Journal of Light Construction: Business News

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.

Offcuts

Mon, 13 May 2013 01:22:40 EST

A new home in Dillingham, Alaska, has set a world record for the tightest residential structure ever built.

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.

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.

Connecticut Department Of Labor Stops Work On Job Sites, Citing Worker Misclassification

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:58:08 EST

Connecticut authorities have ordered 27 jobs to a halt in the state because employers were paying employees as subcontractors and failing to obtain workers comp coverage.

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.

Maryland Coastal Regions Face Hard Hit From Redrawn Flood Maps, Premium Hikes

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:18:25 EST

New floodplain maps combined with rising flood insurance premiums will hammer residents of Somerset County, Maryland, according to a press report.

Hawaii Looks To Scale Back Owner-Builder License Exemption

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:24:40 EST

Hawaiians can act as their own general contractor without any license under current law. But that may change this year.

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.

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.

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.

South Carolina: Coastal and Inland Counties Compete for Scarce Road Funds

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 03:27:01 EST

South Carolina’s upcoming legislative session could feature a battle over funding for highway and bridge construction and maintenance.

Arizona: Builder Sets Up Showroom In Phoenix Airport

Fri, 4 Jan 2013 10:49:51 EST

Call it a “snowbird feeder.” Hoping to attract buyers from among the thousands of travelers who visit sunny Phoenix, Arizona during the winter, area builder Fulton Homes has set up a showroom right in the airport.