#Best patio contractors near Los Angeles

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Local Excellence in Concrete: Your Guide to Flatwork Contractors Near Me

When it comes to enhancing the beauty and functionality of your property, concrete flatwork contractors near me can be your best allies. These skilled professionals specialize in various concrete projects that can transform your space into a masterpiece of durability and aesthetics.

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5 Laws That'll Help The Decorative Concrete Contractor Near Me Industry

Wish to declutter your garage? Purchase some utilised home objects? Give absent some backyard garden stuff? Become a confirmed neighbour to look through and publish things available for purchase. Buying and selling is straightforward when Every person life nearby. I will do it later

Concrete provides a confirmed document for power, toughness, and price efficiency for many different apps which include floors, walkways, patios and driveways. Concrete floors are uncovered in a number of household options, from high-increase condominiums, to basements remodeled for more dwelling House, to slab-on-quality design. Mike Pearson Development is among the foremost gurus in the sector of concrete set up, including the demanding and hugely specialised subject of decorative concrete. Decorative concrete covers numerous types of therapies for concrete. Concrete is often addressed with stains or colorants to create a prosperous assortment of hues and textures, or stamped with patterns to mimic purely natural surfaces from marble to wood planks.

All set to have a step ahead with our dependable team? All it requires is undoubtedly an electronic mail or simply call to get in touch.

We've been a accredited and insured general contractor that provides cost-free in-dwelling estimates for community homeowners in los angeles.

SunH20 can be a water-centered stain that doesn’t etch the surface but nevertheless lasts quite a long time as a consequence of its adhesive Homes. Colors could be layered and merged, so there are many colour choices offered.

I agreed and it did. The preparing was completed on sooner or later along with the concrete pour was completed the next. Edward experienced the best amount of workers to the occupation on on a daily basis. They understood what to do and carried out expertly, caring for my property in the procedure. The work has now been set up a bit about per week and I'm able to say that I am very contented.

We firmly believe that the good results of the challenge depends on thorough conversation, pre-setting up and a normal link. Real achievement can be a group energy, and by creating open up and honest strains of interaction, visions, goals, timing and budgetary needs with the beginn

Let's demonstrate how we are able to set our talent and talent to work for you personally. Enable us the opportunity to quotation on the venture, whether it's small or significant. Dolla...Read through extra

Consent just isn't a condition of acquire. will not be presently accepting services requests from HomeAdvisor in .

Examine various prices with just one ask for Remedy a few issues for getting individualized estimates for the task.

There are several possibilities to stone and brick for walkways and driveways. Concrete is often given a variety of specialised treatment plans which will give it a complex and decorative therapy. Or, the outer skin of concrete may be removed to reveal the combination beneath (a complete known as exposed mixture.

Pouring ways, deck supports and patios – Concrete contractors will often be accustomed to pour techniques along with entrance porches/patios near entryways. Concrete is usually usually expected for deck supports, and even some styles of fencing.

Shamrock Concrete, LLC is a relatives-owned and operated business enterprise with twenty years of considerable working experience in concrete tasks. Get in contact with our specialists for any Free of charge estimate.

When you're diamond polishing a floor there are a number of variables that may affect the ultimate appearance: Floor surfaces that aren’t flat acquire additional time to shine and success often reveals regions the place the grinding cuts to the mixture when... Decorative Concrete Apr 13, 2016

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Construct Swimming Pool even at your small patio

Mostly when the name comes from a swimming pool at home the mind imagines a big Bungalow with large patios right? and who have small and pretty homes even never think more than design a plant organization at your patio but but now it is no more like this because we have swimming pool architects in Los Angeles who will give you to construct swimming pool construction at your patio whether it is small or large no matter they will make you according to your place and as you want to make construct like at which design also  for Installing a swimming pool contractors at Los Angeles meet NB construction contractors they will give you 

Installing a swimming pool at your patio indirectly increases the value of your home and if you plan to sell in future.

Mostly people think what is the need of installing swimming pool at home right but there benefits a lot first you want to less your stress because if you have swimming pool at home you can use of it anytime like sunbathing near swimming pool, do many activities even involve your kids to do aerobic swimming with them swimming is proven best exercise for weight loss and more than this it doesn’t let increase cortisol in your body from which the big benefit that you will be stress free. You can enjoy it summers a lot when you tired back to home take with sweat at your clothes just want to get chill so you can relax at your swimming pool you no need to go anywhere swimming pool at home means enjoy it at any of time no need pay more charges to swim and of course swim at your own peace of time with complete privacy. 

NB  Construction has a facility of painting and they just are not painters, they create paintings on walls. If you want to design your home walls, meet Los Angeles Painting Contractors,  they design elegant paintings on walls. They have skill on which wall wall what kind of painting should do. Like if you have a lobby wall so you can design any landscape painting or welcome attractive designs to the wall.

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Is Tech Making Decorative Concrete Stain Contractors Better Or Worse?

No matter if you’re renovating your home and including a new area, building a new dwelling, or including landscape components similar to a new driveway, choosing a seasoned and accredited concrete contractor is totally important.

Typically, epoxy-combination programs slide into two broad groups: porous and nonporous — also called “open” and “shut” programs. The porous programs use epoxy-pebble mortar. The nonporous techniques include terrazzo devices, troweled epoxy mortars and broadcast epoxy systems.

You realize that automatic cellular phone engineering, by voice or text messages, could be utilized to reach you. Make sure you Take note that giving consent isn't going to obligate you to purchase or use any service or product.

Turn your outdoor residing Area into an pleasant entertaining area with our very affordable, resurfaced concrete seat partitions. Our proficient craftsmen can install and develop beautiful seating locations that resemble natural stone – at 50 % the price of real stone. Resurfaced Seat Partitions Gallery Commercial Interiors Are you aware our craftsmen are professional concrete flooring gurus?

If you are working with a standard contractor to create a home, you should definitely’re involved with the process of choosing the concrete contractor.

Concrete Coating Contractors Look for a Concrete Coating Contractor in just 3-5 minutes. Inform us Anything you are seeking and receive free of charge estimates with none obligation. We're going to use your information and facts to match you using a contractor interested in aiding you with your project.

To be a Standard Contractor in Los Angeles for over twenty years. We have a impeccable popularity inside the sector not only with his purchasers but additionally architects, sub-contractors, city pl

Let us explain to you how we will put our talent and expertise to work for you personally. Allow for us the opportunity to estimate on the task, whether it is small or significant. Dolla...Read more

Pete's workforce smoothed the concrete; however, when they have been Virtually finished, a person walked on to your damp cement …leaving shoe prints. The Adult males tried to explain the mishap. Sooner or later, The person apologized and presented to pay Pete. Pete did not charge the trespasser. I understood that Pete was hardworking, experienced, organized, and experienced a hardworking staff and other assist folks, and his rate was fair. What I realized was that Pete when rattled, stays relaxed, focused on job, and moves ahead. In such a case, Pete, himself re smoothed the concrete getting rid from the shoe prints. The location was cleaned and all obstacles were put within the web site. Pete and his crew remaining at five pm. Pete is familiar with his work; has a talented crew which has worked together for quite some time and it has the mandatory equipment and resources to secure a job finished.

Builderzz house design/remodeling Inc. is a complete service building and remodeling company that is certainly spouse and children owned and operates independently.

We purchased The brand new floor by using among mike's suppliers and we experienced to leave it in the garage for each week or so. Through that time, mike despatched his workers to return over and begin eradicating the previous floors and to repair some cracks for the concrete. The work went smoothly without any difficulties. It took lower than three months to finish all your house and to provide the new floor put in.

Pouring methods, deck supports and patios – Concrete contractors in many cases are accustomed to pour techniques and entrance porches/patios near entryways. Concrete is likewise commonly necessary for deck supports, as well as some kinds of fencing.

M &M CONCRETE With over forty five yrs of experience in concrete we provide the best Experienced crews to your concrete challenge. Concrete driveways, foundations, patios.

The stamp is then taken off, leaving its impression in the dry concrete. This impression can produce the looks of brick, stone, or all kinds of other appealing and beautiful inventive designs.

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Why You Should Forget About Improving Your Patterned Concrete Walkways

Large aggregate is used and a small level of cement combination is included to allow the slab to permit h2o to pass through. Pervious needs to get covered with poly plastic to allow it to cure and dry adequately.

"Whilst many other contractors weren't in a position to get me scheduled inside a timely manor and Other folks would not even get back to me period of time. Acquiring this type of huge "daily life uprooting" position accomplished in these a quick turnaround was something which was seriously appreciated. Scott's conversation capabilities were Fantastic. He talked me by anything as we planned. My wife and I've early and late hrs at perform so it had been reassuring to own this fluidity with Scott. I am unable to advise Customized Creations adequate! I firmly believe on passing on excellent individuals to the ones that need.

Lime is employed in place of cement in limecrete. Due to the fact lime is burnt in decrease temperatures, rendering it an eco-welcoming alternative, desire in employing it yet again increased. It is additionally extra health-pleasant compared to standard cement used in modern concrete, rendering it a really perfect option for many structures.

Our modern encounter with Patios by B&B is so astounding we feel compelled to share it with fellow Angie's Record subscribers also to sing their praises. We were considering transforming our 320 sq. ft patio given that transferring in to our condominium in 2010. This yr we determined it absolutely was ultimately time to accomplish the task as we experienced effectively saved the cash to take action. We solicited bids from 4 contractors, all of which can be listed right here on Angie's List. Following having bids from three of these, which is not atypical on the globe of dealing with contractors, we ultimately decided on Patios by B&B Despite the fact that their composed bid wasn't the bottom nor was it the very best. The primary determination for our selection was the A+ rating with the Los Angeles Much better Business Bureau, high rating and accolades from the other reviewers on this Site. Jeff Goldman from Patios by B&B was the consummate Specialist setting up with our Original Get hold of, by means of job completion. We contacted Jeff, and Sure he answered his cellular phone and returned phone calls immediately, and within two times we were being meeting with him inside our home to discuss the choices for our patio remodel. Jeff served us with almost everything from products, timing and spending plan. We laid out a prepare and he drew up a agreement. Jeff was very fast paced offered the Spring time so the contract was not drawn up as rapidly as we wish nevertheless, on receipt of it, we were being more than happy with the level of element. The deal included the scope of labor all the way down to the volume of Grime to generally be excavated, what content would be utilized for the base, screed and pavers, the payment program and in many cases the pitch with the pavers to permit for suitable drainage. For our 2nd consultation, Jeff brought with him the agreement to indicator and also samples in the pavers we experienced picked. Viewing the samples in individual versus just from the catalog is very important as lights has a massive impact on visual appeal. This was an essential and great contact of customer care. Soon after signing the contract, we agreed on the begin date and time. Jeff assigned Gabrielle since the foreman for this challenge and we could not are already happier. Gabrielle and his crew have been pretty courteous, Specialist, hardworking, diligent, clean and meticulous. Due to configuration of our patio - Situated concerning the house and also the garage - access to the patio was cumbersome. The staff however did not bat an eyelash or complain the moment during the full set up if they traversed the 6 stairs up and down with the patio to garage to remove the rocks, concrete and debris from your previous patio with the bucket load.

