Home Building Hero

Why it's dangerous to overpay for homes

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We've all heard stories of people paying over asking price for a home.  In a hot market you may have to do that.  But how much is too much? ...

2022 Color Trends and Forecast

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What paint colors are going to take over this year?  What accent colors are trending?  We have it all here on the latest episode! Thanks fo...

2022 Counter top trends and innovations

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What are the newest trends and innovations hitting the market?  We toured the 2022 International Builders Show and the Kitchen and Bath show to f...

Matt black and French Gold. Trend or fad?

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

While touring the International Builders show and Kitchen and Bath Show one consistent style kept popping up.  Matt black finish with brushed or ...

International Builder's Show Recap

25 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We are fresh off visiting the 2022 International Builders Show in Orlando Florida.  We give a brief overview of the event experience and big take...

Are you green with envy?

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is an emerging color trend ready to hit homes in 2022.  Don't be green with envy.  Find out what shades are grabbing people's attentio...

Amazing updates and behind the scenes info

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We have some massively exciting news that we wanted to share with you.  Find out all the great things that our host David Belman has going on and...

2022 International Builders Show Preview and Tips

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The International Builders Show (IBS) and the Kitchen and Bath Show (KBIS) are just around the corner.   What are they?  What kinds of thing...

2022 Housing Market Forecast

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What will happen with housing in 2022?  Is it a good time to buy or sell your home?  What will happen with rates?  How does last years ...

Emerging Trends, Upcycling

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is upcycling?  Tune into our newest episode to find out what it is and how consumers are doing it in their new homes. https://anchor.fm/home...

Analyzing the 2021 Bathroom Trend Study

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A study just came out on home buyer preferences for bathrooms features and their importance both for building and remodeling.  We explore the inf...

How Natural Gas Costs Affect Homes

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Let's face it.  Natural gas costs are through the roof.  It has been reported that the heating costs for your home will rise 35% this year.  Prices...

2021 Housing Market Re-Cap

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

2021 Was a banner year for housing.  Existing homes continued to sell quickly and new home construction increased at a strong pace.  We reca...

Will another housing bubble occur?

23 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The 2008-2011 Housing bubble scared everyone.  There is a fear the the bubble is going to burst again.  But will it? We discuss why or why i...

5 Reasons why you should contract your new home before year end

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Every year we have a rush of clients agreeing to build a home before year end.  Why is that? Well, we explain the multiple benefits of finalizing...

What you need to know about plan infringement

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Could you be violating copyright infringement by simply by asking a builder to copy another design?  What if you just want a bathroom copied? &nb...

Wisconsin in the headlines for all the wrong reasons

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It has been a tough week for Wisconsin.  After making national news with the Rittenhouse trial our home community of Waukesha was struck with tra...

All about concrete foundations

19 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There is a ton of engineering and science that goes into concrete foundations.  We go over several of the important elements that go into foundat...

5 Reason why you should contract with a builder before year end

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you are thinking about building, the year end is a great time to do it.  We highlight five reasons why it is a good idea and will benefit you ...

National Housing Economic Update Fall of 2021

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We just returned from a week of meetings in Houston learning the latest national housing economic news.  Find out how housing is performing, what...

Supply Chain Fallacy

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you haven’t heard already the supply chain is a major disruption to the building industry. We talk about some of the things causing this mess and...

Municipally Created Developments. Good or Bad?

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Recently I learned of some developments being done by municipalities instead of by private developers.  While this is an interesting option for a...

Wisconsin Housing Market update

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are at the 3/4 point of the year and now is a great time to check in on the Wisconsin Housing Market.  Find out how homes are selling, what in...

Construction Spending Continues to rise as does the number of bedrooms

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Spending on residential construction looks to continue growing per a national study.  We analyze the data.  Additionally with more spending ...

Peek behind the curtain

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Things have been crazy busy.  Host David Belman gives you a candid peek behind the curtain of what's been going on the past month with the podcas...

