Expect Home Designs To Change

The home of the future doesn’t include Jetson-style hovercrafts or robotic maids — yet — but there are some key changes worth looking for if you’re a builder.

Based on responses to a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), here are some ways in which builders can expect homes to change by as early as 2015:

• Single-family homes will get smaller (74 percent of respondents said).
• Homes will have more “green” features (68 percent).
• Homes will have more technology features (29 percent).
• Homes will have more universal access features (20 percent).
• Homes will have more outdoor living features, such as kitchens and fireplaces (10 percent).
• The average home size will be roughly 2,150 sf.
• Living rooms will merge with other spaces in the home (52 percent), vanish to save on square footage (30 percent), or become a parlor/retreat/library or music room (13 percent).
• If the living room doesn’t vanish, it will likely decrease in size (76 percent).
• Also downsizing are the entry foyer (66 percent) and dining room (63 percent).
• Features “very likely” to be included in a new home in 2015 include a kitchen-living room combo (“great room”), walk-in closet in master bedroom, laundry room and two-car garage.
• “Unlikely” features include three or more bathrooms, mudroom, unheated porch, dining room, skylights, three-car garage, four or more bedrooms, media room and two master bedroom suites.
• Home buyers are “somewhat likely” to want universal design features such as step-less entries, three-foot-wide doorways and four-foot-wide hallways, step-less showers that have seating, non-slip floor surfaces and grab bars in bathrooms.
• People seem likely to lavish more attention on the kitchen, ensuring that room will retain its status as the home’s social center. Survey respondents said they are “very likely” to want double sinks, recessed lighting, table space for eating and breakfast bars. They’re “somewhat likely” to want a central island, walk-in pantry, recycling center and desk/computer area. 

I see the same trends in home buying.  

Austin - Texas -- All Good

This aired last Friday evening on Katie Couric's news program! http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7224282n

&tag=mncol;lst;1

And then - there's another "top of the list" for TEXAS

Texas tops the list in U.S. for sixth straight year, followed by Colorado
and Florida

CHICAGO, Jan. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Everything's bigger in Texas -
including its appeal as a destination for residents in 2010, according to
Allied Van Lines' 43rd Annual Magnet States Report released today. For the sixth year in a row, Texas eclipsed every other state and took the
lead as the No. 1 magnet state in 2010 based on Allied's report, which
tracks U.S. migration patterns. Texas realized the highest net relocation gain (inbound moves minus outbound
moves performed by Allied Van Lines, one of the world's largest moving
companies) of 1,640, which is lower than the nearly 2,000 families it
attracted in 2009, but it far outpaced all other states. Colorado came in
second place, with net relocation gains of just over 400 and Florida, South
Carolina and Arizona rounded out the top five states with the largest net
relocation gains. "Today there are more Fortune 500 companies located in Texas than any other
state in the union," said Bill Dircks, president of Berger Transfer &
Storage, Inc. "With our branch locations in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San
Antonio, we've serviced a large number of relocations into the state this
past year. A healthy business climate, coupled with family-friendly cities,
makes Texas a very attractive place to work and live." "Allied Van Lines experienced modest growth in 2010, and the trends noted in
the Magnet States report are consistent with what we've seen when the
economy begins to emerge from a recessionary period," said Bill Lyon, Vice
President and General Manager, Allied Van Lines. "Relocation for employment
is the leading motivation for an individual to move." According to the Texas Comptroller's office, Texas' position compared to
other states remains strong in spite of national economic slowdowns. Thanks
to a diverse, strong economy, employment in Texas has weathered the storm
better than most other states. The Texas unemployment rate has been at or
below the national rate for 45 consecutive months and unlike most states,
Texas is currently adding jobs - up 172,800 jobs from October 2009 to
October 2010.

Texas logged just under 9,600 total shipments and ranked third behind
California (about 12,300 total shipments) and Florida (about 9,900 total
shipments). California secured its title once again as "most mobile state,"
with the highest volume of inbound and outbound shipments by international
mover Allied Van Lines. Keeping you informed, ready to help you with your real estate needs and
wishing you all the best, Anne

ANNE JOHNSON-CHEVERERE

Realtor(r)

512-917-5260 Cell 512-328-5151 Office 512-328-0404 Fax

Follow me on

LinkedIn Twitter

Facebook
HookemHomes.com

RE/MAX Austin Skyline 4611 Bee Caves Rd., Suite 200 Austin, Texas 78746 annejohnson@austin.rr.com anne@HookemHomes.com Search All Listings

The finest compliment I can ever receive is your referral. Please remember
me when your friends, family, and co-workers are thinking about buying or
selling residential and investment real estate.

This is a message from the MailScanner E-Mail Virus Protection Service
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The original e-mail attachment "winmail.dat"
was believed to be dangerous and/or infected by a virus and has been
replaced by this warning message.

