the idea of requiring home buyers to put a minimum 20% down on a home purchase. Their opinion seemed to hinge largely on whether they were already a homeowner or had yet to take the real estate plunge, however.

Read the rest of the report at Builder Magazine.

We offer the following tips and advice to help in that decision-making process.

1. Make a list of qualities you want in a general contractor. Then pick someone with those qualities. Some examples to consider include honesty, dependability, knowledgeable, trust-worthy, skilled, helpful and good at communicating. This will be someone literally building the foundation for your future. It will also be someone with whom you will be working for a while, so it makes sense to find a contractor with a compatible attitude.
2. Get references. Do not just choose the first new home construction company that pops up in an internet search. Though a company’s website is a good place to compare and assess their experience and expertise, browsing the internet won’t give a complete idea of the kind of service they provide. Ask some friends and acquaintances if they personally know of any designers or contractors in the area, especially if any of them have already had to opportunity to build a new home or are familiar with other individuals who have.
3. Do the research. Look for reviews of past customers. If possible, try to arrange to meet with some of their customers, maybe even in the homes the contractor built. A first-hand account like this give deep insight as to whether the new home construction company you are considering is worthy of being hired.
4. Approve their floor plans. Many existing homes have useless rooms or square footage. Modern building techniques and uses of space are one of the appeals of new home construction. Ensure the contractor’s floor plans are geared toward maximizing usable space, minimizing energy costs and simplifying maintenance needs.
5. Check their work. A common complaint from people who have had new homes built has been careless workmanship. Confirm with your references that the contractor’s work was superior. During the construction phase, visit the work-site often to ensure that your wishes are being carried out. With electricians, plumbers, laborers and others, building your dream home is a huge task. Good communication can go far in preventing expensive mistakes.
6. Consider their schedule. Don’t choose a contractor embarking on too many projects at the same time you approach them with your building needs. Because this is your dream home, you want a crew that has can focus its attention on prioritizing the details of your home. A good approach is to choose a Twin Cities area general contractor instead of a larger, regional residential builder. A smaller, local construction company will likely have fewer projects than the larger ones, meaning they can devote more attention to yours.
7. Estimate their costs. Ask for price quotes from a few of the most reliable residential construction companies in the Twin Cities. Compare the estimates and the services that they provide. If their offer is greater than your budget, ask if there are ways they can cut down on costs without sacrificing your dream – or the quality of the materials used during construction. A well-established new home construction company should have a network of suppliers that can provide alternative materials that are less costly.
8. Get it in writing. Getting an agreement in writing is essential for the well-being of both the contractor and the home buyer. A homeowner should hire the services of an attorney to review any contractual agreements before they sign anything. Any reputable builder will expect you to do this.

Building a home is one of the most significant events to occur in many people’s lives. By following these steps toward finding the right contractor to build your dream home, you can increase the likelihood of a happily ever after when the keys are handed over.

1. New Home Pricing. Though new homes are generally priced higher than an equivalent existing one, a new house will likely need fewer repairs or replacements.

2. A Well Planned Neighborhood. In addition to having a choice for home sites, such as in a cul-de-sac or located near a park, new home buyers get to choose what type of community in which they want to live. Builders incorporate desirable amenities such as recreation areas, neighborhood clubhouses, swimming pools, playgrounds, sidewalks and paved trails into new communities to attract residents.

3. Modern Design. New ways of building homes are constantly being developed. Consumer trends also changing, motivating builders to respond by drafting floor plans to include what clients want, like large family rooms, over-sized closets, built-in media areas and up-to-date kitchens.

4. Warranties. Something an older home can never provide is a builder’s limited warranty. A new home warranty typically covers appliances, carpets, mechanical equipment, and overall construction. Though warranties do eventually expire, they can cover various items for between one to ten years!

5. Energy Efficiency. Modern insulation, windows and heating and cooling systems are much more energy efficient than in the past. New home builders are required to meet stricter energy codes. This can be of great benefit, considering the current costs of energy.

