Other stories by Michele Mariani

  • Testing the Market

    YOU KNOW HANNAH BARTOLETTA Homes has made a splash with its latest plan when partner Charley Hannah starts a conversation with, “I don't feel crazy.” The Tampa, Fla.–based builder is defending his decision to complete a 113-unit, gated custom home community with 15 spec homes.

  • Fast Track 2006

    Experience has never been more valued than right now, as builders deal with the double whammy of robust competition and weakening sales. In our eighth annual Fast Track list, we examine the secrets of fast-growing builders'success—and what they're doing to keep the pace.

  • Saving a Safety Net

    RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION in Florida received a temporary reprieve in late July, when Citizens Property Insurance Corp. agreed to continue writing builders risk policies through the end of 2006.

  • A Growing Problem

    NEW HOMES FOR SALE HIT ANOTHER all-time high in May, reaching 555,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That figure isn't creating panic, though; less than a quarter of those homes were complete, and thanks to the still-solid sales pace, it represents only a 5.5-month supply nationwide.

  • Dominion's Downward Spiral

    The year is barely half over, but already it's clear that Dominion Homes won't look back on 2006 fondly.

  • Price Check

    INFLATION RATES CONTINUED THEIR march upward in May, climbing toward the top of the Federal Reserve's comfort zone and almost certainly securing another increase in a key interest rate.

  • Public Opinion

    PUBLIC HOME BUILDERS' earnings announcements this spring—largely a show of how far the sector has fallen since early 2005—were often followed by downgrades of the companies' stock ratings by industry analysts.

  • Musical Chairs

    AMERICANS ARE MOVING FROM THE NORTHEAST and the Midwest to the South, according to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report. That's not news to home builders operating in those areas, but the data reveal trends that may represent future opportunities for builders, particularly when combined with...

  • On Second Thought ...

    A YEAR AGO, A BUYER CANCELING A CONTRACT on a new home wasn't all bad news. It often meant that the builder could capitalize on rapid price appreciation by reselling the home at a significant increase.

  • Help Not Wanted

    MORTGAGE BANKERS HAVE BEGUN to hit the point in the housing cycle that they didn't welcome, yet knew was coming: layoffs. Mortgage rates have finally headed north, leading to a drop of about 10 percent in mortgage purchase originations since April 2005—refinancings are down even more steeply—and...