Landscaping Tips: Choose The Right Tree

The trees you choose to landscape your home not only add beauty, they can help cut energy costs by providing shade in the summer and buffering cold winds in the winter. Trees clean the air, reduce noise, create privacy and can increase a property’s value by improving the appearance.

It is important to consider a number of factors when choosing the right trees for your particular environment and the best locations to plant trees in your yard.

Environmental factors to consider:

·         Temperature. Low temperatures, especially if they occur suddenly, can freeze and kill the living cells in certain types of trees. Factors that influence temperature such as elevation and which side of a hill the tree will be planted on also need to be considered.

·         Moisture. Do you live in a dry or wet climate? Does your yard periodically flood, or is it continually exposed to the drying effect of wind? Watering can be modified on a dry site, but it is still important to know the optimal soil moisture requirements for your species.

·         Shade. Some species, like white birch and most pines, require full sunlight. Other species, like most maples, hemlocks and yews, grow well in shade.

·         Insects and disease. Every locality has its problems with particular insects or diseases. Although  it is possible to buy varieties that have been bred for resistance to a disease, it is asking for trouble planting a species which is prone to local pests because it places the tree under stress.

·         Soil. Soil depth, structure and pH, in addition to moisture, can make the difference between success or failure. For example, deep-rooted species will need adequate soil depth for their structural roots, whereas shallow-rooted species may be fine on sites with just a thin layer of soil over bedrock or hard clay.

·         Pollution. The accumulative effects of pollution can impact your trees. For example, some species are more sensitive to pollutants such as salt spray from the ocean or street de-icing.

After choosing a species that will grow well in your environment, your next consideration is where the tree should be planted in your yard, depending on whether your goal is shade, protection, or purely for cosmetic purposes.

Trees planted to provide shade provide a greater cooling effect than man-made structures because they not only block the rays of the sun, they add water to the air through transpiration. Position the tree where you want the shadow during the hottest time of the day and year.

When planting trees as windbreaks and screens, low-branching conifers that hold their foliage are most effective for screening unsightly areas and providing privacy. Noise is best

reduced by tall, densely planted trees with fleshy, broad leaves. Combining these two types can provide noise reduction as well as filter dust from adjacent street traffic year-round.

To improve your property’s appearance, one good principle is to never locate a tree where it will split your lot or a view into equal halves. To give the lot an appearance of greater depth, plant on a diagonal line outward from the front corners of the house. Trees planted behind the house and to the side will provide background. Trees with color or some other showy feature can be used as accent points. Small, narrow-crowned species will define boundaries without invading your neighbor’s space.

If you are unsure of what trees to choose to suit your goals, you can ask a certified arborist, nursery professional, urban forester, or extension agent. For more information on choosing the right tree, visit the Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org or contact the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. at ww.whbagta.com.

What You Should Know About Hiring a Remodeler

With the ongoing challenging economy, many families are choosing to remodel their homes to fit their changing needs, rather than selling their home and buying another one. Your home is likely your largest investment, and even simple remodels can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, so you want to make sure you find a contractor you can trust.

As the home building and remodeling industry celebrates National Remodeling Month in May, here are some important considerations to ensure you make the right decisions when you find, evaluate and hire a remodeler.

The best place to start is the Directory of Professional Remodelers at www.nahb.org/remodelerdirectory or contact the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area at www.hbagta.com.  A professional remodeler will uphold the highest professional and ethical standards in the industry. These sources can also help you find a remodeler who specializes in a specific type of remodeling if you need it, such as a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) to help modify your home to better suit you as you age, or a Certified Green Remodeler (CGM) to make your home more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly.  

You should also ask for referrals from friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and others who have had remodeling work done. Or, ask local independent trade contractors, building materials suppliers, architects, engineers, home inspectors, lenders and insurance professionals for recommendations.

There are also websites where consumers leave comments about their experience with local businesses, such as www.yelp.com, www.angieslist.com and www.kudzu.com. But be careful about these sources of information, you have no way of knowing who left the comment or if they were honest. 