6. Modern Wiring. New homes are generally wired to accommodate electrical components that weren’t around when scores of existing homes were built, such as home computers, media centers and surround sound systems.

7. Modern Appliances. New homes are capable of accommodating latest state-of-the-art equipment, right off the bat. Dishwashers, stoves, microwaves and refrigerators installed in new homes function within modern water and energy standards.

8. Health Conscious Construction. New homes built with modern building materials offer some health advantages. No asbestos or lead paint to be found in a new home, but it could be costly to have it removed from an older house.

9. Low Maintenance. The latest in building materials also means convenience for new home buyers. Because it was just built, new homes are practically maintenance-free for up to ten years and in some cases, longer.

10. A New Home Is All Yours. Buyers of new homes can have a hand in creating the home they desire, instead of having to adapt an older home to their preference. Whether its the type of flooring to the brand of appliances, all aspects of a new home can be fit to your tastes from the beginning.

Though they tend to be more expensive than existing homes, purchasing a new construction home offers many advantages a resale residence simply cannot. Its worth making the price comparison to see if a new home is within your budget.

New-home sales rose 7.3% during April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 323,000, according to figures from the United States’ Commerce Department. A healthy housing market would produce about 700,000 new-home sales per year.

New-home purchases rose in every region during April, after severe winter weather had pounded many areas during winter. Sales jumped over 15% in the West, 7.7% in the Northeast, nearly 5% in the Midwest and over 4% in the South.

Last year, Americans bought the fewest new homes on records dating back nearly 50 years. High unemployment, restricted credit and fears that prices will start slipping again have discouraged many would-be buyers. A further obstacle is gas prices putting a hitch in big-ticket purchase plans.

The number of new homes on the market — about 174,000 — is at its lowest point since record-keeping began in 1963. At the current pace of sales, it would take 6.5 months to clear them off the market. That’s the lowest supply in a year.

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According to an article in the April 2011 issue (PDF) o The Costco Connection, now is the time to buy a home, as the likely rise in interest rates predicted for the near future may entice buyers from the sidelines and push residential real estate sale prices up.

As long as rates remained stable, potential buyers and sellers could afford to remain indecisive. Although rates are still near historic lows, people are motivated to take action since waiting could mean a higher rate and a larger mortgage payment, experts say.

Yes, mortgage interest rates are still low. But because of the foreclosure crisis, it’s not as easy to get home loans as it once was and may get harder in the future. It is best to get the process started as soon as possible.

New and pending regulations in response to the mortgage lending crisis mean new loans and refinancing will be more complicated, more time consuming and more costly. Expect higher fees, higher mortgage insurance payments and bigger down payments.

Not enough incentive? Expect to see fewer and fewer 0% to 5% down-payment loans. Think more like 10% to 20% down. Such is the future of the mortgage lending practices, so it’s a good idea to get on it now while interest rates are still low.

Portion Control

Medium-sized house?  No, wait.  Make that a small, please.  The average house lost a few pounds in the recession and is still managing to keep the weight off as buyers (and banks) avoid biting off more debt than they can chew. “Demand for very large houses over 4,000 square feet remains, but there is a diminishing demand for middle-sized homes,” observes architect Don Taylor of D.W. Taylor Associates in Ellicott City, Md. “Instead of the previously common request for a home in the 2,800- to 3,200-square-foot range, we are now seeing more requests for homes of 2,400 to 2,800 square feet. Cost obviously has helped precipitate this change, but I also think many buyers are coming to their senses and looking for homes that meet their practical needs rather than satisfying their egos.”

Village Vibe

The suburbs are starting to feel more like little cities as planners and developers find ways to weave density and walkability into existing hot spots. “Fewer large-scale development opportunities have shifted the emphasis to smaller infill projects,” AIA chief economist Kermit Baker wrote in a recent design trends report. But these new nodes of “light urbanism” aren’t replacing existing subdivisions; they are popping up between them and connecting the dots. Prime targets for infill redevelopment include big box parking lots, dead shopping centers, strip malls, and transit stations. “People who want an urban lifestyle but either do not want to live in a ‘big city’ or cannot afford to will look to live in the many suburban town centers that have been emerging,” Urban Land Institute senior resident fellow John McIlwain wrote in a recent white paper.

