Journal of Light Construction: Money

Michigan Builders Feeling Labor Pinch

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:49:09 EST

Down and out a few years ago, Michigan’s building industry is coming back. But a shortage of skilled workers worries builders.

New York City to Revamp Sandy Rebuilding Program, Says Mayor

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:23:36 EST

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city is ready to step up its Sandy rebuilding program with a reorganized effort called “NYC Build It Back.”

Florida Builders See Boom on the Way

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:13:46 EST

A Southwest Florida panel of builders and realtors agreed this month that the Manatee-Sarasota region is heating up fast. And they weren’t talking about the weather.

Investor Buyers Drive House Prices Upward

Thu, 6 Jun 2013 10:17:28 EST

Home prices are surging this spring. One big reason: Wall Street investors are buying.

House Prices Bounce Back, Lifting Economy

Thu, 30 May 2013 10:25:06 EST

Home prices rose sharply in April, buoying the nation’s economic recovery.

Investors Start Snapping Up New Houses for Rentals, Not Just Foreclosures

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:25:13 EST

Big private equity firms that started out buying up foreclosures as investment properties are now moving into the new home market.

California Builders Say Help is Getting Harder to Find

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:03:10 EST

Economic health is returning to the California homebuilding industry. What’s not returning? The skilled workers.

Appraisal Catch-22 Hampers Detroit Housing Recovery

Thu, 2 May 2013 09:34:03 EST

Civic groups and non-profits trying to turn Detroit’s dismal housing market around have a relentless enemy: the appraisal process.

Florida: Are Small Builders Being Squeezed Out?

Thu, 2 May 2013 09:34:28 EST

Small independent builders say they can’t get equal access to land or financing in Florida’s hot housing market.

California Foreclosures Plunge In First Quarter

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:34:43 EST

A new “homeowner bill of rights” law in California appears to have cut the state’s foreclosure rate significantly.

$700 Million in Katrina Elevation Grants Unaccounted For

Mon, 8 Apr 2013 02:37:29 EST

An Inspector General report says more than half a billion dollars in Hurricane Katrina relief money may have been misspent. Most Katrina victims who were awarded $30,000 apiece to elevate their houses never documented that the work was done.

Sandy Aid Money Not Yet Flowing

Mon, 8 Apr 2013 01:51:00 EST

Congress authorized funding for Hurricane Sandy emergency relief in January. But the actual money hasn’t started flowing yet.

Builders Hampered By Labor Scarcity As Demand For Homes Surges

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 09:52:16 EST

Sales and prices are up, and inventories are low. Builders need to boost production, but the supply of skilled trades is tight.

Materials Prices Jump As Housing Takes Off

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:17:42 EST

As homebuilding starts to surge, materials prices are surging too.

Savannah Builders See a Warm Spring Season Ahead

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:43:28 EST

”PVC farms” at the stalled developments around Savannah, Georgia, may finally start bearing fruit this spring.

Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit Extended

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:36:22 EST

The New Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit was extended to the end of 2013.

The Paperless Office

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 03:14:37 EST

Storing documents in digital form saves time, money, and space

Labor Shortages May Stifle Construction Rebound

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:31:30 EST

It’s early yet, but signs of a tight labor market are already starting to show.

Gauging Sandy's Economic Impact

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 09:50:13 EST

Sandy has been a drag on the U.S. economy. But will the long-run effect be good for the region?

Sandy Aid Package Passes, But Money Flows Slowly

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 09:50:30 EST

After months of political maneuvering, Congress has acted on a relief package for the region impacted by Superstorm Sandy, but there is no telling when the money authorized by Congress will actually reach the people who need it.