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Propane. Exceptional Energy for Exceptional Builders. Why build with propane? Simple. In today's challenging housing market, propane can help you and your homes stand out, offering the comfortable, reliable, efficient energy that your customers want. From individual underground propane tanks to community-wide systems, propane provides exceptional energy for gas appliances that home buyers demand--and heats up your business. Learn more about propane energy solutions at www.buildwithpropane.com.

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Introducing Simpson Strong-Tie Strong Frame Moment Frame: The cost-effective solution. The Strong Frame ordinary moment frame creates opportunities for larger wall openings and open floor plans without the time-intensive design and installation process associated with traditional moment frames. Designers can choose between 196 pre-engineered solutions, significantly reducing design time. Contractors will love the 100% field-bolted connections because they eliminate the need for field welding. Pre-installed wood nailers and pre-assembled anchor-bolt assemblies also help streamline installation, making the Strong Frame moment frame the preferred option. Call (800) 999-5099 or visit www.strongtie.com/strongframe.

Economy

Affluent Spending Patterns Changing
Custom builders may need to change marketing tactics to snag clients.
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Construction Expected to Slide Further in 2009
McGraw-Hill Construction releases the 2009 Construction Forecast.
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Trophy Homes: the New White Elephants
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Engineered for complete water protection. Water is a builder's worst enemy unless you protect your home with AdvanTech® panels from the start. Engineered to provide greater water resistance than other OSB and plywood products, they resist swelling, warping, and delamination. And their uncommon strength won't be compromised under tough conditions. Earn up to $600 in rebates - visit engineeredtoperform.com to learn how. *Limitations and restrictions apply. Visit huberwood.com for product application and other important information.

Web Slideshow: Bath Products for Custom Homes
A Web-exclusive slideshow of the latest high-end bath fixtures, finishes, and hardware from our Showcase of Products issue.
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Survey Results: How Is the Market Downturn Changing The Way Custom Builders Do Business?
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Not Your Average Box of Hot Water! The world's number one-selling brand of portable spas can enhance your next outdoor project. You can now create a built-in, custom look and still have all the advanced features and energy-efficiency of a self-contained portable spa. Hot Spring Spas' Custom Cabinet spas are specifically designed to be surrounded by any style of exterior surface. Add a Hot Spring SpaStone™ surround for a natural-stone look, or use any exterior desired to complement the outdoor setting. Click here to learn more.

CUSTOM HOME's Blog: As We See It
From our blog, As We See It, a sampling of recent posts: If you're in the Washington, D.C., area sometime between now and Oct. 25, 2009, Meghan Drueding recommends you visit a museum exhibit on environmentally friendly communities around the world. Pre-Election Day, Bruce Snider speculates about the possible effects of the election on custom-home clients's attention to their projects, and whether they'll choose to shelve them or move forward. How do custom builders really feel about prefab and modular construction, Stephani Miller asks. Thinking outside the box can lead to all sorts of creative housing solutions, including one Shelley Hutchins found notable. Custom-home clients still have the money to build lavish homes, one builder told Meghan Drueding last week, they're just concerned about how doing so would look in this economy. Leslie Ensor blogs about an Oregon builder who has carved out his own specialized niche and is bucking the down housing market. Bruce Snider talks up one of his favorite Web resources for information on green building. Vicky Markovitz releases her inner nerd and recommends some interesting and useful online architecture courses and their resources offered by MIT. Shelley Hutchins blogs about the first Passive House in the U.S. based on a set of green building guidelines that originated in Germany. Don't miss these posts from earlier in October.

FEATURED WEB EVENT

Green Building By Design, Not Device This how-to seminar presents down-to-earth strategies builders and architects can employ to improve the way they articulate to clients their real value through thoughtful design and building while avoiding the pitfalls of those who have gone before them. Click here to register.

FEATURED WEB EVENT

How Connected Communities Boost New Home Value Research shows 65 percent of home buyers said the availability of a fast broadband connection was an important decision in buying a home. View this Web seminar to hear MFE contributing Editor Joe Bousquin share how builders, developers, and service providers have turned high-speed networks into a point of differentiation in new home developments. Click here to register.