Fantastic, I could not have found a better contractor. Micthell Development is all you hope for within a contractor but rarely by no means get; on time, genuine and furnished fantastic top quality.

Paving stones increase more magnificence on account of their all-natural stone look and resistance to break. Locate a local paver enterprise near you that will put in the attributes you wish.

Right installation in the fountain itself must also be ensured. Therefore, experts also needs to be current to ensure that the fountain is not going to have problems.

The curing time for rollcrete is gradual. As a result of its dense nature, the fluid during the combination will likely not very easily dry out. It's not a problem, however, considering the fact that its rewards outweigh the duration of drying time.

Not all effects can be attained, so When you are thinking about this method, discuss the constraints, other mitigation you may perhaps need with or without this process and also have practical expectations likely in. After all the elevating operate, Dalinghaus ground down the huge raised crack inside the garage and stuffed them with epoxy. I've a nearly new garage floor. I am unable to wait around to complete it with a good epoxy paint."

• Plant trees and shrubs, which provide most of the same cooling and carbon-absorbing benefits of grass

You under no circumstances pay to implement Thumbtack: Get cost estimates, Call execs, and in many cases ebook The work—all for no cost.

Professional and residential concrete assignments are done by gurus who have educated and examined unique sorts and programs.

Substantial-functionality concrete is an additional style that may be above the typical 1. Common is simpler to put in than higher-toughness concrete but It's not constantly as strong.

This should be professionally carried out Because the combination is additional at The underside of the inspiration.Particular pumping tools must be utilized to pump the mixture at The underside to keep the foundation from having destroyed though the concrete is staying leveled. Treatment should be taken to make sure that the grout combination won't be pumped excessively on the inspiration to forestall it from lifting Component of the concrete far too much.

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A Trip Back In Time: How People Talked About Decorative Concrete Pool Deck Coating 20 Years Ago

The Los Angeles climate and laid-back Life-style tempt a lot of people to stay in or near their pools all summer season long. To toss the most effective parties, you'll want to supply an oasis that conjures up pleasurable, laughter and peace.

As with every home advancement or maintenance venture, It is a good idea to get various bids. Link with the proposed execs and request prices for the project.

Make sure you Be aware: To guarantee A prosperous software, prepping the present flooring is crucial! This consists of:

Pool Deck Resurfacing – Changing the best layer of the pool deck is a well-liked selection for renewing the search with the deck and enhancing its purpose. Common choices include a stamped concrete pool deck overlay plus a spray knockdown texture coating.

Knock down Texture – This acrylic cement coating is kind of one of a kind since it is sprayed on as opposed to used over a concrete surface area. The sprayed acrylic is then knocked down with a trowel, creating a sculptural and creative texture.

Polyurea Polyaspartic Coating – An alternative to epoxy coating, polyurea polyaspartic is an excellent sturdy substance initially formulated for use on industrial floors. This is extremely common for its rapid-dry attribute. It will require just a working day for this content to dry, remedy, and become ready for use.

Except for portray your pool deck, you will find other strategies to add decorative flair to it. Patterns and textures will also be a terrific way to enliven that pool deck of yours. Speak to a highly skilled contractor to help you weigh in on your options. If you need more information, drop by our homepage!

Don’t want all the pool deck with stamped concrete? Look at a border around the fringe of the pool to make a coping impact. Utilize a stamped border round the perimeter on the pool to set it off within the lawn or patio.

Is your patio, wander, driveway or maybe pool deck seeking fewer than perfect? We focus on uplifting the feel and appear of one's concrete. Phone today to determine a lot more.

The limit on maximizing basic concrete flooring have already been lifted. Residential and business floor entrepreneurs now have a big variety of colors and styles to fulfill their requires and needs.

Phase 5: Utilizing the extended-handled roller, roll within the paint towards the pool deck. We advocate getting strategic relating to this making sure that you have adequate Area to move devoid of stepping about the paint.

Our overlays are don't just strong and beautiful, but will also safer than a conventional concrete or maybe a wood deck. You and your guests will stay a lot more certain-footed throughout the pool owing to our overlay’s slip resistant surface area. Contact Concrete Craft at (866) 813-3699 currently to learn how you can make a giant splash that has a new decorative concrete pool deck.

Contact us to get a absolutely free session and estimate to start the road to a different stained concrete pool deck currently.

You know what they say, just about anything generally is a Do-it-yourself project When your will is powerful plenty of. Portray a concrete pool deck may possibly appear to be more just like a chore than a pleasurable activity. On the other hand, observing the final result of one's effort is usually really satisfying.

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Are you envisioning a tranquil outdoor haven where you can unwind, entertain, and enjoy the sunshine? Transforming your dream patio into a reality requires the expertise of seasoned professionals.

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Concrete Patios Unlimited Houston Tx: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Recent Assessment: 3 rain puddles on patio concrete slabs needed elimination. Mr. Cusumano with two helpers showed up in time, re-sloped slabs, & put in the overlays on patio & pool deck. Project was concluded on fifth working day as promised.

This Venice, California patio characteristics blended measurements of circular pavers embedded in a very sea of pea gravel.

This concrete floor coating selling price considers the cost of labor. Also features two-coat application of a a hundred% strong epoxy. Cost estimate excludes concrete patches and repairs or polyurethane topcoat.

It is really always a good idea to Check out with the developing and codes Section of your respective town, county or city to confirm allow needs within your zip code.

To produce these designs, a flexible and large polyurethane stamps. Every single of such stamps is normally around 2 feet by 2 feet and an inch or number of inches thick.

If connected to a kitchen area, it'll prolong the cooking and dining House making it possible for for large cook-outs and also other identical capabilities. This functions almost similar to a detached backyard patio.

Our recent working experience with Patios by B&B has actually been so astounding we sense compelled to share it with fellow Angie's Listing subscribers and also to sing their praises. We had been contemplating remodeling our 320 sq. ft patio because transferring in to our condominium in 2010. This 12 months we made the decision it absolutely was eventually time to finish the challenge as we had effectively saved the funds to take action. We solicited bids from 4 contractors, all of which can be stated below on Angie's Checklist. Following having bids from 3 of them, which isn't atypical on the earth of dealing with contractors, we finally decided on Patios by B&B Although their penned bid was not the bottom nor was it the very best. The key commitment for our final decision was the A+ ranking with the Los Angeles Far better Organization Bureau, high score and accolades from the other reviewers on this Internet site. Jeff Goldman from Patios by B&B was the consummate Qualified beginning with our Preliminary Make contact with, by task completion. We contacted Jeff, and yes he answered his phone and returned calls promptly, and within 2 times we were being Conference with him in our residence to debate the selections for our patio remodel. Jeff aided us with almost everything from components, timing and spending budget. We laid out a system and he drew up a agreement. Jeff was exceptionally fast paced presented the Spring year so the deal was not drawn up as immediately as we would like even so, on receipt of it, we had been very happy with the level of depth. The agreement involved the scope of work right down to the volume of Grime to be excavated, what product would be useful for the base, screed and pavers, the payment schedule as well as the pitch on the pavers to permit for proper drainage. For our 2nd session, Jeff brought with him the agreement to indication as well as samples in the pavers we experienced chosen. Looking at the samples in particular person rather than just within the catalog is crucial as lights has a tremendous effect on look. This was a very important and pleasant touch of customer support. Right after signing the deal, we agreed with a get started date and time. Jeff assigned Gabrielle as being the foreman for this project and we couldn't have been happier. Gabrielle and his crew had been quite courteous, Skilled, hardworking, diligent, thoroughly clean and meticulous. Due to configuration of our patio - Positioned concerning your home along with the garage - entry to the patio was cumbersome. The staff however did not bat an eyelash or complain at the time in the course of the total installation once they traversed the six stairs up and down within the patio to garage to remove the rocks, concrete and particles within the old patio by the bucket load.

Emily Hagopian Photography Strening Architects of Santa Rosa, California remodeled a twenty five-acre house in Calistoga into a amazing showcase by generating two distinctive out of doors loggias on the back and front of your home to reap the benefits of wine region indoor/out of doors living.

When you are searhing for a stamped or attractive concrete patio, or a reasonable repair, in larger Metro Denver, then look no more than Js Tailor made Concrete. We're your #one supply inside the Denver space in the event you are trying to find ornamental attractive custom made attractive concrete patios and more.

This Professional will provide an estimate whenever you explore the details within your challenge in person. If you select to hire this Professional in your job, you may concur on remaining pricing prior to any function begins - and you will never pay out before It is finished. You're on top of things. Pricing & Payment Data Trip Fee: $ for every journey

Flagstone Patios Master all you have to know about flagstone patios and browse design choices for your out of doors Area.

The venture can also rise in cost substantially Should the patio might be structurally connected to any structures, if you propose to develop a vertical construction such as a pergola, patio covering, or deck and When the venture would require electrical or plumbing get the job done. Tearing out an old concrete patio slab also will increase your complete cost.

It could possibly encompass a big or a small portion of the property and aims to be a organic extension of the home by itself. Usually, the patio is at floor-amount or near ground-stage to obtain this sleek transition.

I attempt my hardest to stay on funds with what I quotation! We usually drill 1-2 exam holes before we estimate to learn measurement of voids. We also will deduct from quotation if we've been way below in quantities.

