Housing Production Regains Some Strength in June originally posted by the National Association of Home Builders on July 19, 2011:

Nationwide housing starts rose 14.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 629,000 units in June, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department today. This was the best pace of housing production since the beginning of the year, and was attributable to significant gains registered in both the single-family and multifamily segments as well as every region of the country.

“Today’s numbers are an encouraging sign that builders are responding to improving consumer interest in new homes and apartments by gradually replenishing their extremely thin inventories in places where demand is evident,” said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. “That said, the lack of access to construction credit remains an impediment to starting new projects and getting building crews back to work in markets that are improving.”

“The latest housing production figures show broad-based gains on both the single-family side and in multifamily apartment construction, where we know that demand has been increasing due to the influx of renters in the market,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “Going forward, we expect to see a gradual upward trend in new-home production through the end of this year as consumers begin taking advantage of the buyers’ market, though not without some bumps along the way.”

Single-family housing starts posted a 9.4 percent gain to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 453,000 units in June, their best pace since November of 2010. Meanwhile, multifamily starts, which tend to display greater volatility on a month-to-month basis, gained a dramatic 30.4 percent to a rate of 176,000 units – their best pace since January.

Starts activity improved across every region of the country in June, with the Northeast posting a 35.1 percent gain, the Midwest posting a 25.3 percent gain, the South posting a 10.6 percent gain, and the West posting a 5.4 percent gain.

Issuance of building permits, which can be an indicator of future building activity, also improved in June. Overall permits posted a 2.5 percent gain to 624,000 units, their highest level since December of 2010. Single-family permit issuance held virtually even with the previous month, with a 0.2 percent gain to 407,000 units. Multifamily permits gained 6.9 percent to 217,000 units – their highest level since October of 2008.

Permits were up in three out of four regions in June. The Northeast was the only part of the country to report a decline, of 10 percent, while the Midwest registered a 5.2 percent gain, the South posted a 5.5 percent gain, and the West posted a 1.4 percent improvement.

Heat advisories have been in effect for our area much of the week. Just walking to the mailbox or to and from the car at work can be dangerous when temperatures are so high. And here in the soupy South, the humidity level takes the heat index even higher. It felt like well over 100 degrees most of this week.

The heat is uncomfortable for sure, but how can you know when the general dangers are becoming specific to you and your health? Lowder reminds you to look for warning signs and stay aware of your own reactions to the high heat. The most common ways you may be suffering heat-related distress are as follows:

Heat Rashes – Rashes are common when it’s this hot. Caused by skin being persistently wetted by unevaporated sweat, heat rash has the appearance of a red cluster of bumps or small blisters. Try to keep the affected area dry by using light clothing or powder.

Heat Cramps – Cramps are usually caused by performing hard physical labor in a hot environment. They are often associated with an electrolyte imbalance caused by a lack of water replenishment after sweating. If you have to be out in the heat, be sure to drink water every 15 to 20 minutes and consider supplementing the water intake with carbohydrate-electrolyte replacement liquids such as sports drinks.

Heat Exhaustion – Being hot can make everyone feel tired and cranky. But heat exhaustion is beyond normal “tiredness.” In fact, the condition is only partly due to exhaustion. It is a result of the combination of excessive heat and dehydration. Fainting or heat collapse is often associated with heat exhaustion. There are early warning signs, though, before a total collapse. Pay attention to headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, thirst or giddiness. If these symptoms manifest, remove yourself from the hot environment immediately and drink as much water as possible quickly.

Heat Stroke – Stroke is the most dangerous heat-related problem and is extremely serious. Heat stroke can lead to death and is caused when the body’s temperature regulation fails and the body temperature rises to critical levels. Primary signs and symptoms include confusion, irrational behavior and convulsions, among others. A huge warning sign is the sudden lack of sweating, even though it’s hot. It is of utmost importance that you immediately seek medical help if any of these symptoms appear.

For a limited time when you buy a new Lowder home, we will make your house payments for you for an entire year. Your monthly house payment will be absolutely ZILCH for the next 12 months!

