This week, Denver, Colo.-based Real Trends, a residential brokerage analysis company, released a report that said real estate agent commission rates had risen last year — and are likely higher this year, too, although it’s too early to offer finite data. If your reaction to that was "How is that possible?" — well, so was mine. All the agents I know are having one of their worst-ever years, dealing with hesitant buyers who will get to the bid stage and decide to "just hold off for another six months;" willing buyers with credit issues that are blocking them from getting…

The Fed late today announced another quarter-point rate cut, bringing short term rates to 4.5 percent. It was a move widely expected by the financial community — but not necessarily among the Fed, who did not vote unanimously for the cut. (For the record, Bernanke supported it.) Why? Well, for one, growth isn’t slowing — and neither is consumer spending, according to recent Commerce Department data, which, despite the dour housing situation, makes home value, price and sales declines less of a concern for the Fed. And yet — there is concern the economy will slow, hence the rate cut….

McGraw-Hill Construction, in conjunction with the National Association of Home Builders, recently released a report on residential green building trends. And it seems green building may be one of the most successful word-of-mouth marketing campaigns of the past few years, according to the CNNMoney.com article talking points. The major findings of the report include: The green homes market is expected to rise from $2 billion to possibly $20 billion over the next five years(!) Pre-existing home remodeling jobs are including 40% green products. Green homeowners are recommending their sustainable home offerings much more than other industries are being recommended. Operating…

Times are a changin’ for subcontractors — and for once, we’re not talking about the housing slump. Even in the midst of the drastic U.S. housing downturn, there’s good news from the American Subcontractors Association. Its local chapters have lobbied for a number of public policy reforms, according to Contractormag.com, which should make working conditions, contracts and other building aspects easier. A few highlights achieved in 2007 through successful lobbying include: Colorado: Gov. Bill Ritter signed an indemnity reform bill (S.B. 87) on April 11 that prevents any party in a construction agreement from contractually indemnifying another party for damage…

We’ve all received a number of big residential outlooks and predictions this week — some just today, as industry players like McGraw-Hill Construction and the Commerce Department weighed in on the current and future housing situation. Commenting on the residential decline is nothing new; but within these takes was hope — some actual positive findings that indicate improvement to balance out the negative — making this series of forecasts more encouraging than most from the past six months. And that’s newsworthy, indeed. The picture this week’s data painted, in fact, was somewhat rosier than many people — possibly even the…

For communities interested in green building, a little push may be all it takes to incorporate sustainability into future building and expansion plans. Supporting green building is one thing — encouraging it, entirely another. Aside from passing an all-construction mandate or instituting a fine, how can towns — and builders — inspire sustainability? Take a look at ways some communities are promoting green building: Test-Driving a Green Program. Los Altos, Calif. recently approved a 12-month green building program, which requires require new single-family homes to meet Build It Green’s standards, according to the Palo Alto Daily News. Increasing Home Sales…

We’ve become accustomed to hearing that home prices are down, housing supply is up and residential construction is sharply slowing down as a result. But there’s another threat looming on the new project horizon — construction costs — and developers are directly in its path, according to Financial Week. The Associated General Contractors of America warned builders that construction costs would increase in 2008 in its Construction Inflation Alert report, issued earlier this month. Even with the current residential decline? It’s possible. Why overall costs are rising: Wages. When the residential market fell this year, many workers switched into the…

An interesting article in today’s New York Times outlined the rising popularity of social networking sites designed for residential buildings — and the article makes a good case for building-exclusive online communities. Since March, more than 335 buildings have signed up for the Brooklyn-based LifeAt.com service for the $6,000 start fee, according to the Times. Since, as of now, LifeAt doesn’t charge an annual fee, that isn’t a bad investment for a building to make, considering the potential payoff with owners. Who could benefit from a social networking site? A number of residential buildings: Small Buildings. Condos with just a…

This summer, a New York Times article about parking introduced non-New Yorkers to a shocking concept: the $225,000 parking space. Think that sounds high? Some New Yorkers don’t — there’s a waiting list for those spaces in Manhattan. If that price tag blows your mind, considering we’re in the midst of  a national housing decline in which homes are losing value, the concept of the auto condo — essentially a purchasing living space for several high-end cars — likely won’t make much more sense. But some developers are revving up to build them all the same. Luxury on Main, opening late…

A good friend of mine is currently renovating a condo in an up-and-coming (actually, a somewhat-already-here) neighborhood. The neighborhood has turned out to be a real find, so much so that a relative who works in real estate is thinking about buying down the street. Now, this family member is a classy lady. I don’t see her being interested in a fixer-upper, but rather a home that is ultra-modern, something hip. New construction condo, I asked? The friend lowered her eyes, sheepishly. "No," she said, somewhat nervously. "She’s actually thinking about buying a foreclosed property. It’s for the investment. I…