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This article is a perfect example of the kind of expectations those of us who were blown away by Mark Ruffalo’s performance in “You Can Count on Me” had for him and his career.  Those expectations are still there for many of us, waiting to be fulfilled by directors willing to take a chance on Ruffalo, and willing to push him to his limits. - Jamaica (FrustratedCastingDirector)

Becoming a Thoughtful Woman's Idea of A Leading Man Part 1

By CATHY HORYN NOV. 9, 2003

On a cloudless day between the rains this summer, Mark Ruffalo, the 35-year-old actor, took his John Deere tractor out of the barn and began to clear brush on his 50 acres in Sullivan County, not far from where the Delaware River runs between New York and Pennsylvania. He had on jeans and a faded blue shirt that flapped around his thin torso, and his hair was still damp from a swim in the pond that lies at the foot of a grassy hill and a short walk from his two-story Swiss chalet-style house. A patio umbrella and several weathered lawn chairs were set up along the edge, and there was a dock with a wooden diving board that Ruffalo and his younger brother, Scott, a hairdresser in Beverly Hills, built last summer. When the brothers were growing up in Kenosha, Wis., they built many tree houses in the woods near their family's house -- Scott guesses they built one every 10 feet -- and they called themselves the Foresters. Two years ago, when Mark was recovering from surgery to remove a benign tumor in his brain, and thinking that his film career had ended just as it was taking off with his widely praised performance in ''You Can Count on Me,'' he designed the large sleeping porch at the back of the house. Constructed from hemlock, with open beams, it has double-high screened windows, many comfortable old chairs and beds and a closeness with the outdoors.

As Ruffalo positioned the tractor on the far end of the pond, his wife of four years, Sunrise Coigney, a lithe, attractive French woman in a bikini and a straw hat, sat on a blanket near the dock with their 2-year-old son, Keen. Her father, Joel Coigney, who was visiting from Los Angeles, had spent the morning policing the grounds with a chain saw and now joined Ruffalo on the hill. In a moment of perception that took in their voices, the water and the valley below, you couldn't help thinking that Ruffalo had everything he needed here and that there was no place he'd rather be than here.

It was also the perfect place to observe Mark Ruffalo the actor, for few performers possess their characters with more natural grace. Not only does Ruffalo make it look easy, he also manages to access emotions with a freedom unavailable to many of his better-known contemporaries, making him closer to the older generation of actors -- especially the young Brando -- for whom anger or sexual tension could often be registered with astonishing stillness. That Ruffalo has appeared in only a handful of big-budget films, usually in supporting roles that have limited him to playing the same type of emotionally conflicted men -- and thus kept his real powers under wraps -- has not prevented him from being noticed by first-rate directors like Jane Campion. But after the release of Campion's heated sexual drama, ''In the Cut,'' co-starring Meg Ryan, followed soon by films in which he stars with Jim Carrey and Tom Cruise, Ruffalo is certain to find a wider audience.

''In the Cut'' is based on the novel by Susanna Moore, and despite its problems as a film, Ruffalo, as a New York City homicide detective named Malloy, stands out. On every level his performance is a major turn-on, and maybe because, for the first time, we are seeing him as a man -- without conflicts, without boyish tics. In a bedroom scene early in the movie (slightly altered by the censors from the director's version), Ruffalo takes Ryan's character, Frannie, on such a bend, using every word and orifice available to him, that many female moviegoers will most likely regard their own mates with mild disappointment.

Given Ruffalo's previous screen roles, Campion admits he wasn't an obvious choice to play Malloy, who looks at every woman as a potential score. But, she says, ''the thing that interested me about his character in 'You Can Count on Me' was that he was such a flake-off, a loser, yet he was riveting. You couldn't stop watching him.'' In ''In the Cut,'' which takes its name from street slang for sexual intercourse, his presence is so commanding that it can make you forget the film's flaws, notably its jarring end. ''I think it's incontestable now that he has brought to life a different quality of performance,'' Campion says. ''And not like Pacino, or De Niro or Keitel, who have each opened up a new way to think about performance. Mark is a visionary with his work.''

Ruffalo seems genuinely surprised by her comments when I see him in Sullivan County. By then, we are fairly along in our conversation, so I am used to his way of speaking. He does more than look you in the eye. He quickly establishes intimacy by allowing himself to lower his guard. Many actors will let you know, directly or indirectly, that they have nothing riding on the outcome of a situation. But Ruffalo has no such obstructions. He is lightning present in the conversation. And though he has little in common with the characters he has played, if he is close to one of them, it is Malloy. Like him, Ruffalo doesn't hide his manliness under a bushel.

''I don't know what to say about that, babe,'' he says when I tell him what Campion said. He laughs, and his eyes glow with warmth. ''That's flattering. I mean, what do you say? Thank you, thank you, Jane Campion.''

While Ruffalo readily cites Brando as one of his two greatest influences (the other is Marcello Mastroianni, of whom he says, ''It's the whole package of Marcello -- the great life in an art form''), he seems uncomfortable being compared with a legend. Kenneth Lonergan, who directed Ruffalo in ''You Can Count on Me,'' says he should relax. ''First of all, he looks a teeny bit like Brando,'' Lonergan says. ''And I'm sure he can't mind too much if people compare him to one of the greatest American actors of the last 50 years.'' Ruffalo does bear a resemblance to the young Brando, especially around the mouth, but the real point of reference, Lonergan says, is how specific Ruffalo's performances are and how freely he enters and remains in the moment. ''He's sort of an open channel to his characters,'' he says.

The question is why we haven't seen more of Ruffalo before. He began acting in 1989 in small theater productions in Los Angeles. His parents, a painting contractor and a beautician, had moved Mark and his three siblings (he has two younger sisters) from Kenosha to Virginia Beach, Va., where Mark would become a state wrestling champion in high school, and then to San Diego, where his parents separated. After an aimless period spent mostly surfing, Ruffalo enrolled in the Stella Adler Academy, where Benicio Del Toro was a star pupil. He remembers Del Toro giving a monologue based on the song ''Light My Fire'': ''He was so sexy and had so much charisma, I thought, I'll never be that.''

In those years, Ruffalo says, ''it was all about urban for me.'' He lived in rough neighborhoods like Alvarado and Sixth, in downtown Los Angeles. But as much as he hankered for that kind of experience, and brings a similar instinct to his work, he is no fan of Method. ''Two things have happened to acting in America,'' he says. ''One is that actors think they have to live the character, which is a huge mistake. Because what they do is put the character on top of themselves and thereby kill anything spontaneous. The other is that someone introduced the idea that less is more, so that actors stopped doing anything at all. They just say the words.''

By the mid-90's, Ruffalo had appeared in some 30 plays, earning good notices. But Los Angeles theater, at its best, is not Broadway, or even Off Broadway, as Ruffalo discovered when he arrived in New York for the first time. ''I thought, I'm a swan, not a duck,'' he says. ''What am I doing in Los Angeles? I don't belong there.'' In 1996, after a decade in California, Ruffalo made his New York stage debut in Lonergan's ''This Is Our Youth.'' ''He did one play in New York,'' says his friend the actor Christopher Thornton, ''and it changed his life.'' It wasn't the only change. On a Monday during the play's run, he took his savings, about $10,000, and made a down payment on a house in Sullivan County.

Another explanation for Ruffalo's belated recognition involves the vagaries of Hollywood casting. Ruffalo estimates that before he landed the part of Terry in ''You Can Count on Me,'' opposite Laura Linney, he went on 800 film and television auditions. This is probably not a Hollywood record for rejection, though Ruffalo gives it some comic perspective when I observe that George Clooney remained under the noses of casting directors for years before someone realized what a leading man he was. ''If George Clooney was under their noses, then I was, like, under their knees,'' he says with a laugh. For all his dead-ending, Ruffalo sounds remarkably unembittered when he adds, ''In Hollywood, none of those people can make a decision. They can only say no. I'd go to casting directors, and they'd say, 'You are the best actor of your generation, but -- you just haven't grown into your face yet, your face hasn't grown into your soul.' I had insane things like that said to me all the time. 'You are one of the greatest actors I have ever seen, but -- .' I'd get this great feedback, but I could never get a job.''

Still another explanation is that, in the summer of 2001, as he was finishing ''The Last Castle,'' a prison movie starring Robert Redford, the brain tumor was diagnosed. He underwent a 10-hour operation, complicated by an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, and spent the rest of the year recovering in New York and Sullivan County. His wife, whom he met in 1997 when she was an actress, had just given birth to their son, and as Coigney told me, ''You don't expect a year into a marriage -- through sickness and health -- for sickness to come upon you so quickly. It's been quite a journey.'' He experienced facial paralysis, memory lapses and, perhaps worst of all, a complete loss of confidence. ''I had stopped worrying -- I just believed that my career was over,'' he says. ''No one would take a meeting with me or anything. I was damaged goods, babe. That's what was in the back of my mind, damaged goods. Can't fit the American-male leading hero. A hero does not have a brain tumor.''

It was in this vulnerable, if fully recovered, state that Ruffalo first met Jane Campion in Los Angeles to discuss the part of Detective Malloy.

Anyone who has read Susanna Moore's 1995 novel has no trouble recognizing its difficulties as a movie. For one thing, ''In the Cut'' deals with female grief and loneliness -- specifically, that of a smart, emotionally walled-off writing teacher whose obsession with language serves as a rendering of her engulfed spirit; she's so aware of the shape of her consciousness that she could diagram it like a sentence. And for another, you don't really buy the sexual liaison with the cop, which develops as he investigates a gruesome murder in her neighborhood. As Moore herself says: ''The book is a little cold, a little nasty, a little flippant. It's about language and ideas. And it's not about love. It's about violence. But Jane found a way to make it about love.''

Ruffalo says he had serious doubts going into his meeting with Campion about his ability to play Malloy. ''I had read the script a couple of days before, and I thought, I don't even know where to begin with this guy,'' he says. ''I know he's just a man, he's such a man. But I had never played that kind of guy, and it just terrified me. I thought, I'm the wrong actor for this part.'' Who did he think was right? ''Sean Penn or Russell Crowe -- tough guys, you know. Guys who were really closer to Malloy than me.'' Indeed, as Moore conceived him, Malloy is actually a composite of four or five New York policemen she met while writing her book. She says: ''They were worldly, tough, a little bit over the hill. Much less pure than Mark. They were corrupt emotionally and, in some cases, corrupt professionally.'' In her mind, she saw ''an older Tommy Lee Jones, puffy eyes, a little flabby. Mark was quite an unexpected choice.''

At the end of the three-hour meeting, Campion, who had seen several big-name actors, offered the part to Ruffalo. ''We just clicked,'' he says. ''Jane's ideas about the script were well formed, but she was confident and experienced enough as a director to allow a discussion to take place. A lot of our differences about the character were just semantics.'' Despite his trepidations, he says, ''I had never come to a part so consciously aware of what we were after, down to specifics like what Malloy did when he woke up in the morning.''