Once you have a list of potential home remodelers for your project, do research to verify that they are appropriately licensed and have a good business track record. Look them up with your local or state office of consumer protection and the local Better Business Bureau, as well as with your state's licensing agency and the state and local building inspectors. Verify that the remodeler has the appropriate licenses and registrations, and see if they have received any complaints about the remodeler and if so, were those complaints resolved satisfactorily?

When you begin meeting with remodelers, you want to find out information such as:

• How long they have been in business in your community? Can they provide references from customers and suppliers they work with?
• Do they carry insurance that protects you from claims arising from property damage or job site injuries? Ask for a copy of the insurance certificates.
• What is their working knowledge of the many types and ages of homes in the area, and what sort of issues could arise?
• Do they arrange for the building permit? (The person who obtains the permit is the contractor of record and therefore liable for the work)
• Do they provide a written estimate before beginning the work, and a detailed contract that spells out the work that will and will not be performed, protects both of you, provides a fair payment schedule contract and complies with local, state, and federal laws?
• Do they offer a warranty? What is covered under the warranty and for how long?

For more detailed checklists for finding, evaluating and working with a remodeler, as well as other information about remodeling your home, go to www.nahb.org/remodeling.

ORR Committee Recommends Dropping Pre‐Licensure Education

Citing the requirement as “…a barrier to entry into the occupation,” the Occupational Licensing Advisory Rules Committee has recommended eliminating the requirement for applicants for builders or M & A  license to complete 60 hours of education before taking the licensing exam.  Passed by the Legislature in 2007 as a part of the "Improving Professionalism" package, applicants must take at least 60 hours of approved courses considting of at least 6 hours of courses in each of the following areas:  The current Michigan Residential Code, Construction Safety Standards promulgated under the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act, business management, estimating and job costing, design and building science, contracts, liability, and risk management, marketing and sales and project management and scheduling before being allowed to take the licensing exam.

As recorded in the Senate Fiscal Agency analysis of the apckage, the new educational requirements were a consumer protection measure intended to "enhance the professionalism of residential builders and bring a new level of respectability to the home building industry.

The legislative analysis went on to report the "Presently, it is too easy for someone to obtain a residential builder's license and, once licensed, to continue practicing as a builder.  Since there have been no educational requirements for initial or continued licensure, all someone has had to do is pass an examination - which a person eveidently could do after simply taking an eight-hour class given by a private provider.  While six of the 14 members of the committee were attorneys, no one holding a license as a builder, plumber, mechanical contractor or electirican served on the committee.  The committee found that the education requirements were "...excessive for the knowledge needed to take the exam this has done little, if anything, to ensure the competency of home builders." and become licensed to work as a residential builder." 

We expect legislation to eliminate the pre-licensure education requirements to be introduced before the Legislature recesses in June.

 

Lee Schwartz

Executive Vice President

Government Relations

Michigan Association of Home Builders

HELP FOH SPING INTO THE CAMPAIGN SEASON

Help FOH Swing into the Campaign Season

What a year 2011 was! Friends of Housing has had great success, including the election of a dozen members of the Michigan Association of Home Builders into office. Those voices have helped rebuild a Michigan that will lay a foundation for growth. We have seen the elimination of the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) and the creation of a fairer tax – the Corporate Income Tax. This action alone eliminated the double taxation of roughly 85,000 small businesses. This week the phase-out of the Personal Property Tax was introduced and heard in the Senate Finance Committee. If this plan is signed into law, it would immediately eliminate the Personal Property Tax for roughly 75% of those businesses who pay the PPT and would phase it out for others until it is no longer in existence. We continue to work with Representative Margaret O’Brien and the Snyder Administration to move legislation that would reduce the tax builders pay on inventory homes they build in the future. House Bill 4134 was passed out of the House with 77 bipartisan yes votes. Good things are happening to turn Michigan around. If we want to continue to see good things happen we need to support those legislators who support us (including our 12 members and all those that have supported our industry). You can do that by joining us on June 18th for a round of golf on one of Michigan’s finest courses. Take a day to support Friends of Housing and spend a Pure Michigan day on the links. Register today by clicking on the link below. Any questions you might have, contact Dawn Crandall by phone at 517-646-2567 or by email at crandall.dawn@mahb.com. Registration Form | Sponsor Opportunites

Find HBAGTA Members on Facebook!

