Merger of Mega-Builders May Reshape the Industry

Standard Pacific has merged with Ryland, a move that will position them to build  homes in 17 markets. Pictured; a Standard Pacific home on offer in Winding Creek, Southlake, TX. Photo courtesy of Standard Pacific.  Whether the reason is competing executive egos or … Continue reading

Innovative Retrofits Prevent Concrete Catastrophe During Quakes

Concrete low-rise construction is very popular in the U.S., but  older structures pose serious threats during an earthquake. An “alarming number” of low-rise concrete structures located in major earthquake zones have not been retrofitted for earthquake safety. Concrete buildings located … Continue reading

Remodeling Project? Eat My Dust … Please!

Second only to project cost overruns, the largest complaint homeowners have about remodeling projects is the amount of dust generated during the work.   Photo courtesy of Melissa at Bless This Mess Please Many homeowners breathe a sigh of relief … Continue reading

KB Home’s Forest Grove Begins Building Near Austin

A Model Residence from KB Home’s new Forest Grove Community in Round Rock, TX. As HBW subscribers in the Austin area already know, KB Home is currently building a new planned community in Round Rock, TX. Forest Grove, KB Home’s … Continue reading

Need a Remodel? There’s an Apple Watch App for That.

HomeAdvisor’s new Apple Watch app will save homeowners who need repairs and improvements a lot of headaches. HomeAdvisor, a virtual residential repair and renovation services marketplace, has announced the development of an app for Apple Watch that easily connects home … Continue reading

Pine Hall Brick and TOTO Forge Sustainable Materials Partnership

Long recognized as a world leader in sustainable manufacturing and green building innovation, TOTO looks forward to expanding its best-in-class sustainability initiatives through this partnership. TOTO recently announced its partnership with Pine Hall Brick Company to “upcycle” its high-grade clay … Continue reading

Florida Building Code Updates Kick In June 30th

After slipping to second place in the 2015 Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety’s ratings of hurricane building codes, Florida has passed measures to strengthen the code, which will likely return Florida to a #1 rating. These updates to … Continue reading

Austinites Protest Building Code Restrictions on Accessory Housing

Austin has been feeling a housing crunch for the past few years now, and as the tech explosion continues to bring transplants to Austin, it’s only getting worse. Many homes in Austin feature “accessory dwelling units” (ADUs)—also known as granny … Continue reading

First-Time Buyers Slowly Returning to Housing Market

Although they aren’t totally back in the game yet, first-time buyers are claiming a larger share of the housing market. Builders, realtors, and market analysts at last week’s Homebuilding & Building Products Conference in New York commented on the uptick … Continue reading

New Home Construction Builds U.S. Economy

If the April housing stats are any indicator (and they are), America’s home building industry has rebounded from an abysmal winter season. New home starts came at the fastest pace in seven years, and the ramped-up construction is boosting materials … Continue reading