Jaffa News

US Housing Market
gets a Spring Revival

Financial Post

Six years after the housing market began its slide, dragging the U.S. economy into recession, this year's spring season—traditionally the busiest period for home sales—is shaping up to be the strongest since the crash. Sales rose more than 10 percent in April from a year earlier and may end the year up by as much as 13 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors. Prices, which plunged by a third from 2006 according to some measures, are rising in some cities.

Realtors report bidding wars, albeit more modest ones than during the bubble years, and buyers are snapping up homes much more quickly than only a few weeks ago. “We have more buyers than we have houses to sell,”" said April Bolin, a realtor in Riverside, Calif., considered one of the epicenters of the U.S. housing.

Interiors

Mixing Styles

You have a traditional home. You're obsessed with modern/contemporary/new. Your home is contemporary, and you just inherited a family heirloom. You were traveling and on a wild hair you picked up a piece that has no relevance to your typical design sense. What to do? Mix it up! In today's design landscape we are seeing less traditional design and more eclectic, but unified homes. We see this trend in our mountain homes as well.

This bathroom is a great example of mixing styles, the rustic stacked stone wall and alder door are often seen in Park City, but the floating, back lit onyx vanity adds a modern and fresh element. The lighted mirror is also very modern and gives a level of architectural detail, washing the wall and enhancing the stone texture. The faucet and pendant light bring in the traditional vibe and some curvature to a very linear room.

If we looked at all these pieces individually, we might say they don't belong in the same house, much less the same small powder room, but they coordinate well and tell a much richer story than if we had followed a typical straight style design.

Architectural Feature

Tougher Energy Codes Push Framing Forward

One of the primary goals of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is to increase the energy savings in residential and commercial buildings by 30% compared to the 2006 code. This latest version builds upon the 2009 IECC, which calls for 12% energy savings over 2006, and whose residential requirements focus on significantly tighter and more efficient envelopes and HVAC systems.

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Green Product / Recycle News

Building a New Home? Frame with Steel.

Steel framing is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of using traditional wood construction to frame your new home, your contractor will use steel beams to support your home instead. Steel framing is stronger than wood construction, doesn't warp or crack like wood, is impervious to insect infestations and is very cost comparable to boot. If you're looking into building a new home, think about metal stud framing.

Earthquake and Hurricane Proof

Perhaps the biggest draw to using steel to frame your home is its structural integrity. You simply can't find a stronger, more resilient framing material on the market. It's the main reason why steel framing has become a popular choice for areas prone to earthquakes and hurricanes. It won't split or crack under duress and can survive winds of up to 180 miles per hour! And unlike wood, steel won't warp, crack or split over time. Be it a natural disaster or simply the passage of time, steel construction bests wood.

Testimonial

“Our first interaction with the Jaffa's was in 1999, when my mother purchased one of their homes as a vacation home for our large extended family. The house ten years later, is still incredible. It is a timeless house that still looks brand new. Five years ago, my husband and I decided to move our family from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Park City. We purchased a home that needed some major interior work done in a very short time frame. Scott and Richard were amazing. They cared so much that they would dream about my house... worrying that everything was being remodeled efficiently and making smart decisions on a budget. They are wonderful people who build quality homes. If I could do it over again, I would build a home from the ground up with them. Scott's taste is incredible and he listens and encourages any ideas you have into your home. If you are a lucky enough person to have the chance to build with them, you will never regret it. Everyone I know who has a home built by them, ends up being their friends. You can't help but love that family.”

~ Jody & Stew Gross