Municipal water systems are required to test and monitor drinking water supplies to ensure safe and good-tasting water. But what happens once that water has been piped to towns, neighborhoods, and homes? Older homes may still have service lines made of lead going into the home, which can cause lead to leach into the water. The local water supplier should be able to confirm the presence of lead service lines for homeowners. Older fixtures that contain lead, or lead used to solder copper pipes, can also cause elevated lead levels in the water. Whenever possible, pipes and fixtures containing lead should be replaced with new materials.

Many homes built before the 1960s have galvanized steel pipes. While galvanized pipes do not create chemical contaminants on their own, they are susceptible to severe corrosion which can flake off and clog taps and faucets. In some instances lead can build up inside galvanized pipes, especially if the service line into the home is or was made of lead. To be on the safe side, it is best to have all galvanized piping replaced.

Another water quality concern is what are known as emerging contaminants, which, if present in a home, usually occur in very low level amounts. These fall into two general categories: health effects and aesthetic effects. Emerging contaminants affecting health include detergents, pesticides, and medications. Other contaminants that don’t affect health may adversely alter water taste, odor, and/or color. Home filtration systems are the most common means of reducing emerging contaminants. Options include faucet or pitcher filters, plumbed, and reverse-osmosis filters that treat the entire home’s water supply. Any filtration system installed should be listed as meeting national standards for reducing multiple contaminants.

Well water quality

While most people in North America get their water from municipal water systems, there are also millions who rely on well water at home. Water sourced from a well should be tested on a regular basis for contaminants such as bacteria and metals. If well water coming from the tap tests high for lead, it could be that the water in the well is too acidic, which causes lead to leach from pipes and fixtures. An acid neutralizing system can usually alleviate this problem without the need to replace pipes and fixtures. Other possible well water quality problems can be avoided by making sure wells are located away from septic tanks, livestock, and pooling water runoff. Well maintenance should be on a regular schedule so that any issues can be addressed before they cause health problems for the home’s occupants.

Water quality can easily be tested for metals, bacteria and other contaminants. Contact your local Pillar To Post Home Inspector for more information about this and other added services available.

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is committed to ensuring confident home ownership. To learn more about how Pillar To Post Home Inspectors can help your clients, visit pillartopost.com.

Those ages 55 and above say they want solutions for home maintenance, safety and security and making daily life easier. So, share these devices with your clients.

Smart-home technologies may help a growing number of older adults age in place, enabling them to improve their quality of life and continue to live independently longer, research shows. “Emerging technologies like smart beds and systems that detect falls can make aging in place a safer and more viable option,” Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of forecasting for the National Association of REALTORS®, writes on the Economists’ Outlook blog. “For instance, smart beds allow people with health issues to customize their beds in order to satisfy their needs.”

According to a study by insurance company The Hartford and the MIT AgeLab, older Americans’ top concerns with their home are:

• Home maintenance (40%)
• Safety and security (18%)
• Making day-to-day life easy and convenient (16%)
• Saving money (8%)
• Saving energy (8%)

Sixty-six percent of adults ages 55 and older say they plan to remain in their home over the long term, according to Freddie Mac data. But beyond the addition of common features like grab bars and no-step showers, older adults are warming up to smart-home tech that may be able to assist them in their daily routine. Forty-eight percent of older adults say they would need to equip their current home with devices like voice-activated home assistants or a doorbell camera in order to age in place, according to AARP’s Home and Community Preferences Survey.

Most Helpful Tech for Aging in Place

The number of households headed by people ages 65 and older jumped 38% to 34 million between 2010 and 2020, so the need among this age group for smart-home tech is growing, according to data from the Urban Institute. These households are expected to rise to 48 million over the next two decades.

The Hartford and MIT AgeLab study identified these 10 smart technologies as potentially most valuable to older adults because they help with home maintenance, enhance safety and security, and make life easier for homeowners over the age of 50.

• Smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Wireless doorbell cameras
• Keyless entry
• Automated lighting
• Smart water shutoff valves
• Smart home security systems
• Smart outlets and plugs
• Smart thermostats
• Water and mold monitoring sensors
• Smart window blinds

The study also listed additional technologies that could benefit homeowners who have a health condition or are caring for a family member, including:

Telehealth systems: track, record and share vital signs with medical providers and enable doctors to monitor a person at home; includes video chat features.

