Housing The Bottom Line Other Business Features Local Stories from ThisWeek More Articles By Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch Sunday July 20, 2014 5:48 AM

For homebuilders, market conditions seem ideal: The demand for homes is up, prices are on the rise, and the number of existing homes for sale is down.

Why, then, are so few new homes being built?

Central Ohio home construction is off 9 percent so far this year compared with a year ago when the housing industry appeared to be starting to recover from a devastating crash.

With the industrys annual Parade of Homes now underway in Delaware County, builders say they are busy and optimistic. Two issues, though, have prevented them from fully capitalizing on rising consumer demand.

First, very little central Ohio land has been cleared, rezoned and platted for subdivisions during the past several years. In addition, lenders burned by the crash have kept builders on a short leash, preventing them from trying to get ahead of demand by building homes without buyers.

Adding to the challenges is a lingering nervousness from the housing recession, during which central Ohio home construction dropped by more than 80 percent from a peak of 11,693 in 2003 to a trough of 2,432 in 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Theres a bit of an adjustment in the industry now, said Tim Shear, vice president of custom-home builder Coppertree Homes. The most important word is the B word: balance. You want to grow but not get too big that you cant manage.

Nonetheless, larger builders are jockeying to position themselves for what they see as optimum conditions for growth.

Were all talking to the same landowners, said Jon Jasper, who manages the Columbus region of the Cincinnati homebuilder Fischer Homes. Every builder who has the capacity to develop is knocking on doors.

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New home construction in central Ohio ready to rebound

Home and Garden More Home & Garden On The House By Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch Sunday July 20, 2014 5:08 AM

The annual Parade of Homes, which kicked off yesterday in Delaware County, offers an unlikely quandary for a homebuilder: Do I try to sell the home before the parade?

Of course the answer must be yes. After all, no builder even the most comfortable can afford to sit on a million-dollar home indefinitely.

But selling a home before the parade can carry a big price, as veteran builders know.

For builders, the homes serve as million-dollar billboards. They want the houses to shout, not whisper, and they dress them accordingly, with features and designs that might be over the top for average homeowners.

If the home isnt finished when it is sold, buyers are likely to want it decorated the way they want it, which isnt necessarily the way builders want their advertisement displayed.

In addition, bringing a buyer into the process midstream can turn a cruise to the finish into a mad dash of fits and starts as buyers ponder each wall color, doorknob and faucet.

Its a blessing and a curse, having a buyer, said Lee Simonides, director of sales with

3 Pillar Homes, which sold its parade model a few months ago. Having a buyer certainly slows the process down. ... Every day there is a change.

Simonides was happy to sell the parade home, but the sale required several changes, including redesigning the secondary entrance. A few weeks ago, as the home was being finished, Simonides was still waiting for a decision on the lower-level flooring.

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On the House: Selling home before tour can cause headaches

Residential Construction, Custom Home Builders in Sebring FL 33870
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AN OCEANFRONT home at Point Vernon has been named the 2014 Burnett Wide Bay House of the Year.

The Master Builders Burnett Wide Bay Housing and Constructions Awards was held at Maryborough's Brolga Theatre last night and Fraser Coast builders were well-represented among the winners.

Hervey Bay builders Colin J Clark - Essentially Residential built the award-winning home, which also won several other awards for the swimming pool and tiling at the home, best bathroom, outdoor living and landscaping and individual home $626,000-775,000.

Scarness business Nelson Family Homes Pty Ltd won the 2014 Burnett Wide Bay president's award as well as the award for best display home $276,000 - $375,000 and the excellence in sustainable living award.

The custom-built home reflected a modern coastal theme, demonstrating value for money, innovative design and sustainable living, according to a statement from Master Builders Queensland.

Murchie Construction's Hinkler Central Flood Refurbishment was the winner of the 2014 Burnett Wide Bay project of the Year, while up-and-coming Tinana builder Dirran Knight won the 2014 Burnett Wide Bay Rising Star Award.

Master Builders' Sunshine Coast and Burnett Wide Bay regional manager, Michael Hopkins, congratulated the winners of each category.

"The standard we have seen this year is incredible and demonstrates the impeccable talent and expertise of our industry," Mr Hopkins said.

"The awards provide an opportunity to recognise this talent, and it is great that after 27 years, they continue to be sought after by the state's top builders and tradespeople."

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Here it is: the house of the year

Q: We are buying a new home. Do we really need to pay for an inspection?

A: If you are buying a new home, consider what could possibly go wrong. The answer is more complex than you might think.

