June 6, 2008
  As Housing Market Weakens, Homes Are Getting Smaller
Outdoor living growing in popularity as homeowners improve their properties, even as lot sizes shrink
AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA, offers key findings from the AIA’s Home Design Trends Survey for the first quarter of 2008, including trends toward decreased house size, greater accessibility for access and egress as well as within the home, and increased outdoor living options. The survey also indicates a depressed market for all types of new homes; improvements to existing homes, in contrast, remain much healthier.

kiplinger connection
The Economy • Going Green • Travel
The Economy: Fed’s big bad wolf, inflation, rears ugly head.
Human Resources: FTC to quash “greenwashing.” Hybrids go HSW.
The World: An “upgrade” at the rent-a-car isn’t so upgrade anymore.

Taking Care of Business
Letters to the Editor
This week, one member calls Nouvel’s ultra-luxe project in Los Angeles “greenwashing,” [and] another member sees the value of our weekly Kiplinger Connection, another has a question about the proposed AIA/USGBS alliance, and still another has praise for Filippo (and Jim!).

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Welcome to the Business Zone
This is the place for our monthly Work-on-the-Boards survey report, quarterly Housing Trends survey report, and biannual Consensus Forecast, all by AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. You’ll also find tips for managing the business side of your practice, as well as the weekly Kiplinger Connection.