Builder articles from September 2002

Builder archives from September 2002

The value equation: is all your sweat making a difference on your bottom line?(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 1, 2002... WHAT'S YOUR COMPANY WORTH, AND HOW CAN YOU make it worth more? Those are two questions for which every builder needs answers. All too often, builders are in the business of creating a good job for themselves and the people who work for them....

B-mail.
September 1, 2002... Fatal Flaws CONGRATULATIONS. YOUR ARTICLE ON business failure ("Fatal Flaws," July, page 101) has been well received, and it is the source of spirited conversation amongst many of my clients. Is the article available online? DENNIS...

Callback.(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2002... IN HOME RUN" (JULY, PAGE 158) OUR INformation about Multiplex Technology was incorrect. The installed price for a basic system-ChannelPlus and OpenHouse brands--is $340. The builder profit, which wasn't reported, is 50 percent. In addition,...

Top-down tremors: the economic aftershocks of this summer's corporate meltdown have weakened a few markets, but on the whole buyers seem intent on ignoring the bad news. (Economic Drift).(business failures affecting real estate and home building industry)(Industry Overview)
September 1, 2002... "LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, YOU COULD TYPE IN A search for single-family homes in Ashburn, Va., and you might come up with a dozen," notes Barb Northam, with RE/MAX Choice Real Estate in nearby Fairfax. "The result now is exponentially different....

Gold coast. (Economic Drift). (home prices, California).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... Leading the nation as always, California home appreciation far outstripped the rest of the country in May. While national figures show May existing-home prices up 6.6 percent year-over-year, Golden State existing single-family home prices...

Sub snub. (Economic Drift). (Meyers Group's survey of new home buyers, sales of new-home developments).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... The Meyers Group's Vision 2002 survey compiled data from more than 75,000 new-home buyers who purchased within the past 30 months, as well as sales patterns of 4,468 new-home developments in the West and Southwest. When asked to rank...

Chicago arrival. (Big Deals). (Lennar Homes purchases Summit Homes and Concord Homes).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Lennar continued its buying spree in August with two Chicago-area acquisitions: Concord Homes in Palatine, III., and Summit Homes in St. Charles, III. The two deals, expected at press time to close in August and October, respectively, give the...

Northern fires. (House Blend). (forest fires, Quebec, Canada).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... National news focus has been on fires in the Southwestern and Western United States, but Quebec is burning too. As BUILDER went to press, some 45 forest fires initiated by lightning had already raged through more than 100,000 acres in the...

Trouble in paradise. (House Blend). (Harris Poll survey of US consumers on smart homes).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Good news for late adopters. Most buyers still consider "smart" homes a dumb idea, according to a Harris Poll survey of U.S. consumers in May. The survey defined a smart, connected home as one where electronics, appliances, and other home...

Perilous pipe. (House Blend). (Gunnell Construction vs electric utility).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... When the owner of Gunnell Construction found an unmarked underground pipe on a site in Cottonwood, Ariz., he called two water utilities, trying to identify the owner. Both denied ownership. Assuming the pipe was abandoned--and that electrical...

Helping victims. (House Blend).(Amber Homes, Alice 106 and Salvation Army raise money for Colorado Wildfire Relief Fund)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Denver's Amber Homes and radio station Alice 106 have partnered with the Salvation Army to raise money for the victims of Colorado's wildfires. The Hayman Fire alone burned more than 137,000 acres, destroying 133 homes. Amber Homes sparked the...

Going modular. (House Blend).(Palm Harbor Homes Inc. acquires Nationwide Homes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Palm Harbor Homes, a manufactured-home builder in Addison, Texas, is entering the modular market. In June, Palm Harbor bought Nationwide Homes, a modular builder in Martinsville, Va., for $35.5 million in cash. With 640 shipments last year to...

Going live. (House Blend).(online house auctions)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... When Builder Homesite and eBay Real Estate recently announced they would hold a series of online home auctions, the Concord, Calif., iBidCo, which specializes in online and live new-home sales events, was conspicuously absent, even though...

Salary scale: NAHB researches production builders' compensation practices. (Money Talks). (National Association of Home Builders).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... IF THE NAHB COMPILED A "FREQUENTLY ASKED questions" list, queries about compensation would qualify in a second. "We get a tremendous amount of phone calls asking, 'How much should I pay my superintendent?' or, 'How much does an IT guy...

