All Articles Tagged Housing

Maxine Giza | 11/29 08:45 AM, 2 Comments

Home sales are on the rise, and that is good news for CE pros. Those who specialize in retrofits in particular may find themselves in an improved climate. Total existing-home sales are up 13.5 percent from the 4.38 million unit level in October 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors. Furthermore, there has been a consistent drop in the number of homes sitting on the market. Total housing inventory at the end of October fell 2.2 percent to 3.33 million, which represents an 8-month supply at the current sales… View this story

Jason Knott | 03/17 06:33 AM, 0 Comments

In just another signal to integrators that existing homeowners are the prime target market these days, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports that new construction of housing units plunged in February to near record lows. According to Marketwatch, housing starts fell 22.4 percent compared to January. The drop was the largest monthly drop since March 1984. The fall erased what were seen as solid numbers in January, which showed a pace of 618,000 starts for the year, including an 87.4 percent increase in MDU starts. But the new February numbers… View this story

Daryl Delano | 04/21 08:32 AM, 0 Comments

The U.S. housing market currently has many positive factors going for it. Among them:Inventory of Unsold Homes Continues Shrinking — The number of unsold new single-family homes on the market in February 2010 was 28 percent lower than in February 2009, while the number of existing homes for sale this February was down 5.5 percent from a year ago.Home Prices Stabilizing — They're lower than a year ago in some parts of the country and higher in other parts, but no longer in "'free fall" anywhere.Mortgage Interest Rates Remain Low… View this story

Daryl Delano | 12/26 10:14 AM, 0 Comments

As 2009 comes to a close, we can see just how bleak the year was in the housing market, but there is hope. Most indicators continue to show slow improvement -- or, at least, stabilization -- in housing starts, sales and prices. It's clear that the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit (now extended until 4/30/10 and expanded to make more potential buyers eligible) has provided a significant incentive for purchase, and has helped clear out much of the excess inventory. Consequently, (some) builders have started to cautiously ramp up… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 12/07 06:49 AM, 0 Comments

Las Vegas-based Eagle Sentry is finding some good business opportunities in this economic downturn. CEO Greg Simmons, who shared his business woes in March 2009, says individuals are snapping up foreclosed homes for a song … with money to spare for goodies. "They're getting these houses at a steal, and they're paying in cash," Simmons says. "We've got a customer right now that just moved in and doesn't know what the electronics do. It's a huge business right now." He tells of a $7 million home that's on the market… View this story