Lowder recently unveiled this unprecedented offer, and it has created quite the buzz among those seeking real estate in Montgomery, new homes in Prattville and great locations in Millbrook and the Town of Pike Road. The housing market in Montgomery is taking a positive step forward because owning a new home is so easy and affordable with Lowder New Homes.

Better hurry, though. Homes must be under contract before 8/31/11. Existing homes and home sites do not qualify, but anyone looking for a home for sale in Montgomery, Alabama or surrounding areas should rush to a Model Home in any Lowder neighborhood today and speak with a Builder Representative for complete terms and details.

Avoid Summer Lawn Stress originally posted by the Home Builders Association of Alabama on June 30, 2010:

Care, patience and a little bit of knowledge can make the difference between a lush healthy lawn and an arid brown eyesore. But proper lawn care is more complicated than setting out a sprinkler every once in a while. You can water or fertilize a lawn too little or too much, and even the time of day matters.

Overwatering is the most common lawn care mistake home owners make, according to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. It can damage or even kill a lawn. Too much water leads to a shallow root system; it makes a lawn more vulnerable to weeds, insects, and diseases; and it reduces tolerance to drought and other environmental stresses.

Before you pull out the hose, though, you need to find out how much water your lawn is getting by measuring the irrigation and precipitation rates. You don’t need sophisticated tools to figure this out; all you need is a coffee can.

Here are some tips from The Cornell Cooperative Extension Service:

Determine the irrigation rate by placing a can on an area that is being watered and taking note of how much water is in the can after 15 minutes.

Calculate precipitation amount by leaving a can in the yard for a week and seeing how much rainwater collects in it.

Actively growing turfgrass requires about one inch of water a week; water your lawn for as many minutes a week that are needed so that precipitation plus watering totals one inch.

Water your lawn in the early morning to reduce evaporation and so plants dry by mid-morning. Letting the leaves stay wet for too long can lead to disease.

Don’t mow your lawn too short. Keep it about three inches tall to reduce stress and pest problems.

Wait until fall to fertilize, about two weeks after the last time you mow. If you fertilize in the spring, you will get fast-growing leaves, but weak roots, which will make the plants more susceptible to diseases and insects. Heeding these few guidelines will go a long way to helping you maintain and enjoy your lawn, even through the hot, dry summer.

The value of homeownership continues to rise even in a down economy. And just last week, Lowder announced a new initiative that makes owning a new Lowder-built home easier and less worry than ever before. Stop by a Model Home in any one of our gracious neighborhoods today and ask a Builder Representative about how you can own a new home with ZERO house payments for a full year. That’s right. For a limited time only, Lowder will make your house payments for you! You won’t just have low house payments, you’ll have NO house payments! Your Lowder Builder Representative can give you complete term and details. So go ahead, don’t just read about homeownership… make that value a reality for your family today!

The Lasting Value of Homeownership originally posted by the Home Builders Association of Alabama on June 6, 2011:

During National Homeownership Month in June, the housing industry celebrates the many benefits of owning a home. Despite the downturn in the housing market, families continue to seek to achieve the American Dream of homeownership and take their place among the more than 74 million Americans that own a home.

The value Americans place on owning their home continues even through times of economic hardship. The Fannie Mae National Housing Survey conducted in January 2010 showed that two-thirds of American adults said they still preferred owning a home. And 70 percent of respondents said they believe buying a home continues to be one of the safest investments available.

Home appreciation over the long term builds financial security for a family’s future. But most home owners don’t have to wait for the home’s value to increase to realize the financial benefits. Right from the first year, the majority of home owners are able to annually deduct the mortgage interest and property taxes they paid off their taxable income. This can mean thousands of dollars saved off a family’s tax bill every year.

When the family sells the home, the capital gains exclusion exempts up to $250,000 of the profit ($500,000 for married couples) from taxes.

But the value of homeownership can be much more than financial.

Owning a home can often be a lifestyle improvement, enabling a family to enjoy a neighborhood, features and other amenities that suit their present and future day-to-day activities.