Medical management systems: record a person’s medical data on their smartphone to share with medical professionals.

Medication management systems: provide medication reminders, track whether a person used a certain medication and send alerts to caregivers’ smartphones about whether medication has been taken.

Smart fall-detection systems: monitor movements throughout the house and can notify a caregiver or emergency contact if a fall is detected.

Smart beds/sleep sensors: track sleep cycles, breathing and heart rate patterns and can wake the person at an identified ideal time in their sleep cycle. They can also send relevant information to a caregiver’s smartphone.

June 28, 2022

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Maybe there’s a leak in your attic. Maybe you’ve noticed cracked or broken shingles. There are many reasons why you might need to replace your roof, but as with other home improvement projects, there are optimal and sub-optimal times to get it done. Here are just a few considerations when you’re wondering about the best season for redoing your roof.

Temperature
Temperature is the first thing to think about when planning an outdoor project. You don’t want to be working in intense heat, but you don’t want your fingers going cold and numb as you handle power tools, either. The ideal temperature is a moderate one during spring or fall. Make sure that you’re also paying attention to things like humidity, windchill, and air quality; these can be just as significant as the numbers on the thermometer.

Weather
You should always consider the weather when tackling outdoor renovation projects, but you’ll need to watch out for more than just extreme temperatures. Spring and summer storms can be volatile, bringing wind, rain, and hail that delays your roof work. You might also have to deal with things like unexpected heat waves softening your shingles or warping their adhesives.

Environmental Conditions
Winter is a dangerous time for roof replacement since ice and snow can make things slippery on top of your home. The colder temperatures can also create icicles and ice dams, and these are more than just eyesores; they’re genuine health hazards that can cause bodily injury. Summer can also be dangerous with the possibility of everything from heatstroke to sweaty hands dropping tools. Spring storms are a menace, too. Fall is the clear victor in terms of the best time for roof replacement.

Professional Availability
If you’ll be calling in the experts to help you with your roof, you should think about their availability. Home renovation companies tend to be high in demand in the spring and summer months. They might also need time to order and arrange supplies, especially if you’re opting for something like a solar roof, which can push your project from one season to the next. It’s best to contact them directly when working out a timetable for your roof work.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when you’re thinking about replacing your roof. It might not be an easy task, but it doesn’t have to be overly difficult, especially if you make efficient plans at the right time of year. The specific time, of course, will be up to you.

Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from Utah. She enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her family.

The real estate industry is constantly evolving, and with this ever-changing landscape comes innovation. This innovation appears in many forms, from advanced technologies to new ways of handling real estate transactions. One thing that has made a significant change in the housing industry is the increasing cost of building materials. Lumber costs have skyrocketed in recent years, halting construction on new housing and causing home prices to rise to new highs—especially with inventory at a historic low across the country.

Read: High Lumber Prices: Here’s What It Means for Homeowners and Homebuyers 

Another factor to consider when it comes to building materials is location. From destructive wildfires on the West Coast to devastating hurricanes on the East Coast and in the South, climate change is making a serious impact on housing. According to a special report by The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Research Institute for Housing America (RIHA)—The Impact of Climate Change on Housing and Housing Finance—climate change will place increasing stress on housing, creating a need for adaptation strategies, such as incorporating building modifications into new construction and existing buildings, increasing the resiliency of communities through infrastructure improvements and standards.

These challenges have led to construction innovations that will begin to transform the new-home market. From concrete and cement to natural and recycled materials, these options can help scale down home building costs, reduce your carbon footprint and increase durability against natural disasters.

Bamboo

An environmentally friendly, renewable resource, bamboo has become a popular alternative for building homes. From durability to sustainability, this natural resource offers many qualities compared to more traditional materials.

Traditional lumber sources, such as maple and oak, can take up to 80 years to replenish. Bamboo, on the other hand, is the fastest growing plant on the planet, and can be harvested multiple times a year. In fact, according to Bamboo Living, every bamboo home that goes into production saves almost 10 acres of forest from destruction.