One thing that may have allowed Ruffalo to reach Malloy is his penchant for severe self-criticism. Christopher Thornton says: ''He attacks himself harder than anyone. In 'In the Cut,' he used those worries and fears. Everything that Mark was going through I'm sure in some way fueled that performance.'' During rehearsals, when he was still unused to Campion's intensity -- ''She's out there, man,'' he says. ''It's a contained chaos'' -- Ruffalo went home and got drunk. ''Jane and I had some bristling experiences in the beginning,'' he says. ''There's an enormous allowance for people to be wrong in her presence, even her. But the great thing about her is she's not invested with being right.

''So I was wasted drunk, really depressed, and I set up the video camera,'' he continues. ''I was, like, I don't know what I'm doing, I'm totally lost. . . . A couple of days later I was logging something from the tape and I saw it -- I saw Malloy, a shadow of Malloy. My tearing apart and hitting rock bottom was kind of like the birth of him.''

In the genre of police movies, Ruffalo's portrayal of Malloy seems startlingly realistic -- how you imagine detectives to stand and smoke and put their hands in their pockets but rarely do in the movies. There is a scene quite early in the film, when Frannie encounters Malloy and his partner, Rodriguez (Nick Damici), in a bar, that is almost unbearable to watch for its vulgarity. Ruffalo doesn't just talk in the unholy language of cops; he projects the psychological dynamic in keeping emotions at a distance. Campion, ever alert to the tiniest sign of weakness in Malloy, occasionally caught him, he says, reverting to old habits. ''She would say: 'You see that thing you're doing right there? Don't do that in this movie. Don't nod your head. No apologies, Mark. This character does not apologize. Straightforward stillness.' She made me aware of things. Who calls you on your stuff?''

The film's reviews have been mixed (though Ruffalo has been held out as its strongest element), but critics and box-office results aside, no one knows better than Ruffalo what the film -- and Campion -- have done for him. ''What I do in the next 5, 10 years will be mostly based on my choices,'' he told me. ''And it starts now. It wasn't after 'You Can Count on Me.' '' He's at work this fall as an undercover agent in Michael Mann's thriller ''Collateral,'' with Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, about a killer who lures a cabby on a shooting spree. Next year, he'll appear in ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,'' a comedy written by Charlie Kaufman and starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, in which Ruffalo plays a lab technician operating a memory-erasing machine. ''It was sort of a chance to play light and stupid,'' he says with a laugh, adding, ''Jane'll kill me when she sees it.'' On Campion's advice, he also did John Curran's drama ''We Don't Live Here Anymore,'' with Naomi Watts and Laura Dern, about the divisive nature of marriage. And sometime next spring, he'll direct Thornton in a dark comedy called ''Sympathy for Delicious,'' from a screenplay Thornton wrote, about a self-centered paraplegic who acquires the gift of healing but can't heal himself. ''He basically starts Healapalooza, where he's healing people in the mosh pit,'' Ruffalo says. ''It's kind of an allegory about fame.''

You sense that Ruffalo has used his craft profitably enough over the last decade not to feel he has to make up for lost time. He turned down the role of Brick in the current Broadway revival of ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'' in order to return to L.A., where his wife has opened a store with a friend to sell jewelry and decorative objects. And Scott Ruffalo notes with pride and dismay that his movie-star brother still drives around in a white 1974 Volkswagen camper. ''He loves that thing,'' Scott says, adding, ''There's almost this essence of obliviousness going on around him.''

I know what he means. During my visit to Sullivan County, I casually mention that Ruffalo is probably not yet in a position to think about massive fame. He looks at me critically and smiles. ''When will I ever think about that?'' he says. ''What will my thoughts possibly be?''

Still, the rest of us can't help watching. Susanna Moore told me recently that female friends of hers are already having dreams about him. ''Isn't it interesting,'' she muses, ''to be witness to someone who is absolutely on the edge of being hurtled into a greater and, in some ways, less lovely world? He's going to be a very important actor. He's just now tipping into fame and riches and women chasing him. I think he'll be O.K.''

[bmalegal]

8 trends shaping today’s senior housing

The ranks of those age 65 and older are swelling by the thousands every day. Is there an opportunity for your firm in the seniors housing market?

Dana Strand Senior Apartments, a 100-unit New Urbanism complex in Los Angeles, designed by KTGY Architects for ROEM Development

With more than 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day, the demographics are smiling on the senior housing market segment. Although the overwhelming majority of boomers will continue to live in their own (or someone else’s) home or apartment, 5-8% of them will ultimately opt for seniors-only multifamily housing, according to David Schless, President of the American Seniors Housing Association (www.seniorshousing.org). Americans born between 1946 and 1964 number 76 million, so that small minority adds up to as many as six million boomers needing generation-specific housing.

To clarify, ASHA classifies senior housing—residential settings with a minimum age requirement, usually age 55—in five categories: senior apartments, independent living (IL), assisted living (AL), nursing care (NC), and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). According to the “2012 NIC/ASHA Seniors Housing Construction Trends Report” from ASHA and the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry (www.NIC.org), there are an estimated 2,099,616 seniors housing units in the top 100 metro markets and 2.9 million nationwide.

The senior housing segment fell off the cliff along with the rest of the housing market during the recession, but it has bounced back in the past couple of years. In 2011, this market had its best performance since its peak years of 2006–2007, with more than $25 billion worth of transactions closed, according to NIC.

As of March 31, 2012, a total of 25,369 units for independent living, assisted living, and nursing care were under construction, with another 17,272 senior apartments in the works in the top 100 metros, according to the 2012 NIC/ASHA survey.

Another indication of the market’s strength is recent investment by real estate investment trusts. “Three or four REITs have been purchasing multiple properties, in some cases paying significant amounts,” says the ASHA’s Schless. One of these was Toledo-based Health Care REIT Inc., which last August purchased Sunrise Senior Living for $844.6 million in cash.

Given the favorable demographic trends, senior housing is increasingly seen as a relatively safe investment. Nonetheless, it may take a few more years for demand to fully crank up. That’s because the target population may choose to stay in their homes longer than previous generations did. “Due to advances in health and technology, the new thought is that baby boomers will not need assisted living facilities until around the age of 75,” says Trey Sanders, Regional President in the Kennesaw, Ga., office of contractor Brasfield & Gorrie.

1. Provide unique—or at least distinctive—amenities. 2. Overcome the negative preconceptions of senior housing. 3. Enable seniors to age in place. 4. Provide memory care services. 5. Integrate seniors into the larger community. 6. Accommodate ancillary services. 7. Play up the marketing value of sustainability. 8. Look into the Greenhouse Project model.

Simply because the sector looks favorable, however, don’t be fooled into thinking that means your firm can just keep churning out whatever worked in the past. Today’s seniors have a definite mindset about what they want in retirement communities. “It’s not a case of build it and they will come,” says Schless. “The project has to be well conceived, well located, and well operated.”

Following are eight critical points to address when programming and designing a senior housing project.

1. Provide unique—or at minimum distinctive—amenities.

Don’t underestimate the competitive nature of the senior housing market. Filling new or renovated independent and assisted living projects is no walk in the park. Average occupancy rates in senior housing have been hovering in the 90-93% range over the past few years, but owners would like to see those rates in the mid- to high-90s, says Schless. The more successful your development is, the more likely it will draw competitors—all the more reason why unique or distinctive amenities are absolutely necessary.

Sometimes a site comes with its own marketing edge—a location near a vibrant urban core or up-to-date suburban shopping mall. In such a case, adding a walking trail or sidewalk to connect to such an amenity may be all that’s needed. “In a perfect world, you would have a Panera Bread, a Starbucks, and a wellness center right in the neighborhood,” says Gene Guszkowski, AIA, Senior Principal with AG Architects, Wauwatosa, Wis.

Natural features are a big plus. For instance, Parkview Living, a new Los Angeles development built by Foursquare Foundation, is located across the street from Echo Park. “The park has a wonderful walking trail,” says Manny Gonzalez, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, KTGY Group. “Those sorts of nearby amenities are home runs.”

Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, was fortunate to acquire the largest piece of undeveloped land along the Charles River—162 acres of well-preserved woodlands and fields—for NewBridge on the Charles, in Dedham, Mass. Bordered on three sides by the river, the site is as close to a pristine natural area as you can get within 20 miles of Boston.

“In some ways, the site sold itself,” says Ruth Stark, Hebrew SeniorLife’s Corporate Director of Marketing. The project reached the 70% pre-sale goal it needed to obtain financing. Pitching the project to lovers of the outdoors, Hebrew SeniorLife preserved as many trees as possible and added walking trails that connect with public trails.

Opened in 2009, the development is now fully occupied, with 256 independent living units: 50 cottages (private homes grouped in clusters of two, four, or six units); 24 villas (large corner-unit apartments in small buildings); and 182 one- and two-bedroom apartments, ranging in size from 825 sf to 2,003 sf.

Projects not blessed with natural or man-made attractions have to create their own. In Portland, Ore., 12th and Burnside is a six-story, 132-unit development that lies several miles from downtown. The developer, Foursquare Foundation, added first-floor retail space, including a café, courtyard, and roof terrace, to make up for the lack of such amenities in the neighborhood.

Senior apartments Multifamily properties restricted to adults at least 55 years of age. Community rooms, social activities. No central kitchens or meals provided to residents.

Independent living Central dining facility offering at least one meal a day. Housekeeping, transportation, emergency call, recreation, social programming.

Assisted living State-registered properties that provide same services as independent living plus activities for daily living: medication, bathing, dressing, toileting, ambulating, and eating. Twenty-four-hour protective oversight. May include memory care.

Newer luxury and affordable senior housing projects are also adding interior common spaces for residents to pursue hobbies. “There’s been an explosion in amenities such as woodshops, arts and crafts rooms, and spas,” says David Hoglund, FAIA, Principal/Executive Director in the senior living practice at architecture giant Perkins Eastman, New York, N.Y.

At Heritage Oaks Senior Apartments, a 50-unit apartment community for low-income seniors in Oakdale, Calif., KTGY learned from focus groups it conducted in the pre-design phase that future residents—especially men—would miss the opportunity to tinker in their garages. So Gonzalez designed a hobby and craft studio that resembles a 1950s-era suburban residential garage. Adorned with workbenches, a dartboard, and a chrome table and chair set with 1950s-era Ford automotive logos, the garage, with its adjoining patio, has become a popular hangout.