Dry idea: new design tool will promote mold-resistant walls. (Mold Detection).(from Oak Ridge National Laboratory)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... A NEW PIECE OF SOFTWARE MAY HELP DESIGNers prevent moisture-related woes such as mold and mildew. Toxic mold is being blamed for a growing list of ailments--asthma, sinus infections, and chronic fatigue--spawning "an epidemic of mold claims,"...

Presidential plans: Bush wants to expand minority and low-income homeownership. Will it happen? (Capital Beat).(George W. Bush)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT HOMEOWNERship represents a ticket to a better life, the statistics are worrisome. Less than half of blacks and Hispanics own their own homes, compared with nearly three-quarters of whites. Like President Clinton...

Head room: extra space above may be the answer to design diversity and added value. (Cost Cutter).(in homes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... AS MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IMplement design guidelines to ensure that their neighborhoods possess architectural character, builders have to find innovative ways to diversity their plans and streetscapes without breaking the bank....

Solid ground: much like the gold that investors considered a safe haven during the financially turbulent 1970s, 21st-century investors look to residential real estate. (Home as Investment).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... AS THE STOCK MARKET AND THE U.S. ECONOMY continue to shudder, consumers are buying houses. "A New Kind of Gold? Investment in Housing in Times of Uncertainty," a report released last month from The Milken Institute, finds that residential real...

Real smart glass: Builders can now order switchable windows. (Editor's Internet Pick).(from ThermoView)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... SWITCHABLE WINDOWS, WHICH USE ELECTRICITY to change from clear to shaded, have been on the horizon for years. Marvin introduced one in the early '90s that used liquid crystal technology, but then quietly withdrew it. Andresen showed several...

Protection racket? Insurers blame bad weather and mold for sending insurance rates through the roof. Are they telling the whole truth? (Insurance Crisis).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... AT THE END OF JULY OF THIS YEAR, Gordon Stewart, president of the Insurance Information Institute, an industry-sponsored interface with the public, based in New York, laid out the bad news before a congressional subcommittee. "Three years...

The next level: housing belongs atop shopping, says architect Barry Berkus. (The Straight Dope).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Filled with people, their purchases, and the never-ending buzz of activity, shopping centers hustle and bustle at all times of day. That's exactly why Barry Berkus of B3 Architects in Santa Barbara, Calif., says shopping centers--or rather...

Credit crunch: tight lending squeezes manufactured housing.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... WHILE THE STICK BUILDERS RACK UP the earnings, their manufactured housing counterparts are suffering. "We're in a self-induced recession in the middle of a housing boom," says Larry Keener, CEO of Palm Harbor Homes, an Addison, Texas-based...

Super Flex. (Top Shelf).
September 1, 2002... BUILDING CURVED WALLS driving you crazy? Regain your sanity with the Flex-C Trac, a galvanized sheet metal product that allows you to build framed curved walls, barrel ceilings, or s-curves with ease. The system is made up of pivotal sections...

Stop and stair. (Top Shelf).
September 1, 2002... IF YOU ARE BUILDING A CONtemporary home, a custom stainless steel stair will fit right in. Stainless steel construction means the stair will be strong, and it will allow for designs such as tight radiuses and compound curves, which would...

Lock up. (Top Shelf).
September 1, 2002... SINCE SAFETY IS A BIG CONCERN ON ALL JOBSITES, A LADDER LOCK OFfers some peace of mind. The product attaches to the top of a ladder and provides a place to attach a handrail and midrail at the required heights. It can be used to help avoid...

Stone face. (Top Shelf).
September 1, 2002... COMPOSITE SINKS ARE GREAT IN THE kitchen, but everyday staining often leaves homeowners scratching their heads. Because the MoenStone Granite sink is a granite composite product, it is resistant to everyday kitchen life such as staining, hot...

Warming trend. (Top Shelf).
September 1, 2002... WHO NEEDS GYPSUM OR CEMENT TO INSTALL RADIANT in-floor heating? EasyFloor radiant heating provides evenly heated floors, but the system is made of modular components so it's simple to install and energy efficient, the manufacturer says....

