Jaffa News

May Pending Home Sales Rose to Highest Level in Over Six Years

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased 6.7 percent to 112.3 in May from a downwardly revised 105.2 in April, and is 12.1 percent above May 2012 when it was 100.2; the data reflect contracts but not closings. Contract activity is at the strongest pace since December 2006 when it reached 112.8; pending sales have been above year-ago levels for the past 25 months. Chief Economist Lawrence Yun upgraded the price forecast for 2013, with the national median existing-home price expected to rise more than 10 percent to nearly $195,000. This would be the strongest increase since 2005 when the median increased 12.4 percent. Existing-home sales are projected to increase 8.5 to 9.0 percent, reaching about 5.07 million in 2013, the highest in seven years; it would be slightly above the 5.03 million totals recorded in 2007.

Construction is better,
yet remains historically low

New York Times

That seemingly contradictory statement was illustrated by construction spending statistics issued this week by the Census Bureau. In April, spending on the construction of new houses and apartment buildings reached an annual rate of $195 billion. As can be seen in the accompanying charts, spending on home building is up 40 percent over the last year. That is the largest such increase since the early 1980s. In the housing boom that preceded the Great Recession, such spending never rose more than 25 percent over a 12-month period. But that rate of spending is down more than 60 percent from the peak, reached in 2006, and is lower than spending as far back as 1997.

U.S. home prices rise 10.9 percent, most since 2006

TheDestinLog.com

U.S. home prices jumped 10.9 percent in March compared with a year ago, the most since April 2006. A growing number of buyers are bidding on a tight supply of homes, driving prices higher and helping the housing market recover. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index released May 28 also showed that all 20 cities measured by the report posted year-over-year gains for the third straight month. And prices rose in 15 cities in March from February. That's up from only 11 in the previous month. The monthly figures aren't seasonally adjusted and may reflect the beginning of the spring buying season.

Interiors

Having a home in the mountains no longer means pine interiors and log beds. Mountain homes allow for contemporary takes on traditional building materials such as stone, metal and wood. The use of sleek elements like metal and glass are what help to create “modern-mountain” homes.

As seen here, Jaffa Group has merged modern and mountain concepts with the use of oversized glass panels and metal features. This look not only creates gallery views but it also enhances the amount of natural light in the room thus allowing for the space to be perceived larger. By casing the fireplace in metal; a mundane feature is transformed into an eye catching display of interior creativity and personal expression.

Architectural Feature

Insulated Rammed Earth: What is SIREWALL?

SIREWALL, is a structural wall system typically 18" to 24" thick, stabilized with compacted earth and rebar, with 4" of rigid insulation hidden in the centre of the wall. Eye-catching, the SIREWALLS are a complete wall system with the strength and beauty of sedimentary sandstone. This distinctive, visceral connection to the earth is also the exterior and interior finish of a SIREWALL building – no sealants, siding or drywall required. These high performance walls are constructed with a system backed by twenty years of R&D, producing thermal mass and efficiency beyond any other wall system. This combination, along with the SIREWALL® System for quality control and soil blending, builds walls that exceed current standards for energy efficiency and compressive strength.

The SIREWALL System has been refined over the last twenty years by SIREWALL's expert builders, work seamlessly with unique designs and modern finishes that have timeless appeal. SIREWALL has been the technological leader of insulated rammed earth since its invention in 1992 and was the only practitioner for the first thirteen years. SIREWALL has a patent pending on the specific technology that leads the way in thermal and structural excellence in this emerging industry.

Green Product / Recycle News

Solar Panels Soak Up the Savings

In today's eco-conscious world, it's almost impossible to ignore the need for conservation. Fuel costs are on the rise. Utility bills keep surging. And we're the ones who keep paying the price. But as we all know, things will get more expensive until we learn how to tap into available renewable resources, such as solar heating.

Solar panels have been a growing trend for some time now due to their unique benefits. However, despite the advantages they provide our world and wallet, they still haven't been fully embraced by the culture at large. Therefore they haven't been given the chance to realize their full potential. As a homeowner, don't be wary of new technology; solar panels may look alien but are actually quite a practical investment.

Testimonial

“We met Scott on a referral and immediately clicked”. I had pictures, a conversation and a walk through at the home and Scott was completely "tuned in."" He approached an empty home in a very logical way. Scott is very quick and extremely detailed, he weights looks with cost and value. He keeps you on track at the same time, very open to your ideas. Scott has many contractors to work with (have for years) and he always knows where to go or who to call. It has been a true pleasure to work with Scott Jaffa and call him - our friend.”

~ Frank & Jean Raymond