Thursday, July 31, 2014
2 top U.S. leaders visit Toledo
Although he was smiling, a twinge of apprehension was evident on the face of U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez on Tuesday as he strapped on a safety harness used by electrical workers to scale giant wind turbines.
?You?re Not Sailing Alone?: Saluting the Seegers in a Hootenanny
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Why It's Time to Buy
FXR, FGM: Big ETF Outflows
Looking at units outstanding versus one week prior within the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, the biggest outflow was seen in the First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund , where 7,950,000 units were destroyed, or a 20.6% decrease week over week.
International Paper recovers from first quarter
The company reported net income of $161 million, or 37 cents per share, along with operating earnings of $409 million, or 95 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2014 after reporting a loss in the first quarter.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Training Seminar
Election Results
ORBCOMM Expands Global Market Territory and Gateway Infrastructure
Monday, July 28, 2014
Judge OKs Suit over Architects' Plans
Major architectural firms may be held legally responsible to future occupants of their designs, even if the firm does not build the project or control the construction decisions, the California Supreme Court has ruled.
Developers Cater to Two-Wheeled Traffic in Portland, Ore.
Little Risk of Home Builder Liquidity Woes, Analyist Says
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Sloshing in Symphonic Waters
Why It's Time to Buy
No answers on how URS purchase will impact workers
Despite inquiries into the matter, no information has been made available on the job status of URS employees following the company's purchase for $4 billion by AECOM Technology Corporation, a Fortune 500 engineering design firm.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Little Risk of Home Builder Liquidity Woes, Analyist Says
US new-home sales plummet in June
Sales of new U.S. homes plunged in June, a sign that real estate continues to be a weak spot in the economy.
Friday, July 25, 2014
April Newsletter
ROCCOC chairman aims for local housing prices to be set by market
Lai Cheng-yi , chairman of the General Chamber of Commerce of the R.O.C. , yesterday urged the government to allow Taiwan's housing prices to be determined by the mechanisms of the free market and cease suppressive policies designed to curb rampantly rising prices, at a conference event yesterday in Taipei.
REOs: Where Are They Now
Thursday, July 24, 2014
PID process plant moving forward
Plans for a new water recycling plant are moving forward. AECOM Technology Corporation was awarded the design contract during Wednesday night's Paradise Irrigation District Board meeting.
Soonr Dramatically Increases Workforce Productivity in the Construction Industry
Soonr , a leading provider of secure file sharing and collaboration services for business, today announced that its Soonr Workplace solution significantly increases workforce productivity in the construction industry.
Poll for Construction Estimators
Our friends over at�Software Advice are conducting a poll about current practices in construction estimation.
You can take the 5-minute poll here.
Tags: Architects, construction, construction estimating, construction manager, construction software
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Schumer pushes for biogas tax credit for upstate dairy industry
IBEW union members continue to strike at Alger Delta Electric
It is 19 days and counting since the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 876 began their contract strike at Alger Delta Electric.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Fremont's Innovation Center coming into view, as Warm Springs BART station on track for late 2015
The shell of the Warm Springs-South Fremont BART station has made conspicuous progress in recent months, slowly rising above a dusty field northeast of the Tesla factory.
Petrofac Limited's "Buy" Rating Reaffirmed at Canaccord Genuity
's stock had its "buy" rating reaffirmed by equities research analysts at Canaccord Genuity in a research note issued to investors on Friday.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Freeway change in Fairfield accompanies Solano highway widening project
Primoris Services Corporation Announces New Industrial Award Valued Over $13 Million
Hassan donations put GOP on attack
The Republican Party asked the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office on Thursday to expand and expedite its review of what the GOP claims are illegal contributions to Gov. Maggie Hassan's reelection campaign after learning it accepted two more donations from labor-affiliated PACs.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Poll for Construction Estimators
Our friends over at�Software Advice are conducting a poll about current practices in construction estimation.
You can take the 5-minute poll here.
Tags: Architects, construction, construction estimating, construction manager, construction software
Johnson drops out of race against Purdo and Ward
Former Islamorada Mayor Bob Johnson dropped out of the race for incumbent Councilman David Purdo's seat this week and is instead running for the slot Mayor Ted Blackburn leaves in November.
Hardware Shop Owner Sculpts Art From Odds and Ends
John DeLuca runs a hardware store on Staten Island that doubles as a quirkly gallery for his collection of handmade planes, ships and other figures.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Oklahoma City retirement home files for bankruptcy relief after $15.1 million judgment
Adored Walrus Goes to Texas as Aquarium Renovates
Mitik arrived in Brooklyn just weeks before Hurricane Sandy in 2012, but was never seen by outsiders because of ongoing construction and the calf?s poor health.