Duct down. (Top Shelf).
September 1, 2002... IN CONSTRUCTION, FLEXIBILITY MAKES A JOB easier. Quadroflex is a corrugated multi-sided HYAC duct that can be bent in any direction and twisted 90 degrees clockwise by hand, reducing installation time and expense. It consists of interlocking...

Hip-hop happy: few places have suffered Harlem's high and lows. This seedbed of early 20th-century culture in New York's upper Manhattan fell on bard times; today, Harlem dances happy again. (Neighborhood Revival).
September 1, 2002... FROM 1920 UNTIL ABOUT 1930, THE Harlem Renaissance, a period of great creativity in literature, music, and dance, flourished. The Great Depression signaled the end of that era. Harlem suffered damaging riots in the late '60s. It became a...

Privacy, please. (First Draft).(in outdoor space of home in planned community)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Q: How can I create private outdoor space in the close confines of a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) design? A: Many municipalities and master planned communities have strict design guidelines that require rear-loaded garages to...

Orders galore: buoyed by acquisitions, public builders report record quarterly earnings and new orders. (Vital Signs).(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... THE ECONOMY MAY BE SPUTTERING, but you wouldn't know it by reviewing the public builders' recent quarterly reports, filled with double-digit order and earnings growth. At Centex, orders are up 20 percent, compared to 2001, with a corresponding...

Undercover: what's under your roof is just as important as the roof itself. (Products).
September 1, 2002... NO ONE NEEDS TO TELL YOU THAT the roof is the primary weather barrier on a house and is one of its most important items. A good roof, depending on the material, should last at least 20 years--and some have been known to last up to 50. But...

Composite sketch: exterior molding and trim have a new face. (Products).
September 1, 2002... IF YOU'RE STILL USING WOOD EXTERIOR trim boards on your houses, then you know the deal. They're lightweight and inexpensive, but, like a tuna sandwich, wood does not last long when exposed to the blazing sun and water. A smart alternative is...

Tariff rollbacks? (NAHB Briefs).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The NAHB hailed July 26's preliminary ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO) that countervailing duties imposed by the U.S. Commerce Department on imports of Canadian softwood lumber should be rescinded. "This is good news for...

Silent crisis. (NAHB Briefs).(lack of affordable housing, National Association of Home Builders of the US report)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... "Decent, Affordable Housing: It's the American Dream" is the NAHB's new report that focuses attention on the housing affordability crisis and cites specific steps needed to address the problem. Some 28 million households spend more than 30...

Reentry granted. (NAHB Briefs).(Young Offender Initiative:Reentry Grant Program, National Association of Home Builders of the US)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... On June 25, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOI.) notified. the NAHB that it had awarded the Home Builders Institute (HBI) a $1.5 million grant under its Young Offender Initiative: Reentry Grant Program. The grant will help implement Project...

Stocks up. (NAHB Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... The NAHB's Multifamily Stock Index (MFSI) reached a record high in June, moving up 23 points to 1,606--an increase of almost 1.5 percent for the month. Despite slowing rental demand in some local markets, that level is nearly 4.5 percent higher...

Bubble not. (NAHB Briefs).(housing market)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan's July 19 testimony before Congress refuted the existence of an alleged housing market "bubble." We've looked at the bubble question, and we've concluded that it is most unlikely," said Greenspan. He...

NAHB intervention: controversy over highway construction and clean air proves to be a red herring. Court says the NAHB has the right to protect members' interests. (From the President).(National Association of Home Builders of the United States)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... IT MAY NOT HAVE GENERATED Extensive coverage on the nightly news, but a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit was an important victory for the nation's home builders and for housing consumers. COURT RULES ...

Scramble on: mostly only the largest builders have a two-or-more-year lot supply. Smaller builders often have a six-months' or less supply of buildable lots. And that's trouble. (Seiders Economy).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... THE SPREAD OF ANTI-GROWTH sentiment across many parts of the country continued during the recent economic recession while housing production never skipped a beat, in sharp contrast to earlier cycles in the United States. Thus, builders...

