Month: July 2022

Rammed Earth Houses

Rammed earth houses are a type of construction that has been used for centuries. It is a sustainable building technique that uses locally-available materials and has low environmental impact.

Rammed earth, or some may also call it Adobe Construction, is a technique of building with natural, local materials, such as clay, sand, straw or water. The mixture is compacted to form walls and other structures. Rammed earth houses are durable and long-lasting; they require little maintenance and they provide excellent insulation against heat and cold.

How to Build a Rammed Earth House

Rammed earth is a type of construction that is done by packing earth, sand, and clay together to form a solid mass. The mix is poured into a formwork, compressed and allowed to dry. The mortar that binds the solid mass is either a clay mix or lime putty, and can be made from natural ingredients or manufactured. The Wikipedia article on “Rammed earth” is here.

Rammed earth is one of the oldest building techniques in the world. It dates back to at least 2500 BC with evidence found in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The technique was used to build many famous landmarks including the Great Wall of China and parts of the Egyptian pyramids.

Nowadays, rammed earth houses are still being built around the world but they are not as common as they once were.

What are the Benefits of Building with Rammed Earth?

Building with Rammed Earth is a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to build structures. This technique has plenty of benefits, such as being energy efficient and carbon neutral.

In addition to the environmental benefits, Rammed Earth is also an energy efficient building technique. It’s a carbon-neutral building method that can be used in both warm and cold climates.

Rammed earth houses have excellent sound insulation and are fire and pest resistant.

The benefits of using this material for building are numerous. It’s strong, durable, easily available and inexpensive. The only downside to using rammed earth is the amount of time it takes for construction to be completed.

What are the Drawbacks of Building with Rammed Earth?

Rammed earth is a type of building material that is made by compressing layers of soil, gravel, sand and clay into blocks.

The drawbacks of building with rammed earth are primarily related to the high water content in the soil. When it’s used to build with, it will have an adverse effect on the stability of the structure. It also has a low thermal mass which will cause it to heat up quickly and cool down quickly.

Why You Should Consider Building Your Next Home With Rammed Earth

Rammed earth is a type of construction that is made by packing soil, clay, sand and other materials into a formwork. It has been around for centuries, but it is making a comeback due to its sustainable and cost-effective nature.

Conclusion:

Building your next home with rammed earth will be the best decision you have ever made. It will not only save you money on construction costs but also leave behind a legacy for future generations to enjoy.

Buyer Vs. Seller: Who Has The Upper Hand in Phoenix Multi-Family Real Estate

Phoenix is a great city with plenty of fantastic places to live, and it has so many great features. Metro cities have been known for being some of the best places to invest in multi-family properties but is that true for Phoenix? Keep reading to see if the multi-family real estate market is better for buyers or sellers in Phoenix.

What is the multi-family real estate market like in Phoenix?

Phoenix has one of the best multi-family home markets in the entire country, and it was one of the few that managed to thrive through the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts believe the fantastic location and ever-growing economy are the main factors that have led to such steady income growth. 

In early 2022, the market slowed down slightly, and there was also a decrease in construction, which means there will likely be fewer units delivered this year. A reduction in construction could be due to many factors, but things like high inflation rates, rising gas prices, and a high cost of building materials are the likely reasons. Experts predict that these issues won’t be resolved anytime soon, which means the units on the market right now might end up being in high demand next year. 

Another factor that has helped the Phoenix market is its great employment rate. The unemployment rate has continued to decrease slightly over the last few years (just 2.4% in March, which is lower than the national average of 3.6%)as more and more jobs come to the city. The extra jobs have also brought in people from other parts of Arizona to the area, and the employment rate is likely going to keep rising, which means homes will be in high demand.

Multi-family real estate has shown an increase over the last year, but there could be a slight hiccup with the planned interest rate hike that has many investors worried. This hike will likely affect those who have riskier investments (such as a multi-family building in town with higher homeownership percentages or low rental rates) or those who want to unload their properties in poorly performing markets. Luckily, the housing market in Phoenix has held such a steady rate that the interest rate hike won’t hit as hard as it will in other cities. 

What does the market look like for the rest of 2022?

According to the statistics for Q1 and Q2, the market will likely level itself out, but the current rising inflation rate (which has hit Phoenix hard with about 11% CPI) will make it harder for people to finance a house. This means rental rates could end up rising as people sell off their homes for a less expensive place to live. 

The current average mortgage rate sits around $2,100, which is much lower than the average rental price of about $1,600 for a two-bedroom apartment. The median household income is about $67k, while the amount needed to afford an average mortgage is about $87k. With rising inflation costs and gas prices, it’s unlikely that the median income rate for the city will have a significant jump anytime soon.

It’s becoming much harder for people to afford a new house or maintain the mortgage payments on their existing homes, so apartments and condo sales could possibly see a boost in the last half of the year. Over twenty percent of millennials (who are reaching the age where homeownership is usually achievable) have said that they don’t expect to own a home within their lifetime. 

Buyers or Sellers: Who has the upper hand?

When it comes down to it, those who are buying multi-family homes have a significant advantage right now. The prices are much lower in Phoenix than in many other cities around the country with a similar size. The city is going to continue to grow and thrive, so your investments are less likely to turn sour and end up costing you money. 

