Archive for November, 2010
Defining the Housing Opportunity Index (HOI)
Housing prices are declared affordable  for the seventh straight quarter since 2009. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) published its Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) for the third quarter of 2010 and indicated that 72.1% of all new and existing homes sold were affordable by those families who earn the national median income of $64,400. NAHB Chairman Bob Jones from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, notes that low interest rates and stabilizing home prices are enabling more households today to buy properties than was the case 20 years ago
An Amazing Sliding House
What do you need to create a sliding house? Homeowner Ross Russell of Suffolk, England, says he had capital, time, and enthusiasm to build a house suitable for every season of the year
Weekends in wine country
If you live in the Pacific Northwest and enjoy wine, you don’t need to travel to Napa. In October, the last of the grapes have been harvested, and wineries begin to open their doors November – December
De Ice Your Driveway — Ask the Builder
With below freezing temperatures, snow can quickly turn into ice on roads, driveways, and sidewalks. Tim Carter of AsktheBuilder.com identifies the three major types of salt available for de icing concrete areas around the home. Sodium chloride (plain old rock salt), calcium chloride (small round pellets), and magnesium chloride (aka MAG) are available at most home improvement and hardware stores.
November mortgage matters
Housing Predictor reports that applications for home purchases and refinances have gone up by 5.4% since last week. Refinances comprised almost 82% of total loan applications. The low mortgage interest rates have caused this refinance surge
Adding Curb Appeal on a budget
Thrifty homeowners Steve and Christine budgeted $7000 for a do-it-yourself facelift. Watch the video to see how the project added up to a lot more curb appeal, which should serve the couple well when they choose to sell in the future. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huHG_yh6h_A
Does your house measure up?
In Richburg, South Carolina, researchers tested the strength of two homes, one built to standard building codes for the Midwest and the other built with fortified building materials. Large fans were used to simulate 96 MPH winds, similar to those of a Category 2 hurricane. The first house shook and crumpled within several minutes.
Landfills could power homes in the near future
The landfills of yesteryear have the reputation of smelling like rotten eggs. Today, landfills are cleaning up their image by converting trash into energy, according to Forbes on msnbc.com (Christopher Helman, “America’s biggest landfills: Is one near you?”)
How to Paint Cabinets ““ Lowes.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAtzBVgIAUE
Don”™t let the cold keep you from entertaining
Is entertaining outdoors in the colder season feasible? This DIY Network video shows how one family expanded their entertaining space.
