Ben Franklin was the oldest of the founding fathers. Most people don’t realize that he was more than twice the age of Thomas Jefferson when they signed the Declaration of Independence (33 vs. 70)! Ben had already had a rather full life. He was a …
The Impresa Blog
How Do You Appraise a Home and Why Do You Want One?
First, an appraisal is simply an opinion of a home’s value. While a buyer may be in love with a home and make a “no way to turn it down” offer to purchase it, if you require a loan, the lender will want to make …
The Only Way You Can Predict the Future is to Build It
“The only way you can predict the future is to build it.”, is a quote by Alan Kay, best known for his pioneering work on object-oriented programming and windowing graphical user interface (GUI) design. To extend his thought, the only way to build the future …
I’m pretty sure I can afford it. Can’t I?
Today’s interest rates have many wondering, “What can I actually afford to pay for my new home?” The good news is, if you could qualify for a home loan before the interest rates increased, then you can probably still qualify today. However, you just may …
Modules and Panels and Components, Oh My!
Building technology is changing, but it is only changing incrementally. In the U.S., builders have used what is called light-frame wood construction as the primary method of building homes since the 1830s. Light-frame wood construction is a method of construction using many small and closely …
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know
Many homebuyers don’t even ask how their home will be built. Or, when they discuss it with a builder, they hear things like, “I have to,” or, “That’s the way we build; there isn’t a choice.” But that’s simply not true. It’s a victim mentality …
The Magic of Misdirection that Site Builders Use
What Is Misdirection in Magic? Misdirection—or direction, as some magicians prefer to call it—is the subtle, deceptive art of directing an audience’s attention towards one thing (a magical effect) so it does not notice another (the method or mechanics of a trick). It can refer …
Home Mortgage Options for 2023: Gimmicks vs. Good Advice
In November of 2012, mortgage rates dropped to a record low of 3.35%. Before that time, mortgage rates had NEVER been lower. For some perspective, the monthly payment for a $100,000 loan at the historical peak rate of 18.45% in 1981 was $1,544, compared to …
2022: The Inflection Point Year for Modular Construction
HEADER PICTURE: The Hockey Stick Principles, Flatiron Books Residential construction in the U.S. has changed. While getting skilled and trained labor in many industries is hard, getting it in the construction industry has gotten more difficult than ever with no end in sight. Material prices …
Gazing into the Home Buyer’s Crystal Ball
Prices, timeframes, and material selections, etc. So many things are clouding the crystal ball of today’s home buyer. What do you do? Do you wait and watch home prices go up along with today’s record-low interest rates? What if they never come back down? Do …