What Do Home Buyers Want in Their Next Home?

By: Karen T. Nakamura, CEO
Building Industry Association of Hawaii

New Homes Month in April is a great time to think about what you want in your next new home. We’ve all seen a stunning hillside mansion and dreamed what it would be like to raise our families there. Or envied the amazing renovation makeovers depicted on television shows that give the home owners a sense of pride and accomplishment. But how does your dream home compare to what home buyers across the country are looking for in their new home?

A recent study from the National Association of Homes Builders, What Home Buyers Really Want, shared the results of a survey of the preferences of thousands of home buyers. On average, home buyers are looking for a home that is 17 percent larger than their current home, a median of 2,226 square feet. But, likely as a result of the ongoing challenges of the economic downturn, that size is 13 percent smaller than the average size of homes started in 2012.

The layout of the home is more important than the location to most buyers. Living space and number of rooms was ranked the most influential characteristic by 65 percent of buyers, while only 33 percent ranked proximity to locations they need to go as tops. A sense of open space continues to be popular, with about three-quarters of home buyers wanting a kitchen that is open to the family room, and nearly two-thirds looking for ceilings on the first floor that are 9 feet or more tall.

Some of the most wanted features in a home involve saving energy. Energy Star-rated appliances were rated as essential or desirable by 94 percent of respondents, and 91 percent wanted an Energy Star rating for the whole home. In fact, nine out of ten buyers would rather buy a home with energy-efficient features and permanently lower utility bills than one without those features that costs 2 percent to 3 percent less.

Convenient organization and storage is another home buyer favorite. More than 80 percent of the respondents said they wanted walk-in pantries and pull-out shelves in the kitchen, a laundry room and storage in the garage.

Today’s home buyers want the latest technology. While only 15 percent of home owners currently have a wireless home security system, 50 percent want one. Similar gaps in “have” versus “want” occur with security cameras, lighting control and wireless audio systems, and multi-zone HVACs.

The most unwanted home features include elevators, a location in a golf course, high density or gated community, and having only a shower stall and no tub in the master bath.

So whether you’re planning or dreaming about what your next new home will look like, or you’re making renovations to your current home so that it will appeal to its next owner, keep these home buyer preferences in mind!

Contact info@biahawaii.org to learn about the latest features available in new homes in Hawaii.

List of Improving Housing Markets Rises to 274 in March

NAHB Press Release

WASHINGTON, March 21 - The list of improving U.S. housing markets expanded for a seventh consecutive month in March to include 274 metros on the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. This total amounts to a net gain of 15 markets since February and includes entrants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The IMI identifies metropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective troughs in housing permits, employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months. Thirty-four new markets were added to the list and 19 were dropped from it this month. Notable additions include such diverse locations as Birmingham, Ala.; Santa Barbara, Calif.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Bloomington, Ind.

"This is the second consecutive month in which every state is represented by at least one metro on the improving list," observed NAHB Chairman Rick Judson, a home builder from Charlotte, N.C. "The expanding housing recovery is energizing communities nationwide by generating jobs and local tax revenues -- and it could be an even more potent force for economic growth if credit for building and buying homes was more readily available."

"With just over 75 percent of the 361 metros covered by the IMI now seen as improving, the housing market is on considerably more solid footing than it was at this time last year," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "While we expect this positive momentum to continue, it's important to understand that many markets are just beginning the recovery process, and that numerous issues - from credit availability to the rising cost of building materials and emerging lot shortages - are slowing the pace of that advancement."

"With the understanding that there are still a lot of uncertainties in the regulatory arena, it looks like we are finally seeing the beginning of what could be a broad and deep recover of the nation's housing market," added Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Company.

The IMI is designed to track housing markets throughout the country that are showing signs of improving economic health. The index measures three sets of independent monthly data to get a mark on the top improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The three indicators that are analyzed are employment growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, house price appreciation from Freddie Mac and single-family housing permit growth from the U.S. Census Bureau. NAHB uses the latest available data from these sources to generate a list of improving markets. A metro area must see improvement in all three measures for at least six consecutive months following those measures' respective troughs before being included on the improving markets list.

A complete list of all 274 metropolitan areas currently on the IMI, and separate breakouts of metros newly added to or dropped from the list in March, is available at www.nahb.org/imi.

What It Takes To Be a Home Builder

By: Karen T. Nakamura, CEO 

Building Industry Association of Hawaii 

 Today’s new homes reflect changing market preferences and integrate elaborate designs and consumer desires into the floor plans and construction of the homes. And successful home builders have the knowledge, organizational skills and drive to build them.

But what does it really take to build a house?

