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  • 20 Dec 2016 by BIASC-Staff

    Take a look back on the design trends for 2016 and view what's to come in 2017.

     

     

    2016: Matte Black Fixtures

    Last year interior design was all about matte finishes. However, Etsy designers created metallic designs with varying textures. The good news? The matte paint from last year will look amazing next to the metallic objects and varying textures that you picked over the year.

     

     

    2017: Mixed Patterns

    The mixed pattern trend on the runway during the fall 2016 New York Fashion Week has inspired home décor in the coming year. A space with a statement piece anchors a room with enticing and mismatched patterns.

     

     

    2016: Marble Accents

    Marble was very prominent in this year’s NY NOW showcase. The trend adds a touch of luxury at a lower price.

     

     

    2017: Faux Finishes

    It’s not just faux furs that are being talked about for 2017 trends—faux materials, such as faux wood ceiling beams that won’t rot, or engineered quartz that can withstand acidic foods better that Carrara marble, are being considered for budget friendly design.

     

     

    2016: New Neutrals

    In 2016 designers left cliché neutrals, such as taupe, and replaced them with new neutrals that included blush tones, silver, and even pale blue. 

     

     

    2017: Greenery

    The 2017 Pantone Color of the Year is “Greenery.” The bright green color is supposed to represent refreshment and revitalization as we enter the new year.

     

     

     

     

  • 20 Dec 2016 by BIASC-Staff

    Millennials and boomers will be big buyers

     

    As the oldest of the millennials push into their mid-30s, many will start to settle down and buy houses, Smoke and Gudell said.

     

    A number of factors are contributing to this generation's decision to start buying homes. More jobs are being created for 25- to 34-year-olds than any other age group, and wages are rising, Smoke said. Millennials are also reaching an age at which they're thinking about marriage and children.

     

    Baby boomers, the oldest of whom are entering their late 60s, are also looking to move as they reach their retirement years, Smoke said.

     

    In the last several years, baby boomers' participation in the housing market has dwindled. Many already own homes and may have been reluctant to sell until their properties recovered the value they lost in the housing bust, Smoke said.

     

    "While a sizable number want to downsize to control expenses, we're seeing others move to the biggest house they've ever owned because they've got children and grandchildren and they want those people to come visit," Smoke said.

     

    He added that many boomers are opting not to move to traditional retirement hot spots like Arizona and Florida, instead choosing to move closer to family.

     

    Home values will increase, but more slowly than last year

     

    Home values should increase about 3.6 percent next year, Gudell said. That's a slight drop from 2016, when national home values rose about 4.8 percent.

     

    As the market recovered from the housing crisis, "for a while, we were growing at very high home-value appreciation rates," Gudell said. "What we'll see for next year are more historically normal appreciation rates in line with what we've seen over the last 50 or so years."

     

    Gudell and Smoke said this slowdown in appreciation is an inevitable effect of the market's recovery, and it signals that the nation's housing market is normalizing.

     

    More people will move to the suburbs for affordable housing

     

    As home prices continue to rise, more buyers will move to the suburbs to find affordable housing, Gudell said.

     

    "After the housing bust, people were able to move back to the cities because it was much cheaper than a few years ago," she said. "Now, we see people would still like to live close to the city center where they're close to amenities and in walkable neighborhoods, but for the first time they're not able to find enough inventory that's affordable for them to buy."

     

    As a result, many people have to look further out from cities to find homes in the right price range. 

     

    West coast prices will continue to rise

     

    Homebuyers may have the market on their side in the Midwest, but home prices on the already-expensive West Coast will continue to rise, Smoke said.

     

    "It's fundamentally where the most significant job growth has been since the end of the recession, led by California -- particularly Northern California -- and continuing into Portland, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix and Tucson. Most Western markets are outperforming the East," Smoke said.

     

    Population growth will follow job growth, he said, increasing demand for homes beyond the market's ability to build inventory and lead to higher prices.

