Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Consumer Confidence

TradingEconomics.com has this graph to show us where United States Consumers are with our confidence in economic things that matter. We know there are upward signs in the economic indicators and consumer sentiment made a nice rally from the slide that started last summer. Because I remember clearly how the real estate market slide in 2008 mirrored the mood into 2009 and again in the summer of 2011, it's worth paying attention today and watching through July. The fourth quarter of 2011 picked up in the last 2 months, but the summer and fall were uber quiet.

When sentiment draws back, home buyers hold tight. When buyers hold tight, competition diminishes. Without competition, offers made come with few seller-favorable terms. By terms I mean, price, closing date, inspections, appraisals, and acceptance of inspection related defects. Buyer's commitments to close become as certain as a giant Maybe. As in, if you agree to my terms, maybe I will buy your house.

Maybe if buyers understood that home seller's attitudes figure into consumer confidence they might not be so confidently cautious. People not confident as consumers are rarely whole heartedly committed sellers. Their maybe translates to: Maybe this isn't a good time to sell. The confident buyer can remain a buyer for a long time if unconfident sellers leave the market and leave too few good houses to consider.


Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Not So Big Doesn't Mean Small, or Cheap

Lovely to live in. Inspirational. Balanced space. Sara Susanka may be the most well known person today promoting attention to function, style, beauty, and life in house design architecture. Architect Christopher Alexander and others published  A Pattern Language in 1977 explaining the potential of building, on any scale, with attention to the details of life. Middleton Hills is the premier community for builders, architects, designers, and home owners who embraced the concept. Their work began in the middle of the 1990's and continues with the last homes being built in the neighborhood today.

Design Shelters is one of those design-build firms with a full grasp of home, life, quality, and budget. They built 6959 Apprentice Place when few homes of modest size were available to people conservative with housing dollars. A builder of some of Madison and Middleton's most expensive and elaborate homes, Design Shelters design staff knew how to create lovely space where the owners will find inspiration, pleasure, and balance. First they created activity pockets outside: the front porch with an expansive roof is a transition space from the elements to the front door, to the living room. By detaching the garage the designer created a small courtyard for a green play space or small garden.

The kitchen is has wings of light enhanced by the corner window and nine foot ceiling. By placing a spacious center island in the kitchen the counter top space for baking, preparing meals, and lunching at the counter is maximized without closing off the area from the dining and living space. As an owner's budget permits, higher quality counters, back splash tile, and other artistic features can be added. The space is a perfect canvas for personal touch.

Upstairs is big enough for 3 bedrooms, but that would be imbalanced with the family living space; better to make the area pleasant for the people who will live here. The two generous sized bedrooms each have a private bathroom. The front bedroom is the main bedroom. Its orientation is north but with a little eastern exposure for morning sunlight.

The way to get more living space at the lowest cost is to finish the basement. A 16 x 14 family room has natural light from the window well built for egress. A full bathroom allows the area to be an ideal place for guests. A laundry room on the main floor may sound like a good idea except when the space is limited and you're left with a cluttered area in the heart of the living space. Knowing it's more appealing to have the space necessary to do the utility type jobs of life, a reasonable space was designed with terrific light.

Life in Middleton Hills is easy for walking or biking to schools (including the UW), parks, shops, restaurants, the pool, and tennis courts. Life at 6959 Apprentice Place is lovely, inspirational, and balanced.