Technology

In an attempt to shore up the housing market and also provide more affordable rentals, the federal government is considering the idea of turning some of the 250,000 foreclosed homes it owns into rental units. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it was seeking public input on “new options” for selling single-family homes owned by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. 

The upkeep of a house does not end at the front door, which means there is money to be spent from the inside out. And inventive manufacturers have found a number of ways to capture those dollars — from gardening tools to irrigation systems to products that protect a home’s foundation.

The BuildFax Remodeling Index for May 2011 reported that despite high unemployment rates and falling home prices, remodeling activity has reached a new high. The index, released July 18, was reported to be up 22% with a value of 124.3 for May, the highest number since the index’s introduction in 2004. Furthermore, BuildFax reported, May marked the 19^th straight month for year-over-year gains in the remodeling industry. Consumers, the data show, are continuing to invest in remodeling and are choosing to remodel rather than purchase new homes.

Do it Best Corp. has promoted Marty Bailey to a new position in charge of the co-op's World Class Commerce Center initiative. The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based co-op also promoted Gary Hoffmann to the position of national advantage program manager.

From ballots sent out electronically earlier this year, Home Channel News received a record number of votes for Golden Hammer Winners, producing 32 winners in four categories. The Home Decor category -- subdivided into seven sub-categories, produced the following winners:

• Decorative Hardware & Locksets – Kwikset

• Decorative Lighting & Fixtures – Cooper Lighting (regent)

• Fashion Fixtures – Kohler

• Home Organization – Newell Rubbermaid

• Major Appliances – Whirlpool

Dealer customers gather in Orlando for the Epicor 2017 LBM Conference.

Epicor Software Corp., a provider of business enterprise solutions, has named Pervez Qureshi as its CEO, effective immediately. Qureshi served as CEO and president of Activant Solutions Inc., which was combined with Epicor following the acquisition of both companies by funds advised by Apax Partners. The deal closed on May 16, 2011.

Baillie Lumber, the Hamburg, N.Y.-based producer of hardwood lumber, has purchased Wagner Lumber of Owego, N.Y. The purchase price was not disclosed.

According to its website, Wagner Lumber is the largest manufacturer of hardwood lumber in the northeast United States, with an annual total production of 60 million board feet. It operates three sawmills and one log yard in New York State.