Due to limitations placed on us by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers
Act 2000, we were unable to keep a copy of the infected attachment. Please
ask the sender of the message to disinfect their original version and send
you a clean copy.

At Tue Jan 11 09:23:18 2011 the scanner said:
Could not parse Outlook Rich Text attachment

Posted via email from annejohnson's posterous

Texans - Funds Are Running Out On The Appliance Rebate Program

Since December 20, 2010, the Texas Appliance Mail-In Rebate Program has been accepting applications. Approximately $18.5 million was earmarked for the mail-in rebate program, which will remain open until the funds are depleted. 

So if your frig, washer/dryer, hot water heater, AC, heat pump and microwave are nearing replacement time – buy Energy Star Rated appliances and get your rebate. 

I thought a review of where the funds stand as of today - January 7, 2011 -- will be helpful for all those who are interested in participating in the appliance rebate program.  Here goes:

 Estimated Rebate Funds Remaining

$8,817,339

 Rebate Funds Already Approved

$521,445

 Estimated Rebate Funds
Awaiting Validation

$9,161,216

 Days Program Has
Been Open:

19

 Visit the web site (noted above) for all program details and claim your savings – up to $1,000 on central AC systems.  You can download an application and mail it in.  Be patient – it will take 6 to 8 weeks to receive the rebate. 

Has Austin, Texas Fallen from Grace?

Says who?

Well, so says the Harris Interactive Poll who conducted a poll for Forbes, recently asking more than 2,000 adults from across the US to name the coolest metropolitan areas to live. 

 The results put New York and Las Vegas in a tie for 1^st place with Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Orlando, San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington DC following – in descending order. 

No not one Texas cities made the hip list, but Texas dominates --  especially Austin -- all other lists from Kiplinger’s to Entrepreneur. This could explain why Katie Couric is traveling to Austin to find out just why Austin has made so many Top 10 list during the past year.

Tune to CBS in this Friday, Jan. 7, at 5:30 p.m. to see it for yourself.

Here is what Katie and the CBS news team have been reading recently. 

Earlier this month, Austin was deemed to have the second-strongest job market in the country by the Milken Institute (behind only Killeen).

That backs up another list in July that put Austin among the top job-generating cities.

Austin was picked as the No. 1 best city to live in for the next 10 years in a Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranking in May.

Also in May, Austin was listed among the country’s healthiest cities on two other lists.

The Austin area tied for first on a Forbes list of large metros where the recession is easing.

A CNN/Money study labeled Austin as recession-proof.

Austinites have the ninth-best “quality of life,” according to Portfolio.com study in May.

Austin was ranked the third-best city to move to in the United States, according to a RelocateAmerica.com report about seven months ago.

Austin was picked as the nation’s most progressive and proactive entrepreneurial center in a July article from Entrepreneur.com.
Austin is the third-best city for young entrepreneurs, says Under 30 CEO.
Entrepreneur magazine ranked Austin a top creative center in July.
Austin ranks as the nation’s fifth-best city for new college graduates in the latest annual listing by Bloomberg Businessweek.
Austin was deemed by Men’s Health to be America’s most sex-happy city.
Perhaps consequently, Austin was Yahoo Travel’s third-best city for singles earlier this year.
Austin did well on a Forbes list in June highlighting the best cities for young professionals.
We have some of the cleanest air in the country, according to another list.
Austin is the best city for Hispanics, according to Popular Hispanics.
When it comes to live music, Austin is No. 3 in the U.S., according to MSNBC.com.
And just weeks ago, Austin residents were ranked the 7th brainiest in the U.S. by Daily Beast.
So everybody living in Austin or considering calling Central Texas home – chill out.  Austin is in great form, despite begin ousted from the Harris Interactive’s top-desired cities list. But of course, I don’t have to tell my fellow citizens to chill. According to a list last month, Austin is one of the least-stressed cities in the U.S.

Just Thinking About The Happiest People And ......

I was thinking about starting the New Year by sharing some weighty information on Austin, Texas and where the economic indicators are pointing concerning the real estate market in Central Texas. 
After doing my home work and reading numerous reports, noting the sources and appropriate web addresses bookmarked, I came across a wonderful and short  video clip in my Early To Rise newsletter that caught my attention.  Like many others, I have read the words before and thought that's cool and something I should remember. 
For some reason this morning the video made me pause and think -- much like Mass this morning where I learned more about the 3 Magi's who were seeking to honor the Christ child. Really interesting by the way. 
I put my blog concerning economic condition, real estate and the mortgage industry aside(for today) and decided to share the video clip in hopes that many others will pause and reflect on the message " the happiest people in the world don't have the best of everything... they just make the best of everything".
Watch  here and Happy New Year! I love my coffee.