The truth is, any house whether a modest ranch or an expensive, custom-made home is an intricate maze of structural, heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems, and its not unusual for even the most responsible and dedicated subcontractor to inadvertently miss something that could become a real problem.

Most fit-and-finish work in a new home is very good, and small flaws are easy to spot. The problems you need to worry about are those that occur in the subsurface work.

Occasionally, new homes have improperly designed or installed furnace flues. This can result in a failure to properly carry out furnace exhaust, which can create a serious health risk.

Another common problem occurs in the crawl space beneath the house. Construction debris can sometimes be inadvertently left behind. Other defects that are not uncommon are poor grading or an inadequate vapor barrier, either of which can allow water to pool under the house. This standing water creates excess moisture, which attracts wood-destroying insects and may lead to rot.

Sometimes the lugs that secure the electrical wires in the service box do not get properly tightened and can cause sparking. Occasionally a new-home inspection will reveal that bathroom and kitchen fans are venting into the attic instead of outside, as required by code. Plumbing fixtures may not properly connect to the drain system.

Another issue that can arise is improper flashing around the fireplace chimney, which may allow water to run down the chimney and into the house.

Most new homes go through what is called a shake down period in which problems are discovered and corrected. Having a professional inspection will make sure there are no unpleasant surprises and allow you to solve any issues with the builder before you take title to the home.

Many builders off a one-year guarantee, but problems sometimes dont become apparent until several years after construction was completed. And though many homeowners buy new construction and experience no problems, the cost of an inspection is small compared to the potential costs for repairing defects. Plus, most builders are quick to correct any defects once they have been identified by a professional building inspection report.

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Inspection a smart investment, even on new home | HomeWork

Neighbors in Eastmoreland trying to protect a home from being demolished, were successful in preventing the home from being demolished Thursday.

KOIN 6 News has obtained a copy of an official Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association (ENA) letter that claims the developer of 3620 Southeast Rural Street has circumvented the ENAs 120-day delay for demolition.

Randy Sebastian, the president of Renaissance Homes, the company that owns the property and home, said the will agree to meet with the neighborhood association to discuss the future of the house within a week, and the would not demolish the house today.

The letter states blocking the bulldozers access may be the only way to prevent this violation of public trust.

According to a permit request filed with the city, the work to be completed on the property includes a new two single-family residence with a finished basement.

Rod Merrick, who is the land-use chair for ENA, said about a month ago, the city issued notification that there had been a permit submitted for demolition.

The plans, according to Merrick, called for splitting of the current lot and sought to build two new properties.

ENA requested that the notification process be extended to 120 days so the city, neighbors and developer could talk and work out a mutual agreement.

Merrick said ENA is contesting the lot splitting permit.

According to Merrick, there is a loop hole that developers are able to use to end the 120 day delay period.

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Eastmoreland home demolition delayed

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Oct. 14, 2010 Jay Schafer, owner of Tumbleweed Tiny Houses is seen inside one of the homes he built for himself in Graton, Calif.

Ben Margot, Associated Press

Doug Immel recently completed his custom-built dream home, sparing no expense on details like cherry-wood floors, cathedral ceilings and stained-glass windows in just 164 square feet of living space including a loft.

The 57-year-old schoolteacher's tiny house near Providence, Rhode Island, cost $28,000 a seventh of the median price of single-family residences in his state.

"I wanted to have an edge against career vagaries," said Immel, a former real estate appraiser. A dwelling with minimal financial burden "gives you a little attitude." He invests the money he would have spent on a mortgage and related costs in a mutual fund, halving his retirement horizon to 10 years and maybe even as soon as three. "I am infinitely happier."

Dramatic downsizing is gaining interest among Americans, gauging by increased sales of plans and ready-made homes and growing audiences for websites related to the niche. A+E Networks has begun airing "Tiny House Nation" a series on FYI that "celebrates the exploding movement."

The pared-down lifestyle allows people to minimize expenses and gain economic freedom, said architect Jay Shafer in Cotati, California, who founded two micro building and design companies and is widely credited with popularizing the trend.

"It shows people how little some need to be happy, and how simply they can live if they choose," said Shafer, 49, who shares a 500-square foot home with his wife and two young children.

Despite gains in the labor and housing markets, Americans choosing mini houses remain wary of tethering themselves to a mortgage.

People want "a more modest lifestyle now," said Derek Diedricksen, who travels nationally to lead building workshops. Those who opt for super-small structures don't want to "waste their time or be a slave to a house they don't fully use."

