Designated as both New Homes Month and Architecture Month, April is cause for double celebration by the housing industry. New Homes Month survey: Buyers want energy savings In tribute to New Homes Month, the National Association of Home Builders published the 2016 survey of top features in demand by new home buyers. These consumers say Energy Star appliances and windows and an Energy Star rating for the entire house are among their top five most wanted features for a new home purchase. In fact, the NAHB further reports that home buyers are willing to pay more if a home offers lower utility costs in return: on average, they will pay $ 10,732 more for the home in return for $ 1,000 a year savings in utilities. Meanwhile, builders nationwide say they are most likely to include energy saving features that correspond to consumer preferences including low-E windows, Energy Star-rated appliances and windows, and programmable thermostats, according to the recent survey of builders by NAHB. Builders also are most likely to add other popular features such as a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, laundry room, and great room. Winning elements for the kitchen include a center island and granite countertops. Celebrate Architecture Month with the 15th Street Design District In celebration of Architecture Month, Boulder’s 15th Street Design District – a community of design firms and businesses located along 15th Street between Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Avenue – is sponsoring several events free and open to the public. Experiencing Wrightʼs Architecture is an evening of conversation with renowned Frank Lloyd Wright scholar, Jack Quinan, offered April 25 at the Boulder Public Library. This insightful lecture is presented by HMH Architecture + Interiors and Jennifer Egbert Modern Luxury Real Estate. 15th Street Design District Crawl welcomes families to enjoy an early evening of live music, food carts, face painting and a bouncy castle along 15th Streets newly renovated streetscape. The public is invited to visit the businesses and design firms of the 15h Street Design District who are hosting open houses. to learn about works in progress. The District Crawl is April 29 from 5-8 p.m. Sponsoring firms include Sopher Sparn, HMH, Workshop 8, Mosaic, Sustainably Built, Studio 3, Surround Architecture, Boulder Engineering, Samual Austin amp; Co Architects, Treeline Homes and Colorado Green Building Guild. One of Boulder’s new ‘places,’ the 15th Street Design District is the result of architectural, interior, visual arts and other designers located on 15th Street who got together and collectively created Boulders premier district for design firms. This enhanced connection between Boulder High School and downtown Boulder was formed in 2010. The recently completed streetscape improvements, including wider sidewalks, bike racks, new trees and irrigation systems, new LED streetlights, street poles with “15th Street Design District” banners, and trash and recycling bins, were funded by the voter-approved $ 49 million Capital Improvement Bond passed in 2011. Other Architecture Month events sponsored earlier in April by 15th Street Design District included Women in Design: Connecting Purpose and Place, presented by Mosaic Architecture and Interiors. For more information visit http://15sdd.com/.
RE/MAX of Boulder Real Estate Blog
* Article originally posted on RE/MAX Boulder website at http://www.boulderco.com/blog/
