via: DogHouseDiaries
Archives for August 2013
Buying A Home, See What’s Right For You
August 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Our Changing Housing Market
August 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The housing market has changed a lot over the last 40 years, with the number of home sales, the size of homes, and the cost of homes all changing since the 1970s. Check out this great infographic below to see the ups, and downs, of the housing market over the last 40 years.
source: MitchellHomesInc.com
Household Formation: Pent-Up Demand Is High
August 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The current rate of household formation in the United States is still well below the expected trend and faulted as a major culprit for “pent-up demand.” According to an analysis by Trulia, an online residential real estate site, potentially 2.4 million households are hitting the pause button. The majority of that number is comprised of young people between the ages of 18 and 34 who have delayed moving out on their own for a variety of reasons.
An average of 1.1 million new households are formed each year in the United States. But from the first quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2011, just 450,000 new households have been added on an annual basis. This sluggish rate means a decrease in the overall demand for housing, which affects the annual construction rate. But this “pent-up demand” driven by young adults who are still living at home or doubling up with roommates is bound to give way, say some housing experts.
Will household formation increase sooner or later? Housing Wire is optimistic, reporting that the conditions are better today for emerging households. Steady job growth over the last several years is a good sign. Sterne Agee analyst Jay McCanless says, “We believe steady, if unremarkable, monthly job growth is creating a…household formation environment for 2013 which should support our positive housing outlook.”
If that projection holds true, increased demand is merely a matter of time. When households come out of hiding looking for single- and multi-family residences or apartments, they could potentially inundate the market.
The kitchen makeover that’ll never make HGTV
August 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
If you thought the HGTV designers got stressed when they did a normal kitchen makeover, just imagine how tempers would flair if a homeowner caught them following in the footsteps of artist Liza Lou.
This amazing installation of a fully beaded kitchen took five years and over thirty million glass beads to complete.
According to My Modern Met’s Katie Hosmer:
One by one, the artist hand-glued each piece with tweezers to the surface of cabinet doors, window frames, floor tiles, a table and chairs, a toaster, and even dirty dishes in the kitchen sink.
At least she doesn’t have to worry about resale value in an art installation.
Full story at Liza Lou via My Modern Met.
The Evolution of the Yard Sale [Infographic]
August 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Throughout our history, America has always had a thing for tradition. When you think of suburban life in the 1950s and 60s, images of baseball, white picket fences and apple pie probably come to mind, but that’s also when yard sales and garage sales really came into their own and started booming. Everyone was starting to buy more and more stuff, so people figured why not give back to those around you (for a small price, of course) while also giving yourself a little more room around the house?
Today’s infographic from Yard Sales gives us a neat overlook at the history and development of the U.S. tradition/phenomenon known as the yard sale. Many people may not know that yard and garage sales in the U.S. really got their start in shipyards in the early 1800s with “rommage sales,” where the yards would sell unclaimed cargo at a discounted rate. Later in the 19th century the sales moved to community centers like churches and really began to thrive, until they became what we know them as today in the 1950s and 60s.
For more info on yard sales and garage sale day (2nd weekend in August!) have a look at the graphic below and don’t forget to visit Yard Sales to find a yard sale close to you. [Via]
The Making a Steinway:Timeless [videos]
August 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
You just don’t mess with a classic.
That seems to be the philosophy of piano-maker, Steinway & Sons, if you compare this recent video of their production methods versus a similar film made in 1929.
In fact, the audio for the recent video was recorded in 1980 by John Steinway himself, lest you think there’s been any experimentation in the meantime.
[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAInt7hIZlU” type=”yt” w=”680″ h=”385″]
[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEnuMbyw1eE” type=”yt” w=”680″ h=”385″]