Wednesday, July 31, 2024

August 17th: The Day Real Estate Changes Forever!

18 Days and Counting.


Today marks 18 days until August 17th, when changes from the NAR settlement take effect. There's heightened discussion and anxiety about these changes, especially the rumored end of buyer agency. Let's separate reality from hysteria.


What's Changing? The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has agreed to significant changes affecting real estate agents:

  • Written Agreements: Agents must have written agreements with buyers outlining services and fees before showing homes.

  • No Commission Disclosure: MLS platforms will no longer display specific compensation offers to buyer agents.


Impact on Buyers' Agents:

  • Must have written agreements with buyers.

  • Will not see specific commission offers on MLS listings.


Impact on Sellers' Agents:

  • Cannot publicly disclose commissions offered to buyer agents on the MLS.

  • May need to negotiate commissions directly with buyers' agents.


Bottom Line: Every buyer and seller will pay for their own representation. Sellers' side won't change much, but buyers will need a written agreement to see homes and might have to pay their agent's fee out of pocket if it can't be negotiated into the purchase contract. Some buyers may opt out of representation and go directly to the seller, especially in mid to lower price points. However, this is less likely in the higher-end market. Read Full Post.


Happy House Hunting!

Quick Market Snapshot🎯June

Wall Street Investors Were Snapping Up Homes in Phoenix: Now Home Buyers Face a Changed Market—How Will They Play It?


Wall Street investors now own 2.6% of homes in Phoenix, making it a top city for institutional buyers. Attracted by a booming economy, population growth, and affordable housing, these investors once drove up prices and turned many homes into rentals, creating intense competition. Today, economic uncertainty and rising interest rates have cooled their activity, easing the market for regular buyers. With fewer bidding wars and more stable prices, now is a good time to consider long-term investments. Stay informed on market trends, as investor interest could shift again. Read Full Post.

How Lennar, KB Home, Toll Brothers Are "Winning" in 2024's Challenging Housing Market: Insights from Their Q2 Earnings Report.



We're diving into the latest updates from Lennar, Toll Brothers, and KB Home, who are thriving in today's challenging market. Lennar's revenue surged 9% to $8.77 billion by managing costs and offering deals, making their homes attractive. Toll Brothers, known for luxury, exceeded expectations. With $2.84 billion in revenue, offering high-end yet affordable homes. KB Home reported a 20.79% increase in earnings per share and $1.71 billion in sales, thanks to their customizable options.


My Take: To compete, traditional resale sellers should emphasize the unique charm of older homes, invest in modern renovations, and offer flexible pricing strategies. These companies are making homebuying easier with special financing, appealing to those seeking suburban or rural living. Despite interest rate changes, they're poised for growth, making homeownership more accessible. Read Full Post.

Realtor.com Predicts Big Gains: Phoenix Home💲 to Jump $127K in 5 Years, $273K in 10 Years!



Are you thinking about buying a home in Phoenix but holding off for better prices? Recent data from Realtor.com reveals that may not be the best strategy. Since 1975, the average five-year return on U.S. home prices has been +26%, and the current median U.S. home price of $442,500 could grow to $557,550 in five years. Phoenix's market is even hotter, with the median price at $455,000 and a projected 28% increase over the next five years, leading to a potential gain of $127,400. In ten years, the gain could be $273,000, with a projected median price of $728,000.


My Take: With Phoenix's strong job market, sunny weather, and vibrant lifestyle, waiting could mean paying significantly more. Buying now could save you thousands and provide substantial equity gains over the next decade. Read Full Post.

This Suburb Outside of Phoenix is Now the Top Choice for Retirees in the U.S


Retirement is often seen as a time for relaxation, but finding the perfect spot can be daunting. Fortunately, Arizona is home to some of the fastest-growing retirement hotspots.


  • Goodyear, recently named the top retirement destination in the U.S., has seen a 61% increase in its 65+ population over five years, thanks to its affordability, excellent healthcare, outdoor activities, and warm climate. Notable subdivisions include PebbleCreek, Estrella Mountain Ranch, and CantaMia.

  • Peoria, ranked 8th, offers an active lifestyle with recreational facilities, cultural activities, and a high quality of life, with popular subdivisions like Trilogy at Vistancia and Westbrook Village.

  • Prescott, ranked 37th, provides historical charm, a mild climate, and outdoor adventures, with its vibrant community and beautiful Victorian homes.


Arizona's appeal for retirees continues to grow, and I'm here to help you find the perfect place to enjoy your golden years. Contact me today to learn more about retirement opportunities in Goodyear, Peoria, and Prescott. Read full Post.

Phoenix: Not Just Keeping Pace With Other Industrial Markets; It Is Setting The Pace!


Phoenix is rapidly becoming a powerhouse in the industrial real estate market, with impressive 8.7% year-over-year rent growth despite lacking direct port access, according to CommercialEdge. Key factors driving this success include Phoenix's booming population, strategic location near Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, and significant industrial development with 38.6 million square feet under construction. High-profile projects like the TSMC semiconductor plant and data centers by Meta and Google underscore Phoenix's appeal. The city has also attracted $749 million in industrial sales this year, making it a top destination for businesses and investors in industrial real estate. Read Full Post.