Apartment buildings in the area vary quite a bit when it comes to price and size, but there are quite a few available. People in Phoenix are looking to rent over buying, so now is one of the best times to get into the multi-family property game.  

Rental rates have also risen over $100 in the last year, with rates being around $1400 in 2021 and now hitting close to $1550. Another good sign for investors is that the percentage of renters renewing their lease has also risen, which shows that people are choosing to rent for a longer time. Overall, the Phoenix market is as hit as its summer temperatures, and it’s one of the best times for investors to take a good look at some of their exceptional multi-family real estate properties. 

Multi-family real estate is a great way to earn a bit of extra income while building your investment portfolio. Phoenix has become a great place for investors, and the market is excellent right now for anyone who is looking to buy. Have a look at some of the great multi-family homes on the market right now to see which one suits your investment needs. 

Author: Shannon Quantock

3D Printing Houses: The Future of Home Construction

3D printing is a technology that has been around for many years. However, it is only recently that the potential of 3D printing has become apparent. 3D printers have moved beyond being able to just print three dimensions, and are now capable of printing pretty much anything. With this in mind, one team of architects has come up with a new way to use 3D printers to construct homes – instead of building them from traditional materials like wood and concrete. The firm is called New Story and they’re about to use a new type of 3D printer to build the world’s first printed-and-collated houses. Their plan? To use 3D printers to build homes from dirt at a fraction of the cost and time it takes to construct a home using traditional methods. Let’s take a look at how this will work…

3D Printed Homes: The Basics

Essentially, New Story’s 3D printed homes will work in two ways: the company will first construct partially underground modules using a combination of earth and recycled materials. The partially underground modules are then transported to their destination and finished off, with the earth and recycled materials used to fill in the gaps between the modules. The result is a fully habitable house. The modules themselves will be constructed using a combination of the latest 3D printing technology and a technique known as “contour crafting.” Contour crafting involves a robotic arm that sprays concrete and earth inside a custom-built frame. The combination of 3D printing and contour crafting will allow New Story to construct these partially underground modules with minimal human involvement.

What will New Story’s homes look like?

New Story’s 3D printed houses are expected to be made from a mixture of soil and recycled materials. This will result in houses that are much cheaper to construct than traditional homes, and that are much more environmentally friendly. There even some penthouses for sale, the dirt used to build these homes will come from excavated ground up to 100 feet beneath a given site. This dirt is expected to be rich in minerals, including potassium and calcium, which are essential for growing crops. The harvested soil will then be mixed with a combination of recycled materials (such as repurposed plastic), to create a soil mixture that is suitable for building.

Will People Be Able to Live In These Homes?

The short answer to this question is yes, absolutely. The longer answer is that the dirt used for these homes has been tested and is safe to live in. The dirt used to build New Story’s 3D printed houses has been tested to make sure it’s free of pathogens and other harmful substances. It has been found to contain a relatively high amount of potassium and calcium, which are essential for the growth of crops. The dirt itself is completely harmless, but New Story will be mixing it with recycled materials. So, while the houses themselves will be completely safe to live in, it is necessary to test the soil/recycled mixture thoroughly before it is used to fill the gaps between the modules.

Why Build Homes With 3D Printed Dirt?

New Story has come up with the idea of using 3D printing to build homes from dirt as a way to tackle the global housing crisis. More than 100 million people are without a home, and many of those are living in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. The New Story team has come up with a solution to the housing crisis: 3D printing. By 3D printing homes from dirt, New Story is able to construct fully habitable houses for a fraction of the cost and time required to build a traditional home. Dirt is cheap, and it is also quick to work with. This means that New Story can construct fully-finished houses in a short space of time, and at a much lower cost than if they were constructing from more traditional materials.

Where Will These 3D Printed Homes Be Built?

New Story is planning to build their first printed-and-collated houses in El Salvador, where many residents live in dangerous, unhygienic conditions. The team at New Story has partnered with the staff at Fundación Hábitat para el Desarrollo Sostenible (FHDS), a nonprofit organization that specializes in sustainable building practices. FHDS will help New Story to identify a site for their first 3D printed homes.

3D Printed Homes Are Affordable and Eco-friendly

When it comes to building houses, the first thing that comes to mind is the cost. However, New Story’s 3D printed homes are expected to be very affordable. As previously mentioned, dirt is cheap, and there are no hidden costs with the construction of these homes. This means that New Story can keep the costs down for their clients. These printed-and-collated houses are also eco-friendly. By using dirt to construct the homes, New Story is able to avoid using natural resources that are in short supply. The team at New Story is also careful to use the correct proportions of recycled and natural materials when constructing these homes.

Final Thoughts

For many years, architects and engineers have been itching to get their hands on 3D printing technology. Now that 3D printers are more advanced than ever, they have the potential to revolutionize the construction industry. New Story’s 3D printed homes are expected to go a long way toward solving the global housing crisis. The printed-and-collated houses are expected to be very affordable, and they are also eco-friendly. We can expect to see the first printed-and-collated houses begin construction in El Salvador later this year.

Author: Laura Watson