The 2014 Houzz Healthy Home Study conducted in October surveyed 808 homeowners across the U.S. about the overall health of their home. The survey asked participants to consider things like cleanliness, air quality, year built, and chemical exposure to determine whether or not they find their homes healthy versus non-healthy. Overall, survey findings conclude more than 60 percent of homeowners consider their houses healthy. One in five responded saying they consider their homes non-healthy and 6 percent were unsure. Comfort, security, and exposure to germs were listed among the top considerations homeowners make when rating their healthiness of their house.
Source: EcoBuilding Pulse Magazine What makes a house healthy? According to homeowners, recent remodeling is a big factor.
The 2014 Houzz Healthy Home Study conducted in October surveyed 808 homeowners across the U.S. about the overall health of their home. The survey asked participants to consider things like cleanliness, air quality, year built, and chemical exposure to determine whether or not they find their homes healthy versus non-healthy. Overall, survey findings conclude more than 60 percent of homeowners consider their houses healthy. One in five responded saying they consider their homes non-healthy and 6 percent were unsure. Comfort, security, and exposure to germs were listed among the top considerations homeowners make when rating their healthiness of their house. Source: Dodge Data & Analytics New construction starts in December retreated 16% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $568.2 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The decline follows the 13% increase reported for total construction starts in November, when activity reached its highest level in 2014 with the lift coming from several exceptionally large projects, including a massive lithium ion battery manufacturing plant, an airport terminal redevelopment program, and a liquefied natural gas terminal. Both nonresidential building and nonbuilding construction in December witnessed substantial percentage declines relative to their robust November amounts. At the same time, residential building managed a modest gain in December with the help of further growth by multifamily housing. For 2014 as a whole, total construction starts climbed 7% to $575.3 billion. This continues the pattern of moderate expansion for total construction starts reported during the previous two years – 2012, up 10%; and 2013, up 9%.
The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a record-high result of 60 in the final quarter of 2014. A reading of 60 indicates remodelers’ confidence in the quarter-over-quarter improvement in the remodeling market.
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s (NARI) third-quarter Remodeling Business Pulse (RBP) data of current and future remodeling business conditions indicated strong growth in the third quarter of 2014 with a rating of 6.41. Quarter-over-quarter increases are evident in all sub-components measuring remodeling activity. This is the second quarter of growth in 2014, coming on top of June’s strong increase over the 6.07 recorded in March.
The Window and Door Manufacturers Association's recently released Window and Entry Door 2014 U.S. Market Study shows continued growth for the entry door market through 2015. The study, prepared, researched and analyzed by Metrostudy and the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech, forecasts modest market growth in the overall entry door market growth of 5.1% for 2014 and 4.9% for 2015. This follows market growth of 5.3% in 2013 with 14.1 million units shipped.
Source: Window & Door The Window and Door Manufacturers Association predicts continued growth for the architectural door market through 2015 in its Architectural Door 2014 U.S. Market Study released Sept. 2. The study, prepared, researched and analyzed by Metrostudy and the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech, forecasts strong market growth in the wood flush door market of nearly 24 percent for 2014 and 22 percent for 2015. This follows market growth of 17 percent in 2013.
Nonresidential construction spending expanded strongly in July, growing 2.5 percent on a monthly basis and rising a robust 8.6 percent on a year-over-year basis according to a Sept. 2 release from the U.S. Census Bureau. Spending for the month totaled $617.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis. The government also revised upward a somewhat disappointing June nonresidential construction spending estimate from $589 billion to $603 billion and the estimate for May from $606 billion to $611 billion.
Source: CMHC The vacancy rate for standard spaces, which dominate seniors’ residences in Canada, decreased slightly over the past year, reaching 9.7 per cent in 2014, compared to 10.3 per cent in 2013, according to the Seniors’ Housing Report – Canada Highlights edition released by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Source: Housingwire Realtors expect home prices to continue to appreciate over the next year, with a median price increase expected of 4% over the next 12 months, according to the latest survey of the National Association of Realtors in their confidence index.
The Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) has released the WDMA Window and Entry Door Industry 2014 U.S. Market Study. This report provides the data and insights needed to understand the industry's performance, key trends, and future direction. The report is based on extensive industry input for product shipments in 2013 and was prepared, researched and analyzed by Metrostudy, a Hanley Wood company, and the Virginia Center for Housing Research (CHR) at Virginia Tech.
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