Qualified Remodeler helps independent remodeling firms to survive, become more professional and more profitable by providing must-have business information, namely best business practices, new product information and timely design ideas.
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OVERVIEW / NEWS / TRENDS / COMMUNITY OUTDOOR LIVING Top Alfresco Living Trends for 2013 American homeowners increasingly are drawn to adding outdoor rooms for entertaining and recreation on their properties, according to the 2013 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends sur vey conduc ted by the American Society of Landscape Architects. The results also show demand for sustainable and low-maintenance design. The category of outdoor living spaces, defined as kitchens and entertainment spaces, received a 94.5 percent rating as somewhat or very popular. It all but tied with gardens and landscaped spaces at 94.4 percent. Across all categories, 97 percent of respondents rated fire pits and fireplaces as somewhat or very in demand for 2013, followed by grills (96.3 percent), seating and dining areas (96.3 percent), and lighting (95.1 percent). IMPROVING MARKETS List of Improving Housing Markets The number of improving housing markets continued to expand for a sixth consecutive month to a total of 259 metropolitan areas on the National Association of Home Builders/ First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) for February. This is up from 242 markets listed as improving in January, and includes entrants from all 50 states and the District of the Columbia. NEW HOMES Housing Outlook Continues to Brighten The housing upturn that took root last year is expected to pick up momentum in 2013 but headwinds along a number of fronts could impede the pace of the recovery, according to economists speaking at the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas. "Nearly every measure of housing market strength — sales, starts, prices, permits and builder confidence — has been trending upward in recent months and we expect to see gradual but steady growth along these lines in 2013," says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. In particular, Crowe said that house prices are up nearly 6 percent on an annualized rate throughout the past 10 months. HOME SALES Pending Sales Remain on Uptrend Pending home sales declined in December but have stayed above year-ago levels for 20 consecutive months, according to the National Association of Realtors. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, fell 4.3 percent to 101.7 in December from 106.3 in November but is 6.9 percent higher than December 2011. The data reflect contracts but not closings. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is an uneven uptrend. "The supply limitation appears to be the main factor holding back contract signings in the past month. Still, contract activity has risen for 20 straight months on a year-over-year basis," he said. Affordability Increases at Year-end 2012 Take NARI recertification quizzes. C-Corp – 16% 49% 23% Partnership – 1% 10 March 2013 QR ForResidentialPros.com 3. Apply for the Top 500 list. Submit your information to be recognized on this year's Top 500 list. ForResidentialPros.com /awards Registration is open for the 35th annual Master Design Awards. Submit your best projects. 11% Sole Proprietorship – 11% Don't know – 1% ForResidentialPros.com/ narirecertification Apply for the Master Design Awards. S-Corp – 49% Limited Liability Company (LLC) – 23% NARI and QR have teamed to offer NARI credits. Read articles and take the corresponding quizzes. 4. 1% 1% 16% A free webinar will take place each day March 25-28 to assist with design, marketing and construction. 2. Exceptionally low interest rates helped ensure a slight gain in nationwide housing affordability amid relatively stable house rices in the final quarter of 2012, according to the National Association of Home Builders/ Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI). In all, 74.9 percent of homes sold between the beginning of October and end of December were affordable to families earning the U.S. median income of $65,000. This was up nearly a percentage point from the 74.1 percent of homes sold that were affordable to median-income earners in last year's third quarter. 2012 Remodeling Business Structures Polish your skills during spring training ForResidentialPros.com/springtraining HOUSING STATISTICS 1. ForResidentialPros.com/ QRawards 5. Sign up for our e-newsletter. Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter to receive the latest remodeling news, products and more. Cygnus.Omeda.com/QUR Source: National Association of the Remodeling Industry, 2012 Member Profile