Most important lesson customers need to know when building

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today we have a public service announcement for anyone thinking of building a new home.  Here is the most important lesson you need to know befor...

Cost per sq. ft. increases again

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The cost of a new home per sq. ft. has increased again per a recent study.  Find out how much it went up and what's in store for 2021 pricing. W...

Women in Construction

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest growth areas for the construction industry is women.  Now you many not typically picture women construction workers but the go...

7 Reasons why a custom home is right for you

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you contemplated having a home custom made just for you?  Well it's not for everyone.  We discuss what situations are right for a custo...

8 Interior Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Building a new home?  Going to update your existing home?  Find out the most common interior design mistakes that people make in these proje...

Lumber Prices Soften

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Finally some good news on the lumber front.  Prices start to soften.  How much?  Is it a good time to build and what can you expect to ...

Record Number of Real Estate Agents

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the housing boom comes more people entering the Real Estate market hoping to strike gold.  With that comes challenges of professionalism, le...

Why you need to see, touch, and feel your windows before you buy them

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We recently met with Gina Della from Pella Windows and Doors of Wisconsin at their brand new experience center.  This is a place where you can se...

Why do custom homes cost more?

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Should I build a custom home or off a builder's floor plan.  It is a very common question from consumers.  We discuss the reasons why custom...

Where’s the inventory

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been by a car dealers lot lately? Still waiting for that online order? Trying to buy a home but not seeing anything interesting? We talk abo...

Knowing the signs of foundation and concrete failure-Brent Pearson

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you identify potential issues with your foundation or slab before it's to late?  What if there was a solution to solve these issues withou...

Wave of evictions coming

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Federal Moratorium on Evictions ended 7/31/21.  Expect a wave of eviction notices being filed.  What States are extending the moratorium...

Impact Fees Unchecked

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Impact fees have become one of the largest taxes on new construction homes.  We talk about how they are structured in Wisconsin and how local mun...

Behind the scenes of product innovation

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Every wonder the process of how a innovative new product hits the market?   Well it is never really the same each time but today we hear an ...

What's up with millennial buyers 2021 Edition

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Millennial buyers are the largest buying segment and have faced huge homeownership challenges in the past few years.  2021 was no exception. &nbs...

2021 Remodeling Spending Expected to Rise

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study shows that consumers continue to spend additional money on building and remodeling in 2021 compared to previous years. We discuss all t...

The terrifying reality cyber security in your home with Brian Nichols

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You have a pipeline of information entering and leaving your home on a daily basis. With every new device you are opening up your home to more cyber r...

Massive Drop in Builder Inventory

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There have been a lot of changes in the building industry over the last year and a half and inventory levels of existing homes is an easy one to track...

Why expert installation matters in windows with Gina Della

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Windows are one of your biggest investments in your new home and how they are installed is one of the most important parts of the equation.  We a...

Top 10 Most Desirable Bathroom Features 2021

25 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bathrooms are still one of the most important areas of a home and also an area that is heavily remodeled.  We review the results of a national su...

Update on key economic data points

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today we have a brief update on key economic indicators for home building.  We analyze what this might mean for the building and real estate indu...

Top 10 Most Difficult Building Materials to Obtain

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With home building booming there are a lot of products out there that have become more difficult to obtain as well as become more expensive. We discus...

June 2021 Housing Market Update

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We go over the Housing Headlines and provide an update for June 2021 We appreciate our program sponsor Pella Windows and Doors of Wisconsin. Thanks fo...

2021 Kitchen and Bath Trends with Katie Poehling-Seymore CEO of Gerhards

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are pleased to have in the Home Building Hero Studio Katie Paling Seymore CEO of Gerhard's First Supply and 5th generation owner to talk all about ...

Do gas prices affect housing values?

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Well we are all feeling the pinch at the pump lately.  Gas has increased about 80 cents since the beginning of the year.  The bigger questio...

