Hurricanes and earthquakes in northern Michigan are about as likely as sharks in Grand Traverse Bay, but state building codes cover both natural events. Current codes requires exterior walls to behurricane- and earthquake-resistant, a requirement that one local builder says adds days to the construction schedule. “There’s...
Some people know early on what their life’s work will be. Like Jon Laureto. “I was the only kid in high school watching "This Old House," said the co-owner of REI Construction Consultants. Laureto, his wife, Maggie, and their partner, David Moore, launched REI three years...
New home construction is accelerating in the Grand Traverse region, thanks to an improving economy and more people moving to what is one of Michigan’s most desirable locales. But plumbing contractor Bob Roe says he isn’t fully participating in the building boom because he can’t find...
“Going Green” isn’t what it used to be in the real estate and building industries. Today you hear much less about green building than you did five or ten years ago. But that doesn’t mean the trend is diminishing. Quite the opposite, in fact. “It’s still...
As a tax lawyer, I must say that it is not often that the valuation of real property generates much interest, let alone controversy, in the public sphere. Yet, the recent decisions by Michigan Tax Tribunal have done precisely that. At issue is a rather...
New projects and a continued vitality in that sector of the economy have those in the construction industry optimistic. “It seems to be cranking right now,” said Steve Eveleigh, head of Northwest Carpentry and current president for the Home Builders Association Grand Traverse Area (HBAGTA). “It’s...
Most roofing companies do fine work, but they just put on roofs. They don’t concentrate on insulation or have a safety division that works with clients to provide them with dependable and reliable access to roof areas. And they probably don’t receive patents for their...
When the world went into its downward spiral in 2008, fingers started pointing for who, what, when and why. Then, when the economy did not bounce right back, a lot of the blame for the bubble bursting got pushed from the federal government to the...
Many discussions are had each year about the regional economy and what drives economic prosperity for northwestern Michigan. Industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, service and health care always top the list. Noticeably missing, is real estate. Yet every one of these key industries share a...
Though there are numerous obstacles to improving the region’s affordable housing concerns, many feel dependence on propane in northern Michigan is chief among them. For homeowners, propane can mean compounding costs, especially during winter and periods when supply is strained. For affordable housing developers, propane-only infrastructure...