This material is also much stronger and sturdier than traditional woods, making it a great option for flooring. And even though it is strong, it is also flexible, which means builders can get creative with shapes and home designs that may have been limited with traditional materials. Bamboo also contains a natural bio-agent, bamboo kun, which makes this material resistant to pathogens and pests. Not only does this eliminate the risk for termites, but it also reduces the risk for rotting and losing strength over time.

Bamboo Living, a leader in providing artisan-quality bamboo homes and innovative, durable building products, has designed and manufactured over 400 homes around the world. From California to Florida, even all the way to India, their structures have proven to be resilient against the effects of changing climates and tough weather. Plus, it is not only eco-friendly, but budget-friendly, too.

Hempcrete

Sticking to the theme of eco-friendly and natural materials, hemp is taking big steps in the home building industry. As one of the oldest building materials, and with more and more states legalizing cannabis, hemp is becoming a more attainable alternative to traditional building materials and has many advantages.

The hemp plant has a very thick pulp, which can be used to create textiles, such as shoes and clothing, as well as building materials. Once fibers and seeds are removed from the plant, you are left with a woody stem, also known as a shiv. Hempcrete is made from combining this part of the plant with lime binder and water, creating what resembles a concrete block, without the weight. Industrial hemp can also be grown in many different climates and soils, giving builders across the country a sustainable alternative in a short period of time.

Hemp Block USA, the U.S.’s only provider of load bearing hempcrete blocks, share the many benefits of utilizing hempcrete as an alternative building material, including:

• Mold resistant – Hempcrete regulates indoor humidity and air quality, which helps keep mildew and mold from growing.
• Energy efficient thermal insulation – The value of hemp insulation can reduce energy costs up to 70% for both heating and cooling.
• Termite-free – Termites and many other pests are not drawn to the hemp plant, reducing the chance of infestation and rotting.
• Fire resistant – Hempcrete does not burn and has an excellent fire resistance rating, perfect for both walls and insulation.
• Carbon negative – Finished hempcrete walls sequester more CO² than they use during production.
• Rendered finish – Hempcrete creates a finished rendered wall both inside and out.
• Load bearing – Hempcrete is engineered for up to two stories.
• Fast and easy assembly – Interlocking blocks can be stacked with minimal effort, saving 80% of traditional construction time.

Upcycled storage containers

Both environmentally friendly and cost-effective, this building option is becoming more popular amongst those looking to embrace unique home designs that ultimately meet their functionality needs and budget. Container homes have continued to gain momentum, and according to a study by Allied Market Research, the global market for this type of home is expected to reach more than $73 million by 2025.

Aside from being cost-effective, converting a shipping container into a home has additional benefits. Because they’re basic structure, they are very simple to construct, and augment. They are essentially a form of modular homes, offering the option to add and modify to your liking, and can even allow for container homeowners to easily relocate.

Shipping container homes are also extremely durable, made from Corten steel, which can withstand extreme weather conditions that traditional home materials may not, making these a great option for areas that suffer from hurricanes.

For the environment-friendly builders and buyers, there is nothing better than reusing and recycled materials. Steel is one of the most recycled materials in the world and using these containers as residences not only conserve resources, but offer a high-quality, affordable and sustainable solution.

Custom Container Living, a home construction company specializing in building homes from shipping containers, offers a step-by-step process for what you can expect, from start to finish construction, to financing, delivery and custom-build floor plans.

3D-printed concrete

A new technology has reached the home building industry, and it brings a new sustainable option to the forefront. Though concrete is a very common building material, it is now being used in new ways, making the building process more affordable while still utilizing existing materials.

The 3D printing process is primed to not only build houses faster and cheaper, but ultimately stronger and more long lasting compared to traditional materials, such as lumber. According to Habitat for Humanity, who have recently endorsed 3D printed homes, adding the use of concrete walls may save an estimated 15% per square foot in building costs, as it retains temperature in all climates, saving on heating and cooling costs, and is more resistant to hurricane and tornado damage.

3D printers have become more and more popular over the last 5 years, however, on this homebuilding scale, they are still new. In 2019, Statista projected that by 2025, the size of the global market, plus materials and any associated services will reach $49.1 billion, compared to $5.1 billion in 2015, a 700% increase.