The Viral Photo

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I recently posted a photo that went viral.   There have been a lot of conversations in the past few months about lumber prices.  Tons of sta...

What's new in siding with Trevor Hubbs of James Hardie Siding

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What are the newest things coming out in siding?  What are the hot colors these days?  We have Trevor Hubbs field and project manager from J...

Windows for Dummies

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Gina Della from Pella Windows and Doors of Wisconsin joins David in studio to talk about Windows for Dummies.  Answering all the common quest...

5 Alternatives to conventional lumber

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With lumber prices soaring and no end in site builders are looking and seriously considering alternatives to conventional lumber.   A 1900 sq. ft...

10 Home Organizing Tips

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you are like me and busy all the time, spending time organizing your home or office is not a top priority.  Learn 10 great tips to help get yo...

Why has lumber gotten so expensive??

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why has lumber gotten so expensive.  The rapidly rising lumber cost has added over $36,000 to the cost of a new home and now is up a whopping 436...

Don'ts of Building a Home

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you are just about to start building a home there are some key things you should NOT do.  We talk about them in our newest episode and the sec...

Must do's when building a new home

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you are planning on building a new home we go over the 8 Must Do's when building your next home.  These are things we think are vital to makin...

Customers Flocking to Non-Traditional Lots

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With lot costs at an all-time high consumers are looking elsewhere to build.  Many are considering in-fill lots or larger parcels and spending th...

2021 Home Ventillation Trends and Innovations

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Innovation in the building industry is everywhere including home ventilation.   Covid-19 has shown us that air quality is paramount in your ...

All about fiber cement siding with Trevor Hubbs of James Hardie

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn all about James Hardie the leader in fiber cement siding from their Field and project manager Trevor Hubbs.  Did you know James Hardie Inve...

Key mistakes builders and contractors make with Dominic Rubino

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Builders and Contractors make mistakes.  Many times the same ones, over and over!  We talk about a few of them with Canadian Author, Podcast...

Pella DesignWorks System with Bill Weber

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bill Weber has spent nearly 20 years at Pella Windows and Doors and has seen it all.  Well not everything.  They have just launched some ama...

Spring Home Selling Tips

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The spring home selling season is upon us and if you are looking to sell your home there are a few things you need to be aware of.  On the other ...

Inflation is coming

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation is coming.  Heck it's already here.  I go over some alarming numbers on raw materials and commodities that are going to put a huge...

New Flooring and Countertop Options for 2021

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are some new offerings in the flooring and countertop world that give home buyers and remodeling clients some enticing new options.  We tal...

Five housing markets to keep an eye on

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are five notable housing markets worth keeping an eye on.  We talk about a recent article and what the activity in these markets indicate a...

Study on Home Buyer Preferences Due to Covid-19

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss a recent survey on the paradigm shift in buyer's preferences since Covid-19 began and where we are today.  It's pretty interesting wha...

Single Family Build to Rent. Is that really a thing?

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today we talk about a new and growing phenomena called Single Family Build to Rent and it is popping up in major markets across the country.  Bui...

2020 Wisconsin Housing Market Final Analysis

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We look back on the data from the 2020 Wisconsin Real Estate market and share our final thoughts on the year.  There were lots of amazing things ...

Up and coming home trends. Buy or Sell?

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We look at a recent article about "housing trends" and share if we would buy into that trend or if we are taking a pass on the idea.   We apprec...

Latest smart innovations and trends for Windows Interview

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Special guest Josh Fischer of Pella Windows and Doors of Wisconsin joins the podcast to talk about the latest smart technology and innovations hitting...

Why Every New Home Should Have a Skylight

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We explore all the new technology and offering from the world's leading skylight manufacturer Velux!  Product Specialist Paul Braun from Velux jo...

Economic indicators send mixed signals for housing in 2021

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The latest economic data on housing is sending some mixed signals.  We highlight some key data points and what that means for housing in the comi...

Notable new product and tech features for new homes

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We started scouring the internet for some brand new and notable features coming out for new homes in 2021.  Since there was not an in-person IBS ...

