Real Estate Wire/Green Trends News Wire

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif  — San Francisco-based Terra Search Partners together with several other Multifamily Housing Council member firms and research partners joined forces with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to recently publish a new report titled The Macro View on Micro Units.  This report explores the new trend towards small dwelling units in the United States. The ULI Multifamily Housing Councils were awarded a foundation grant for the research, which evaluates the market performance and acceptance of micro units from multiple perspectives.  Micro units are defined as very small (by traditional standards) apartments located in urban areas, particularly high-density, expensive metropolitan markets such as Boston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.  Bill Whitlow, a Partner with San Francisco-based Terra Search Partners, chaired the ULI Research Committee which was comprised of representatives from each of the four Multifamily Housing Counci...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- LandSouth Construction, a Jacksonville, Fla. based general contractor specializing in multifamily and senior housing, has begun construction on UPtown Delray, a $26 million mixed-use apartment community in Delray Beach, Fla.  “This contemporary urban project has two buildings connected by a pedestrian bridge,” said Joe Passkiewicz, vice president of operations for LandSouth Construction. “One building will be apartments over a parking structure. The other is mixed-use with retail and office space as well as apartments.  The project is a structural concrete building with extensive use of glass and metal accents with private balconies and terraces.”  The development will consist of 146 residences with the total development comprising over 338,000 square feet. UPtown Delray is expected to be completed by September 2016. The developer is NCC Development Group of Delray Beach, Fla. and Monogram Residential of Plano, Texas. Slattery and Asso...

WASHINGTON, D.C.   - As Millennials begin to enter the home buying market in larger numbers, homes will get a little smaller, laundry rooms will be essential, and home technology will become increasingly prevalent, said panelists during an International Builders' Show press conference on home trends and Millennials' home preferences held last week. NAHB Assistant Vice President of Research Rose Quint predicted that the growing numbers of first-time buyers will drive down home size in 2015. Three million new jobs were created in 2014, 700,000 more than the previous year "and the most since 1999," Quint said. At the same time, regulators have reduced downpayment requirements for first-time buyers from 5 percent to 3 percent and home prices have seen only moderate growth.  "All these events lead me to believe that more people will come into the market, and as younger, first-time buyers, they will demand smaller, more affordable homes," Quint said. "Bui...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Bonts, Publicist mike@bontspr.com (904) 424-6641 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (January 26, 2015) -- Can architecture improve our health? Can architecture be used to radically improve people's lives? Conversely, can architecture injure the populations it houses? AIA Jacksonville will feature MASS Design Executive Director Michael Murphy. Wednesday Feb. 11, 2015 at the Jacksonville Downtown Library at 303 Laura St. Program begins at 6:30. Social at 5:30. “Their approach to design is that architecture is more than just a building. In the five years since MASS began, they have shown that exceptional buildings and infrastructure can actually address many of the health, economic, and social challenges that the world faces today,”  said AIA Jacksonville President Tom Duke. With his work at MASS Design Group, he has combined sustainable, innovative and appropriate design with immersive research and uses the design process to capitaliz...

LAS VEGAS – The 2015 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), the largest North American platform devoted to kitchen and bath industry design, wrapped its 51st annual show at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Visitors Center.  More than 500 exhibitors took part in the three-day show on Jan. 20-22, 2015. According to KBIS producers, Emerald Expositions, and show owners, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), early indicators show the 2015 event saw a five percent growth in verified attendance. “Everything about this year’s show lived up to the promise of bigger, better and bolder,” said Bill Darcy, NKBA CEO. “We were thrilled, not only by the turnout, but by how many innovations were introduced by exhibitors this year. We couldn't be happier that the industry sees KBIS as the platform to successfully launch new products.” The addition of 500,000 square feet in the South Hall offered the opportunity to provide thought provoking, inspired ‘on floor’ programming...

LAS VEGAS -- Approximately 125,000 housing industry professionals packed the aisles at Design & Construction Week,[tm] which ends today.  Now in its second year, the co-located mega-event included the National Association of Home Builders' International Builders' Show (IBS), the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, the International Window Coverings Expo, The International Surface Event and the Las Vegas Market. Official attendance for IBS was 55,237, which was 8 percent higher than last year's show. More than 1,200 exhibitors filled 478,000 square feet of space with everything from the latest in kitchen and bath design to millwork and marketing services. Overall, Design & Construction Week boasted 3,750 exhibitors and 4.7 million net square feet of exhibit space. "This has been the best show we have experienced since the economic downturn," said Jerry Konter, chair of the NAHB Convention and Meetings Committee. "You felt a great energy the moment you h...