Providing such distinctive elements could be even more essential to success as the senior housing market heats up. “Over the past 40 years, we’ve seen many different design themes used in the market—Tuscany, Williamsburg, Key West,” says AG Architects’ Guszkowski. He says he’s concerned that senior living could get commoditized––or what he calls “McDonald’s-ized.”

Innovation can provide a knockout punch to a project’s marketing efforts. For the Burbank (Calif.) Senior Arts Colony, a 141-unit apartment complex with affordable and market-rate units, KTGY came up with a unique offering to serve its local population of retired TV and film industry professionals—a studio where residents can make their own independent films.

“Having an identity is critical,” says KTGY’s Gonzalez. “Get the owner, the interior designer, the landscape architect, and the rest of the team together and spend a day brainstorming to come up with something different from what the competition is doing.”

2. Overcome the negative preconceptions of senior housing.

The stigma associated with traditional nursing homes, with their clinically stark semi-private rooms and shared bathrooms, continues to loom over the senior housing sector, particularly for assisted living. “Older people’s greatest fear is having to share the most vulnerable time of their lives with a stranger,” says L. Bradford Perkins, FAIA, Chairman and CEO of Perkins Eastman. “There are a couple of million skilled nursing units out there, and 80-90% of the existing stock is obsolete.”

Like traditional nursing homes, today’s assisted living facilities provide senior residents so-called activities for daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and preparing meals. Unlike nursing homes, however, they offer more privacy, comfort, and home-like aesthetics.

Design can help erase some negative preconceptions. Conveying a non-institutional look through the building’s design vernacular and finishes is a must. Designers also have to tailor spaces to meet the demands of seniors who want to keep fit—in body and mind. For example, Michael Tague, Design Director in A/E firm Nelson’s Boston office, suggests creating a public space on a floor close to living units that can be used for yoga or exercise classes.

Says Hebrew SeniorLife’s Stark, “There’s a profound interest among seniors in staying physically and mentally healthy. That’s why our programming philosophy is ‘Try something new.’”

3. Enable seniors to age in place.

In general, today’s seniors want to stay in their own homes or apartments for as long as possible. “It used to be that people retired at 65, and you would live independently as long as possible, and then go to a nursing home,” says Guszkowski. With people living longer, there is a gray period that could last decades when seniors can live semi-independently. This factor has altered the makeup of 55+ developments in recent years. “You’re seeing a decline in the percentage of units dedicated to assisted living, since assistance is provided with ADLs in independent living units,” says Perkins.

To support the goal of aging in place, units are being built with larger bathrooms to give attendants plenty of room to aid residents with their ADLs. Windows need to be easy for arthritis sufferers to open. Factors like these can determine whether existing buildings, such as an old hospital, can be converted to senior housing. If the existing bathrooms are too small and can’t be opened up, that white elephant building may not be suitable for modern senior housing, no matter how cheap the asking price.

4. Provide memory care services.

As seniors live longer, more of them will become susceptible to cognitive disabilities. As a result, senior housing projects increasingly must provide memory care units for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In the past, memory care units were dark, claustrophobic spaces, says Michael E. Liu, AIA, NCARB, Vice President and Principal in Charge of Design with The Architectural Team, Chelsea, Mass. “Now, we raise window heads and increase window sizes so residents can see the sky.”

Even if your firm doesn’t specialize in senior housing, this article raises questions that could apply to your work in other building types:

How closely is your firm following changing demographic trends���age, race, ethnicity, language, gender, mobility—that could be impacting the geographical markets and building types you specialize in? Should your firm be conducting its own research (online surveys, focus groups, individual interviews, etc.) to gain insight on end-user/occupant attitudes and needs—proprietary data you can take to current and prospective clients? What additional services or components—preferably those that would produce additional revenue for your clients—should you be incorporating into your specialty building type? Could your next library include a café—or even an adjacent brick-and-mortar bookstore? What are the “negative perceptions” about your firm’s preferred building types, and how can you overcome them? If these negatives result in neighborhood opposition to your projects, what strategies can you develop to gain the community’s support? In early design, is your Building Team taking into account the long-term operations and maintenance of the building? What about the ongoing service needs of its occupants and visitors? Which marketing-related factors are truly crucial to your firm’s success in its specialty markets? Client service? Professional reputation? Performance record? Sustainability leadership? How do you know these factors still hold true?

Designers also have to take into account the so-called “sundowning effect,” the agitation that dementia sufferers can experience at sunset. Large windows can bring this on, so adjustable shades and lighting have to be used to mitigate that impact.

Memory care facilities need to provide a wide range of safety features; in particular, they must prevent patients from leaving the grounds unattended. “The reasons for cognitive frailty vary, but many memory care residents have the urge to wander,” says Liu. “We try to design memory care so there is direct access to the outside, but in a protected, enclosed area such as a courtyard.” Screening parking areas from residents’ view also helps reduce the desire to roam, he adds.

One bold experiment in memory care is the House for Betty, a multi-year research project being conducted by the Perkins Eastman Research Collaborative. Daniel Cinelli, FAIA, Principal and Executive Director at Perkins Eastman, has been leading this initiative after experiencing his late mother-in-law’s Alzheimer’s condition.

With input from the spouses of dementia patients and experts at the Alzheimer’s Association, Cinelli’s team has designed a model single-family home that addresses more than 300 elements that make it possible for a healthy spouse or other family member to provide care with minimal outside assistance. For example, the design calls for a secure, double-sided doorway that would allow medical supplies to be delivered without the doorbell being rung—something that can agitate a person afflicted with dementia. A light signals the spouse that a delivery has been made.

The first House for Betty is on hold, pending the resolution of some site infrastructure and zoning problems. Once these matters are settled, the model home will be constructed in Gaithersburg, Md.

One way senior housing developers are weaving seniors into their surrounding communities is to open up the amenities within senior housing developments to the general public. For security purposes, these facilities—eateries, wellness centers, meeting spaces, etc.—should be designed with separate entrances, one for the public, one for residents. They can also be equipped with reconfigurable furniture to accommodate various types of events—lectures, musical programs, films, and so on—that create opportunities for residents to meet and mingle with their neighbors from the surrounding community.

Some developers feed the drive for lifelong learning. The Kendal Corporation, Kennett Square, Pa., a Quaker-inspired senior housing developer, has built several such communities near colleges and universities, including those at Cornell University (Ithaca, N.Y.), Oberlin (Ohio) College, and Denison University (Granville, Ohio).

Lasell Village, on the campus of Lasell College, Newton, Mass., is not a Kendal community, but it plays a similar role. It houses 225 residents in its independent living apartments and dozens of others in assisted living and skilled nursing units. Residents participate in hundreds of on-site courses, lectures, cultural events, and physical fitness classes each year. Intergenerational activities for residents, faculty, and Lasell College students are encouraged.

If you can’t bring the seniors to the students, bring the students to the seniors. That’s what NewBridge on the Charles did. Hebrew SeniorLife built a K-8 day school on its site that offers multi-generational programming. “Kids learn from seniors, seniors learn from kids,” says Hebrew SeniorLife’s Stark.

Building Teams and their clients in the senior housing field must keep foremost in their minds that the great majority of today’s seniors—and the millions that are coming online every year—are looking for a vibrant lifestyle that keeps them active and engaged and thereby healthy and happy.

6. Accommodate ancillary services.

In addition to memory care, senior living communities are adding new services to fill specific needs and, not incidentally, create new revenue streams. Short-term rehabilitation is one of these. Assisted living facilities already have the expertise to provide such care, so adding rehab units could be a natural extension for them. These units are likely to be segregated from other parts of the facility, but they can be designed as additions to existing structures or connected with other units via walkways or footbridges.

Experts predict short-term rehabilitation facilities will get a boost from federal healthcare reform. The Affordable Care Act calls for penalties for hospitals that readmit patients for the same or related conditions. “Hospitals are going to want to send patients to bulletproof rehab facilities,” says Perkins Eastman’s Cinelli.

Another potential revenue stream for senior housing communities: expanded rehab space that can be leased out to physical therapy providers, whose services would be made available to residents and nonresidents alike.

Prospective senior residents have an increasingly sophisticated understanding of sustainability and take an active interest in how their housing impacts the environment. NewBridge on the Charles is heated and cooled using 400 geothermal wells; it also has vegetated roofs for reducing urban heat-island effect. These measures, and the effort to preserve the natural state of the site during construction, are like marketing gold stars. “People are drawn here by our environmental sensitivity,” says Hebrew SeniorLife’s Stark.

This does not mean that senior communities must be LEED-certified. As green as NewBridge is, management chose to forgo certification. Whether certified or not, sustainably designed senior housing developments should play up the health and indoor environment benefits of sustainability, as well as the positive impact on utility bills—even if the residents are not paying directly for utilities.

8. Look into the Greenhouse Project model.

The Greenhouse Project, a model of assisted senior living featuring small, shared dwellings with a high level of care, is growing in popularity. Groups of 10 to 12 seniors share kitchen, dining, and common areas but have their own bedrooms and bathrooms. “Residents are taken care of like they’re a big family,” says design firm Nelson’s Tague. Staff members attend to the residents’ activities for daily living and cook meals within the Greenhouse living unit. “Residents can eat when they’re hungry, instead of just at a prescribed meal time,” says Tague. “It makes the setting seem less institutional.”

The newly opened phase of the Cottages at St. Martins in the Pines, near Birmingham, Ala., consists of three-story buildings, each 22,875 sf in size. Perkins Eastman is designing an urban high-rise in Manhattan’s Upper West Side for Jewish Home Lifecare. Eleven floors of the 20-story structure will have two 12-bed units per floor, with cooking facilities in each unit.

The Greenhouse concept has earned high marks from residents and staff on projects across the country. It’s an age-in-place strategy that balances independence with just enough support for seniors to be able to stay where they are as they become frailer with age, rather than having to enter a traditional nursing home. +

Additonal resources

“2012 NIC/ASHA Seniors Housing Construction Trends Report,” National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry (NIC) and American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA). $150. http://www.nic.org/store/Products.aspx?ProductCategoryID=4.

Design for Aging Review 11: “Insights and Innovations: The State of Senior Housing,” Perkins Eastman Research Collaborative, on behalf of the American Institute of Architects. http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab096294.pdf.

Recurring themes from 50 projects submitted for this biennial report: 1) connectivity to the greater neighborhood and natural surroundings; 2) designing for capability, not disability; 3) affordability-driven innovations; 4) holistic wellness; 5) blurred boundaries.