LIRR Union: Strike Averted, Tentative Deal Reached
A tentative deal has been reached to avoid a devastating Long Island Rail Road strike.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Baton Rouge area home sales up in June
The Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors reports Thursday there were 880 home sales that closed in June in the nine-parish area.
Stronger Lure for Prospective Home Buyers
Engineering, construction stocks may be undervalued after major deal
Canadian engineering and construction stocks may be undervalued based on the ticket price of a major deal involving two of their U.S.-based peers, says Benoit Poirier, analyst at Desjardins Securities.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
1-800 CONTACTS Breaks Ground on New Corporate HQ
As Lenders Hold Homes in Foreclosure, Sales Are Hurt
Why Can?t I Have a Washing Machine?
Questions about laundry equipment; an heir?s access to a deceased shareholder?s apartment; and who pays for window replacement in a co-op.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
A Major Renovation on the Doorstep of Queens
Hotels, apartment complexes and parks are being built in Queens Plaza, but few offices are under construction.
IGC Partners with TerraSphere to Develop Multiple Vertical Farming Sites
Study Details Graft in European Union
More than three-quarters of citizens believe that graft is widespread in their countries, the European Commission said in a report.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Investors await West Fraser's Q2 outlook
Martin Ellefson, General Manager, of the West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. lumber mill in Quesnel, B.C. December 16, 2010.
Merger creates massive L.A. construction firm
Los Angeles engineering and construction firm AECOM Technology Corp. has agreed to acquire a San Francisco competitor, creating what the firm said will be the largest public company based in Los Angeles.
Bulding Act Changes Will Drive Demand for Quality Assurance
New measures aimed at improving building work done in New Zealand and protecting consumers will reinforce the value of contractors with a quality assurance brand, says the Electrical Contractors Association of New Zealand .
Monday, July 14, 2014
Politicians reject Horsham bypass B2 route
Press release distribution, EDGAR filing, XBRL, regulatory filings
Net i... TransTech Pharma, LLC Announces Agreement with FDA on Special Protocol Assessment for TTP488 Phase 3 Trial in Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease )--TransTech Pharma, LLC today announced that it has reached an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Division of Neurology Products, under the Specia... )--Hoosier residents ... (more)
May Newsletter
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Sunday, July 13, 2014
Movers & Shakers 07/06/14
URS Corp. announced the promotion of Whaley Braham to marketing manager for the company's Anchorage office.
Boral's Kane not one to lose a fight
Australians like to think of themselves as direct, no nonsense - and plain speaking.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Led by Chinese buyers, U.S. housing sales to international clients hit $92 billion
Overseas buyers and new immigrants accounted for $92 billion worth of home purchases in the U.S. in the 12 months ended in March, according to a study from the National Association of Realtors.
Election Results
Friday, July 11, 2014
Bill Proposes Mortgage Shake-Up
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Birmingham's industrial real estate market poised to grow in second half
Brokers are seeing a few things in industrial real estate that they simply weren't seeing a few years ago.
Home prices shoot up 59 percent in San Francisco's Bayview in two years
Sarah Benary and her husband, Oron Benary, make mead, an alcoholic beverage made from honey, in the Bayview in San Francisco.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
PMI Seminar
3,800 still without power following storm; lightning sets Pelham house on fire
SPRINGFIELD - Utility workers were working to restore electric power to roughly 3,800 customers throughout Western Massachusetts in the wake of a powerful thunderstorm that rolled through the region Wednesday afternoon.
MasTec Expands Canadian Oil Sands Presence with Acquisition of Pacer Construction and Increases its Senior Secured Credit Facility to $1 Billion
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Housing market is a 'crapshoot'
Karl "Chip" Case is an economist whose name is synonymous with home prices. He is co-creator of the much watched S&P/Case-Shiller home price indexes with Bob Shiller, who won the Nobel Prize in economics last year.
Fannie Mae: Housing market recovery on pause
Despite lackluster consumer confidence, the number of employed consumers who expressed concerns about losing their job dropped to an all-time low in June, pushing more potential buyers into the purchase market, according to a recent industry survey.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Technip Awarded Renewal of Subsea Services Framework Agreement with Statoil, Exxon Mobil & Gassco
El Paso union giant Juan Aranda Jr., remembered as great leader
Long-time El Paso union leader Juan Aranda Jr., who for years represented workers at the former Asarco copper smelter in El Paso, died recently at age 90 after a long illness.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
6-2011 Construction Market Outlook
While most of the home construction market affects the steel industry in an indirect way-through the employment of steel-intensive heavy equipment or as a driver of the sale of home appliances-metals have become more prominent in the structures themselves.
