Jaffa News

Return of the McMansion

New York, NY — The average size of a new home now exceeds the lofty levels reached during the housing boom, the latest indication that the new-home market is catering more to older, more affluent buyers and less to younger and first-time buyers.

During the finance and housing downturns, many home builders downscaled and built smaller and less expensive homes in response to an era of frugality. But that has changed, especially for upscale buyers who are purchasing their second-or third-generation home and account for a greater portion of deals. First-time buyers, meanwhile, have been sidelined by more—stringent lending standards and rising interest rates. In the new-home market, “what's left is people who have means,” said Brad Hunter, chief economist for housing-research firm Metrostudy, a division of Hanley Wood LLC. “They are buying homes that they can afford, which tend to be bigger.”

Data through June 2013, released today by S&P Dow Jones Indices for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, showed that prices continue to increase. The National Index grew 7.1 percent in the second quarter and 10.1 percent over the last four quarters. The 10-City and 20-City Composites posted returns of 2.2 percent for June and 11.9 percent and 12.1 percent over 12 months.

All 20 cities posted gains on a monthly and annual basis. However, in only six cities were prices rising faster this month than last, compared to ten in May. Dallas and Denver reached new all-time highs as they did last month, with returns of +1.7 percent each in June. San Francisco's rebound is the largest, up 47.0 percent from its low in March 2009. Phoenix is second, 37.1 percent above its September 2011 low.

Leading index signals U.S.
growth to pick up into 2014

Bloomberg.com

The index of U.S. leading indicators climbed in July by the most in three months, signaling improvements in housing and labor markets will help foster faster economic growth through year-end.

The Conference Board’s gauge of the outlook for the next three to six months increased 0.6 percent after no change in June, the New York-based group said today. Another report showed the fewest Americans since November 2007 filed applications for unemployment benefits in the past month.

Interiors

Using different styles and sizes of products is becoming increasingly popular among interior designers. As seen here in this Jaffa Group remodel, the small scale of the tiles adds a subtle texture, while a random pattern of beige, cream, and sandstone recalls the colors of surf and sand. The bands of narrow light blue on the glass help separate the backsplash as its own feature in the room, preventing the tiny tiles from overwhelming the space.

A light colored tile adds refreshing vibe to this neutral bathroom. The classic tile shape blends with clean, contemporary-style bathroom, while the subtle hue lends modern flair.

Architectural Feature

Build it on Ventgrid™

Ventgrid12™ was developed for those who truly care about the quality and durability of the things they build.

It is the ultimate ventilation layer that will extend the life span and performance of various building construction assemblies through effective moisture management and superior ventilation.

Green Product / Recycle News

Green Kitchens Use the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

No other area in the home is more costly than a kitchen. They're one of the largest rooms in the home, and if not, we want them to be bigger. The materials we use to remodel them are not only expensive, but also wasteful, high-maintenance, and inefficient. And most of the appliances installed in this space sap a lot of energy. Of course, this is the place where you cook, eat, and entertain, so it makes sense your kitchen will use the most energy. Plus, you want it be extravagant, warm, and welcoming. But it doesn't make sense for one family to suck up all those resources. This is why green kitchen design has become such a popular trend: it increases environmental efficiency without sacrificing luxury.

Testimonial

“Working with Scott and Richard during the complete remodel of our home was an absolute joy. Their individual strengths complemented each other beautifully, resulting in a client-oriented team dedicated to aesthetics, quality, timeliness and budget. They listened carefully to our ideas and concerns, were responsive to our requests and thought 'out of the box' when unusual issues popped up in the remodel. They are backed by a fantastic team in the back office and some of the best and most professional subcontractors in the state, which made the entire process feel seamless. It's worth highlighting that their responsiveness extended to the punch list, which is often where projects stop abruptly. We are currently pondering the idea of building a 2 bedroom guesthouse and would not consider any other architects or builders to help us realize our vision.”

~ Jenny Samuelson