Business - Home Building Industry News and Archive Information

Builder 100: A Horrid 2008 Behind Them, Few Builders Are Making Dramatic Changes

The hard times that began in 2006 for the housing industry dragged on through 2008. That was especially true for those companies that...

2008 Builder 100 Coverage:

Business News

Possible Cuts: HAWS Preparing to Reduce Vouchers

Jul. 2--Officials with the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem are working with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to...
Old Dunn House Comes Down: Preservationists Lose Last-Ditch Battle to Save 19th Century Smithland Home

Jul. 2--SMITHLAND, Ky.
Small Business, Banks Look for a Match at Lending Expo

Jun. 30--When Angeline Kopka lost her job in finance to a soldier returning from World War II, she decided to pursue a career in real...
Bailed-Out Bank's Deals Raise Concerns

Jun. 30--Community Business Bank in West Sacramento has weathered the financial crisis with a swagger that competitors might envy.
New SBA Loan Program Could Offer Lifeline to Builders

America’s Recovery Capital program will lend up to $35,000 interest-free over six-month period to qualified small businesses.

All articles in Business News

In Desperate Times, Four Companies Change Their Personalities

Process improvements and different products are what three builders and one developer hope will lead them into the next recovery.

The Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009

Builder, in conjunction with Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, debuts its metric for determining markets with the best and least potential.

Down for the Count: The Weakest Housing Markets for 2009

Hit hardest by the downturn, these markets may be among the last to recover.

Local Markets
Housing Data
Economic Conditions
Mortgages & Banking
Housing Starts

Local Markets

Blockshopper Turns Real Estate Listings Into News
Web site takes public records and draws buyers and sellers to site by crunching neighborhood data and publishing local stories about homes sold and for-sale.
One Southern California Builder Looks To Catch Lightning In A Bottle Again
Far West Industries sold 54 million-dollar homes in six months last year.
Home Price Decline Slows in February
But Phoenix, Las Vegas, and San Francisco still are posting annual drops of more than 30%, according to Case-Shiller indices.

All articles in Local Markets

Housing Data

Pending Home Sales Inch Upward Again in May
New appraisal rules are proving problematic for some transactions.
Construction Spending Slips in May
Single-family activity remains 54.1% below the same month one year ago; multifamily falls 29% on annual basis.
Home Price Declines Slow Slightly in April
Former housing hot spots continue to suffer, but pain seems to be subsiding.

All articles in Housing Data

Economic Conditions

Impact Fee Freeze Gets Lost in Arizona’s New Budget
Local home builders were banking on at least two years of relief.
Construction Spending Slips in May
Single-family activity remains 54.1% below the same month one year ago; multifamily falls 29% on annual basis.
Movement To Expand Home Buyer Tax Credit Gains Steam
Some federal bills would increase amount available for all buyers. But budget deficits raise questions about the extent of state programs, particularly in California.

All articles in Economic Conditions

Mortgages and Banking

Federal Charges Detail Beazer's Misdeeds
Atlanta-based builder committed mortgage fraud and more, according to government.
Condo Demand in Houston, Nationwide is Lagging
Jul. 2--Jodie Sinclair's one-bedroom condominium in 2016 Main has been on the market for six months.
Charges filed against Beazer; Settlement reached
ATLANTA - Federal prosecutors in North Carolina filed criminal fraud conspiracy charges against Beazer Homes USA on Wednesday, but they agreed to dismiss the case if the company complies with an agreement accepting responsibility for certain wrongdoing and pays millions to victims.

All articles in Mortgages and Banking

Housing Starts

Housing Starts Soar Past Expectations in May
Total starts leap 17.2% to seasonally adjusted level of 532,000; permits also rise.
Total Housing Starts Dive 12.8% in April to Record Lows
But single-family starts and permits both show small gains.
Builders Search for Right Spec-Home Balance
Meeting the demands of buyers who need to move in immediately has pluses and minuses in a down market.

All articles in Housing Starts

Revealed: The Top 10 Builders for 2008

Early returns from our Builder 100 survey identify the top 10 builders in America last...
BUILDER’s Twitter Directory for the Housing Industry

Are you on Twitter? Is your competitor? Better check this list.
BUILDER’s Top 10 Housing Stories of 2008

This past year saw unprecedented government intervention, the end of Kimball Hill...

5 Ways to Build Affordable, Energy Star-Rated Houses

South Carolina builder captures green buyers by spending just $1,000 more per house.
Top 10 Best-Selling Consumer House Plans

These top-selling house plans speak volumes to current home buyer dreams.
9 Hot Design Ideas on a Budget

You don't need a big budget to win style points. Want proof? See the pictures.

Contemporary Design, Innovation Dominate New Products at Fireplace Show

Manufacturers say they are committed to increasing performance and providing fresh...
10 Things You Must Put in Your Next House

Add these features to boost the value of your homes with your buyers.
BUILDER Readers' 10 Favorite Products of '08

Sliding door hardware tops the list.

Sign Up for E-Mail Newsletters

Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter for breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

Builder Stock Ticker

Get the latest stock quotes on the big builders.

Builders Gone Bust

Economic turmoil forces a growing number of firms into bankruptcy.

2009 America's Best Builders

Conservative fiscal policies, strong architecture and air-tight quality control make the difference for these three builders.

Follow Builder on Twitter

Get the latest Builder news delivered directly to your computer, cell phone or PDA.

Builder 100

Our definitive annual report on the nation's largest home builders.

Industry Expert: Ivy Zelman

Ivy Zelman is Chief Executive Officer of Zelman & Associates and holds over 15 years of experience covering the homebuilding, building products, furniture and manufactured housing industries at various points in her career. Prior to the founding of Zelman & Associates, Ivy worked at Credit Suisse Group from 1998 to 2007, the last 8 years as a Managing Director. During her tenure at the company, she established herself as the leading industry source for homebuilding related equity research and was widely recognized as one of the most preeminent figures in the entire industry.

Articles by Ivy Zelman

All articles in Articles by Ivy Zelman