Funding safe havens: D.R. Horton event benefits three Florida charities. (Home Builders Care Corner).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... THE JACKSONVILLE, FLA. DIVISION OF D.R. Horton used $22,800 raised in its first annual Julington Creek Plantation Hometown Festival and its 2002 D.r. Horton Family Fishing Tournament to benefit three local organizations that serve families in...

Hot sellers: sold out! fast-moving communities.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... * Banking on Nostalgia Amherst at the 4S Ranch, San Diego WHY IT WORKED: An alley-loaded plan in a house of this size and price is new to the marketplace. The designs respond to data gathered at focus groups with buyers and potential...

Lakeside reverie: delinquent industrial land on Lake Michigan's shore is transformed into HarborPark. A vibrant mixed-use community connected by streetcar to downtown Kenosha. Wis., and via Metra to Chicago.(includes related article)
September 1, 2002... WHAT WAS ONCE HOME to and then abandoned by Simmons Mattress Co., American Motors and other industrial manufactures has gone from eye sore to asset. But it hasn't been easy. HarborPark's community brochure summit up: A promise kept. A...

Fast Track 2002: in a record year for housing, these fast-growing builders set a dizzying pace. Our fourth annual list shows who can race with the pack.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... EVERY MOMENT MATTERS WHEN you're on the fast track. At every turn, hungry competitors surround you, seeking the inside edge. On the straight aways, you must maintain your speed or risk losing your position. And in the pits, you crew must be the...

All for one: these builders crush the competition by collaborating with their employees, subs, and buyers.(includes listing of builders with annual gross revenue change)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... AT THE FOUNDING OF AMBER Homes, the "team" was very small indeed. "We started the company literally in our family room-me, my wife, and Tom {Hoban, who was construction manager at the time}. We'd go around the table and discuss floor...

Meet the FastTrack Conference sponsors. (Special Advertising Section).(builders)
September 1, 2002... See First-Hand the Companies that Can Put Your Business on the Fast Track for Success BUILDER magazine has been following the FastTrack builders for four years, learning their secrets, studying their techniques and understanding how they...

Out of focus: focus groups and questionnaires have been the standard tools of market research, but experts advise builders to look beyond words and mine the unconscious to reveal answers hidden in consumers' minds.(includes related article)
September 1, 2002... HAVE YOU PAID ATTENTION to the Hallmark Card ads or seen the Coca Cola television spot featuring a Buddhist monk meditating in a soccer stadium during a game? Or bought a bottle of Fabreze? Fabreze is the odor-neutralizing spray product...

Show & sell: ten merchandising dos and don'ts for surefire sales success.(virtual design centers)
September 1, 2002... MODEL HOMES CAN BE A BUILDERS greatest sales tool. They're a tangible way to demonstrate the company's capabilities and can also serve as a showcase for product and finish upgrades as well as floor plan options. There are two sides to the...

Mission possible: building on decommissioned military bases is a collaborative and potentially time-consuming effort. But for patient builders, it may be worth the work.
September 1, 2002... ONCE THEY WERE HIVES OF activity, command centers for patriots busy defending the country. Today, many are ready and able to perform a new duty: housing the country. They are former military bases, now decommissioned, and they offer a...

The DuPont Tyvek Flashing System: an innovative flashing system that works together to help reduce callbacks, save time and money. (Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... There are many ways that water can find its way into a window or window opening. A window will not perform to a builder or homeowner's expectations if it is not properly flashed and leaks occur. The Tyvek[R] Flashing System provides...

Taming the Tiger: how one production builder is making e-commerce a reality.(Fischer Group)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... THE TECHNOLOGY VISION WE HEAR OF MOST often is that of an industry wide, e-commerce system in which orders and payments are automatically exchanged between builders, subs, and suppliers. But while that seems far in the future, individual...

In the loop: service providers are beefing up their communications offerings. (Builder Tech).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... THE INTERNET CONTINUES TO EVOLVE As A useful communications tool for home builders. Dot-coins are forging ahead with new Internet offerings. Here are some recent ones. WARRANTY WORKER If you want good referrals, you need to provide...

On a roll: can Homesphere continue to grow? (Builder Tech).(building industry software company)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... DENVER-BASED HOMESPHERE HAS PURSUED an unrelenting expansion campaign over the last year. In October 2001, it bought BuildSoft and promptly doubled staff. A month later, it released an upgrade that made the program compliant with the...

