The noise and chaos of politics, work, technology and the world in general are encouraging more and more homeowners to try to escape at home. Craft rooms, yoga rooms, meditation rooms, reading nooks and a dozen other places for self-reflection and calm are becoming a must-have in new home construction and home renovations.

For literally centuries, natural, exposed interior brick has added charm to homes and businesses around the world. Because brick is made from soil-based clay, it has a natural patina and texture that is warm, comforting and impossible to replicate.

The much-discussed millennials, who were born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, will soon make up the largest living generation. According to Pew Research, millennials are on the cusp of surpassing Baby Boomers (those born after World War II) as the nation’s largest living adult generation. This is based on population projections from the U.S. Census Bureau as of 2016.   

California has long been considered a trendsetter in environmental conservation, and it recently showed why. In May 2018, the state became the first state to require solar panels on nearly all new homes, the latest sign of how renewable energy is gaining ground in the U.S.

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. 

The 5 Considerations for Choosing a Perfect Lot

“In general, a custom home is larger, and this requires a larger lot,” Michelle Grove-Reiland, real estate broker, said. “Plus, the lot must be conducive to the design of the home. For example, if the homeowner wants to be able to walk out to a lower level, this would require a slope that would accommodate this.

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.