7 Elements of a Great Theater Room

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Miss going to the movie theater?  Many people are not because they are making some amazing home theater rooms in their lower levels. Find out the...

Big Announcement!

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We have a huge announcement on our podcast!  Our host, David Belman has written his first book "Leadership Growth Hacks" and it is now available ...

Top 10 Housing Markets in USA by Building Permits

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today we discuss the largest new construction markets by permit data for 2020.  There are some expected cities on the list as well as a few surpr...

Seven Challenges to the Housing Market

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are multiple challenges that will affect the housing market in 2021.  We go over the seven biggest challenges and how they will shape home ...

2021 Housing Market Forecast

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How is the housing market going to perform in 2021?   In one of our most popular segments of the year we revisit the housing data from the previo...

Lumber Prices Shoot Back Up

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Just when we thought lumber prices were declining after a tariff was reduced the cost of lumber has risen again.  We discuss current lumber price...

2021 Color Trends

05 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are seeing a big shift in the color pallets and trend colors for new homes in 2021.  Incoming is moderate earth tones that allow for more eart...

What do new homes and toilet paper have in common?

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

New homes and toilet paper have more in common that you would think.  Find out the answer to this question in our latest episode. We appreciate ...

Local Housing Market Update

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today we explore what is going in our local housing market with fresh research data straight from the Home Building Hero.  Using the research, we...

Upcoming home trends for 2021

29 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss some under the radar home trends that are coming for new homes.  Hear about some of the new design trends working their way into homes...

How the change in administration will affect the housing market

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A new administration is upon us and we are discussing some potential policy changes from the Biden administration and how they will affect the housing...

6 Up and Coming Outdoor Trends for 2021

22 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to start an outdoor project now is a great time to begin planning it.  Find out what people are most looking to do in the next year w...

Everything about the Kitchen Sink

20 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are talking everything about the kitchen sink!  There are so many options now both with designs, styles and materials used that we had to devo...

2021 Bathroom Trends

15 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We take an early look at what trends will be emerging for bathroom designs in new homes and remodel projects in 2021. We appreciate our sponsors Pell...

Kitchen Trends for 2021

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The new year is here and there are some surprising new trends in kitchen products and designs that are emerging in new homes and remodels.  We ta...

Pace of Innovation will slow

08 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of the largest events in the building industry the International Builders Show (IBS) and the Kitchen and Bath Show (KBIS) will not be happening in...

Expect Delays in Construction

06 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

2021 is here and it is expected to be a strong year for new home construction.  But not everything is rosy.  The uptick in building along wi...

What causes window condensation with Mandy Lutz of Pella Windows

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Winter is here and one of the most common frustrations with homeowners is seeing condensation or frost occur on your windows.  We discuss why thi...

Fastest Shrinking Cities in USA

30 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss a study of the fastest shrinking cities in the USA and some of the reasons why people are exiting. We appreciate our sponsors Pella Window...

2020 Housing Market Year in Review

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The 2020 Housing Market was a roller coaster rider this year. We discuss some interesting statistics for the year as and look back at how the year sho...

Story Time Christmas Edition

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for another fun episode of the Home Building Hero Story time edition.  Haylee and Katie from Belman Homes swap stories of their favorite ...

Housing Legislative update with Jim Tobin and Karl Eckhart

18 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There has been a lot happening in the building industry and on the legislative side of the industry the last few months with an election, coronavirus ...

2020 Year in Review

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

David Belman, host of the Home Building Hero gives a year in review on the podcast.  We look back at some of our previous guests and reflect back...

Economic Update with Danushka from National Associations of Home Builders

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A tale of two halves.  That is the story for housing in 2020.  We talk with Danushka Nanayakkar a Forcasting Analyst from the National Assoc...

What motivates people to move

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The average family moves about every 8 1/2 years.  While many people will stay in their homes for decades others move more often and for a variet...