Housing Emerges as Economic Bright Spot

Here's some news remodelers and builders may have never expected to see again. From today's Washington Post:

"The nation’s housing market is surging again after years of historic declines, and the unique forces powering its return could last well into 2013.

"The number of homes for sale is at its lowest level since before the recession, sparking competition among buyers that has led to 10 straight months of price increases. The volume of activity is the highest since 2007.

"Builders broke ground in December on the most new housing developments in four years. And interest rates on mortgages are expected to remain near all-time lows through much of the year, galvanizing once-skeptical buyers.

"Together, those factors have helped the beleaguered housing market regain its footing and emerge as one of the economy’s bright spots this year.

"...The return of real estate marks a key milestone in the country’s economic recovery — and not only because it was at the root of the collapse. A healthy housing sector could boost gross domestic product by more than $400 billion, based on housing’s historical portion of the overall economy. It is also a major source of new jobs in construction and indirectly supports industries as varied as retail and local government."

Amen to that.



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Real Remodeling Reviews, False "Filtering"?

And speaking of online reviews ... does Yelp have something against small companies? 

A remodeler writes:

"We as a company have been asking our clients to review us online at various sites like Yahoo, Google, Houzz and Yelp. We have had two new reviews on Yelp's website in the past couple months, only to find that those reviews have been “filtered” by Yelp because they say these are fake or “less relevant” reviews. Although I have responded to Yelp with the clients' information (phone, address, project pictures, etc.) I cannot get even a response back.

"Some companies have noticed that only companies who pay to advertise on Yelp get to 'keep' all their reviews. This website has a link to a petition for the attorney general to investigate Yelp. Could you could rally the troops and gain some support for us and other remodelers around?"

Here is how Yelp describes "filtering," by the way.



So, what say you, remodelers:

Has Yelp filtered out any of your "less trustworthy" reviews? How have you responded? Please comment below.



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Smells Like Home Fries: Remodelers in the 'Hood

What are you good at when you're not "working," remodelers? Can you share it with your clients?

In Atlanta, David Sturm of Attention to Detail Home Remodeling loves to cook. And he's good at it. So after some of his remodeling projects, he cooks for his clients -- maybe a nice dinner in their newly remodeled kitchen, and maybe a casual brunch in their cul de sac.

That's what's going on below. Sturm (shorts and green polo shirt) whipped up "fresh coffee, eggs to order and my famous hash browns" for the neighbors of around this project, a kitchen and second-story makeover.

"We do this every time we remodel in a neighborhood where we desire to do more work," Sturm explains. It's a lot of effort, but I love doing it."

It's good marketing, too. After this particular brunch, Attention to Detail lined up two additional jobs in the same neighborhood.

We're looking for more stories along these lines, remodelers. If you'd like to share a "community building" marketing strategy that works for your business, feel free to comment below. Or shoot me an email: leah@daily5REMODEL.com.


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Project Management Software: Is There a One-Stop Remodeling Solution?

What do you use for project management software, remodelers? If you haven't already weighed in, join the conversation on d5R about project management software, in response to a reader who posed this question:

"I've been using Basecamp, however it's coming up short with managing multiple projects. One solution I am looking at is JetStream, which has been created specifically for the construction and remodeling industry. Are there other options out there?"

 Here's some of what your peers are saying:

I'm the definition of small contractor. Have even been referred to as a "Trunk Slammer" in some circles and I use UDA ConstructionSuite. My accountant and biz advisor once emphatically remarked when he found out I use UDA, "YOU use UDA?". It's a chunk of cash fer sure and most likely the big, big, big shops are more likely to use UDA....

and

I have yet to find one business management software for the remodeling industry that covers everything soup to nuts, from marketing for leads all the way through to re-marketing to customers after selling to them and completing their projects....

And thanks especially to John Clark of @designREMODEL, in Cape Cod, who shared this information (and more):

... I spent the better part of 2 days looking at (and trying out) the many Project Management Programs out there. (Note. I only looked at web based programs that I could access from anywhere with an internet connection.)

This is what I found. Many were very simple and limited. Example: Basecamp

Some had every feature and option possible. Example: Podio. Great for someone computer savvy, overwhelming and complex for most of my clients.

For construction and remodeling companies, there were a number of choices. Examples. Jetstream and BuildTools had many features and options that I liked. However at about an average cost of $250 month.

