Get Ready for The Market Upswing!

According to a recent article on HousingZone's website, a report released by the National Association of Home Builders shows that housing affordability and builder confidence rose in the month of May.

The report states that housing affordability is currently at an all-time high, with the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index for the first quarter of 2009 rising by 10 points from the fourth quarter of 2008. This index measures the percentage of homes that are being sold at a price that families with average incomes can afford.

Also, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose in May 2009 for the second month in a row, but at 16 points, is still well below normal market conditions. The greatest gains were seen in the West, followed by the Northeast, and lastly the South. The Midwest did not see a significant increase in May, but did jump in April from 8 to 14 points.

Jerry Howard, the president of the National Association of Home Builders, states that these indexes are indicative of a market turnaround, but it is still a ways into the future. Economists predict the beginning of a turnaround in fourth quarter 2009, moving forward steadily into 2010.

What does this mean for builders? Start to prepare for the upswing. Hire a design professional to look over your product lines or to create a fresh product line. Ensure that you will be prepared with floor plans that offer the latest in lifestyle trends, and elevations with curb appeal and proper architectural detailing.

What does this mean for individuals wanting to build their dream home? It has become more critical timing than ever to consider building. Prices of construction services and building materials are well below the market average, interest rates are still the lowest they have been in decades. The housing market is bottoming out and time is running out as well to capitalize on these cost savings.

Don't wait! The time is coming to prepare for better times!

Dominick Tringali Architects is a residential, custom and community architectural firm specializing in the methodology lifestyle by design. To learn more, please visit www.dtarchitects.com or http://dtarchitects.blogspot.com.

Hillcrest on the Park Community Wins 10 SAM Awards

Another DTA-designed community earned great recognition on the evening of May 13th at the 2009 Sales and Marketing Awards, hosted by the Building Industry Association of Southeast Michigan. The 'Hillcrest on the Park' community, built by Arteva Homes with a marketing plan developed by Communication Associates, earned an award for every applicable category. Some of these awards include:

Best Multi-Family Community of the Year, 50 Homes or Less

Best Interior Merchandising of a Model Under $250,000

Best Website for a Builder Community 50 Homes or Less

Best Direct Mail Piece for a Community 50 Homes or Less

Best Broker / Realtor Promotion for a Community 50 Homes or Less

This community is located in Clinton Township, Michigan. It features amenities such as fountains, walking trails, and plenty of green space. Hillcrest is also located adjacent to a large memorial park, which offers serene views and a sense of peacefulness in an otherwise fast-paced area.

The success of this community can be contributed to the combined talents of a fantastic project team - unique architectural designs and efficient construction drawings, a builder who values quality and ensuring that architectural visions come to fruition, and a terrific marketing team who understands how to create promotional pieces that complement the original vision.

Dominick Tringali Architects is a residential, custom and community architectural firm specializing in the methodology lifestyle by design. To learn more, please visit www.dtarchitects.com or http://dtarchitects.blogspot.com.

DTA Launches New Interior Design Section on our Website!

DTA is excited to announce the launch of a new Interior Design section on our website, http://www.dtarchitects.com/interiors_landing.php. This section of our website showcases the work of our interior designer, Staci Meyers, ASID, LEED-AP, NCIDQ Certificate No. 021086. Staci joined the Dominick Tringali Architects team in 2007, after previously working with other firms on projects such as the District Lofts in Birmingham Michigan, The Royal Park Hotel in Rochester Michigan, and Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Our site will feature a variety of projects Staci has worked on with DTA, ranging from custom homes and estates, to model homes, to commercial interior projects such as restaurants and retail spaces. We will be adding new projects to the section throughout the next few weeks, including our architectural design and interior selections for Santino's, a new Italian fine dining restaurant with a sports and martini lounge, which is currently being built in Washington Twp. Michigan. Other interior design projects we will be adding include the renovation of a Powerhouse Gym, located in South Lyon, Michigan, and a new 12,000 square foot custom home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Dominick Tringali Architects is a residential, custom and community architectural firm specializing in the methodology lifestyle by design. To learn more, please visit www.dtarchitects.com or http://dtarchitects.blogspot.com.