Blog
A picture is worth a thousand words
Imagine driving by a house, snapping a photo of it with your iPhone, and then obtaining relevant data about the home and surrounding community. It’s possible with the HomeSnap app by Sawbuck. Walt Mossberg, personal technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal, reports on HomeSnap’s utility.
The housing market gets a boost in April
Housing starts in April were strong, increasing by 4.7 percent to a 685,000 annual rate, according to the median estimate of 80 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The Associated Press reports a slightly higher annual pace of 717,000 homes, based on Commerce Department figures.
Time reports these strides in the housing market:
- Construction went up for both single-family homes and apartments.
- Overall housing starts around the nation have hovered around 700,000 over the last six months, which is 100,000 more than levels for the previous six months.
- Even though the rate of construction is at 50% of the 1.5 million annual pace economists believe to be ideal, the recent gains coupled with job growth and builder confidence indicate that the nation is on the right track.
- Single-family home construction increased 39% from its low point during the recession.
Economists watch the number of starts because new homes, which comprise about one-fifth of the total housing market, create an average of three jobs over a year and approximately $90,000 in taxes. Based on 717,000 units, the housing market would support over 2.15 million jobs.
Spotlight on Pacific NW gardening
Everything comes alive in the Pacific Northwest with fair May weather. The last frost of the season is likely behind us, and gardeners have the next 200 days, approximately, to cultivate the annuals, perennials, and vegetables of their choice.
The Pacific Northwest, which is defined by the area bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Cascade Mountains on the east, has a cool growing season. Oregon, Washington, and Idaho as well as the Canadian province of British Columbia are commonly considered to be part of this region, while looser definitions also include the northernmost part of California. Trees and shrubs like rhododendrons and redwoods do well in this part of the country, but so do a plethora of other plants.
There are many resources available to both novice and professional gardeners. The National Gardening Association provides key information on zonal gardening, seasonal plant trends, and how-to videos. Better Homes and Gardens features articles that range from the highly specific to the general, accompanied by helpful visuals, and Sunset is another magazine full of guidelines and inspirational ideas for gardeners as well as home decorators and entertainers.
When choosing plants, don’t discount the benefit of native species, which are proven to thrive in the region’s growing climate and are ideal for creating a Pacific Northwest-themed garden. Consider the goatsbeard with its tall plumes of white bloom or the broadleaf lupine, an evergreen perennial with silvery leaves and blue-violet flowers. Gardeners who want long-blooming perennials need look no further than the blanket flower, which produces vivid red, yellow, orange, or rust colors throughout the summer months.
Seattle touts job growth and sustainability
Seattle ranked fifth in the nation for job growth during the period between January 2011 and January 2012, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal. Washington state was fifteenth in the nation. The W.P. School of Business at Arizona State University conducted the study, indicating these percentage increases.
- Houston – 3.7 percent
- Atlanta – 3.1 percent
- Denver – 2.5 percent
- Dallas – 2.4 percent
- Seattle – 2.2 percent
The state’s overall employment base grew by 1.49 percent for the same period. And that’s not all. Seattle has become a significant player in green technology.
Green Chip Stocks, a blog that tracks developments in the cleantech industry, ranks the Emerald City fifth for its strides toward raising green standards. Here are the highlights:
- The Green Building Sustainable Communities Program creates city projects that meet sustainable outcomes.
- Seattle invests in deriving electricity from garbage landfills.
- The Green Fleet Plan, housed in Seattle, looks for alternative sources of fuel, advanced technology vehicles, fuel reduction policies, and educational programs.
- The local community demonstrates initiative and participation in energy efficiency policies.
For additional updates on the region, see the Seattle Times Market Review.
Modernize your grandmother’s kitchen
Homeowners Desiree and Brian Bell wanted to change the look of their 1950′s kitchen into a room they could call their own. Lauren Lake of Spice Up My Kitchen recreated the old space into a traditional one with modern flair and functionality. See the results on this HGTV video.