“10 Top Design Trends in Senior Living,” by Bradford Perkins, FAIA (January 2010). http://www.BDCnetwork.com/10-top-design-trends-senior%C2%A0living-facilities.

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Flip It Good! Top 10 Home-Flipping Hotbeds Where Profits Are Through the Roof

Getty Images; realtor.com

Watching HGTV and the DIY Network, it just looks so easy to transform a home from an unpromising wreck into a seductive dreamboat—and to net big bucks along the way. Fun! Glamorous! Profitable! But here’s the off-screen reality: Flipping a home isn’t as easy as flipping channels. With tens of thousands of dollars at stake, it can be a decidedly risky business.

But the bug never goes away. Although flipping activity was a key factor in inflating the housing bubble, peaking in 2005, it recovered from the crash to hit an 11-year high this year—more than 207,000 homes flipped, according to real estate information firm ATTOM Data Solutions.

From established investors to budding entrepreneurs, everyone wants a piece of this action. But be warned: Real estate markets vary widely, and a successful flip requires a tricky mix of attributes. Flip in the wrong place, and that dream might turn into financial ruin.

So where can an independent entrepreneur maximize profits, you ask? The realtor.com® data team put on its tool belt and set out to find the top markets for flipping and turning a profit right now.

“The sweet spot for successful home flipping is finding the neighborhoods just emerging as the next hot neighborhoods in a city,” says Daren Blomquist, a senior vice president at ATTOM Data Solutions. That is, the neighborhoods should be desirable, but have older homes in need of renovation.

To identify the top markets for flippers, we ranked the 200 largest metros by the share of all home sales that are flips. We defined this as any type of home bought and resold within a three- to 12-month period. We included only flips that sold for more than the purchase price, and excluded deals that ended in foreclosure. We left out homes bought and sold by banks and government entities.

The key to successful home flipping is making sure renovation costs don’t eat up profits. So we included only markets where the average profit was at least $30,000—something that knocked would-be No. 1 Bakersfield, CA, off our ranking. The average flipping profit nationwide in 2017 was $68,100, according to ATTOM Data Solutions. But those profit figures paint a rosier picture than reality, since those stats don’t factor in final renovation costs.

Florida and California dominated our initial rankings. In total, these two states had five of the top 10 and 17 of the top 30 markets for flipping. To give readers a better view of where flipping has taken off around the country, we limited our ranking to two metros per state.

Now let’s go to the places where home flippers make it rain.

Best markets for flippers

Tony Frenzel

1. Nashville, TN

Median home list price: $367,900 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 4.1% Average flip profit: $87,200

Nashville, TN

zodebala/iStock

The music, charm, and good-paying jobs of Nashville are attracting folks from all across the country. That’s pushed home prices here a lot higher than in nearby Southern and Midwestern cities. You’d think that Nashville’s prolonged revival would mean that the best days for flipping are in the past—but they aren’t.

“A lot of people are trying to flip their first home in Nashville—because they know how much can be made if you do it right,” says Troy Dean Shafer, a Nashville-based contractor who hosts the DIY Network show “Nashville Flipped.” “People keep moving here, and keep people flipping houses.”

But not every home buyer and seller in Music City is making a killing. In fact, some of these new flippers are getting in over their heads, pouring too much renovation work into their renovations or buying in the wrong neighborhoods, Shafer says.

In recent years, savvy home entrepreneurs have started to move away from the downtown area and buy in neighborhoods such as Madison, which has bungalows and Craftsman-style homes for under $200,000.

“Personally, I’m looking at the outskirts of Nashville, 15 to 20 minutes out, where demand is just as high,” Shafer says. “I’d rather risk $150,000 to make $30,000, than risk $300,000 to make $60,000.”

2. Fresno, CA

Median home list price: $311,700 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3.5% Average flip profit: $53,200

Welcome to Fresno, CA

gnagel/iStock

Unless you’re a wealthy real estate investor, you’re likely to get boxed out of the ultraexpensive housing markets. So the last place you’d expect to find great flipping would be in California, where the median list price is $535,000, compared with $289,900 nationally. Yet Fresno had the nation’s second-highest rate of flippers.

Prices in Fresno may hardly be bargain-basement, but they’re a steal compared with ginormously expensive Golden State markets such as San Jose, which has a $1.2 million median list price for homes.

And, in fact, home values here are growing substantially faster than the state’s pricier cities—an increase of 11.8% in 12 months. During that same time frame, home prices rose 7.1% in San Francisco, 5.4% in Los Angeles, and 5.1% in San Diego.

3. Palm Bay, FL

Median home list price: $267,600 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3.3% Average flip profit: $71,500

Indian River near Palm Bay, FL

Brad McGinley Photography/Getty Images

After the housing bust, home prices in Palm Bay, an area on the Atlantic about three  hours north of Miami, took a nosedive. Tourism is the main driver here, and for a time, those beachcombers disappeared. But that created a great climate for home flippers, who saw an opportunity to buy low and turn a profit as the market revved up again.

Once the recession ended and home prices started to recover, margins for home flipping became extremely attractive in Palm Bay and across the Sunshine State. But widespread success in the flipping game is a double-edged sword, and years of fast home appreciation here have made high profits tougher to come by.

“Right now, prices are going pretty high,” says Shianti Andino, owner of Flipping Divas of Florida, a custom renovation firm in Palm Bay. “There are so many people who are trying to get into the flipping business. It’s become very competitive.”

4. North Port, FL

Median home list price: $350,000 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3.3% Average flip profit: $85,300

Houses around small lake in North Port, FL

Panoramic Images/Getty Images

Like Palm Bay, North Port got pummeled in the economic downturn. But retirees, not tourists, have been the savior of this Gulf Coast housing market an hour and half south of Tampa Bay.

That comes with its own set of challenges for flippers. In some places you can buy a home, paint it, spruce up the kitchen and bathroom, and slam dunk it back onto the market, easy-peasy. Not in the North Port metro area, which includes Sarasota. Baby boomers have notoriously particular tastes. The amenities they want include open decks, patios, an open floor plan, and private yards, according to the 2017 Del Webb Baby Boomer Survey, which is sponsored by homebuilder PulteGroup Inc.

That means homes are a little pricier here, but so are the profits.

5. Baton Rouge, LA

Median home list price: $237,800 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3.2% Average flip profit: $70,000

Downtown Baton Rouge, LA

Sean Pavone/iStock

As more folks jump on the flipping bandwagon, profits go down. But in flip-happy Baton Rouge, the returns have stayed high. In fact, during the third quarter of last year, Baton Rouge had the second-highest return on flips in the country, at 122%, according to ATTOM Data Solutions.

Lower home prices have helped keep the flipping action hot ‘n’ steamy. In New Orleans, just over an  hour’s drive east, buyers will find a median list price of $280,100, or 18% higher than in Baton Rouge.

But returns vary by neighborhood. In the 70814 ZIP code, or Monticello, home prices jumped 43% in the 12-month period ending in March, to $157,000. This area is full of one-story, three-bedroom homes. Some listings in this neighborhood tout their eligibility for no-money-down mortgage loans from the United States Department of Agriculture. They include this three-bedroom, Acadian-style home for $165,000.

6. Chattanooga, TN

Median home list price: $257,500 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3.1%  Average flip profit: $65,800

Looking to be a home flipper? Choo-choo-choose Chattanooga, TN

Sean Pavone/iStock

While home flipping in some parts of the country is dominated by deep-pocketed investment firms, in Chattanooga the little guy is doing quite well.

“We have individuals doing one or two flips a year to supplement their income,” says Nathan Brown, team leader and CEO of Keller Williams Greater Downtown Realty, in Chattanooga, which did 4,000 transactions in this market last year. Many of these flippers have the skills, like carpentry, to do a lot of renovations themselves, he says.

“The more work they can do on their own, the more equity they can build into the flip, and have control of [the timetable of] the project.”

In search of profits, flippers have moved on from places such as North Chattanooga and into neighborhoods like Red Bank, where a cottage or Craftsman-style home can be purchased for between $140,000 and $170,000, and flipped for more than $200,000.

“New construction isn’t where it needs to be,” Brown says. “That’s creating opportunities for buyers to do flips.”

7. Los Angeles, CA

Median home list price: $758,800 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3% Average flip profit: $169,400

Homes of Los Angeles, CA

diegograndi/iStock

Wait, what? Could the City of Angels really be heaven for ambitious flippers? Believe it, although it’s not a market for the squeamish. Southern California might be home to Hollywood, but the flippers here aren’t putting on an act—they’re seriously cutthroat. The Los Angeles market is dominated by real estate investors who operate like well-oiled machines, knowing where to buy and what to renovate to milk the biggest profits.

“It’s harder now, profit margins aren’t as large as they were,” says Mel Wilson, a broker and owner of Mel Wilson & Associates. After the Great Recession, investors could scoop up homes for cheap. Now, they’re competing against multiple bids. So they’ve changed up their business models.

One new trick is to buy properties with bigger lots, renovating the original home and then building a second home on the lot, Wilson says. That yields more value.

But some things in the flipping business haven’t changed.

“What I see them doing is blowing out the kitchen and remodeling the bathroom—what buyers care the most about,” Wilson says. “They fix the exterior of the home: Trim the bushes, then paint the house. Sometimes it can be like putting lipstick on a pig.”

Oh, and let’s not forget that the hit HGTV show “Flip or Flop” started in the L.A. market in 2013, disseminating the dream to a national audience.

8. Lubbock, TX

Median home list price: $240,000 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 2.7%  Average flip profit: $46,000

You don’t know what you’ve been missing, oh boy, in Lubbock, TX.

Holger Leue/Getty Images

While the logic behind the iconic line “If you build it, they will come” was sound for Kevin Costner’s character in the 1989 film “Field of Dreams,” the world of real estate works a little differently. You can’t put just any home regardless of shape on the market: It needs to have the home features that sell, such as sleek granite countertops and modern bathrooms. In a place like Lubbock, with lots of older, outdated homes, home flippers can layer on that new appeal and then indeed “they will come.”

“There are a lot of homes that need minimal repairs and upgrades, which is ideal for flipping, something you want to do on a $20,000 to $30,000 budget,” says Glenn Hill, an architecture professor at Texas Tech in Lubbock.

In the Melonie Park neighborhood, buyers will find lots of three-bedroom homes built in the 1960s that need some work. It’s an area with the good schools and feeling of community that buyers are seeking.