Like a CEO, a home builder relies on a number of workers to get the job done right. A home builder guides dozens of skilled artisans and professionals, including carpenters, architects, engineers, plumbers, electricians, painters and landscapers. The builder must understand all of the home’s complex systems and know enough about each contractor’s trade in order to coordinate this skilled team to build and sell a quality product.

Some home builders develop the land on which the homes are built. They look at a piece of land to determine whether it complies with zoning regulations, local planning laws and environmental restrictions, and whether it is suitable for development. The home builder studies the lot’s topography, searching for rock outcroppings, shallow depth bedrock, shallow groundwater, natural drainage sources and dense vegetation. Landscaping options and erosion control also have to be considered. Once a builder determines that a site is suitable for construction, they must navigate the permitting process.

Home builders serve as liaisons with their communities and local government officials. They research and study local building codes to determine what can be built in a given location. In most localities, building codes govern building, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, electrical systems and fire safety. After studying the building codes, the builder collects all the required permits from various authorities before proceeding with construction.

Once the permits are obtained, the builder will prepare the site and select how the home will be situated on it. The home builder then oversees the entire construction process, which includes—but is certainly not limited to—laying the foundation; erecting the framing, roofing and siding; building the walls; and installing the plumbing, heating and electrical work.

A home builder acts as an inspector. The local building department will inspect the construction site for code violations throughout the home’s construction. But a professional home builder will make certain the home meets both code and warranty guidelines long before and after the officials show up. Once the house is finished, the builder informs the appropriate municipal departments that it is ready for final inspection and the approval that the home is safe for its new owners to move in.

Professional home builders strive to deliver a home that will make their customers happy. To meet this objective, they act as public relations professionals. The builder will discuss the construction process and building schedule with the buyer, and plan times when the buyer can tour the building site and ask questions about the status of their new home.

Home builders are also businesspeople who establish a network of reliable and quality materials suppliers and trade contractors with whom they conduct business on a regular basis.

Home builders are schedulers and record keepers. They must think on their feet, keep complex construction timelines and tackle multiple tasks simultaneously in order to keep the construction process moving forward and ensure the home is completed on schedule.

All in all, home builders must wear many, many hats in order to deliver a home where the new owners can hang their own hats, raise a family and build lifelong memories.

To learn more about the home building process or to find a home builder in Hawaii, contact BIA-Hawaii: info@biahawaii.org.

2013 NAHB Show Home Focuses on Outdoor Living

By: Karen T. Nakamura, CEO 

Building Industry Association of Hawaii

Each year in conjunction with the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show a home is built that showcases innovative products for the future of home building—and features great ideas for anyone thinking of building or remodeling a home.

The 2013 New American Home® (TNAH) in the suburbs of Las Vegas, Nev., is the 30th edition of TNAH. It incorporates the latest concepts in architecture, construction methods, lifestyle trends and new products that can be replicated—in whole or in part—in housing built any region and in any price range.

This contemporary home features a focus on flexible spaces and outdoor living, trends that continues to gain popularity nationwide.

The home’s architecture takes maximum advantage of Nevada’s year round temperate climate with easy flow from indoor to outdoor spaces. The main room expands into the backyard and pool area through large automated pocket doors that open at the touch of a button and allow for cross ventilation and unobstructed views. An outdoor daybed is located just behind the master bedroom, and the rejuvenation room opens to the outdoors on three sides like a spa.

Flex space planning throughout the home makes it convenient for young professional families and older generations to live together yet still maintain independent lives. Common gathering spaces are included among private living areas, a design feature that encourages unlimited movement within the space by all members of the household.

Even with the extensive indoor-outdoor flow spaces, TNAH is environmentally sensitive and ecologically smart.

Green building features include a gas HVAC system, solar hot water heater with gas fired back-up, photovoltaic panels, hydronic air handlers and closed spray foam insulation that also reduce sound transmission through plumbing walls. The weather-sensitive irrigation system automatically adjusts usage relative to the immediate climate.

The water features in the home are not only functional, they are also fashionable. Reflecting pools and waterfalls help humidify and cool the air in summer months, which reduce the home’s operating costs by using less energy and improving air quality. A visually stunning waterfall located in a central part of the home has a projector shooting onto it, reflecting the image in a still pool below.

The home owner can monitor, manage and control security systems, climate, televisions, music, lighting, shades and more from their smart phones, tablets or laptops with the wireless network that offers wall-to-wall coverage throughout the home, in the outdoor living spaces and in the front and back yards.

Blue Heron, a Las Vegas luxury home builder, led all phases of the project, including architecture, construction and interior design.

To see photos of the 2013 TNAH and find out more information about the features and product manufacturers, go to TNAH.com.

Contact BIA-Hawaii: info@biahawaii.org to learn about the latest technologies and designs being used in new homes in the Hawaii.