With the huge push in the second home market, more Americans are thinking of making a permanent investment on that cabin in the woods, the cottage in the country, or the beach house. A second home away from crowded areas is a very attractive proposition. But is this the right time to buy that vacation home? Let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of vacation homes – and look at the relaxing vacation plans available at TPC.

A shed is a versatile addition to your home's yard, serving many purposes: a storage space, a workshop, or even a getaway, like a She Shed. Whatever the purpose, you'll want to make sure to build the shed correctly. Here’s everything you need to know!

Construction home loans are essentially mortgages for people who are building their own home (or doing major renovations!) instead of purchasing an existing home. Because of this, they have a bit of a different structure and requirements than a typical mortgage. Let us fill you in.

Just like architectural styles, there are unique and out-of-the-ordinary home foundations that may be more intriguing than basements, crawl spaces, and monolithic concrete slabs. It may be time to consider elevated foundations that are common in coastal and beachfront homes. Think piles, piers, and screw pile foundations that can be as versatile as the customary types.

Lumber, steel, and … shipping containers? A home’s frame is essentially its skeleton. When building a house, constructing the framing is the first step to bringing your blueprints to life. We’ve covered the common costs involved, the predicted timeline, and the materials needed so you can make the best of your build.

It’s all in the pitch – roof pitch, that is. One of the most visible aspects of a roof and a home, roof pitch matters in terms of the safety and aesthetic appeal of a home. We explore this feature, its importance, the varying degrees of pitch possible, and how it affects the roofing system.

Imagine all the "must-haves" you ever envisioned for your dream home – without settling for the next best thing on the market. Building a custom home is a considerable investment that presents many challenges, but think of the finished product and the satisfaction of having done it. Are you ready for the big step?

From sketchbooks and blueprints to today’s building-design software, architectural drawings have undergone an evolution. As digital technology permeates the architecture and home building fields, computerized images are slowly but surely replacing hand drawings. We focus on computer-aided design (CAD) and how it is changing the house plan industry.

The finished basement can add style, function, and value to a home. Recent remodeling trends include basement spaces that accommodate guests, work-at-home parents, relaxing spaces, and more. We focus on hot trends: the daylight basement and walkout basement, where you can just walk out onto a patio or walkway without stairs.

From The New American Home 2021, with its innovative design concepts, to the creative use of features in home spaces, the International Builders' Show highlighted some key trends that are likely to resonate in the architectural residential market. Here are home-building-design and product trends gleaned from virtual sessions at the IBS Show.