Visit the following members who have a business Facebook page and "LIKE" their page!  Lets support our local businesses!  Just go to www.facebook.com and put the business name in the search field.

American Waste, Inc

Ankerson Construction

Architectural Elements of Michigan

Blarney Castle Oil & Propane

Brown Lumber & Supply Company

Burkholder Construction Company

Castles & Cabins, Inc

Chemical Bank

Cherryland Electric Cooperative

D T E Energy / MichCon

Dan Brady Painting Services, LLC

E Z Able, LLC

Elmers Crane & Dozer, Inc

Fireside, LLC

Floor Covering Brokers

GeoFurnace Heating & Cooling, LLC

Grand Bay Building & Remodeling, LLC

Harper Custom Homes

Hertler Construction and Restoration, Inc

K A Construction of Northern Michigan, LLC

Lake Michigan Credit Union

Lankford Design Group, Inc

Larkin Group

Lord and Lady Construction, LLC

MAC Custom Homes

Michigan Gutters, Inc

Morse Moving & Storage, Inc

New Leaf Interiors

Northwestern Michigan College

Northwood Paint & Supply

Old Mission Windows

Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling of Northwest Michigan

Precision Plumbing and Heating Systems, Inc

Progress Printers, Inc

Rainbow Seamless Rain Gutters, Inc

Shugart Builders, Inc

Signs Now

Springfield Commercial Roofing, Inc

T B A Credit Union

Team Bob's Heating, Cooling, Plumbing

The Concrete Service, Inc

Tilestone Imports

Traverse City Tops, Inc

Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine

Two Men and a Truck

Wilhelm Landscapes

Wright & Filippis, Inc

Diverse Group Calls on CFPB to Create Broad QM Market - Narrow QM Would Harm Consumers and the Housing Recovery

WASHINGTON, April 17- A diverse group of 33 lenders, housing professionals, consumer advocates and civil rights organizations came together today to call on the CFPB to issue broadly defined and clear Qualified Mortgage (QM) standards as part of the forthcoming Ability to Repay regulation.

The organizations wrote to Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, that a narrowly defined QM would undermine prospects for a housing recovery and threaten the redevelopment of a sound mortgage market.

"Congress intended that all creditworthy borrowers - especially low- and moderate-income borrowers and families of color - should be extended the important protections of a QM ... A broad QM, which includes sound underwriting requirements, excludes risky loan features, and gives lenders reasonable protection against undue litigation risk, will help ensure revival of the home lending market."

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, other regulators and many private sector economists and housing market analysts have highlighted the fact that today's underwriting standards are too restrictive and are holding back a housing recovery. A narrowly constructed definition of Qualified Mortgages would further tighten credit, and harm consumers, curtail lending and jeopardize the fragile housing recovery.

- Consumers - Many of today's loans and borrowers would be forced into the non-QM market, which will be far costlier, burdening families least able to bear the expense. Furthermore, these higher-priced loans would not be required to include important protections against the loan features that drove the highest failures in the mortgage boom.

- Lending - If more borrowers are forced into the non-QM market, lenders and investors will be at greater risk of violating ability to pay violation and anti-steering rules. As a result of these increased risks, these loans are either less likely to be made or else made at increased cost to consumers.

- Housing market - If the parameters of the QM are not clear, risks become unpredictable, forcing lenders to decrease their risk tolerance and operate well within the standards. Such an outcome will lessen both the availability and affordability of credit for far too many borrowers.

"Creating a broad QM, which includes sound underwriting requirements, excludes risky loan features, and gives lenders reasonable protection against undue litigation risk, will help ensure revival of the home lending market," wrote the organizations.

