Journal of Light Construction: Business News

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.

New-Home Sales Hit Two-Year High in September

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:53:27 EST

Pricing and inventory numbers further brightened the positive report.

Unity Homes Launches, Aiming at Affordable High-Performance

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 03:28:42 EST

The new builder has lofty growth ambitions, made possible by its panelized construction process.

Home Prices Rise for the 3rd Straight Month

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:41:25 EST

According the Case-Shiller index released today, home prices in the 20 largest markets showed a month-to-month increase of 1.6% in July.

Housing Starts Rise - Single Family Market Strong

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:41:23 EST

Single family housing starts at the highest level since April 2010

July Remodeling Slump Is Counterpoint to Single-, Multifamily Gains

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:41:26 EST

Spending on remodeling falls, new home construction gains.