9. Medford, OR

Median home list price: $410,000 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 2.7%  Average flip profit: $51,200

City Hall in Medford, OR

City of Medford

Located just north of the California border, Medford is full of Oregon’s prime scenic beauty, and draws in retirees and outdoorsy folks. Unlike high-powered West Coast cities such as Seattle and San Francisco, the economy here is a little more tame, and that means flippers are geared toward a different group of buyers.

“Flippers want to make something nonfinanceable into something that is financeable. The idea here is to get the home eligible for the FHA or VA loans—that is where most of the buyers are circling,” says Alice Lema, a broker at John L. Scott Real Estate, in Medford. (Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Affairs loan programs are subsidized government-backed mortgages.)

Neighborhoods such as the West Medford area are where flipping is most prevalent. Here, flippers can find homes priced around $150,000, but in need of plenty of TLC.

10. New Orleans, LA

Median home list price: $280,100 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 2.6%  Average flip profit: $93,400

Homes of the Broadmoor residential area in New Orleans, LA

Rauluminate/iStock

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, damaging or destroying more than 800,000 homes. That disaster forced mass foreclosures and a glut of homes in unlivable conditions—which also created opportunities for home flippers willing to roll the dice on the Big Easy revival. Slowly but surely the housing market has rebounded. Yet the market still has a surplus of vacant and run-down homes that keep the options for home flippers strong.

But buyers need to prepare for substantial overhauls if they buy homes that have experienced flooding—there’s a good likelihood that everything from electrical outlets to cabinets to Sheetrock will need work or even outright replacement.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of support to be found in the flipping game, including groups such as Buy, renovate, flip New Orleans houses for fun & profit on Meetup.com. They have barbecue networking events, where flippers coach one another on how to be successful in the New Orleans market. Creole barbecue?! What’s not to love?

The post Flip It Good! Top 10 Home-Flipping Hotbeds Where Profits Are Through the Roof appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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Flip It Good! Top 10 Home-Flipping Hotbeds Where Profits Are Through the Roof

Getty Images; realtor.com

Watching HGTV and the DIY Network, it just looks so easy to transform a home from an unpromising wreck into a seductive dreamboat—and to net big bucks along the way. Fun! Glamorous! Profitable! But here’s the off-screen reality: Flipping a home isn’t as easy as flipping channels. With tens of thousands of dollars at stake, it can be a decidedly risky business.

But the bug never goes away. Although flipping activity was a key factor in inflating the housing bubble, peaking in 2005, it recovered from the crash to hit an 11-year high this year—more than 207,000 homes flipped, according to real estate information firm ATTOM Data Solutions.

From established investors to budding entrepreneurs, everyone wants a piece of this action. But be warned: Real estate markets vary widely, and a successful flip requires a tricky mix of attributes. Flip in the wrong place, and that dream might turn into financial ruin.

So where can an independent entrepreneur maximize profits, you ask? The realtor.com® data team put on its tool belt and set out to find the top markets for flipping and turning a profit right now.

“The sweet spot for successful home flipping is finding the neighborhoods just emerging as the next hot neighborhoods in a city,” says Daren Blomquist, a senior vice president at ATTOM Data Solutions. That is, the neighborhoods should be desirable, but have older homes in need of renovation.

To identify the top markets for flippers, we ranked the 200 largest metros by the share of all home sales that are flips. We defined this as any type of home bought and resold within a three- to 12-month period. We included only flips that sold for more than the purchase price, and excluded deals that ended in foreclosure. We left out homes bought and sold by banks and government entities.

The key to successful home flipping is making sure renovation costs don’t eat up profits. So we included only markets where the average profit was at least $30,000—something that knocked would-be No. 1 Bakersfield, CA, off our ranking. The average flipping profit nationwide in 2017 was $68,100, according to ATTOM Data Solutions. But those profit figures paint a rosier picture than reality, since those stats don’t factor in final renovation costs.

Florida and California dominated our initial rankings. In total, these two states had five of the top 10 and 17 of the top 30 markets for flipping. To give readers a better view of where flipping has taken off around the country, we limited our ranking to two metros per state.

Now let’s go to the places where home flippers make it rain.

Best markets for flippers

Tony Frenzel

1. Nashville, TN

Median home list price: $367,900 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 4.1% Average flip profit: $87,200

Nashville, TN

zodebala/iStock

The music, charm, and good-paying jobs of Nashville are attracting folks from all across the country. That’s pushed home prices here a lot higher than in nearby Southern and Midwestern cities. You’d think that Nashville’s prolonged revival would mean that the best days for flipping are in the past—but they aren’t.

“A lot of people are trying to flip their first home in Nashville—because they know how much can be made if you do it right,” says Troy Dean Shafer, a Nashville-based contractor who hosts the DIY Network show “Nashville Flipped.” “People keep moving here, and keep people flipping houses.”

But not every home buyer and seller in Music City is making a killing. In fact, some of these new flippers are getting in over their heads, pouring too much renovation work into their renovations or buying in the wrong neighborhoods, Shafer says.

In recent years, savvy home entrepreneurs have started to move away from the downtown area and buy in neighborhoods such as Madison, which has bungalows and Craftsman-style homes for under $200,000.

“Personally, I’m looking at the outskirts of Nashville, 15 to 20 minutes out, where demand is just as high,” Shafer says. “I’d rather risk $150,000 to make $30,000, than risk $300,000 to make $60,000.”

2. Fresno, CA

Median home list price: $311,700 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3.5% Average flip profit: $53,200

Welcome to Fresno, CA

gnagel/iStock

Unless you’re a wealthy real estate investor, you’re likely to get boxed out of the ultraexpensive housing markets. So the last place you’d expect to find great flipping would be in California, where the median list price is $535,000, compared with $289,900 nationally. Yet Fresno had the nation’s second-highest rate of flippers.

Prices in Fresno may hardly be bargain-basement, but they’re a steal compared with ginormously expensive Golden State markets such as San Jose, which has a $1.2 million median list price for homes.

And, in fact, home values here are growing substantially faster than the state’s pricier cities—an increase of 11.8% in 12 months. During that same time frame, home prices rose 7.1% in San Francisco, 5.4% in Los Angeles, and 5.1% in San Diego.

3. Palm Bay, FL

Median home list price: $267,600 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3.3% Average flip profit: $71,500

Indian River near Palm Bay, FL

Brad McGinley Photography/Getty Images

After the housing bust, home prices in Palm Bay, an area on the Atlantic about three  hours north of Miami, took a nosedive. Tourism is the main driver here, and for a time, those beachcombers disappeared. But that created a great climate for home flippers, who saw an opportunity to buy low and turn a profit as the market revved up again.

Once the recession ended and home prices started to recover, margins for home flipping became extremely attractive in Palm Bay and across the Sunshine State. But widespread success in the flipping game is a double-edged sword, and years of fast home appreciation here have made high profits tougher to come by.

“Right now, prices are going pretty high,” says Shianti Andino, owner of Flipping Divas of Florida, a custom renovation firm in Palm Bay. “There are so many people who are trying to get into the flipping business. It’s become very competitive.”

4. North Port, FL

Median home list price: $350,000 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3.3% Average flip profit: $85,300

Houses around small lake in North Port, FL

Panoramic Images/Getty Images

Like Palm Bay, North Port got pummeled in the economic downturn. But retirees, not tourists, have been the savior of this Gulf Coast housing market an hour and half south of Tampa Bay.

That comes with its own set of challenges for flippers. In some places you can buy a home, paint it, spruce up the kitchen and bathroom, and slam dunk it back onto the market, easy-peasy. Not in the North Port metro area, which includes Sarasota. Baby boomers have notoriously particular tastes. The amenities they want include open decks, patios, an open floor plan, and private yards, according to the 2017 Del Webb Baby Boomer Survey, which is sponsored by homebuilder PulteGroup Inc.

That means homes are a little pricier here, but so are the profits.

5. Baton Rouge, LA

Median home list price: $237,800 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3.2% Average flip profit: $70,000

Downtown Baton Rouge, LA

Sean Pavone/iStock

As more folks jump on the flipping bandwagon, profits go down. But in flip-happy Baton Rouge, the returns have stayed high. In fact, during the third quarter of last year, Baton Rouge had the second-highest return on flips in the country, at 122%, according to ATTOM Data Solutions.

Lower home prices have helped keep the flipping action hot ‘n’ steamy. In New Orleans, just over an  hour’s drive east, buyers will find a median list price of $280,100, or 18% higher than in Baton Rouge.

But returns vary by neighborhood. In the 70814 ZIP code, or Monticello, home prices jumped 43% in the 12-month period ending in March, to $157,000. This area is full of one-story, three-bedroom homes. Some listings in this neighborhood tout their eligibility for no-money-down mortgage loans from the United States Department of Agriculture. They include this three-bedroom, Acadian-style home for $165,000.

6. Chattanooga, TN

Median home list price: $257,500 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3.1%  Average flip profit: $65,800

Looking to be a home flipper? Choo-choo-choose Chattanooga, TN

Sean Pavone/iStock

While home flipping in some parts of the country is dominated by deep-pocketed investment firms, in Chattanooga the little guy is doing quite well.

“We have individuals doing one or two flips a year to supplement their income,” says Nathan Brown, team leader and CEO of Keller Williams Greater Downtown Realty, in Chattanooga, which did 4,000 transactions in this market last year. Many of these flippers have the skills, like carpentry, to do a lot of renovations themselves, he says.

“The more work they can do on their own, the more equity they can build into the flip, and have control of [the timetable of] the project.”

In search of profits, flippers have moved on from places such as North Chattanooga and into neighborhoods like Red Bank, where a cottage or Craftsman-style home can be purchased for between $140,000 and $170,000, and flipped for more than $200,000.

“New construction isn’t where it needs to be,” Brown says. “That’s creating opportunities for buyers to do flips.”

7. Los Angeles, CA

Median home list price: $758,800 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 3% Average flip profit: $169,400

Homes of Los Angeles, CA

diegograndi/iStock

Wait, what? Could the City of Angels really be heaven for ambitious flippers? Believe it, although it’s not a market for the squeamish. Southern California might be home to Hollywood, but the flippers here aren’t putting on an act—they’re seriously cutthroat. The Los Angeles market is dominated by real estate investors who operate like well-oiled machines, knowing where to buy and what to renovate to milk the biggest profits.