Green Grows

Yes, we say it every year, but it’s true: green building is going mainstream. The latest anecdotal evidence comes by way of California’s CalGreen building code, which takes effect January 1, mandating many green building practices that were previously only voluntary. “I expect we’ll see an uptick in simple, low-cost approaches such as rainwater catchment, drought-tolerant landscaping, permeable hardscapes, passive solar design, and more recycling and landfill diversion,” says Mike McDonald, a green builder in Oakland, Calif. Watch also for more flat roofs with parapet walls hiding unsightly solar panels, predicts Costa Mesa, Calif.-based design consultant Miriam Tate.

Read the entire article: 10 Design Trends for 2011

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First, historically low interest rates have resulted in reduced monthly housing payments, making it easier to purchase a home. Consumers with good credit, a down payment, and consistent employment are benefiting the most from the current real estate market climate.

“Slower sales activity and aggressive Federal Reserve Board actions have lowered the rates on fixed term mortgages,” said Russ Portele, President of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS®. “Because of the lower interest rates, home buyers at every price point are able to purchase homes at much lower monthly costs than they would have five, 10 or even 20 years ago.”

Secondly, pressures on the market are keeping home prices low. Home sales in the Twin Cities metro area are falling and the number of houses on the market continue to rise. The increased presence of foreclosure and short sale homes are keeping the prices of traditional listings down, too.

Home prices, both the median and average, have stabilized and remain at about the 2009 price level. Throughout Minnesota, the median home price was $154,000 in October 2010. The average price is $186,843.

Low home prices and low interest rates are adding up to serious savings for home buyers ready to take the plunge!

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Pending sales in August were down over 30% compared to August 2009. However, that decrease was the smallest it has been in about three months. The median sales price of a home in the Twin Cities was $172,165, down 1.6% from last year. Though foreclosures and short sales drag these numbers down, traditional sellers saw a 9.2% price increase for their homes.

There are now more than 27,000 active sales listings for homes in the Twin Cities. Inventory of homes on the market grew by almost 9% during August. That is the biggest increase in inventory since February 2008.

As housing inventories increase, Brad Fisher, president of the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors, said in a press release that the expired federal tax credit for home buyers has led to a decrease in demand for homes. The double-whammy has resulted in a drop in home prices.

“There are just more sellers than buyers and the buyers are able to negotiate, especially if you get sellers that are fairly desperate,” Pat Paulson, president-elect of the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors said. “It’s a buyers market they have the upper hand.”

Minneapolis and Saint Paul saw fewer sales but higher prices in August compared with a year ago, according to the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors. Sales dropped 39% in St. Paul, to 241 while the median sale price rose 2% to $150,675. In Minneapolis, sales dropped 41% to 336 and the median rose 21% to $222,804.

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Mortgage rates are now at probably at their lowest level in at least 60 years. Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 4.49%, offering the most attractive opportunity for those who qualify to refinance or purchase a home. 15-year fixed-rate loan average l3.9%, the lowest on record. It is the sixth time in seven weeks that interest rates have reached a new average record low.

The last time home loan rates were lower was during the 1950s, when most mortgages lasted just 20 or 25 years.

So why have sales of previously occupied homes been sinking? A variety of reasons may be keeping people from house hunting. Many home buyers already took the plunge into the housing marking when the federal government was offering $8,000 first time home buyer rebates. Some potential borrowers don’t have the income or down payment to buy. And for home owners, refinancing is difficult because so many mortgages are now under water.

Are you one of the lucky ones with a secure job and a ready down-payment? Twin Cities home builders like Norton Homes are striking great deals with would-be home owners.

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