Pilari, a technology driven developer of sustainable communities and modular homes, is re-imagining the future of home building with sustainability in mind, making an impact through reduction of waste and carbon emissions. In 2021, the company started development on the country’s first 3D-printed community in the desert city of Rancho Mirage, California, including 15 eco-friendly homes made from 3D-printed panels.

From climate change to increasing costs of lumber, traditional building materials could eventually take a backseat to these innovative and eco-friendly options.

Paige Brown is RISMedia’s content editor. Email her your real estate news ideas to pbrown@rismedia.com.

With a record number of millennials set to reach key age milestones for homebuyers over the next two years, experts say this could push already accelerated price gains even further. This, according to a new report from Zillow that found home values are growing fastest in areas with the highest share of kids, reflects the impact millennial house hunters are making on family-friendly neighborhoods already experiencing a shortage of homes for sale.

According to the report, the top 10% of ZIP codes with the largest share of kids in each county analyzed saw an average of 21.3% growth from October 2020 to October 2021, compared to 17.6% in ZIP codes with the smallest share of kids. This trend started in 2013, which, not coincidentally, was the year the oldest millennials turned 32, the age when many new parents buy their first homes. That’s the median age of first-time home buyers and one year older than the median age of fathers with newborns, Zillow’s report stated.

“As millennials go, so goes the housing market, and we are seeing now, as millennials age, that they are looking for homes that fit the needs of growing families,” said Zillow economist Nicole Bachaud. “Millennial demand has helped push up home prices in areas with the most children. Competition for homes in these family-friendly areas should intensify in the coming years as more millennials reach the key age of 32, adding to the affordability squeeze.”

Zillow’s report analyzed 421 U.S. counties, representing 71% of the country’s population. ZIP codes with more residents under 18 years old are associated with higher home value growth in nearly two-thirds of the counties studied. Many of the counties where this relationship does not hold true are vacation destinations, where part-time residents have unconventional housing demands. Home value growth in these family-friendly areas began to outpace nearby ZIP codes in 2013, and the correlation between kids and home value growth has been nearly perfect for each year since 2017, according to the report.

That first wave of early-30s millennials had the benefit of discounted home prices because of the Great Recession; home values in these family-friendly ZIP codes were hit particularly hard between 2008 and 2011, during the nationwide housing crash. Today’s first-time home buyers are encountering a much different market, especially as home price growth has reached record highs during the pandemic.

Kristi Ramirez-Knowles, a REALTOR® and team leader for Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty working in West Los Angeles, told RISMedia late last year that millennials are often forced to look at areas near or abutting these traditional family-friendly zip codes, because the most attractive markets have no homes within their budget.

“It’s pushed further,” she says. “Other places where it wasn’t very family friendly, now it’s starting to get very family friendly because they’re building brand new construction with everything built in—with the pool and the rec room, and that’s drawing to those areas. That’s attracting families even though the school district may not be that great. It’s the appeal of brand-new and something they can afford.”

That also seems to be the case on the other side of the country, as Virginia-based agent Kathryn Kramer with Howard Hanna, suggests that the Norfolk housing market has seen similar behavior.

“I think that this effect is compounded by two factors,” Kramer says. “Empty-nesters are more hesitant to move because of the pandemic, and we have fewer of those homes on the market. Also, more millennials are working from home which has allowed markets like ours to flourish because people who can now work remotely are moving to areas that have better schools and amenities and a lower cost of living.”

Kramer went on to say that some of the neighborhoods that are not traditionally thought of as first choices for families are going to start improving as people start getting priced out of other neighborhoods.

The snowball of millennials reaching peak age for first-time home buyers has grown during the past nine years and is about to turn into an avalanche, Zillow reported. Nearly 200,000 more Americans will turn 32 this year than did so in 2021―the biggest jump since the transition from Generation X to millennials in 2013—and even more will do so in 2023. This demographic reality should fuel even faster price growth in family-friendly ZIP codes over the next two years, making saving for a down payment even more challenging for first-time buyers.

This effect, the report states, is strongest in counties that encompass the cities of Norfolk, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas; and Seattle. Counties where this trend does not hold true include those encompassing Galveston, Texas; Santa Barbara, California; and Ocean City, New Jersey.