Ultimately I decided to go with a PMP called Project Bubble that had most of the features that I was looking for, had a shallow learning curve and was simple and easy for clients and trade partners to use. And at $24 a month, easy on the wallet. Most likely I will transition to a industry specific PMP at some point, but for the foreseeable future this program will meet my needs.... 

What about you, remodelers? Learn from your peers and weigh in here.



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"Like an Online Review on Steroids"

Remodelers luv Houzz. At least that's the sense from many of the remodelers I speak with.

(Ummm, what's Houzz? It's not too late to get on board. Here are two d5R articles providing an overview: Remodelers on Houzz: a "Case" Study. Also: Houzz Party, Remodelrrss Invited.)

This week the site has awarded its 2013 "Best of Houzz" awards to some of the many thousands of contractors that have profiles on the site. One winner is Renewal Design Build of Atlanta, which won two awards, for design and customer satisfaction. Here's a screenshot of the company's Houzz profile.


Peter Michelson, Renewal's CEO (and also featured in this d5R article about online reviews), sent me this email last evening:

In many ways these two awards are like an online review on steroids. It's Lance Armstrong in his prime! Now don't quote me out of context, but if you think about it, winning this award is a highly respected third party that is heavily followed saying:  "You guys rock!" So I am absolutely thrilled to have my amazing team recognized for their excellence in design, craftsmanship, and customer service. 

We have been using Houzz for at least two years.  We direct almost every one of our clients to the site to create and share an inspiration book.  This allows our designers to understand and appreciate our clients' sense of aesthetics.  Conversely, our designers also create inspiration books to share ideas with clients, to ensure during the design and selections process that we are all in alignment.

As a business owner, I am deeply awed and inspired by the brilliance of the Houzz.com site. They have monetized an idea that is a free service to both consumers and professionals. They have found a way to motivate thousands of builders and designers to spend large sums of money (we spend about $1,000/project) on gorgeous architectural photography, upload it to the sight, and remain engaged with the general public. I was at a Houzz event last month in ATL. The room was packed with designers and builders, all begging to offer high quality content to the site with the hopes of using it as lead generation. What they have created is profound.  Truly brilliant.

What about the rest of you, remodelers? Do you have a profile on Houzz?



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5 Words That "Just Amped up the Delivery"

"This is how we work."

Here's an upbeat story to kick off the remodeling week. It's especially relevant if you think you're wasting your time with Twitter and other social media tools. Even more so if you're committed to thinking there's little you can do (other than slashing your prices to rock bottom) to get remodeling newbies to trust and hire you.

A Midwestern remodeler reports that he is "very, very close" to signing a $165,000 project of an old home in an upscale, historic neighborhood. The couple has never remodeled, "and they are very nervous," he says. "They called three of our past clients and also requested a walk-through of one of our projects."

During the walk-through (at another old home), the couple asked wisely about the "unforeseen changes" that often arise in old structures. "I saw this as a great opportunity to use these five words" the remodeler says. "I said, 'This is how we work' in the context of anticipating changes, performing thorough pre-construction planning and minimizing changes as much as possible.'"

The couple responded positively to that statement and everything that came with it. "I think it showed conviction," the remodeler muses. "I think just giving someone something to have confidence in gives them comfort. And the five-word statement just amped up the delivery."

So what's the Twitter connection? The couple was referred by an architect with whom the remodeler has been communicating on Twitter. "Score one for a great Twitter lead," the remodeler says. 

And the genesis of the five-word statement? From the talented Kyle Hunt, who provides marketing advice to remodelers. One of his recent emails recommended the "This is how we work" statement thus:

"Make it clear. Make it easy. Limit the options. Have it written out for them. This puts them at ease, makes their choice easier and converts more of your prospects to clients.

"Homeowners crave a PROCESS. Give it to them!"

Sign up for Kyle's email at his website. And follow his marketing tips on Twitter: http://twitter.com/KyleHunt.

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What Are You Really Thinking, Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner)?

Are you sure you want to do business with that homeowner, remodelers?

In his blog yesterday, Shawn McCadden provided a great list of questions to use in that first conversation with remodeling prospects. From revealing basic facts about the home and the prospect's timeline, to shedding light on how they might be as clients, the questions are helpful not only for identifying whether certain people are a good match for your business in the first place, but also for streamlining the sales and actual construction process that may follow.