Newly-constructed houses can deliver energy efficiency, storage space, well-designed floor plans, and the latest technologies in electrical systems and appliances. Rooms are often spacious, with high ceilings and lots of windows to let in light. A new home also comes with the peace of mind of little maintenance needed and a warranty against defects.

Existing homes offer neighborhoods whose character has already been established, mature landscaping with tall trees, and an existing selection of businesses and services for the home owner to use. If the home isn’t already a great fit to the buyers’ taste, it can be renovated to reflect the new owners’ needs and preferences.

Homeownership lets families build connections. Owners take pride in their homes, and develop friendships with other people who also own homes and care about the neighborhood. A home is a place where families make a sanctuary that feels comfortable and safe, and where they develop social networks, begin friendships and create memories that will last a lifetime.

To learn more about the lasting value of homeownership in your area, contact your local Home Builders Association.

Lowder New Homes has been the River Region’s leader in homebuilding for more than 50 years. And now they are leading the way in affordable real estate in Montgomery, Prattville, Pike Road and Millbrook again with an unheard-of offer for new homebuyers.

For a limited time only, Lowder New Homes will make your house payment for you for an entire year! That’s right, not just low house payments, but ZERO house payments for a whole year! Quality new homes near Maxwell Air Force Base, Hyundai, the State of Alabama and other River Region employers are now more affordable than ever.

Better hurry, though. Homes must be under contract before 8/31/11. Existing homes and home sites do not qualify, but anyone looking for a home for sale in Montgomery, Alabama or surrounding areas should rush to a Model Home in any Lowder neighborhood today and speak with a Builder Representative for complete terms and details.

Click to view our ad.

For more than 50 years, Lowder has been building quality homes in the River Region. We are about more that prime real estate in Montgomery, great neighborhoods in Prattville, new homes in Pike Road or affordable homes in Millbrook. We do have all those things, of course, but the thing that sets us apart is our absolute commitment to quality.

When Mr. Ed Lowder founded Lowder New Homes, he built his company on a principle that still holds true today: quality products build quality homes! That’s why even today, all these years later, we feature only the best in our homes.

LOWDER NEW HOMES corners and trim are built with what is recognized as the industry’s leader, JamesHardie® siding, which contains no fly ash as a filler. We also use Hardie siding because it has climate-specific substrate and primer and 30-year warranty. That means you will never worry about rot in the South’s hot and humid climate. Other builders often use treated pine that will rot with time and moisture.

Your home is covered by Lowder’s warranty, and we want to make sure our quality homes are covered with quality roofing. That’s why we use CertainTeed®, one of the nation’s leading brands.

You shouldn’t be limited in your color choices or have to settle for inexpensive builder-grade paint to make your new home beautiful. So we use Glidden® Professional Paint to give you unlimited color choices and years of easy care with some of the industry’s highest-rated performances in durability and washability.

We use Mohawk® carpeting, with a minimum of 25-ounce face weight and lots of colors and styles to choose from. We also use a quality pad that’s a minimum of six pounds, not a cheaper four-pound pad used by some builders.

Our Mohawk® wood flooring is more durable than many brands. Its five-ply construction vs. some three-ply choices offered by other builders will stand up longer and can be refinished more often. It also comes with a Scotchgard® finish, a 25-year warranty, and it’s LEED point qualified.

When you pick out your cabinets not only will you have lots of styles and colors to choose from, but you will have quality cabinets that are solid wood construction and do not have particleboard sides. Our cabinets have attractive pulls/knobs as a standard feature, not an upgrade.

Interior architectural features such as how we trim out our windows also set us apart. We believe in quality construction and appearance so we use a full wood wrap that includes wood casing, wood sub-jam and wood stool in lieu of sheetrock.

For quality and stylish plumbing fixtures that are known as some of the industry’s best, we use Delta®, which offers an unbeatable warranty with its Diamond Seal Technology.