MasTec Expands Canadian Oil Sands Presence with Acquisition of Pacer Construction and Increases its Senior Secured Credit Facility to $1 Billion
Autodesk Joins American Institute of Steel Construction
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Are Aussie homes in a bubble?
FIRST home buyers shouldn't hold their breath waiting for prices to drop despite comments from RBA Governor Glenn Stevens, writes Jessica Irvine AUSTRALIA boasts one of the highest personal tax rates in the developed world, but these simple tips will help you hold on to as much of your cash as possible.
News of our past
Friday, July 4, 2014
MasTec Expands Canadian Oil Sands Presence with Acquisition of Pacer Construction and Increases its Senior Secured Credit Facility to $1 Billion
ATCO behind anonymous newspaper ads slamming AltaLink sale
Utilities giant Atco says it paid for anonymous ads in Alberta newspapers this week warning of "serious consequences" if AltaLink is sold to Berkshire Hathaway Energy, controlled by American billionaire Warren Buffett.
Muddy river could be 'crystal clear' lake
Thursday, July 3, 2014
May Newsletter
...
Election Results
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Stronger Lure for Prospective Home Buyers
Autodesk Now a Proud Associate Member of the American Institute of Steel Construction
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Kansas City Toy Train Streetcar Ethics Complaint Remains on Track
Here's the latest note regarding the ongoing fight against electioneering and Kansas City's toy train streetcar pipe dreams... To wit... On Friday June 20th, The Citizens for Responsible Government filed an official complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission against: The City of Kansas City, Mo., The City Council of Kansas City MO., and Mayor ... (more)
Modern Home Builders Talk New Construction Trends
As new home construction picks up speed in the wake of the recent recession, modern home builders are getting creative about their craftsmanship and focusing on what their customers are looking for. These days, it?s not about lavish amenities, rather new modern home buyers are looking for efficient homes with room to grow.
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The latest new homeowner trends focus on quality and value, and include the following sound strategies:
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In-House Single-Design Model
Traditionally, new home construction included the services of separate engineering and construction firms. To save time and money, and pass the savings to the consumer, modern home builders have firms that do the engineering and contractor coordination all in-house. This trend helps speed up the construction process by up to six months, allowing firms to focus on additional projects.
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Energy Efficient and Eco-Friendly New Modern Homes
As new homeowners accept the reality that energy costs aren?t going to decrease, they seek long-term energy efficient solutions. Examples include the installation of occupancy sensors, systems that recover energy, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, and solar energy solutions. Health-conscious clients seek advanced filtration systems and materials with low VOCs, while the eco-friendly look for the use of sustainable or recycled materials like bamboo, cork and re-purposed building materials (e.g., crushed concrete in place of gravel). Those who are particularly energy-savvy seek smart passive house designs with a tight building envelope, smart roofs and energy efficient windows.
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Appealing to the Genders
Modern home builders find that among new home shoppers, women generally have the last say. To appeal to the female consumer, the latest trend is to construct dwellings that make homemaking simpler with larger kitchens, more storage spaces and bigger washing areas.
Men tend to gravitate toward homes with bigger garages with a shop area and a space in the house to entertain friends. Men also prefer bathrooms that have a water closet and bathtub that?s separate from the shower.
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Room to Grow
Today?s new homeowners aren?t looking for houses that they can sell for a profit in the near future. Instead, they?re looking for homes that their family can grow in for several decades. New construction trends allow homeowners to easily convert spaces as the needs of their family change. These spaces are innovative and allow for the simple integration of new technologies and building additions.
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Connectivity
The ?house of tomorrow? that people dreamed about in the 1960s is here today. Modern homeowners want to interact with their houses with a simple touch of a button, even when they?re away. The latest trends include the installation of standby generators that a homeowner can turn on or off from a computer or mobile device. They also seek smart programmable thermostats that they can adjust remotely using a mobile device.
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Smart appliances are in demand. In addition to being energy-efficient, the latest dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers tap into areas that have smart grids, evaluate the local utility company?s time-of-use rates, and operate when electricity rates are the lowest. In the kitchen, Wi-Fi-enabled refrigerators let homeowners display their favorite pictures as well as seek and share recipes from a built in touch-screen monitor.
Another hot trend that consumers seek are power outlets with USB ports that make it simple to plug in a lamp and charge a phone at the same time without the need to purchase a power strip.
Modern home builders must meet new homeowners where they are in regards to the down market and economic uncertainties. As Americans get back on their feet, the latest value-added building trends are the forces that driving the new home construction market.
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About this author:
George Hale is the owner of H. Hudson homes. Professional Portland home builder H. Hudson Homes specializes in new modern home building, perfecting the combination of style and function. They are trusted Oregon home builders who focus on cutting-edge design and sustainability.