On the list:

• Why do you want this done?
• Have you remodeled before? What was that like?
• What are you looking for in a contractor?
• Are you looking to hire a carpenter, or a professional remodeling company?
• Are you speaking with any other contractors?

See the full list on Shawn McCadden's blog.



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Rough Estimates, Screwed (but Sometimes Blessed) Contractors

Well, remodeler Diane Menke may think it's "contracting 101" to properly estimate a job, and perhaps among the high professional caliber of d5R readers it is. But we've all known of remodelers -- and plumbers, painters, electricians, masons, etc. -- to way underestimate how much a project will really cost, and to end up in a deep pile of mess weeks or months later, when the client refuses to pay far more than they had been told the job would cost.

As construction attorney Andrea Goldman shared in Wednesday's d5R Answers discussion (where Diane posted her comment):

"Failure to properly estimate jobs is probably the biggest mistake I have seen contractors make recently.... Within the last month, I have received calls from at least four contractors who misbid the job, built all of their profit into the last payment and are having trouble getting paid. They have to put their own money into the job to finish it."

Sometimes a single such misbid can bring a business down. More often, it drives the contractor to cut corners and do a job that is sloppy or worse.

On occasion, of course, one contractor's bad estimating can benefit another, such as when the client has to hire a new company to come in and do the job right. I just wrote (for another publication) about a remodeler who scored a $400,000 project in such a scenario. His company did such a wonderful job that the clients have since referred his business for another $1 million in business, he estimates.

How have botched estimates affected your business, remodelers? Please weigh in here.

 

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Today's Numbers: Key Indicators, Home Sales, For-Sale Inventory, Foreclosures and Vacancies

Key economic indicators this week:

• Tuesday: December retail sales, December producer price index
• Wednesday: NAHB monthly homebuilders' index, Federal Reserve's latest "beige book"
• Thursday: December housing starts, weekly jobless claims
• Friday: consumer sentiment survey

Total U.S. home sales in 2012: 4.2 million

That's a 6.2 percent increase over 2011 and the first year-over-year sales increase since 2005, according to CoreLogic, which released these and other housing-related numbers yesterday. As reported on HousingWire:

"As the housing market pushes deeper into 2013, CoreLogic sees real estate 'poised for further recovery,' despite the uncertainty of how the qualified mortgage rule and other new regulations will impact lending.

"'Rising home prices will continue to slowly release pent-up supply as under-equitied borrowers are unlocked and opportunistic sellers begin to provide relief to tight inventories,' CoreLogic wrote. 'Geographic diversity in home price growth will continue.'"

Percentage drop in the number of U.S. homes for sale, October 2012 versus October 2011: minus-22 percent

"Can I Buy Your House, Pretty Please?" That's the title of a Wall Street Journal article last week about the resurgence of the "boom-era tactic" of hopeful buyers writing letters to sellers about why they should be the next owners.

"In an echo of the last housing boom, ardent pitch letters from eager home buyers are popping up again in hot U.S. real-estate markets like Silicon Valley, Seattle, San Diego, suburban Chicago and Washington, D.C., housing economists and real-estate brokers say."

Percentage of homes in Prince George's County, Md., that are foreclosed: more than 51,000

Known vacancies among these homes? 1,922, though actual vacancies are hard to track. In any case, this D.C. suburb is one of the hardest-hit by the housing bust. From yesterday's Washington Post:

"While Prince George's County escaped the kind of double-digit vacancy rates seen in Nevada and Florida, it had one of the highest percentages of vacant homes of any county in the Washington region....

"Vacant properties impose costs on communities whether they tend to them or not. Neglect, maintenance and demolition all come with a price.... Within weeks [of one owner leaving his foreclosed-upon $420,000 house], residents started noticing teenagers hanging out inside the house. They got in by busting the basement door. Over time, they grew more bold, and the vandalism spilled over to nearby homes."

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On Energy and Conservation -- if Only

from the department of innovative thinking...

Wouldn't it be nice if remodelers could deploy beeps, lights and rewards to encourage homeowners (and their kids) to actually use all those energy-saving technologies in their homes as cleverly as this Swedish machine encourages recycling? HT: Upworthy.com

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Is a Second Career in the Cards?

