July Saw a 2% Increase in Private Residential Construction Spending

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Covered patio that looks out onto the spacious fenced-in backyard. This patio is complete with a ceiling fan and custom lighting.According to the National Association of Home Builders analysis of Census Construction Spending, private residential construction was up 2% in July. The total private residential construction spending came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $546.6 billion.

The housing market is booming and there is a steady growth of single-family and multifamily construction. The single-family and multifamily starts in July rose as well. Single-family construction spending rose 3.1% to a $268 billion pace while multifamily construction spending rose 4.9% to an $85.5 billion annual pace. A catalyst for this increase was the record low mortgage rates.

NAHB’s construction spending index illustrates the solid growth in single-family construction and home improvement from the second half of 2019 to February 2020, before the COVID-19 hit the U.S. economy.

 

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Home Construction Up in Small Metro Suburbs

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While the novel coronavirus has wreaked havoc in current times, the housing industry has stayed steady and growing even stronger in Q2 2020. The National Association of Home Building Geography Index (HGBI) reports a suburban shift for residential construction in the second quarter.

The HGBI data shows that the only region showing a gain for single-family homes in the second quarter was small metro suburbs. This shift in residential construction could be a result of homebuyers’ fears from COVID-19.

Large metro areas are at a higher risk from the health crisis COVID-19 has caused. It is harder to social distance in crowded cities and prospective home buyers want less densely populated areas. According to the HGBI, 55% of the U.S. population live in what are considered large metro areas.

The large metro areas make up a small area of the country at about 8.2% of all land in the U.S. Low-density areas make up just under 92% of a U.S. land. In fact, 45% of the U.S. population live in low-density areas.

The map shown shows the growth in the lower density areas. This growth represents half of all single-family construction on a four-quarter moving-average year-over-year basis.

HGBI defines small metro suburbs as remote counties of areas with less than one million in population. Small towns were up 9.3%, small core areas were up 7.5% and exurbs were up 5.6% on a four-quarter moving average basis.

There was also an increase in the market share for single-family construction in low-density areas. These areas which include small metro core and suburbs, small towns and rural markets saw a 48.4% increase. This marked the biggest increase in the history of the HBGI surveyed quarters.

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Harvest Cup Polo Classic, Postponed

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This event is presented by the Junior League of Greater Covington.

Harvest Cup Polo Classic

Summergrove Farms
16191 Hwy 40
Folsom, LA 70437

Postponed
 

 Price: Tickets in Advance $150

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Trickin’ and Treatin’ at Covington Trailhead, October 24, 2020

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This is a free family-friendly event that celebrates Halloween in Covington.

Trickin’ and Treatin’

Covington Trailhead
419 N. New Hampshire Street
Covington, LA 70433

October 24, 2020
10am – 12pm

 Free Event!

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Ozone Songwriter Festival, Cancelled

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This is a two-day music festival in Mandeville.

Ozone Songwriter Festival

Mandeville Trailhead Stage and Interpretive Center, Old Rail Brewing Co., Lafitte St. Market Stage
675 Lafitte St.
Mandeville, LA 70448

Cancelled
 

 Price: Free

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How to Use Total Hydrology Planning

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Water conservation has always been a big issue when it comes to the use of water in our homes. Water conservation saves on costs, allows less land use for stormwater management and helps with the quality of water that is available. One way builders are seeking to help even further with water conservation is through total hydrology planning.

Total hydrology planning is a methodology developed by landscape architecture firm Consilium Design to identify and utilize all water resources on a project site. Every site or piece of land is different in how it reacts to the climate. Total hydrology planning looks at this relationship and determines the best way to balance between water supply and demand.

In order for the process to be successful, it must be implemented during the land planning and design phase. When a new community is developed, reducing the development footprint will in turn reduce the linear foot runs of water, sanitary sewer and the developed flows, enabling designers to scale down stormwater management systems and the amount of irrigated landscape. The patterns and connectivity of streets should be altered to allow better balance water pressure and reduce line sizes and construction phasing. Clustering homes around shared common “front yard” for neighbors to gather and play also will help reduce water needs.

Instead of clearing all the land, developers would benefit from keeping some of the native landscape. The compact design of homes that take up less space is a good way to preserve native landscaping. Native landscaping is much easier to re-establish in areas where dirt has been moved to build a home.

Another great feature that can be added to an existing home or to a new neighborhood is rainwater harvesting. If done correctly, 30% or more portable water demand can be reduced. For a home, rooftop collection and storage work best. For a new community, directing surface rainwater as sheet flows or via curb cuts from streets, parking lots, patios and walks to adjacent landscape areas whenever possible.

Just by changing the way we conserve water helps to create solutions for builders when it comes to water management. Builders should shift from focusing on the water that is not there to the way they can maximize what is currently available. This will make the total hydrology planning a success.

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