Roundup: Move Over McMansion, the Mini House Is On the Rise

• June 3rd 2010

by UrbanTurf Staff

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• The decline of the McMansion has been widely reported, but did you know about the rise of the mini house? ABC News reports on Gregory Paul Johnson's 140-square-foot mini house in Iowa City. Johnson is part of a growing movement that has helped drive sales at one mini-house company up twentyfold over the last decade. While UT applauds all attempts at greener living, we're not sure how these mini houses are anything more than dressed-up trailer homes.
   
• Housing Complex reports that Ellwood Thompson's Local Market will likely open in Columbia Heights' DCUSA shopping complex in January 2011. Ellwood Thompson's is a Richmond-based grocery with an in-store restaurant and a focus on selling local and organic products. Its arrival at DCUSA has been anticipated for several months. The hope is that the signing of Ellwood Thompson's will spur other on-the-fence retailers to occupy the remaining retail space at the complex.
   
• National Association of Realtors reported that pending sales surged in April, largely thanks to the federal tax credit which expired at the end of that month. Their Pending Home Sales Index rose 6 percent over March, reaching the highest level since October 2009. Recall that pending sales represent signed contracts, not closed sales, but it is a leading indicator of the direction actual home sales will go in the coming months.
   
• Mortgage rates weren't quite as exciting this week as they were last, when they flirted with record-breaking lows. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage edged up 3 basis points from last week's 4.80 to 4.83 -- still an incredibly low rate.

Finally, here are UrbanTurf's three most popular posts of the last week in case you missed them:

1. DC Buyer: Two-Bedroom, Two-Level Units for Two People Who Saved
2. Looking for a Loft in DC? 5 Things You Need to Know
3. DC to Auction Off 18 Vacant Properties on June 30th

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.production.logicbrush.com/articles/blog/roundup_move_over_mcmansion_the_mini_house_is_on_the_rise/2131.