     

    Mortgage rates will increase

     

    Following the housing market crash, mortgage rates remained at record lows for years. However, that's finally starting to change, Smoke said.

     

    Rates are climbing now and are expected to keep doing so next year, with the Federal Reserve indicating that three more increases to its benchmark rate are coming in 2017.

     

    "As a buyer or seller, this essentially points to acting sooner rather than later if you're intending to do a transaction next year," he said. "Rates will get higher as we go through the year, and inventory is not going to improve. So winter or early spring will be more advantageous than waiting for late spring or early summer, when most buyers emerge."

     

    Read the rest of the predictions for the new year here.

  • 09 Dec 2016 by BIASC-Staff

    View the Photo Gallery Here

    Project Team
    Architect: Bassenian Lagoni 
    Builder: Beazer Homes 
    Interior Designer: Triomphe Design

    Design Statement:
    Palm Springs' home buyers value the unique architectural character of their desert oasis. To deliver the required authenticity, this plan stayed true to must-have design details of Mid-century Modern homes: flat planes, large windows, changes in elevation, and integration with nature. The gabled roof common to modern ranch-style houses and the small steps between rooms create split-level spaces.

  • 05 Dec 2016 by BIASC-Staff

    Employment bounces back following a lackluster jobs report in October.

    By Hanley Wood Data Studio

     

    The U.S. economy added 178,000 non-farm payroll positions in November, according to the monthly employment report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This seasonally adjusted figure—a significant increase from October's downward revised addition of 142,000 jobs—fell slightly short of the Wall Street Journal's expectation of 180,000.

     

    The national unemployment rate declined from October's 4.9% to 4.6%, while the labor-force participation rate was little changed at 62.7%. Average hourly wages for private, non-farm workers declined by 3 cents to $25.89, following an 11-cent gain in October.

     

    Economists believe October's report was depressed by Hurricane Matthew, and that November's boost is significantly attributed to the return to normal weather conditions. According to the Wall Street Journal, December's employment report is clouded with uncertainty, as Federal Reserve officials will meet mid-December, and are expected to raise interest rates for the first time in a year.

     

    The construction industry continued to grow in November, adding 19,000 payroll positions. Construction jobs added in November outpace October's addition of 14,000 jobs, but still lag far behind the 65,000 positions added in November 2015. The manufacturing sector continued to shed jobs, losing 4,000 jobs in November. Meanwhile, payrolls in the architectural and engineering services sector lost 1,000 positions in November, following six consecutive months of growth.

     

    Read the full article with interactive graphical data on Builder Magazine and get the full release from the Bureau of Labor Statistic for more key figures.

  • 01 Aug 2016 by BIASC-Staff

    The Labor Department announced last week that, as a result of Congressional action last year, it will raise the maximum penalties it can impose for violations of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules by 78%.

     

    The changes affect penalties assessed after Aug. 1 for violations that occurred after Nov. 2, 2015. They are contained in an interim final rule that will be published soon in the Federal Register.

     

    Read more about the fee hike here.

  • 01 Aug 2016 by BIASC-Staff

    At the August SCBSA meeting the discussion focused on the rise of injury due to being shot by a nail gun. Nail guns are a necessary tool on any job site but also very dangerous if not properly used. Please see Nail Gun Safety PowerPoint for proper safety procedures.

     

    Click here to view and download the PDF images of the PowerPoint presentation from the meeting.

     

  • 07 Jun 2016 by BIASC-Staff

    You still have time to get out and vote! Over the past year California Building Industry Association (CBIA) and Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC) PAC has watched and engaged in a variety of legislative seats around the state supporting pro-housing candidates. Today, June 7th, is the 2016 Primary Election here in California. From 120 legislative races to local councils and boards to a U.S. Senate seat there are countless reasons why to get out and vote.

     

    Whether it is to engage in one of the few times a Presidential Primary has still been in play in California to support your local candidates or to vote on local bond measures take a few minutes out of your day tomorrow to stop by the polls and vote.