🏌🏾Fore! We Tee'd ⛳ Up Scottsdale's Most Luxurious Golf Communities for Homebuyers and FAQs for Luxury Living & Playing.


Considering a move to Scottsdale and seeking a blend of luxury and recreation? Scottsdale's private golf communities offer an unparalleled mix of opulence and outdoor living. Here's a closer look at the finest golf communities Scottsdale has to offer, perfect for luxury living and playing:


  • Desert Mountain Club: Home to seven Jack Nicklaus-designed courses, this club offers a state-of-the-art fitness center, a spa, and gourmet dining at Constantino's.

  • Silverleaf: Located in DC Ranch, it features a Tom Weiskopf-designed championship course, a luxurious spa, resort-style pools, and gourmet dining.

  • Estancia Club: Nestled at the base of Pinnacle Peak, it boasts a Tom Fazio-designed course, fine dining, a fitness center, and concierge services.

  • Troon North Golf Club: Features two Tom Weiskopf-designed courses, a serene spa, tennis courts, and Southwest-inspired dining.

  • Whisper Rock Golf Club: Offers courses designed by Phil Mickelson and Gary Stephenson, with top-tier facilities including a pro shop, fitness center, and gourmet dining.

  • Mirabel Golf Club: Provides a Tom Fazio-designed course, a clubhouse with gourmet dining, a heated pool, tennis courts, and a spa.

  • The Country Club at DC Ranch: Offers a course by Tom Lehman and John Fought, gourmet dining, a wellness center, and family-friendly activities.

  • The Boulders Club: Features Jay Morrish-designed courses, a world-class spa, multiple dining venues, and exclusive Waldorf Astoria resort amenities.

  • Terravita Golf and Country Club: Includes a Greg Nash and Billy Casper-designed course, a fitness center, tennis courts, a pool, and multiple dining options.

  • Scottsdale National Golf Club: Offers two Bob Parsons-designed courses, a clubhouse with fine dining, a spa, and top-tier accommodations.

  • Paradise Valley Country Club: Close to Scottsdale, it offers a Lawrence Hughes-designed course, a fitness center, spa services, and exquisite dining options.


Read Full Post.

IN OTHER NEWS

Monday, July 29, 2024

Poverty Chairs & Our New Apparel Line (These are not related topics)

Lost Art Digest, July 29, 2024


The digest is a bit late because I was teaching at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking and didn't get home until last night. Here's a roundup of the stuff we published during the week so you can catch up on your reading.


Lost Art Press Blog


Working Without a Workbench

Oooh, they excerpted me (Megan must be desperate). This post covers how I do woodworking when I don't have a workbench. I have to do this at times when I'm in the field. The excerpt is from "The Anarchist's Tool Chest" (which is a free download).


Video Postcards from Germany

See what I did in Germany this month. I have two short videos (both work now -- sorry). One shows a lot of really interesting folk furniture I encountered (along with some beer-fueled jokes). The other shows the Dutch Tool Chest class I taught in Munich.


New Video: Make a Swedish Tool Chest with Whitney Miller

We just released this new video on building a Swedish tool chest. It's hosted by Whitney Miller, an intermediate woodworker who is great at teaching basic skills and making you laugh your butt off. It's a fun video. Plus all the drawings you need to make the chest. The video has an introductory price that ends in three weeks…..


Early Bookcases, Cupboards & Carousels

Saucy Indexer Suzanne Ellison pulled together this fascinating blog post about early bookshelves and (amazing) carousels (yes, there is a video). If you love book storage (and who doesn't), you'll enjoy this well-illustrated piece.


The American Peasant Substack


Earlywood: The Illiterate Light

Somehow I make the case that maybe you'll be a better woodworker if you stop reading so many books. Maybe you shouldn't read this article and instead spend all your money here.

(Free for everyone)


Poverty Chairs

A short but punchy case for stick chairs – even if you hate the suckers.

(Free for everyone)


Anyone Can Dress the Part

We are launching a new apparel line – called Joyner – and we are going to start making workwear in a way that has less waste and more size options. This is the first step of many in launching the line. Follow along if you like!

(For paid subscribers, with a free preview)


You Have Got to Eat Your Own Swill

It starts with a chicken wing (like all great stories). And it ends with an exhortation to face your work with open eyes and fearlessness. Why? If you don't it will come back to haunt you.

(Free for everyone)


The Anarchist's Apprentice Substack


To (Germany) & Froe

Kale finds a froe that was made by family members, deepening her roots in the craft. (It's a great story.) Also, snapshots from Germany. Plus, I somehow come to terms with teaching and actually… enjoy it?

(For paid subscribers, with a free preview)


Never Sponsored Substack


Gyokucho 306 Razorsaw

If you are a beginner and can only buy one handsaw, this is the one. It's inexpensive, cuts like a $500 saw and has a replaceable blade. We've been using this one for years and can recommend it without reservation.

