Jaffa News

Is U.S. Housing Unaffordable?

It Depends on How You Chart It

Rising home prices and interest rates made housing less affordable last year than at any time in the last five years, according to data released Tuesday by the National Association of Realtors.

So is it time to sound the siren over a housing bubble? Not really. Nationally, the Realtors' housing affordability index shows that, excluding the last five years, homes for the U.S. as a whole are still more affordable than at any time since at least 1981.

The mudroom is an important part of any home.

It's a place to take off your wet shoes and hang your coats. It serves as a place to store items that you use when you go outside as well as a way to help keep the rest of your home clean and free of clutter. Just because it's a utilitarian room doesn't mean that it can't look as good as the rest of your home.

In this mudroom notice how the closed cabinets provide a nice space to hide the things you don't use every day. The hooks and cubbies provide a place to store the things that you are using on a regular basis like coats.

This mudroom features storage for snowboards and skiing. Organization is the key to making the rooms not only function well but look attractive too.

Architectural Feature

Dazzling STARPATH Pavement Lights

UK-based company Pro-Teq has developed a glow-in-the-dark product called “STARPATH” that can be applied to virtually any pavement surface to provide energy-free lighting once night falls. The material absorbs light during the day to create a luminous glow at night, and it is also non-slip and water-resistant, so it could reduce accidents while increasing visibility.

Green Product / Recycle News

How to Green Your Bedroom

We are most vulnerable when we sleep. During the night, our bodies replenish the physical and psychic energy spent during the day, shed metabolic waste, and go through many other processes that are essential for long-term health. A healthy bedroom is one that allows us to rest, heal, and regenerate in a space free from environmental stresses and connected to the healing properties of nature.

Testimonial

“10 years ago you built my home for me and it was clear from the outset that you really cared about the project. You worked with my architect and me from afar, you found the finest craftsmen and the result was stunning. What impressed me the most was that for months after I moved in Richard would appear every morning to tweak all the little things that always need adjusting. CARE is the word that stands out the most when I think of you. You all cared that my house turned out beautifully. You still do. Whenever I want to do something to the house or have a problem, I know I can turn to you for help, advice or an answer. And of course no corner was ever cut. Everything was done perfectly. It was a pleasure to work with you and to have become personal friends with you.”

~ Beano Solomon