Tech tips: creating a technology action plan. (Builder Tech).(Builder TechnologyConference)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... OVER 150 BUILDERS AND BUSINESS PARTners attended the Builder Technology Conference in Washington in June to hear how to develop a technology plan. Below, we've listed some tips from the conference speakers. Use them as an outline for your own...

New listing site. (Builder Tech).(World Wide Web)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Builders who work with Realtors may be interested in www.saveonnewhomes.com. The site was started by Cathy Chapman, a real estate agent in Frederick, Md. The cost for listing a home is $50 per month. Chapman prefers to work with buyers who have...

Home study. (Builder Tech).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... If you tell them, they will buy, according to a recent study by In-Stat/MDR, a high-tech research firm in Scottsdale, Ariz. The study, called "Networking With the Joneses," found that the demographics of those using home technology has changed...

Plan ahead. (Builder Tech).(Honeywell program for heating, ventilation,)(air-conditioning)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Sixty percent of homeowners aren't happy with their HVAC system, but ducts and filters can be a hard sell when compared to cabinets and counters. "HVAC is one of the last spaces in the home that's under-merchandised," says Honeywell's Daniel...

Site work: do you want to make your web site more effective? An expert offers 10 suggestions you may not have considered.
September 1, 2002... LIKE MOST PEOPLE THESE DAYS, WHEN Philippa Gamse was thinking of buying a new home, she started looking at home builders' Web sites. She was decidedly underwhelmed. "I didn't find myself raving about any of the Sites," she says. "Most didn't...

Tag sale: anatomy of an XML purchase order. (Inner Workings).(Extensible Markup Language)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... EXTENSIBLE MARKUP LANGUAGE, OR XML, may soon become the dominant way that building industry business partners send and receive electronic data. The illustration shows excerpts from a purchase order (P.O.) in XML, as well as in traditional EDI...

What's new on builder online. (Missing Links).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... KEEPING TRACK OF NEW ARTICLES, RE ports, and events on BUILDER Online just got easier--thanks to our streamlined e-mail newsletter program. Hanley-Wood, LLC publishes four free email newsletters, each of which provides links to articles...

Alterna - New. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... NEW Alterna [R] The industry's first fusion-crafted exterior wood composite door. Alterna by DoorCraft [R] provides the best of wood, steel and fiberglass without the drawbacks. A beautiful entrance door with proven performance. It won't dent...

Impression Mirror door by DoorCraft - New. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... NEW Impression Mirror door by DoorCraft [R] Impression Mirror door by DoorCraft adds beauty and dimension to any room. The Impression Mirror door is ideal for use in a bedroom, bathroom or closet. Applications include sliding pocket door,...

IWP Aurora - New. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... NEW IWP [R] Aurora, the world's finest composite doors. Beautiful doors specifically engineered to withstand the harshest elements. The Aurora line is an excellent value, designed to reflect all of the beauty, texture and weight of a premium...

Morgan. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... Morgan [R] Choose Morgan for the best in genuine oak and pine wood stile and rail doors. With a century-old reputation for quality, Morgan offers ten times more exterior designs and three times more interior designs than many other...

Norco Radius Head Clad Wood Patio Door - New. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... NEW Norco [R] Radius Head Clad Wood Patio Door The Norco patio door line now includes a radios head patio door and a half-panel clad patio door. for those who love the look of a patio door with arched transom. The sophisticated designs combine...

Caradco SmartFit Clad Wood Double-Hung Window - New. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... NEW Caradco [R] SmartFit[TM] Clad Wood DoubleHung Window An affordable, high-quality builder's window engineered to your requests. Tilt-in removable top and bottom sash; Aluminum clad exteriors in 3 colors; High-performance Argon-filled LoE...

Nord. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... Nord[R], known for intricate detail, dramatic designs and unparalleled selections that demonstrate wood's beauty. The Nord offering includes fir and hemlock. Products include exterior, 80' and interior doors, sidelights, transoms, French doors...

Pozzi Precision Double-Hung. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... Pozzi[R] Precision Double-Hung Building on the artful and innovative designs that have distinguished its products for the past 34 years, Pozzi Wood Windows[R] is pleased to introduce the Pozzi Precision Double-Hung Window. This is an enhanced...

