Nearly 24 percent of new single-family homes in 2016 included decks, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data from the National Association of Home Builders. The percentage is up slightly from 23.3 percent in 2015.New England and the East South Central region of the U.S.—which includes Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Alabama—are showing some of the biggest upticks in single-family homes with decks. Perhaps unsurprisingly,
More cities are requiring home energy scores to be shared with home buyers. This information allows consumers to learn how much energy a home will use, what that energy will cost them, and how efficient the home really is.Portland, Ore., is the latest city to require a Home Energy Score for most home sales, joining other cities like Berkeley, Calif., and Austin, Texas. These scores, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, are being included o
Cybersecurity risk will certainly grow in 2018, warns Christopher Skinner, CEO of technology security firm SpiderOak. “We trust our devices and systems to drive our cars, deliver vital medical treatments, and protect our homes and supply chains, but these have never been more insecure,” he says.Here are some of the most pressing cybersecurity threats to businesses in the new year, according to SpiderOak:Software updates: The new Trojan horse.
Many fast-growing metro areas are facing a shortage of affordable homes. As cities struggle to keep up with demand, developers are hoping to break up large single-family lots and build more homes closer together. But some residents argue that such density is out of character with their communities.“It’s an enormous problem, and it impacts the very course of America’s future,” Edward Glaeser, an economist at Harvard who studies cities, to
Homeowners will have to reach deeper in their pockets to afford a real Christmas tree this year because of lower supplies that are contributing to a 10 percent hike in prices over last year, The New York Times reports. “We’re not going to be short; everybody looking for a real tree will be able to get one,” says Doug Hundley, a spokesman for the National Christmas Tree Association. “But it is a tight market, and prices will rise.”Whi
Hardwood floors can get scratched up, whether by moving furniture or rambunctious kids. But many scratches can be easy to repair.“Surface scratches are caused by everyday use, grit on the bottom of shoes, or running a vacuum cleaner across the floor,” Brett Miller, vice president of education and certification for the National Wood Flooring Association, told realtor.com®. “Anything that can run across the surface of the floor can cause s
A robot could walk your buyers on a guided tour of a property, without you ever having to be there in person.Zenplace, an artificial intelligence and machine learning company for landlords and homeowners, is touting a robot that can take clients on guided home showings. The company concentrates on showings of rental properties. It hopes robots will help free up agents’ time and significantly reduce the time it takes to rent a property.“We set
In an outpouring of letters to their elected representatives, REALTORS® were influential in spurring Congress to make key changes in the House and Senate tax reform plans, says Elizabeth Mendenhall, president of the National Association of REALTORS®. But as lawmakers prepare to reconcile the two proposals into one bill, more work needs to be done to protect the country’s middle-class homeowners.“REALTORS® support tax cuts when done in a fi
Seventy-three percent of home sales closed on time in October, but 25 percent of REALTORS® report a delay in getting to the settlement table, according to the latest REALTORS® Confidence Index, a survey based on responses from more than 3,500 real estate professionals. Only 2 percent say a contract was terminated completely.What are the main problems encountered with delayed settlements? Real estate pros report the following: Issues related to
When painting a room, the time, effort, and money you spend on the materials can make a big difference. Josh Max, a professional painter with 10 years of experience, detailed the “right” way to paint in a recent article in The New York Times.Gather the right supplies. Take the measurements of your wall and ceiling to a hardware store that can help you pinpoint exactly what type of paint and supplies you’ll need. Max recommends a two-and-a
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