The following organizations signed on to the letter, which is available at http://www.ksefocus.com/billdatabase/clientfiles/172/3/1480.pdf

1 American Bankers Association

2 American Escrow Association

3 American Financial Services Association

4 American Land Title Association

5 American Securitization Forum

6 Asian Real Estate Association of America

7 Center for NYC Neighborhoods

8 Community Associations Institute

9 Columbus Housing Partnership

10 Community Mortgage Banking Project

11 Community Mortgage Lenders of America

12 Consumer Bankers Association

13 Consumer Mortgage Coalition

14 Financial Services Roundtable

15 Habitat for Humanity International

16 Housing Policy Council

17 Independent Community Bankers of America

18 Leading Builders of America

19 Mortgage Bankers Association

20 Mortgage Insurance Companies of America

21 National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals

22 National Association of Home Builders

23 National Association of Mortgage Brokers

24 National Association of Neighborhoods

25 National Association of Real Estate Brokers

26 National Association of Realtors®

27 National Community Reinvestment Coalition

28 National Council of State Housing Agencies

29 National Housing Conference

30 Real Estate Services Providers Council, Inc. (RESPRO®)

31 Real Estate Valuation Advocacy Association

32 The Appraisal Institute

33 The Realty Alliance

Builders Get Leg-Up on Competition at Upcoming Green Building Conference Nashville Event to Feature Homes Tour, Education, Exhibit Hall and More

WASHINGTON, April 13--Building professionals looking to expand their green building skills, or those just getting started in building green, will find tools for success at the 2012 National Green Building Conference and Expo in Nashville, Tenn., April 29-May 1.

Hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the annual conference will be held at the Nashville Convention Center. It will feature an exhibit hall with cutting-edge green products, a wide variety of education courses, unmatched networking opportunities and notable speakers and special events.

The event will be kicked off with a keynote session from renowned around-the-world solo sailor, Derek Hatfield. In his most recent race, Hatfield relied on solar and wind power instead of fossil fuels to generate the electricity needed during the race - an approach that goes hand-in-hand with the main principles of working toward a more sustainable future. He will share his exciting experiences and stories of circumnavigating the globe, and discuss his efforts in sustainability.

Two new offerings at the show this year provide building professionals with insights into the green market, and tips for enhancing their green building techniques. They are:

· Analysis of the Green Market--McGraw-Hill Construction, NAHB and Waste Management, Inc. will reveal the results of a new Smart Market Report on Residential Green Building. The report highlights the growth of green building and provides building professionals with insight into potential market opportunities, consumer preferences and industry trends.

· Green Building Plan Review--Attendees will have the opportunity to review their building plans with an architect, an accredited verifier for the National Green Building Certification Program and a home builder. All are experienced in working with the National Green Building Standard, which was the result of a partnership between NAHB and the International Code Council. They will be able to answer questions and provide practical tips and suggestions for making projects greener and more efficient.

"We are excited to be able to offer so many exciting opportunities for builders and remodelers to expand their knowledge of green building," said Eric Borsting, chairman of the National Green Building Conference and Expo. "Conference attendees will get the full experience with classroom training, tours of green homes, a showcase of green products, networking opportunities, knowledgeable speakers and much more."

Another conference highlight is the annual Green Building & Technology Tour, which offers builders a glimpse into the design and green building practices used by local builders. Attendees have the chance to hear firsthand about the building process, the green building certifications used and the value the homes bring to their owners.

Additionally, attendees are invited to attend the Muddy Boots Mixer and Awards event, for a night of networking, live music, food and recognition of the year's best in green building.

To register for the National Green Building Conference and Expo, or for additional information, visit www.nahb.org/greenbuildingconference.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Complimentary registration is available to credentialed members of the working press. For more information, please contact Liz Thompson, at ethompson@nahb.org.]

Mortgage Interest Deduction Softens Blow as "Tax Day" Approaches

WASHINGTON, April 11 - With the April 17 tax-filing deadline right around the corner, the most important tax deduction for tens of millions of middle-class families could be on the chopping block as early as next year's tax season if some policymakers get their way.

"The mortgage interest deduction has been in existence since the inception of the federal tax code nearly 100 years ago and is a cornerstone of U.S. tax and housing policy," said Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla.

"With many local housing markets across the nation just now showing signs of a long-awaited spring thaw following the worst downturn in decades, protecting the mortgage interest deduction and promoting tax policies that will keep homeownership affordable is very important to create jobs and keep the economy moving forward," he added.