Summit MagnaFrame. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... Summit[R] MagnaFrame[R] Summit MagnaFrame windows are new, wide profile vinyl windows that are designed to closely approximate wend windows. They are available as single-hung, double-hung, sliders and custom picture windows. With the benefits...

DoorCraft Exterior Steel Doors. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... DoorCraft[R] Exterior Steel doors You'll find wood or steel edge options along with 24- and 25-gauge galvanized steel faces that are ready for a variety of finishes, or ready to install with no finishing required. These rugged, rust-proof and...

The IWP Estate Collection - New. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... The IWP[R] Estate[TM] Collection. This new door line from IWP is beautifully handcrafted, built with old-world craftsmanship for new world architecture. These beautifully aged wooden doors match any architectural style. The IWP Estate...

Caradco Tradition Plus Casement Window - New. (Special Advertising Section: Doors & Windows).
September 1, 2002... Caradco[R] Tradition Plus Casement Window The Tradition Plus line of clad casement windows from Caradco are designed to be more appealing in terms of energy efficiency and beauty. Aluminum cladding on the sash is mitered for a more visually...

Colonial charm. (Builder Plans). (4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... Dormers and transom windows lend charm to this Colonial design. Inside, columns define the formal dining room to the right of the foyer, while the study to the left is accessed by double doors. The vaulted family room offers a comer fireplace....

Exceptional floor plan. (Builder Plans). (3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... Brick and siding make a traditional statement with this fine one-story design. A hardworking layout positions the master bedroom, for privacy, behind the living room. The kitchen and eating nook combination provides casual space for meals. Just...

Talk of the neighborhood. (Builder Plans). (4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... The detailed front porch and multiple rooflines of this home work together to create a pleasing exterior. The dining room includes a formal tiered ceiling and hutch space. The great room features a fireplace and a 10-foot ceiling. The highlight...

Functional layout. (Builder Plans). (3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... Box-bay windows abound in this two-story Craftsman home. The dining room finds access with two archways as does the great room where a fireplace brings warmth to intimate gatherings. The U-shaped kitchen adjoins the morning room with sliding...

Suite treat. (Builder Plans). (4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... You can't get more traditional than this! The covered front porch leads to the foyer and the living room. The massive family room enjoys a fireplace and access to the breakfast nook and kitchen with its snack bar. All four bedrooms are snuggled...

Bonus space. (Builder Plans). (4 bedrooms, 3 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... This striking house combines traditional design with Craftsman materials. Built-ins, a vaulted ceiling and a fireplace highlight the great room, which is connected to the kitchen by a handy pass-through. Tray ceilings crown both the dining room...

Graceful estate. (Builder Plans). (3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... Hipped rooflines, sunburst windows and French-style shutters are the defining elements of this home's exterior. The lavish great room can be entered through two stately columns, and is complete with a fireplace, built-in shelves, a vaulted...

Stucco farmhouse. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... Gables, a front porch and shuttered windows give a small-town look to this home. The two-story foyer leads to the dining room on the left or straight ahead to the family room. The second-floor master suite contains two walk-in closets. Please...

Cozy fireplace. (Builder Plans). (4 bedrooms, 3 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... A covered front porch welcomes guests to this inviting four-bedroom home. The vaulted family room includes a fireplace and a French door. An optional second-floor bonus room offers space to expand. Please specify basement, crawlspace or slab...

Historical touch. (Builder Plans). (4 bedrooms, 3 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... An elegant pediment tops the columned entry porch of this two-story home. A hub of casual and formal space includes a study dining room, vaulted family room, breakfast area and kitchen. The second floor is home to the master suite with a...

Bow window. (Builder Plans). (5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... Strong lines lead the eye upwards toward a varied roofline. The formal dining room enjoys a place in the two-story turret. The breakfast room opens to a sunroom that is also accessed by the two-story family room. Upstairs, three family bedrooms...

Classic curb appeal. (Builder Plans). (3 bedrooms, 2 baths home).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... Brick and wood trim, multiple gables and wing walls enhance the exterior of this one-level home. Sloped ceilings, a corner fireplace, windows across the rear of the great room, and a boxed window in the dining room are immediately visible as...