“It’s harder now, profit margins aren’t as large as they were,” says Mel Wilson, a broker and owner of Mel Wilson & Associates. After the Great Recession, investors could scoop up homes for cheap. Now, they’re competing against multiple bids. So they’ve changed up their business models.

One new trick is to buy properties with bigger lots, renovating the original home and then building a second home on the lot, Wilson says. That yields more value.

But some things in the flipping business haven’t changed.

“What I see them doing is blowing out the kitchen and remodeling the bathroom—what buyers care the most about,” Wilson says. “They fix the exterior of the home: Trim the bushes, then paint the house. Sometimes it can be like putting lipstick on a pig.”

Oh, and let’s not forget that the hit HGTV show “Flip or Flop” started in the L.A. market in 2013, disseminating the dream to a national audience.

8. Lubbock, TX

Median home list price: $240,000 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 2.7%  Average flip profit: $46,000

You don’t know what you’ve been missing, oh boy, in Lubbock, TX.

Holger Leue/Getty Images

While the logic behind the iconic line “If you build it, they will come” was sound for Kevin Costner’s character in the 1989 film “Field of Dreams,” the world of real estate works a little differently. You can’t put just any home regardless of shape on the market: It needs to have the home features that sell, such as sleek granite countertops and modern bathrooms. In a place like Lubbock, with lots of older, outdated homes, home flippers can layer on that new appeal and then indeed “they will come.”

“There are a lot of homes that need minimal repairs and upgrades, which is ideal for flipping, something you want to do on a $20,000 to $30,000 budget,” says Glenn Hill, an architecture professor at Texas Tech in Lubbock.

In the Melonie Park neighborhood, buyers will find lots of three-bedroom homes built in the 1960s that need some work. It’s an area with the good schools and feeling of community that buyers are seeking.

9. Medford, OR

Median home list price: $410,000 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 2.7%  Average flip profit: $51,200

City Hall in Medford, OR

City of Medford

Located just north of the California border, Medford is full of Oregon’s prime scenic beauty, and draws in retirees and outdoorsy folks. Unlike high-powered West Coast cities such as Seattle and San Francisco, the economy here is a little more tame, and that means flippers are geared toward a different group of buyers.

“Flippers want to make something nonfinanceable into something that is financeable. The idea here is to get the home eligible for the FHA or VA loans—that is where most of the buyers are circling,” says Alice Lema, a broker at John L. Scott Real Estate, in Medford. (Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Affairs loan programs are subsidized government-backed mortgages.)

Neighborhoods such as the West Medford area are where flipping is most prevalent. Here, flippers can find homes priced around $150,000, but in need of plenty of TLC.

10. New Orleans, LA

Median home list price: $280,100 Ratio of flips to all home sales: 2.6%  Average flip profit: $93,400

Homes of the Broadmoor residential area in New Orleans, LA

Rauluminate/iStock

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, damaging or destroying more than 800,000 homes. That disaster forced mass foreclosures and a glut of homes in unlivable conditions—which also created opportunities for home flippers willing to roll the dice on the Big Easy revival. Slowly but surely the housing market has rebounded. Yet the market still has a surplus of vacant and run-down homes that keep the options for home flippers strong.

But buyers need to prepare for substantial overhauls if they buy homes that have experienced flooding—there’s a good likelihood that everything from electrical outlets to cabinets to Sheetrock will need work or even outright replacement.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of support to be found in the flipping game, including groups such as Buy, renovate, flip New Orleans houses for fun & profit on Meetup.com. They have barbecue networking events, where flippers coach one another on how to be successful in the New Orleans market. Creole barbecue?! What’s not to love?

The post Flip It Good! Top 10 Home-Flipping Hotbeds Where Profits Are Through the Roof appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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Pavlina Williams transforms mid-century dome house with angular windows

A dome-shaped house in Palm Springs has undergone renovation work by its owner, Los Angeles-based architect Pavlina Williams, who added new windows and created open-plan interiors.

Williams renovated her home from the inside-out, acting as the general contractor while gutting the interiors, and ripping down walls to create a light-filled space inside.

She designed new custom-made windows to surround the dome in a geometric arrangement and form a focal point of the building.

"The most challenging aspect was to install all the trapezoid and triangular windows in the dome," said Williams, who is a practising architect at R & A. "There were just two tiny windows when we bought the house. We cut out all the openings and reinforced the wood framing and got custom windows from Home Depot."

Built in 1956, the Palm Springs Dome House comprises a half-globe portion and a rectangular section. Brown asphalt roof shingles cover the rounded exterior, with other portions made up of glass and light brickwork.

"It was originally designed and built by the previous owner, who was a chemical engineer from Torrance, California," said Williams, who also lists the place on Airbnb. "He ordered the dome as a kit and had local carpenters assemble it. They started to build the house in the 1950s, and then added the dome in the 1970s."

The location of the mid-century house allows for 360-degree views of the surroundings, including Joshua Tree and Coachella Valley, as well as a collection of wind turbines.

Originally, the home had a gridded layout of small rooms that were lined in carpet and vinyl linoleum. The residence had barely any windows, blocking the panoramic desert vista.

Williams updated the flooring to polished concrete and incorporated white surfaces and metal in her redesign. A new spiral stainless-steel staircase by Fontanot leads up to a lofted section in the glazed atrium.

The new windows are best appreciated from a sitting room on the ground floor, where domed construction is expressed across the ceiling, which reaches 26 feet (eight metres) at its highest point.

White cabinetry, an exposed brick wall that acts as a backsplash and an overhead timber beam all feature in the kitchen.

Palm Springs Dome House also contains three bedrooms and three baths, with a sleeping area and bath in its lofted portion.

Williams also selected all of the furnishings t0 include an assortment of mid-century chairs alongside other contemporary pieces.

A series of wooden Vortex dining chairs with V-shaped backs are interspersed throughout – around a large round dining table, beside another glass table, and next to a hightop kitchen island.

Near the staircase is a caramel leather Wassily Chair, also known as the Model B3 chair, designed by Hungarian designer Marcel Breuer in 1926. The chair is situated alongside a small table, potted cacti, and a pod-like bookshelf.

A pair of colourful Acapulco Papasan chairs in the sitting room are positioned on either side of a new built-in fireplace. Upstairs, a pair of lightwood seats takes cues from the mid-century slatted chairs by Arthur Umanoff.

A small ground-floor office with an exposed brick wall also features modernist furniture, like an Eames Molded Plastic Armchair Rocker in white, which is repeated in bright green upstairs.

Sliding glass doors open to a patio with an outdoor dining area. The garden is landscaped with tall cacti, boulders and stepping stones.

Attached to the side of the house is a smaller white geodesic dome that currently houses a fibreglass jacuzzi. "We are planning to rebuild the white dome in the same shape and make it an additional bedroom, with a round bed in the middle and several skylights right overhead," said Williams.

During the 1970s, dome houses became popular in the American Southwest, as part of a back-to-the-land movement that swept across the country during the era.

Williams' residence is among Palm Springs' substantial collection of modernist buildings, which includes the Kaufmann House by Richard Neutra and the concrete-domed Elrod House by John Lautner.

Photography is by Krista Jahnke.

The post Pavlina Williams transforms mid-century dome house with angular windows appeared first on Dezeen.

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Do You truly require A Landscape Designer

patio drainage grate 8 inch drain cover If you have no vegetation in your yard, the contractor should use plants indige-nous to your area. If you want large shade trees, he will know where to plant them, how often to water them, and when to prune them. Fruit trees need the same kind of care. Jefferson tree grates manufacturer -cover plants will fill in the spaces of your landscaping. Rancho Cucamonga tree grate manufacturer from ivy to creeping phlox can be a beautiful choice for covering up unattractive ground and preventing weeds. They add depth, height and even color to your garden. Nevada grating manufacturer West Virginia patio drains manufacturer Choose a quality fertilizer for use in your yard well. Try to select a single fertilizer for your entire garden. Test various products and read reviews to find out which fertilizers are the most efficient. You need to fertilize the whole yard prior to starting your project. Do you have enough knowledge? Vancouver floor grates , like most, think it's easy to pick out flowers, shrubs, and trees. But storm drain grating 've learned to take into account that experts know more. There are so many different aspects they have to know about the plants they choose. For North Dakota driveway drain grate , how tall will the bush or tree grow? What will it look like in different seasons? Does it need shade or direct sunlight, or a certain soil composition? Is it prone to certain pests or resistant to certain animals? Los Angeles County Arboretum - the Arboretum has several different gardens that are worth the stroll. Gardening and landscaping tips are available to visitors as well. Oxnard Ontario The most important thing you can do whether designing a new structure or improving one that already exists is become AWARE TODAY! Think about the products that make up your home or the ones you intend to bring in. Where were they made? What are they made of? Can grattings be recycled or are you re-purposing something that already exists? How long will it last? Where will Maryland bathroom drain covers manufacturer go when you are finished with it? Be mindful of the impact that your landscaping can have on your house. Any disregard for this can result in plants that affect piping underground, or even block the visibility of traffic near your home. Have a well thought out plan before you add some plants or trees to your landscaping. Do some research. It is always easier for the Nebraska if you have some ideas of what you want. Go to the library and look at landscaping books to get some ideas. You will be able to find many pictures online that can also spark some imagination in you. Look at the layouts, walkways, and types of flowers and shrubs. Pay special attention to the materials used. You may like stone better than brick or vice versa. Also look at the color combinations. Bryan floor grate manufacturer will notices how different colors and sizes can compliment each other to bring out a wonderful display of variety, while still keeping a peaceful feeling. On floor grating clips , two savvy design teams of newlyweds and best friends, went head to head at the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, Calif. The team of Jyl and Michael who have been flea marketing since high school went against Rachel and Blair. The flip list includes the following criteria: 1. Louisiana grate , to re-imagine furniture for a dining room. 2. Retro Chic, to update a piece from a bygone era. 3. Cedar Rapids, to create an item made from natural materials. Add or touch up the walkway to your front door. - If you have a pre-existing walkway leading to your front door then you're already one step ahead of competing homes. Fill in any cracks, popping up bricks and other potential nuisances that could cause buyers to walk away. Adding a walkway is a great way to give your front yard some structure and the types of materials you can use are endless. Don't get too crazy spending money though since the return on investment for a walkway is limited.

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The city of Los Angeles, renowned for its scenic landscapes, is also known for its characteristic hilly terrains. Ensuring the stability of these hillsides and their beautification through landscaping can often be a significant investment.