     

    Polls are open until 8 p.m. today and you can find your polling place here.

  • 01 May 2016 by BIASC-Staff

    At the May 2016 Southern California Builders Safety Alliance meeting John Ford, Senior Safety Engineer and VPP Construction Coordinator, Cal/OSHA presented three partnership programs that are available to builders and trades that recognizes those employers and its employees, who work toward and maintain a safe and healthy workplace.

     

    Click here to view and download the PDF images of the PowerPoint presentation from the meeting.

     

  • 27 Apr 2016 by Andy Bowden

    The 55+ Housing Council had a great time in Arizona on their housing project tour. Read Andy Bowden's, Principal at Land Concern, account of the Council's adventure.

    Author’s note: This is to be read with the music of Arlo Gutherie’s ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ playing in the background.

     

    My alarm went off at 5:00 am as it does every morning and I hurried to get ready for the 55+ Housing Council’s tour of some great active adult projects in Phoenix, Arizona.  This was quite a ‘departure’ for our council (pardon the pun), as in years past, the tours had always been of projects local to Orange County or surrounding areas.  Our Programs Committee, headed up by Nick Lehnert of KTGY Architecture and Planning and Ann Cutner of IMA Design Group came up with the great idea to ‘expand our horizons’ and to tour projects in not only another area, but in another state.

     

    Phoenix, Arizona…, is home to the Arizona Cardinals, the Arizona Diamondbacks, thousands of rattlesnakes, scorpions, roadrunners and coyotes, as well as two very successful active adult communities, Victory at Verrado and Trilogy at Vistancia.  It’s also the place you go to get out of the cold in the north and the crowds in the west, where the air is clear, and 100 degree heat is commonplace (all together now, ‘but it’s a dry heat’) from May through October.

     

    We met at the gate the flight was leaving from and that gave us a little bit of time to network a little.  Everyone was saying how easy the check-in process was.  However, one or two did say that they were a little disappointed that the TSA didn’t give them a pat down…, (insert appropriate slightly off color joke of your choice here).  Some who weren’t seasoned travelers didn’t quite understand that when the TSA officer said that you were to remove shoes, belts, jackets and anything from your pockets didn’t mean that you ended up on the other side of the machine wearing only your underwear.  (Okay…, it was me.  I’m not too proud to admit it. I said that I was 55+.  They were very understanding, and passed me through the screening process very quickly, so it worked to my advantage).

     

    The flight was well coordinated thanks to Denise Kennedy at BIASC and all went off without a hitch.  Someone (who shall remain nameless but whose first name is Ann) was kind enough to pass out free drink tickets to all who were traveling on Southwest with the main group before we boarded the plane.  Several, (who shall also remain nameless but were seated together in the same row) decided to start the trip off right with a little Bloody Mary.  (All went well until they started to do the ‘wave’  which we all thought was fun until the pilot came over the loudspeaker and said that we were rocking the boat and could we all please take our seats).  We could tell that this was going to be a GREAT trip!

     

    We landed at the Phoenix airport without further incident and met up with several others who had arrived separately and all of us jammed into the two large 7 passenger SUV’s and drove out to our first destination.  It was kind of close quarters riding in the backseat of the SUV and if you didn’t know the person sitting next to you…, you became very acquainted by the time we arrived at the Verrado Coffee Company and Info Center, (I’m not sure…, and I think that I might have gotten to first base with the person next to me). 

     

    We were all very impressed with the number of really great community features that were provided by homeownership in Verrado as a whole, and by the “….8 x 10 glossy photos with circles and arrows with a description on the back saying what each one was…..” that were hanging on the walls.  But what some of us were really impressed with was the chart on one of the rear walls that showed all of the various homebuilders and the prices of the homes that were being offered.  Prices in Victory started in the high $200’s and went up to the low $500’s.  Basically, you could buy a very nice 2,000 square foot home for the same price as what you’d pay for a carport in Orange County!  Proving that, “….you can get anything you want at Victory at Verrado!”  (By now, that song should be playing in your head the entire time that you’re reading this.  If not, download the song on ITunes and play it while you continue reading).