LAS VEGAS -- Rio Estancia in Boerne, Texas, has been selected as Home of the Year in the 2014 Best in American Living Awards (BALA) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The home also received honors as the South Central regional winner. Rio Estancia was designed by Craig McMahon Architects Inc., of Bulverde, Texas, and Studio Industrielle in San Antonio. Studio Industrielle also served as the builder. The land planner for the project was Pete Hinton with Rialto Studio in San Antonio and Anna Meyers Interiors in Chicago was the interior designer.  The 350-acre property is located along the Guadalupe River in the rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country.  Taking cues from the panoramic vistas offered on the property, the main home, bedrooms and guest quarters were organized in the South American Estancia fashion, utilizing the elements of pavilion-living components to frame the main courtyard around the pool and edging up to the river. The building program was ...

LAS VEGAS -- The Book House in Seattle has been selected as the Remodel of the Year in the 2014 Best in American Living Awards (BALA) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The home was also named the Pacific Northwest regional winner. The home owners worked with DeForest Architects and Prestige Residential Construction, both in Seattle, to renovate and restore their 1920s Tudor home. NB Design Group in Seattle served as the interior designer and merchandiser.  The goal of the remodel was to update the original inefficient mechanical and electrical systems as well as the small, dark interior spaces. The owner wished to respect the original architecture while seeking a fresher, more accessible residence that included a detached two-car garage with a studio/caregiver space accessible by an exterior spiral stair. The new materials used in the home are blackened, structural and architectural steel beams, columns and staircase coupled with rift white-oak flooring, casewor...

LAS VEGAS, - The Village of Providence in Huntsville, Ala., has been selected as Community of the Year in the 2014 Best in American Living Awards (BALA) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).  The development was built by BT Neely Construction, Jimmy Bryan Homes and VTS Homes, all of Huntsville, Ala. The team also included developer Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company in Miami and interior designer Placemakers North America LLC in Huntsville. Village of Providence is a large-scale, pedestrian-oriented traditional neighborhood development conveniently built nearby to many of the major landmarks that constitute Huntsville's major employers and amenities.  The development transports residents and visitors into a neighborhood that provides the timeless charm of southern life with the conveniences of a thriving and modern city.  Providence includes housing options and amenities to suit every lifestyle, from estate homes, cottages and townhomes to flats, lof...

LAS VEGAS- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) honored single-family homes, apartments and condos, remodeling projects and subdivisions as part of the 2014 Best in American Living Awards (BALA) last night at a gala celebration during the NAHB International Builders' Show in Las Vegas. The winning projects demonstrate innovate design and give a preview of design trends home buyers will see over the next several years. "While each award winner was unique, there's certainly a number of common themes among these honorees," 2014 BALA Chairman Stephen C. Moore, senior partner - marketing with BSB Design Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa. "Homes are being designed with relaxation in mind, as this year we saw an overall simplification in the designs with cleaner lines and more natural elements." Some of the trends seen in the winning projects include: White on White Kitchens: Many kitchen designs featured white cabinets, topped with white counter tops finished ...

LAS VEGAS,-- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 50+ Housing Council announced the winners of its 2015 Best of 50+ Housing Awards, honoring excellence and innovation in the design, development, lifestyle and marketing of housing that appeals to the mature market. The annual awards program, held during the International Builders' Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, showcases the latest trends in housing for that market sector. "This year's winners created beautiful and functional homes and communities that address the needs and desires of the mature buyer and renter," said Steve Bomberger, chairman of NAHB's 50+ Housing Council and president of Benchmark Builders Inc. in Wilmington, Del. "We are proud to honor these builders, developers and communities for their outstanding work." Top honors went to Sun City Yokohama Minami in Yokohama, Japan, a six-story independent living residence. A large central courtyard with a water feature serves as the focus fo...

LAS VEGAS - A strengthening labor market, low interest rates, improving mortgage availability and growing pent-up demand will help to significantly boost single-family housing production in the year ahead and move the housing recovery to higher ground, according to economists speaking at the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas today. With economic growth near 4 percent for the last half of 2014 and employment gains averaging more than 250,000 per month last year, NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe said these are the primary factors that have helped consumer confidence jump back to pre-recession levels. "The signs point to a more robust year for housing," Crowe said. "Household balance sheets are returning to normal levels, home owners' equity is increasing and significant pent-up demand is rising. More than 7 million existing home sales were postponed or lost during the downturn; and while some are lost forever, we should see some catch-up." The F...

LAS VEGAS -- Residential remodeling is set for modest growth in 2015, according to experts at a press conference hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers at the International Builders' Show (IBS) in Las Vegas.  Remodelers appearing on the panel agreed with the forecast, citing home owners' changing demographics an crease d ind financial security.  NAHB projects that residential remodeling spending on owner-occupied single-family homes will increase a modest 3 percent in 2015 over 2014, and another 1.5 percent in 2016.  "Remodelers are responding to calls from home owners on steadier financial footing than recent years," said 2015 NAHB Remodelers Chairman Robert Criner, GMR, GMB, CAPS, CGP, a remodeler from Newport News, Va. "From major kitchen remodels and bath facelifts to room additions, the members of NAHB Remodelers look forward to providing professional remodeling services in 2015." "Among our clientele, a demo...