Lowder New Homes believes your new home should come with quality appliances too. We do not use builder-grade appliances. Instead we choose to include quality GE® appliances that are Energy Star® rated and dependable.

Is your new home wired for your safety and how you live? We don’t just offer phone and cable outlets. Our new homes come with a Full Structured Prewired Package for phone, video, sound and security.

Why not stop by a beautiful Model Home in any of our gracious neighborhoods today? Our builder representatives can help you see the difference a quality built home can make in your overall home investment. Or call 270-6789 for more information.

Guest Blog from Dixie Electric Company

8 Tips on How Homeowners Can Handle Power Outage
Dixie Electric Company Offers Safety Tips as a Part of Electrical Safety Month

May is National Electrical Safety month, and Dixie Electric Company is celebrating it by providing a series of safety tips that homeowners should know. This article discusses an important topic: what to do during power outages.

With growing communities and populations, people are becoming increasingly exposed to volatile weather and natural disasters. According to the National Weather Service, an estimated 3.5 million Americans experience power outages each week. Yet that’s not the only problem.

The demand for energy continues to skyrocket putting even more stress on aging power grids resulting in random blackouts. The number of blackouts increases each year, despite substantial action to improve the electrical systems reliability. In fact, America ranks toward the bottom of developed nations in terms of reliability of electrical service. As a result, experts claim that blackouts will become more and more regular.

“The loss of power can make life difficult, miserable, and even unsustainable for certain people. That’s why it’s just as important to know how to treat electricity when it’s on and off,” John Yelverton, president of Dixie Electric Company, said. “There are measures homeowners can take to make the experience a mere inconvenience instead of a life-altering event.”

Here are some easy things people can do in the event of an electrical outage:

1. Only use a flashlight for emergency lighting. Never use candles!
2. Keep fresh batteries in a battery-operated radio.
3. Turn off any electrical equipment you were using when the power went out.
4. Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer.
5. Have a storage of canned goods and bottled water in a safe location of the home—at least a week’s worth.
6. Listen to local radio for updated information.
7. Leave one light turned on so you’ll know when power is restored.
8. Do not run a generator inside your home or garage.

“At Dixie Electric Company, during National Electrical Safety Month (May), we’re offering all homeowners 100-percent free electrical safety inspections. One of our highly trained technicians will conduct a multi-point check of every room in your home, as well as give your electrical panel a complete diagnostic. This also includes an analysis of whether the home and family may benefit from a generator,” Yelverton continued. “This is a typical $198 service, but we’re doing it for free to raise awareness of electrical safety. It’s a big concern that we want to alert as many people as possible to. We feel it’s part of our responsibility of being known as the electricians you can trust in the River Region.”

For more information on Dixie Electric Company, visit www.dixieelectricco.com and to schedule a free electrical safety inspection, call (334) 262-2946. Just call Dixie, and it’s done!

The age-old question about whether to buy or rent has become easier to answer in recent years. In the battle for housing dollars, CNN’s Money website released an article [read it here] announcing a winner. Buyers win! Buying makes more financial sense and is becoming more widely feasible with the current low interest rates.

And remember, when you buy a new home with Lowder, you are in charge! No more restrictions on what frames, colors and decorations you can put on the wall. In fact, you can choose which paint color, flooring option and every other detail in the home… your home!

Renting also loses when it comes to community. People move in and out so fast, it’s hard to keep up with who’s who. With Lowder, you get a neighborhood full of great amenities and great neighbors.

Why not stop by a beautiful Model Home or call Lowder New Homes today? Let us help you see why buying wins the battle every time!

The timing is perfect for a new Lowder home. And it may be more affordable than you think.

Freddie Mac announced yesterday that the average rate on a 30-year loan has fallen to 4.63 percent from 4.71. And the average rate on the 15-year fixed mortgage has decreased from 3.89 percent to 3.82. This marks the fourth straight week that rates have declined.

With the lowest mortgage rates since December now available, your dream home is within reach. Check out our mortgage calculator to see just how surprisingly affordable the mortgage on your new home from Lowder can be.