     

    From there, Chuck Disney, overall master planned community designer and the ‘very distant cousin to Walt…, and all of his money,’ invited us to tour Victory. We then loaded back into the SUV’s and drove the short distance through the Main Street District to the model complex.  Located on the Tom Lehman designed golf course, the model complex is adjacent to what they call ‘The Big Patio’, a very nice sales center with a large shaded patio (hence the name…, duh!) complete with a beautiful outdoor kitchen facility, large enough to have community events.  There’s also a Golf Playground which includes a putting green and a small 4 hole practice course for those wishing to improve their short game which would be very enjoyable while having a few ‘adult beverages’ (I mean this is a 55+ community after all) with some friends in the late evening after it’s cooled off.

     

    The landscape of the overall community is definitely ‘Desert Themed’ (of course, it’s in a desert) and as such utilizes a lot of really drought tolerant trees and shrubs.  But as this is located in a very dry and arid part of the City, the style of the landscape blends in well with the surrounding area and is in keeping with the natural native beauty that is indicative of this style. The builders included Lennar, Standard Pacific (now CalAtlantic), Maracay Homes, and David Weekly Homes.  We were all very impressed by the quality of the presentation.

     

    From there, we went ‘up the hill’ to the Victory Club for lunch at ‘The Vic’.  The food was very good and we enjoyed a shaded outdoor dining experience out on the veranda that overlooks the terraced pool area.  By this time, the temperature was reaching 98 degrees, but we didn’t really seem to notice it as (all together now), ‘it’s a dry heat.’

     

    After lunch, we took a tour of the Victory Club and the surrounding area.  It’s located high up on top of a stony hill and the view from the patio that is off of the main club facility is absolutely breath taking.  One could only imagine what that view must be like at night, looking down on all of Verrado and the surrounding areas.  It was truly a beautiful ‘sight’ as well as a beautiful ‘site’ for an active adult community.  But we were tight for time and had to hustle off, or ‘David Hasselhoff’ as I heard someone exclaim as they were being rushed away.

     

    Back in the SUV’s once again, and we were off and traveled across to the other side of town to Shea Homes’ Trilogy at Vistancia.  As soon as we arrived, we could see that this was built somewhat earlier as the landscaping was mature, with ponds and waterfalls and green grass everywhere, something that is becoming less and less frequently seen back home, (or will be in the not so distant future).  This was certainly not at all a desert style landscape, it evoked images of what you’d see in Palm Springs with lush landscaping and golf courses everywhere you look.

     

    We pulled up to the Trilogy Info Center located at the 35,000 square foot Kiva Club.  This houses many of the main amenities that are available at Vistancia like the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a health spa, ballroom facility, athletic club and a small café.  They are in the process of building a new club facility within the development that will is currently under construction which when completed will be called the Mita Club.

     

    We toured some of indoor and outdoor amenities.  I was particularly impressed by the indoor swimming pool that was very large and could accommodate a large number of people.  The outdoor swimming pool was in high use with a number of people enjoying the beautiful day while keeping cool. We then went over to the model complex where we went through some of the more popular floor plans.

     

    By this time, it was time for us to troop back to the SUV’s once again for the long trek back to the Phoenix Airport in time to catch our flight home.  We ended up getting back to the airport with just a little time to spare.  We went through the airport security line with no problems, though once again I heard comments (complaints?) about not being stripped searched or padded down.  Some people are just hard to please….

     

    The flight back was very nice and quiet with no raucous laughter, cheering, or people doing ‘the wave’ as they walked to the restroom at the back of the plane.  I attributed this to either that our group was very tired or…., that Ann had run out of drink tickets.