LAS VEGAS - - Gus Rubio, CGP, founder of Gabriel Builders in Greer, S.C., has been honored as the Custom Home Builder of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Custom Home Builders Committee.  Rubio was nominated by the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greenville. The association said his business philosophy of customer service before, during and after the sale sets his company apart from any other building company. Gabriel Builders has been privileged to build the personal residences of corporate chief executives and presidents, professional athletes, congressional representatives and architects.  The company works with clients to design and build custom homes with a teach approach, maximizing the flow of ideas as well as allowing optimum value engineering based on their expertise. Rubio's team is passionate about exceeding expectations in quality, value and customer satisfaction. Rubio served as president of the HBA of Greenville Board of Direct...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Apartment markets expanded in three of four areas in the January National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions, indicating a slight moderation of the pace of improvement. Only the sales volume index (44) dropped below 50, with market tightness (51), equity financing (55) and debt financing (71) showing continued expansion.   "The apartment markets continue to show strength in most areas," said Mark Obrinsky, NMHC's SVP of Research and Chief Economist. "Last year's ramp-up in new construction finally signaled complete recovery on the supply side. Even so, demand for apartment residences remains strong enough to absorb the increase in deliveries—and then some, as occupancy rates edged up a bit more."   "The stronger tone of recent economic indicators could mean even more good news for apartments. Improvement in employment—and income—prospects should spur increased household forma...

(REAL ESTATE WIRE) - Miami-based real estate lender BridgeInvest announced that it recently closed a $23 million multifamily loan on a unique apartment building in the heart of Coconut Grove.  The ownership group is led by David Martin’s Terra Group, a leader in Coconut Grove’s growing resurgence, with marquee projects including Bjarke Ingels (BIG) designed Grove at Grand Bay and the Rem Koolhaus (OMA) designed Park Grove residential developments. The property’s ideal setting, located at 2655 South Bayshore Drive, benefits from direct views over Dinner Key Marina, Biscayne Bay and Key Biscayne. The apartment building consists of just over 100,000 square feet comprised of approximately 100 apartment units on a 1.5-acre site.  The apartments are fully occupied, providing attractive multifamily returns. “Part of Terra’s mission is to find strategically located income-producing properties to reposition, hold and manage over the long term. We believ...

Susan Duggan JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – (January 9, 2015) -- LandSouth Construction, a Jacksonville, Fla. based general contractor specializing in multifamily and senior housing, has announced two new additions to the team. Jason Fansler has joined LandSouth Construction as a project manager and Susan Duggan as a project administrator. Fansler is responsible for field management operations, managing subcontractors, developing strong relationships with clients and achieving project completion and satisfaction from LandSouth clients. Duggan will be responsible for providing administrative support to the project team ensuring the project is managed properly. She will also coordinate incoming and outgoing project correspondence and monthly reporting.   Jason Fansler The award winning firm is currently building projects throughout the Southeast including apartments in Jacksonville, Oviedo, Sanford, Delray Beach and Orlando Fla., Collegedale, Tenn. and senior housing in ...

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- (January 4, 2015) - Realtors are invited to join Generation Homes on Tuesday, Jan. 20  in Beach Haven at 17 Beach Haven Parkway, Palm Coast, Fla. for lunch and a preview of the new Anna Maria model from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Generation Homes has created an airy 3,692 square foot home that truly enhances peaceful beach living. The Anna Maria maximizes stunning ocean views, capitalizes on natural light through large windows, open space, breezy porches and decks - all presenting a fresh take on true coastal living “We are very pleased to add the Anna Maria to our homes in Beach Haven. The location presents an ideal setting for all that beachside living can be. Our ability to work closely with new owners to meet their needs matches well with the makeup of this Old Florida beach cottage community,” said Cora Johnston, president of Generation Homes. The furnished model features two bedrooms on the first level as well as a den, huge bath with walk in show...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - LandSouth Construction, an award winning Jacksonville, Fla. based general contractor specializing in multifamily and senior housing, has begun construction on the Village on Wiley, a $4 million apartment community on Jacksonville’s Westside. The development is located on 4.3 acres and consists of 43 residences and a clubhouse in 12 buildings. The one-bedroom, one-bath apartments are approximately 500 square feet. Construction is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2015. The developer is Ability Housing of Northeast Florida, Inc., the only not-for-profit in Northeast Florida that focuses on the development and operation of quality, affordable, rental housing for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness and adults with a disability. The project is being funded by Florida Housing Finance Corporation. PQH Architects is the designer for the unique quadplex units. PQH is a full-service planning, architectural, and interior d...