The deduction is broadly used across income groups and geographic areas. Data from the Joint Committee on Taxation indicate that more than 33 million families benefitted from the deduction in 2010 and that these households saved a collective $83 billion on their tax bills.

Though the mortgage interest deduction is the primary reason that taxpayers become itemizers, critics have unfairly attacked it as a tax loophole (despite the fact that more than 33 million households claim it) and a subsidy to the rich.

Here are the facts. The mortgage interest deduction primarily helps middle class home owners and is consistent with the principles of a progressive income tax. Two-thirds of the benefits flow to working class American households who earn less than $200,000 annually and nearly all those who own a home of their own will claim the deduction at some point during their tenure as home owners.

NAHB research has shown that as a share of household income, the deduction is most important for younger home buyers, who typically have less equity, tighter household budgets and are paying mostly deductible interest and relatively little principal.

"The American people understand that curtailing or getting rid of the deduction to help lower the federal debt would result in a big tax hike on millions of middle-class home owners and that prospective buyers who are counting on its benefits to lower their monthly mortgage payments would remain on the sidelines," said Rutenberg.

The collateral damage to the economy would be even more devastating, resulting in lower home values, which would leave more home owners underwater, trigger more foreclosures and prolong the housing slump for years to come.

Changing the rules now would not only take money out of the pockets of those home buyers who rightfully counted on the deduction being there when they needed it, but also penalize millions of baby boomers nearing retirement and seniors who own their homes outright.

Those looking to use the proceeds from their home to move into a retirement community, help defray health care costs or to fund other long-term obligations may find that declining home values will shrink their retirement nest egg and force them to keep working and stay put because they can't afford or are unable to sell their current home.

Yet, there are critics who still suggest that the mortgage interest deduction should be weakened or even abolished in order to raise tax revenues for the federal government, a minority view that flies in the face of public opinion.

A New York Times/CBS News poll conducted last summer reveals that nine out of 10 Americans oppose eliminating the mortgage interest deduction and a nationwide survey of likely voters commissioned by NAHB earlier this year shows that 73 percent oppose abolishing the deduction.

Further, the NAHB poll found that three out of four voters believe it is appropriate and reasonable for the federal government to provide tax incentives to promote homeownership and 68 percent would be less likely to vote for a congressional candidate who proposed to eliminate the deduction, a sentiment that cut across party lines.

"Raising taxes on the nation's home owners is clearly not the right answer to resolve our nation's fiscal woes," said Rutenberg. "Such an ill-advised action would devalue housing, lead to massive job losses and derail the fledgling economic recovery."

2012 HBAGTA Annual Golf Tour

2012 HBAGTA

ANNUAL GOLF TOUR

THURSDAY

MAY 31, 2012

AT THE GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT

"THE SPRUCE"

9:00 SHOT GUN START

SCRAMBLE FORMAT

$85 / Golf & Dinner

$320 / Foursome

$100 / Hole Sponsorship

$25 / Dinner Only

REGISTRATION FORM

The HBAGTA is looking for donations for Door Prizes and "Goodie Bags". To donate, please contact the HBAGTA Office at 231.946.2305

101 Housing Markets on Improving List in April

WASHINGTON, April 5 - The list of housing markets showing measurable improvement expanded slightly to include 101 metropolitan areas in April, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. Thirty-five states (including the District of Columbia) are now represented by at least one market on the list.

The index identifies metropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective troughs in housing permits, employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months. The 101 markets on the April IMI represent a net gain of two from March, with 13 metros being added and 11 markets slipping from the list while 88 markets retained their places on it. Among the new entrants, areas as diverse as Rome, Ga.; Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Greenville, N.C.; Brownsville, Texas; St. George, Utah; and Huntington, W.Va., are now represented on the IMI.

"While housing markets across the country continue to struggle under the weight of overly tight lending conditions and other challenges, the April IMI indicates that at least 101 individual metros are showing measurable and consistent signs that they are headed in the right direction," said NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg. "A total of 35 states are now represented on the list, with 10 states having four or more entries. This positive news is in line with what our builder members have observed regarding firming conditions and improved buyer interest in certain locations."