     

    The trip was a great opportunity to see what others are doing in other areas that influence home buying for the active adult marketplace.  My one big takeaway from this experience was that while the floorplans and architectural styles are somewhat similar to what is built in our area, the lifestyles are different and that we need to pay more attention to the amenities that we offer in our communities.  That and next time I need to get more drink tickets from Ann!  :o)

     

    ATTENDEES:

    Ike Balmaseda - Dahlin Group Architects

    Yuri Bast - Descante Design

    Andy Bowden - Land Concern, Landscape Architecture

    Ann Cutner – IMA Design Group

    Julie Ernest – Brinks Home Security

    Chris Francis – Brinks Home Security

    Rian Graber – MEYERS

    Geoff Graney – KTGY Architecture and Planning

    Joe Hammond – Rick Engineering

    Valerie Hardman – Outdoor Dimensions

    Denise Kennedy - BIASC

    Joe Kody – Expressions Home Gallery

    Rita Lamkin – Preface, Inc.

    Nick Lehnert – KTGY Architecture and Planning

    Anthony Sandoval – WSH Management

    Lisa Klang Schriver – Klang & Associates Interior Design

    Janet Sharp – Home Smart

    Trent Schneeberger – SeniorHousingNet

  • 01 Apr 2016 by BIASC-Staff

    The city of Fullerton is considering putting several properties up for sale.

     

    The property the Meridian Sports Club sits on is among several city-owned parcels that could make more economic sense to sell, according to what officials said in the Orange County Register.

     

    City staff said that the parcels could be attractive to developers and bring in tax revenue to the city if sold.

     

    While no deals have been struck, a city-hired Realtor has been in discussions with the owner of the Target shopping center immediately north of the property, who has expressed interest in buying in the property, City Manager Joe Felz said.

     

    The city has also looked at a downtown parking lot, land once proposed for a library and property near Sunny Hills High School and the parking lot behind the Fox Theatre along with an 18,000-square-foot parcel just north of the former movie house.

     

    The city may also sell the 2.4-acre Bastanchury Library site, adjacent to Loma Vista Memorial Park.

     

    Read the article on Orange County

  • 08 Mar 2016 by BIASC-Staff

    Has there been a lag in the adaption of new and innovative technology in the home building trade? An article floating around the internet titled, Time to Change Platforms and written by Sam Rashkin, has likened the industry’s outdated processes to 'the proverbial frog in the pot of boiling water.'

     

    Rashkin compares the progress of building industry over the last 100 years compared to the automotive industry and uses the evolution of wood framing and its creation of problems as an example of how the industry has progressed.  He goes on to write that looking at other options and into changing platforms is important and can change the industry for the better and that it may begin solving some of the problems that homebuilders run into.

     

    The State of The building Industry

     

    Currently, the construction sector is facing a shortage of qualified labor. Results from a survey distributed in September by the Associated General Contractors of America (ACG) reported that 86% of contractors across the U.S. are struggling to fill hourly craft jobs or salaried professional positions.

     

    However, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) First American Leading markets index (LMI), the housing market is gradually strengthening as the economy firms and job creation continues. Out of 340 metro area markets, 117 of them have bounced back or exceeded their normal levels of economic and housing activity in the fourth quarter.

     

    Millennials, ages 18 to 34, make up over a quarter of the US population and are favoring products integrated in technology, ethical, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. They do not spend as much on traditional retail, but they are still changing industries in every sector. The Home Depot recently conducted a study which found that, among millennials who are renters, 57% viewed home ownership as an important goal, compared with 38% of Gen Xers

     

    What’s New in the Industry?

     

    Everything from Building Information Modeling (BIM), Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), technology apps on site, 3D printing, green and sustainable building technology, smart home technology, and drones for surveying are being implemented to make the home building and purchasing process easier and more efficient.

     

    Technology is improving a number of different industries to create a safer, well-organized, and stronger trade, and the building industry is no exception. The implementation of technology in the industry can lure, not only the millennial buyers to the housing market, but also millennial-aged professionals into the construction sector.  With new technology we can begin to address the problems in the industry by turning our attention to new options to develop solutions and strengthen the industry.