Remodeling is often a lifelong career but, like any other career these days, it doesn't have to be -- and in some cases it can't be a lifelong career even if you want it to. Just as I've known of people who came to remodeling after previous jobs as accountants and lawyers and musicians, I've known of remodelers to close their businesses -- or sell them, if their timing is right -- and become building inspectors, management consultants, teachers and a number of other occupations.

If you've considered moving on from your job, and you've worried that your age might hold you back, check out this article in yesterday's New York Times. Excerpt:

"[S]ome people who have gone through the emotional and financial strains of late-career unemployment say that with skill, determination and a bit of luck, the end of a job doesn't have to be the end of the world. Changing jobs or careers can be a good thing later in life, despite the many risks. Many agree that a willingness to push beyond the comofort of location, lifestyle and line or work is vital.

See the full story here.

Considering a serious career change? We're tracking that topic on d5R. Feel free to post your comments below, or email them to me, leah@daily5REMODEL.com.



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10 Questions on the New Mortgage Rules

10 Questions on the New Mortgage Rules

Regulators issued new mortgage rules yesterday aimed at preventing the kinds of abuses and missteps that contributed to the housing crisis. There's a nice summary in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, including this exchange:

Will certain loans become harder to get? Yes. Many exotic mortgages that proliferated during the subprime heyday have disappeared; they are now less likely to come back. Lenders also may be more reluctant to make other loans that have been popular in more expensive housing markets and among affluent borrowers, such as interest-only mortgages. 

Whether such loans will be securitized may depend on how ratings agencies interpret the potential costs of the new rules.

No specific mention of refinancing, which allowed many homeowners to use their homes as cash machines -- taking out money to remodel, among other things -- during the housing build-up.





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Also in today's d5R Update:

• Today's number 
• Houzz about a question? 
• Death of an architecture critic 
• These remodelers are resolved. 

Today's Number: 1,684

First, a correction :

Yesterday's eletter provided a very bad link for a very, very good blog. Click here for Michael Stone's "Paying Yourself" commentary, on what should be in a proper P&L statement. Sorry about that.


Now, today's 5:

Today's Number: 1,684
Where the mortgages aren't (and the money to remodel is?)
In 1,684 counties around the U.S., there's a higher percentage of homeowners who own their homes free and clear -- no mo' mortgage -- than the rest of the country on average. In Louisiana, nearly half of homes are owned outright, and the numbers aren't far behind in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Montana and Wyoming. Home values are lower in many of these areas, perhaps also reflecting lower disposalb eincome, but it's interesting to wonder how much home equity is just sitting around, waiting for the right reason to remodel.

The heat map below, from Zillow, shows the "free and clear homeownership rate" for each of 2,159 counties. Click on the link to zoom in.

Powered by Tableau

Also in today's d5R Update:

• Houzz about a question? 
• 10 questions on the new mortgage rules 
• Death of an architecture critic 
• These remodelers are resolved. 

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Couldn’t have said it better: Top remodeling quotes of 2012

One of 21 selections in Remodeling magazine's "favorite quotes of 2012":

"Make talking about money a conversation. That's right -- don't just hit them between the eyes with a high and a low figure." REMODELING columnist Bruce Case, on how to sell successfully.

Remodelers shared some zingers on d5R last year as well. Here are a few of this editor's favorites:

"[R]emodeling and building are about as different as building a bridge vs. doing surgery. They are just totally different. We remodelers don't even use the same terminology." -- Michael Sauri, comment on "So What Is a Remodeler, Anyway?" discussion, Sept. 12

 "When the client offers that 'we watch a lot of Holmes on Homes' you know something interesting is in store." -- Paul Hamtil, comment on "Red Flag, Red Flag" discussion, June 28

"We found that childless professional couples were almost impossible to satisfy. People who have never been out of control of their lives tend to not handle the stress of having their lives upended very well." -- Green Curmudgeon, comment on "How Profitable Is That Lead?" discussion, June 14

"You have to be prepared to walk away from the money and hope that some comes back. Life is too short to worry about someone being a knucklehead." -- comment on "When the Collection Is Past Due" discussion, May 16

"It seems like these sites are (naively) built around the assumption that people will be fair and honest. And 99% of people are. But when these websites become consequence-free forums for unjustifiably angry people, there's a problem." -- comment on "We Can't Be Bullied Around" discussion, Dec. 12