"After five consecutive months of gains, the IMI recently began to plateau, with many markets holding steady and a few experiencing the ups-and-downs that are typical in a choppy recovery," observed NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "The IMI is designed to highlight markets that are showing consistent improvement, and those markets that have registered the smallest gains are more susceptible to dropping off the list due to a minor setback in prices, permits or employment," he explained. At the same time, "as stronger markets approach stability, it will get harder for them to keep charting improvement, which will also limit the expansion of the IMI."

"The fact that the number and geographic distribution of improving housing markets continued to expand beyond the 100 mark in April bodes well for the start of the spring home buying season, and should be an encouraging sign for those who are considering a home purchase," added Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Company.

The IMI is designed to track housing markets throughout the country that are showing signs of improving economic health. The index measures three sets of independent monthly data to get a mark on the top improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The three indicators that are analyzed are employment growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, house price appreciation from Freddie Mac, and single-family housing permit growth from the U.S. Census Bureau. NAHB uses the latest available data from these sources to generate a list of improving markets. A metropolitan area must see improvement in all three areas for at least six months following their respective troughs before being included on the improving markets list.

A complete list of all 101 metropolitan areas currently on the IMI, and separate breakouts of metros newly added to or dropped from the list in April, is available at: www.nahb.org/imi.

Editor's Note: The NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) is usually released on the fourth business day of each month at 10:00 a.m., ET, unless that day falls on a Friday - in which case, the index will be released on the following Monday. A full calendar of future release dates can be found at www.nahb.org/imi.

CREATIVITY AND COST-SAVINGS MEASURES REFLECTED IN TOP NEW HOME DESIGN TRENDS

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The home building industry celebrates New Homes Month in April by sharing the hottest design trends that will be seen in new homes in 2012. New home buyers will be able to take advantage of emerging market trends that incorporate creative use of materials, layouts and features that provide maximum utility and beauty while being cost-conscious at the same time.

"Despite the ongoing challenging economy, home builders are still delivering new homes with exceptional design elements that serve the current financial and functional needs of their home-buying customers," said Barry Ruttenberg, NAHB chairman and a home builder and remodeler from Gainesville, Fla.

Here are just a few of the new home design trends shared by the industry's leading home builders and architects at the International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla., in February:

· Reworked Spaces: New homes are being designed to allow plenty of space for family interaction in high-traffic areas such as the kitchen, and to eliminate rooms such as formal dens and home offices that aren't frequently used. Small spaces devoted to home management, also known as "pocket offices," are being included in large pantries or spaces nearby the kitchen or family great room. Window seats and alcoves are being used to provide an area for private time, without taking up a lot of space. A popular and efficient location for laundry facilities is now added onto the master bedroom's walk-in closet.


· Expanded Amenities: Multifamily development designs are increasing the number of resident ammenties in order to compensate for smaller unit sizes. Gyms and media rooms have been common for years, but facilities such as libraries and business lounges with individual workspaces are now being offered as well.

· Multigenerational Living: Many families are all living under one roof due to increasing cultural diversity and the state of the economy during the past few years. New single-family home designs reflect this with "shadow" units that are built alongside a home, or separate living units that access the main floorplan through a door, or homes with at least two master suites--often with one located on the ground floor to be more accessible for elderly occupants.

· More Impact, Less Cost: Rectangular home designs are more cost effective, so new homes no longer have the formerly-popular feature of multiple roof lines or the resulting unnecessary interior volumes they created. But home designs now include innovative modifications that are still visually stimulating, such as using two windows in a corner with mitered glass to allow unobstructed views and maximum light to come in. Another example is using a mix of materials in the home's façade such as metal, wood and stone to give the home a modern look.

The latest new home design trends that support modern lifestyles are just one of the many reasons to buy a newly-constructed home. Safety, energy efficiency and near record-low interest rates and competitive prices make today's new home market an attractive opportunity for many families.

Home buyers can access resources to help guide them through the home-buying process on NAHB's website at www.nahb.org/forconsumers. To see some of these new design trends incorporated into homes, see the winners of the 2011 Best in American Living Awards (BALA) at www.nahb.org/BALA.