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The most expensive investment any individual or family makes is typically the purchase of a home. Whether it involves buying an existing home or building a new structure, when it comes time to sign the mortgage documents, the reality of this new financial responsibility can be very sobering.

Just beneath the surface of the earth lies one of the pieces to a puzzle that has fascinated humans since prehistoric times – renewable energy. Along with solar and wind, geothermal energy has inched its way to the top of the wish lists of both dedicated environmentalists and profit-seeking entrepreneurs. Why? It is virtually inexhaustible. It is constant, 24/7, in all weather (unlike solar and wind). And, finally, when current harnessing technology is employed, it is extremely inexpensive.

For residential real estate and particularly custom homes, the lot on which a home is built is often as important as the building itself. In Colorado, with its “purple mountain majesties” and pristine natural beauty affording breath-taking views, the location and elevation of a home must be given a great deal of thought by homeowners and their builders.

The loft look is one of the most popular styles of residential real estate today, and it continues to evolve. Most attribute the beginning of this industrial look to the 1950s and 1960s when manufacturers moved out of large cast-iron buildings in New York's SoHo district. When this occurred, artists, musicians and other creative types moved in.

The first couple of months of every New Year are primetime for predictions. Everything from dollars (the economy) to donuts (diets) is fair game for the prognosticators in all industries.

At first glance, the design style known as “modern farmhouse” sounds like a conflict in terms. For anyone who grew up on a farm or visited grandparents who lived there, they most likely have memories of life on the farm as anything but modern!

DALLAS – A television series sponsored by Acme Brick Company since its launch airs its record-breaking 1,000th episode in the Dallas-Fort Worth market on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. on WFAA-TV (channel 8, ABC).

Hot On! Homes, produced by Crozier and Henderson Productions, Inc., showcases new home communities and home builders.

"We are extremely humbled to reach the 1,000th episode milestone,” said Leslie Crozier, co-founder of Crozier and Henderson Productions. "We are proud to have produced the longest running TV series in Dallas-Fort Worth.

The millennial generation has the undivided, rapt attention of the real estate industry. Why? According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, the National Association of Realtors said they were the largest group of home buyers, at 34 percent, from July 2015 until June 2016.

More and more custom home builders are being asked for less and less from clients who want a modern design. In 1947, architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe opined that “less is more” in terms of aesthetic and functional architectural design and this began the evolution of “modern” home design.

For anyone contemplating the sale of their home, the picture in 2017 is rosy indeed. According to residential real estate advisory site, Zillow, the median home value in the United States rose 6.8 percent over the past year – and predicts another 2.7 percent increase next year.

Americans are on the move…literally. According to a Gallup Survey, one in four Americans moves to a new home every five years. The statistics blog site FiveThirtyEight, notes that the average U.S. citizen will move 11.4 times in their lifetime. Compare this to Europeans who move only 4 times in their lifetime.

Given the fact that the Denver area has become one of the country’s technology hot spots, it is no surprise that “smart homes” have become very popular, especially among buyers of custom homes.  Many experts believe 2017 will mark the tipping point for these technology-enabled homes.

Swimming pools have had a long, colorful history dating back to the sixth century B.C. According to one account, “the most prominent pool history comes from the ancient Greeks and Romans. A major change in the quality of life occurred in these times as individual wealth increased and, with this increase in the standard of living, came luxuries like pools.”

Because of their constant use, and misuse, popular phrases such as “carbon footprint” lose their original meaning over time. When this happens, the expression can become a vague, catchall term that means whatever the user chooses for it to mean.

The trend toward multiple generations living in one home is strong and getting stronger. The reasons for this are as diverse as the political, cultural and financial opinions of the various generations who have decided to live together.

According to Pew Research, “In 2014, a record 60.6 million people, or 19 percent of the U.S. population, lived with multiple generations under one roof.

A vibrant city, such as Denver, is teeming with activity, often 24/7. The sounds of building construction, horns blasting and constant traffic are part and parcel of a dynamic city brimming with opportunity. Unfortunately, it is also noisy, and this can be annoying and even unhealthy.

There was time when a swimming pool surrounded by a concrete border was the height of luxury. Those days are long gone, especially among custom homes in the $2 million and greater range. In fact, many architects and real estate experts feel the hottest trend in luxury homes is the outdoor space.

While it may seem counterintuitive, the minimalist design found in many tiny apartments in large cities has become extremely popular in luxury custom homes. Some of these are found in upscale neighborhoods of Denver and surrounding areas. This “loft” look—which features reclaimed wood, vintage-looking fixtures, exposed pipes and brick walls—is particularly prevalent in the bathrooms of these homes.

Coloradans are justifiably proud of the natural beauty of their state. Indeed, the “purple mountain majesty,” which was immortalized in the song “America the Beautiful,” first came to the song’s lyricist, Katharine Lee Bates, as she witnessed this breathtaking beauty from Pikes Peak, located near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Watch the home improvement channels, such as HGTV or DIY Network, for more than an hour and there’s a good possibility that some great new ideas will be presented for the “largest room in the house”—the backyard. While this outdoor oasis has been popular since rural families started moving to urban areas, there have been many changes in the form and function of the backyard, and custom home builders have taken notice.

At some point in life, most people experience the often gut-wrenching process of buying a home. That first home is usually something modest but the excitement is still palpable because it is a rite of passage.   As life continues, families decide they can afford and desire a custom-built home, with features and amenities that are designed specifically for their lifestyle. This is when the complications really kick in!

The opening words of Charles Dickens’ 19th century novel, A Tale of Two Cities are eerily appropriate for today in the description of the economic forces which are affecting mortgage interest rates.  “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

In the past 50 years, the economics of home construction have changed dramatically both in Colorado and the rest of the country. When vinyl siding and synthetic insulation materials were introduced in the 1960’s as a substitute for traditional brick and wood, tract homebuilders found their costs were reduced dramatically. In recent years, it is estimated by trade associations that homes wrapped in vinyl siding and synthetic insulation are purchased by 33 percent of new home buyers.