"What if your company wanted to reach more Asian or Black or Hispanic buyers? How about gay buyers and their disposable income? How will you reach them?" -- Diane Menke, comment on "Is a Younger Salesperson the Answer?" discussion, Nov. 28

"If they feel strongly my staff is empowered to say, 'we may not be a good fit and thanks for calling.' No free estimates for over 15 years." -- Jeff, comment on "The Three Bid 'Rule' -- Breakable?" discussion, Sept. 26

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Tell your clients: That home-performance tax credit is still good

Seems all that bickering over the fiscal cliff resulted in some good news for contractors that perform home-energy retrofits. If you have clients who still haven't claimed a $500 tax credit for certain energy-efficient upgrades (e.g., insulation, air-sealing, electric heat pump), they can claim that credit now if they get the work done before the end of this year.

From the Building Performance Institute:

"Take a moment to educate your customers on the importance of these upgrades, and the limited time they have to redeem the tax credit. This is an opportunity for you to grow your relationship with your customers, and for your customers to save money on improvements that will make their homes safer and more comfortable places to live."

BPI has a new certification program that could be beneficial to remodeling salespeople, by the way: the "Building Science Principles certificate. BPI CEO Larry Zarker says "It's for those in the residential building trades and anyone interested in a career in sustainability, who need to know how homes work but don't need the hands-on technical skills required of BPI-certified professionals."

Learn more at BPI.


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Housing Starts to Soar, "Improving" List Grows

From yesterday's housing news:

Housing starts projected to soar

For the past few years remodelers have had an easier sell in at least one capacity: Convincing homeowners to make the most of their existing homes instead of buying new homes. Not only did builders nearly halt construction after the housing bust, but the cost-benefit analysis of remodeling vs. moving shifted in favor of remodeling, as more and more buyers of new homes found themselves holding mortgages far exceeding their homes' plummeting values.

Well, new construction is coming back this year, according to Calculated Risk's Bill McBride:

"No one should expect an increase to 2005 levels, however demographics and household formation suggest [housing] starts will return to close to the 1.5 million per year average from 1959 through 2000. That means starts will come close to doubling over the next few years from the 2012 level." -- more at Calculated Risk

The chart below shows how housing starts plummeted after 2005, and have only recently begun creeping upward again.

On the bright side, if the next surge in new construction replicates some of the quality issues of recent building booms, remodelers will have plenty to do in terms of repairs and reconstruction.

Also in yesterday's housing news...

"Improving" housing markets rise for fifth consecutive month

Housing markets are on the mend in 242 metro areas around the U.S., according to yesterday's report from NAHB's "Improving Markets Index." Launched in September of 2011 to debunk perceptions that all housing was in the toilet, the index is at its highest point since then. From NAHB chairman Barry Rutenberg:

"The story is no longer about exceptions to the rule, but about the gorwing breadth of the housing recovery even as overly strict mortgage requirements hold back the pace of improvement."

New metros on the list are geographically diverse and include Los Angeles, Des Moines, Nashville, Richmond and Cleveland.

More at NAHB.

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Remodeling Icecapades: Marvin vs. Loewen

Just in time for the resumption of professional hockey, here's a development from two top manufacturers of windows used in residential remodeling and new construction:

This Saturday afternoon, an "international hockey border battle" will pit employees from Marvin Windows and Doors, based in Warroad, Minn., against those from neighboring Loewen, based in Steinbach, Manitoba. A fundraiser for the newly remodeled Olympic Arena in Warroad (used by youth hockey teams), the game will be refereed by Dave Christian, a Warroad native, NHL All-Star and member of the 1980 gold medal-winning "Miracle on Ice" team.

From Marvin's director of materials, Paul Marvin:

"We're happy to invite our friends from Loewen to Warroad, to show them how we play hockey in Minnesota. All kidding aside, these are two great companies that share a northern heritage and a love of winter sports that crosses national borders."

"We're just old-fashioned rivals!" said John Kirchner, Marvin's public relations manager, in an email yesterday. There are already plans for a rematch in March on Loewen's turf.

And speaking of the hockey lockout, you might have missed this video from Nike:



How do you play out healthy old-fashioned rivalries, remodelers? Please comment below.