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Tiny houses big with consumers seeking economic freedom

Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) July 10, 2014

Alair Homes does not follow convention. For example, the multi award-winning custom homebuilder operates 23 franchises across Canada and the United States, and was the first North American new home building company to implement such a business model. They also have a Client-First mantra guiding their corporate philosophy; while each franchise operates independently of the next, Alair insists on a universal commitment to exceptional homeowner care. Indeed it was this insistence that led them to the Conasys Homeowner Care Platform.

Conasys platform leverages the technology that has captivated the modern-day homeowner, and uses it to deliver a more interactive home ownership experience. Using a mobile-ready app, homeowners can access a wealth of home-specific information such as floorplans, appliance manuals and warranty details. The platform will also send regular maintenance reminder emails and warranty alerts, and will allow Alair Franchisees to digitally manage all homeowner service requests from conception right through to completion.

It was this unique set of features that first piqued the interest of Blair McDaniel, President of Alair Homes: In making the Conasys platform available to our franchisees, we are not only elevating the homeowner experience, we are also providing our franchisees with a powerful tool that will fundamentally enhance both their own reputation and that of Alair Homes.

Jerry Bauer, CEO at Conasys, is thrilled by the opportunity to work with Alair Homes: Alairs business model is unique so we wanted to deliver a solution that would reflect their approach. The end result is a platform that will not only enhance the Alair brand, but also allow them to provide franchisees with a tool custom designed to deliver a more comprehensive homeowner experience.

About Conasys: Conasys Inc. (http://www.conasysinc.com twitter: @conasys) is a forward-thinking technology company whose cloud-based homeowner care platform is designed specifically for new home builders and developers. Their industry-leading platform includes homeowner and builder specific portals that provide instant access to all the details and components of each home. Each portal includes a suite of efficiency and communication tools designed to enhance the understanding, service, maintenance, and management of individual homes. Since their inception in 2006 they have built a client portfolio of over 400 builders and real estate developers.

About Alair Homes: Alair Homes (http://www.alairhomes.com twitter: @AlairHomes) is one of North Americas top home building and renovation companies. With its sterling reputation for quality and service, Alair is one of the most respected builders in the industry. Alair Homes offers true transparency to its clients, sharing every project cost and detail.

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Conasys Interactive Homeowner Care Platform Made Available to Alair Homes 23 Franchises

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., July 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- West Virginia and Pennsylvania Home Builder S&A Homes recently launched a groundbreaking new line of floor plans, dubbed the "Signature Series Collection." The new plans were developed after 2 years of in-depth market research and are an instant hit with home shoppers, who appreciate that the Signature Series homes come included with state-of-the-art upgrades that most competitors charge extra fees for.

The Signature Series plans range in size from 2,700 square feet up to 5,000 square feet and offer an array of customizing features such as first floor guest rooms, dual owner's suites for multi-generational families, and gourmet kitchens normally only offered in expensive custom homes. The collection also features dozens of inclusions that most home builders charge "extra" for such as granite countertops, upgraded cabinetry, open tread oak staircases, partial stone exteriors and built-in stainless steel appliances.

Bob Shoemaker, Architectural & Design Manager explains, "The Signature Series collection was created with the modern family in mind. It was important to ensure we undertook an extensive market research project to incorporate our buyer's feedback directly into each plan. After doing a lot of listening, we learned that custom touches like oversized laundry rooms, expansive cabinetry and supersized kitchen islands are the types of features homeowners want to see included in a new home."

Shoemaker's team worked diligently to integrate those features and many more, such as butler's pantries, wrap-around cabinetry and cozy reading nooks to make each Signature Series plan a custom home without the custom price tag. In fact, the homes are being offered at a competitive price point and include far more luxurious amenities when compared to their custom home counterparts, meaning those purchasing a Signature Series plan can be assured they will get the most for their money.

Chris Schoonmaker, President of S&A Homes, offers a challenge to prospective home buyers. "There is so much to explore with our new Signature Series line that we feel confident those shopping for a new home in our West Virginia and Pennsylvania markets will not find comparable features along with the highest quality products anywhere else."

For more information about the S&A Homes Signature Series, visit: http://www.sahomebuilder.com/signature-series.

About S&A Homes

S&A Homes is a new home builder and ENERGY STAR partner that has delivered more than 15,000 homes and currently operates in more than 60 communities throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia. For more information, please visit http://www.sahomebuilder.com

Media Contact: Chris Schoonmaker, S&A Homes, 814-231-4780, cps1000@sahomebuilder.com

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S&A Homes Introduces New "Signature Series" Floor Plans