(For paid subscribers, with a free preview)


On Instagram This Week

We have an unboxing video (wait, come back!). It's a video of a miniature chair that is definitely worth seeing. Plus, see our new clamp rack that Kale built and see the progress we are making at renovating our warehouse.


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Wednesday, July 24, 2024

New Video: Build a Swedish Tool Chest

New Video: Build a Swedish Tool Chest with Whitney Miller


Note: This video is being offered at the special introductory offer of $35 until Aug. 25. After that, the video will be $69.


We've long been fascinated with the Swedish tool chest form. Roy Underhill had one at The Woodwright's Shop, and Chris got a close look at one in Sweden that belongs to Johan Lyrfalk, and came down through his family. It's similar to a Dutch chest with its slanting front lid, but the Swedish one is in some ways simpler. And it's larger – at least our version is – it's not a chest for travel.


The video – which stars and is edited by television professional and do-it-yourself maven Whitney Miller – shows you step by step how to build this Swedish chest – and her joy in making it comes through on screen. (Which is to say she a lot of fun to watch, beyond the woodworking instruction!)


The Swedish chest is assembled with through-dovetails at the corners. The top and bottom are screwed to the carcase. The interior of the chest is fairly open and offers plenty of room for planes and larger tools on the floor. There are three drawers, assembled with rabbets and nails, that will hold your smaller tools and shop sundries.   The drawer frame and dividers are assembled with screws, then nailed in place through the outside of the chest, as in our inspiration piece.  


The interior walls of the chest are lined with tool racks, and there are saw racks on the lid. The rack layout is easy to adjust to suit your own storage needs.


We built it in cherry, because we couldn't resist the call of the wide cherry boards at the lumberyard that day. The inspiration chest was painted, and probably made from pine.


The build is an excellent primer on through-dovetails and simple drawer construction – and when you're done, you'll have a handsome chest in which to store your tools.

Dimensions are: 32-1/2" wide, 18-1/2" high and 19-3/4" deep. The top is 8-1/2" wide, the drop lid is 13-1/2 wide. Most of the stock for the carcase is 7/8" thick.

The entire video is just more than an hour – tightly edited to be compact but filled with good information that's fun to watch. It's an excellent video for beginning woodworkers, with just the information you need.


You also get downloadable PDFs with plans and a cutlist, as well as information on using "marriage marks" for layout, and applying our favorite non-toxic soft-wax finish.


Click HERE to order.

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Monday, July 22, 2024

Ointment that Removes Splinters?

Lost Art Press Digest, July 22, 2024


I just got back from two hot (but fun) weeks in Germany. I hope our posting will become a bit more regular now as a result. Here's the roundup….


Lost Art Press Blog


Turning Tools

Peter Galbert's "Chairmaker's Notebook" is our strongest-selling book on chairs. And Pete has lots to teach about turning as well (check out his video here). In this excerpt, offers an introduction to turning tools and how they work.


'Drawing Salve' – a Physician's Thoughts

Removing splinters can be a bloody mess. What if there were an ointment that could do it for you? Dr. Jeffrey Hill, the author of "Workshop Wound Care," walks you through the scientific aspects of "drawing salve," a product that claims to help remove splinters. Does it work? The answer is: maybe.


The Short Of It

Associate Editor Kale Vogt investigates a trick that lowers a carver's vise for shorter woodworkers. Commenters have lots of ideas how they would do it differently, but none of their ideas are as simple.


The American Peasant Substack


Earlywood: How to Use How-to Information

How should you age leather? Or cut a tenon? The answer is becoming harder and harder to find for most woodworkers. It's best to listen to Virgil (70 B.C. – 19 B.C.), who recommended: "Believe one who has tried it."

(Free for everyone)


Don't Forget to Not Lie

We follow four rules when we sell you stuff. We think these rules improve the level of equity in the world. And they help us sleep at night. Also, learn how Chris left one job for the promise of 15 cents more per hour.

(For paid subscribers, with a free preview)


The Anarchist's Apprentice Substack


Kale's First 'Binder' & a Quick Step Stool

It's chaos at the shop with a chair class going on and the newest issue of The Stick Chair Journal going to press. Despite the nuttiness, Kale finds time to start prototyping some low stools.

(For paid subscribers, with a free preview)


Never Sponsored Substack


R. Murphy Carving & Dental Lab Knife

When Megan whips out this knife, you know that your dovetails are about to get better. This unusual little tool helps you get in places that are too tight for other knives. It's inexpensive and super handy for lots of digging chores.

(For paid subscribers, with a free preview)


On Instagram This Week

Chris shows off a bunch of cool furniture he found in Germany. Plus, check out these "bonsai brushes" that are great for cleaning wet glue out of corners.


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Wax, Chairmaking Qs& As, the 1st B.S. Chair & More!

View this email in your browser Wax, Chair Questions (Among Others), A Chair from Home Center Materials & More A quick look at...