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A Simple Tip for More Profitable Projects

A little work up front can save remodelers a lot of time and money in avoiding mistakes and misunderstandings that have to be cleaned up later. To that end, here's a great client management tip that David Lupberger distributed yesterday through the RemodelForce blog:

First, stock up on "carbonless memos" (here's a sampling from Amazon.com). Each time you meet with a client about a remodeling project, note the client's name, the date, who is present at the meeting, what the "action item" is, who is responsible for it, the deadline, and provide signature lines for the homeowner and contractor. Then:

"At every homeowner meeting, starting with the initial sales call, use this carbonless memo form to take notes about what was discussed, what is going to happen next, who is responsible, and when the deadline is for completion.... At the conclusion of each meeting, review the notes you have taken to make sure that you have documented the main points of your meeting. When you have determined that the notes are complete, pass the memo form over to the homeowner and ask them to review the notes. If they are in agreement with what is there, have them sign the bottom of the form, and you do likewise. Upon signing the memo form, peel off a copy and hand that copy to your homeowners."

Do this consistently, David says, and you'll benefit from stronger communications, better accountability on the part of both parties and more referrals going forward.

"This is all about homeowner management and engagement," David told me in a follow-up email yesterday. "These weekly meeting notes should become part of the homeowner notebook, which allows the homeowner to 'track' how their project is going, and allows you as the contractor to help them manage the project paper trail."

Also, he added, "Put all the documentation in a nice leather binder, and this becomes a wonderful marketing tool that you leave with each client at the end of their project."

See the full post from David Lupberger.

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Remodelers' Top Priorities for 2013, Cont'd

Remodelers periodically complete business surveys on d5R, and our most recent survey revealed some uplifting stories about how remodelers retooled and bounced back in 2012 (read about four such comebacks here.)

What about 2013? Here are a few of the priorities remodelers shared:

• "Increase sales by $600,000, from $2.4 million to $3 million."
• "Retire some debt!"
• Step up marketing aggressiveness -- online as well as in targeted neighborhoods.
• Make month-to-month profitability more consistent.
• Develop a more intense marketing plan "that accents a one-stop company for clients' remodeling needs and maintenance."
• Open a kitchen-and-bath showroom; launch a restoration division.
• "Pre-2010 I was mainly a new home builder that did some remodeling. Since then all my business has been remodeling. In 2013 I am seriously considering putting new homes on the back burner and start trying to carve out specific niche in kitchen remodeling."

What are your business plans for 2013, remodelers? Feel free to comment below, or take the d5R survey here.

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Housing on the Comeback Trail (So They Say)

Remodeling has been the little housing engine that never konked out entirely, even during the darkest days of the recession. And now, supported by stocks closing Friday at their highest level in five years, remodeling and new construction alike are expected to get even stronger in 2013, a number of sources have written.

At Bloomberg, there's this from John Gittelsohn:

"U.S. home sales and prices are poised to rise in 2013, solidifying a recovery that began last year after a  half-decade slump that was the deepest since the Great Depression.... Record-low mortgage rates and attractive prices, supported by declining unemployment, are luring buyers as the inventory of distressed homes shrinks. Homebuilders are responding by adding supply, bolstering economic growth."

More at "Housing a Sweet Spot for U.S. Economy as Recovery Expands" 

At The Washington Post, Moody's Analytics' Mark Zandi published this on Saturday:

"A housing renaissance has begun. This may be hard to believe after the dizzying, six-year-long crash in home sales, construction and house prices. But housing turned the corner last year, and it will take off in 2013....

"Buying a home wouldn't make much sense if house prices were likely to decline further; no one wants to catch a falling knife. But it seems increasingly likely that prices will rise. No one should expect the value of their house to appreciate quickly -- counting on your home to be a significant part of your retirement saving isn't a winning strategy -- but it is reasonable to expect that prices generally will rise with at least the rate of inflation for some time to come."

More at "Housing's renaissance could lead an economic recovery" 

At Time, Christopher Matthews wrote this about "the great housing rebound of 2012": 

"There’s no doubt that we’re finally seeing the beginnings of what economists call a positive feedback loop when it comes to housing. Rising home prices allow lenders to be more generous with home financing, which allows even more prospective home buyers to access the market, further driving up home prices. And higher home values give consumers and builders more confidence to go out and spend money or make investments, which also stimulates the real estate market and broader economy."

More at "The Great Housing Rebound of 2012: How the Fed Helped Sellers Beat the Odds" 

What do you think, remodelers? Is housing on the comeback trail? Is your business?

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