Home Construction

Outrageously high lumber prices have for months been keeping builders awake at night, and it's going to get worse before it gets better. Per the National Association of Home Builders , lumber prices have tripled over the past 12 months and have caused the price of an average new single-family home to increase by $35,872 — up from the NAHB's calculated $24,000 extra HousingWire reported back in February. The hike has also added nearly $13,000 to the market value of an average new multifamily home, which translates into households paying $119 a month more to rent a new apartment, the NAHB said. Other building material prices have been steadily rising as well, said Chuck Fowke, NAHB chairman, who added that the trade organization has been "monitoring" the situation. "This unprecedented price surge is hurting American home buyers and home builders and impeding housing and economic growth," Fowke said. "These lumber prices are clearly unsustainable. Po...

BY   JACKIE BOTTS  AND  RICARDO CANO, CalMatters About twice a week, the $9.99 per month internet connection falters. It's often as Mario Ramírez finally wrangles his kids into their seats — the fourth-grader studies in the bedroom he shares with his 12 year-old sister, who studies in her parents' bedroom —  in time for virtual class.  The screens freeze — sometimes during online tests. At times the little one bursts into frustrated tears as they wait for their connection to resume, precious class time slipping away.  Though he hides it from his kids, Ramírez' frustration spikes too, along with fear: What if this is the year that his kids lose interest in their education? In Ramírez' view, it's their ticket to a life unburdened by the monthly rent panic that Ramírez has often faced since immigrating from Mexico nearly 30 years ago. "Sometimes I wonder, 'Will my kids be unable to get ahead?'" Ramirez said in Spanish. Depending on a student...

Broadband internet, as defined by the FCC, constitutes any connection exceeding 25 megabits per second, or Mbps, to download content online, and 3 Mbps for uploading.  California agencies generally use a threshold of 6 Mbps download speed and 1 Mbps upload speed — the standard used in CalMatters' analysis. "There is no one-size-fits all" speed for remote learning, said Greer Ahlquist, program director for EducationSuperHighway, a San Francisco-based nonprofit focused on bridging the K-12 digital divide. More people using a connection requires more bandwidth, as does streaming. "Sometimes I just want to throw the computer across the room because it doesn't work." Kiki Hall, fresno tenth-grader The California School Board Association has urged a new FCC fund for K-12 connectivity to adopt a standard of 25 Mbps for download and 12 Mbps for upload for each student . For Hall's family that would mean download speeds of at least 125 Mbps. Their c...

Industry: Home & Residential Southern living house plans have grown in popularity over the last year. The simple yet eye-catching exteriors and flexible floor plans contribute to the return of this design style. Eugene, OR (PRUnderground) April 13th, 2021 Online search data reveals Southern style house plans are surging in popularity, with major search engines showing a 500% increase in searches for the design style over the past 12 months. This emerging trend has been validated by The House Plan Company, a house plan marketing firm based in Eugene, Oregon that has watched five of its southern-inspired home plans grow in popularity over the past year. The designs offer a mix of modern, hillside, palatial estate, vacation home and urban living architecture. "Southern living plans may be growing in popularity because of their eye-catching, yet simple exteriors and flexible floor plans," said Rick McAlexander, CEO of The House Plan Company. "With...

PATERSON — Two bullets shattered the second-floor bedroom window of 195 Hamilton Ave. A third round pierced the side wall where the kitchen is located. But no one was home. The bullets struck the new house nearly two months ago while it was undergoing construction as part of a Paterson Habitat for Humanity development project. The family buying the home didn't move in until early April. Their soon-to-be neighbors — five families who arrived on the block within the past year — have adjusted to the sound of gunfire outside their front doors. The children think the noise is fireworks, said Dafani Peralta, who lives at 185 Hamilton Ave. with her husband, 12-year-old daughter and five young sons. Peralta has a routine for when she hears shots. She peeks out the window, checks on her offspring and texts her neighbors to make sure they are all right. A few months ago, she heard noise on the street and saw a swarm of police officers in full SWAT gear converging on a building. She feare...

    PRESS RELEASE ::: In response to the need for more affordable housing (AH) in Davidson, and sparked by overwhelming support from residents for AH in the new Hoke Townhome development, a community partnership has united to turn need into reality. Galvanized and led by Davidson Community Foundation (DCF), working hand-in-hand with supportive developer, Alliance Group of North Carolina, experienced non-profit housing agency, Davidson Housing Coalition, and the Town of Davidson Affordable Housing and Equity Department, the partnership's efforts have resulted in plans for 8 AH units within the Hoke Townhome development. Construction of the 81-unit development is expected to begin this summer, with units available in early 2022. The 8 AH units will be distributed throughout the development. According to Dave Cable, Co-chair, Davidson Community Foundation: "There is a well-documented dearth of AH in Davidson. While most developers choose to make a payment in lieu (PIL...

The housing market has been on fire as of late. And construction plans for new housing in the midstate have been moving forward. Earlier this year, a developer unveiled plans for Freedom Square in York County, one of the largest mixed-use developments in the midstate in recent year. And a number of other mixed-use projects are currently under construction including Blue Ridge Village and Susquehanna Union Green. In Harrisburg, a number of developers are converting older properties into housing. And developers in the midstate are building a number of types of housing: senior living, townhomes, condominiums, affordable housing, apartments and single family homes. Below are 26 developments that are in different phases of development in the midstate: Featured Freedom Square will be located in Conewago Township, York County. (Rendering provided) Freedom Square Freedom Square is a 460-acre town center planned for the former Smith Farm a...