Builder articles from December 2005

Builder archives from December 2005

A cautionary tale: builders, suddenly concerned about slower sales, look to operations for margin improvement.(EDITOR'S NOTES)
December 1, 2005... THE PRECIOUS HOUSING TIDE, WHICH FOR THE LAST several years has deposited ever-increasing riches on builder shores, seems to have turned. Traffic counts and sales slowed almost imperceptibly during the final months of the year as interest rates...

Our reputation depends on you!(INTEGRITY CELEBRATES ITS RED DIAMOND ACHIEVERS)
December 1, 2005... Integrity[R] Windows and Doors from Marvin would like to congratulate all of its Red Diamond Achievers. Thanks to the continued support we receive from successful builders around the country, Integrity[R] Windows and Doors has become one of the...

Calendar.(BOOK IT)(Calendar)
December 1, 2005... 2006 JANUARY 10 National Stormwater Summit, Orlando, Fla. The National Stormwater Summit--a series of workshops created in response to the growing need for quality stormwater compliance training and straight talk from...

Post-hurricane industry aid.(BOOK IT)(American Rental Association Foundation )(Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association )
December 1, 2005... Many industry businesses have been helping in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma: * The American Rental Association Foundation created the Rental Industry Relief Fund to assist equipment rental businesses hurt by Katrina....

Sun spots: student houses show that energy solutions could be as easy as looking up.(SOLAR DECATHLON)
December 1, 2005... WASHINGTON IS KNOWN MORE FOR FILIBUSTERS than for innovative design. For one rain-soaked week in October, however, innovation was the word when 18 university teams converged on the city for the Solar Decathlon, an event in which students...

Tax break?(HOUSE BLEND: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The mortgage interest deduction--the highly coveted tax break granted to homeowners--was up for discussion as a special presidential commission on tax reform started meeting in mid-October. Few expect a recommendation to eliminate the...

Mega millions.(HOUSE BLEND: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)(value of homes)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... For the first time, more an 1 million owner-occupied homes are worth more than $1 million, according to the results of the 2004 American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. But there are plenty of nonmillionaires, too: The...

Planning ahead.(BIG DEALS)(merger of Frontier Homes Corp. and Prestige Homes)(merger of Stock Building Supply and Seigle's Home and Building Centers Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Two fast-growing companies positioned themselves to grow even larger through recently announced deals. In California, Victorville-based Frontier Homes, an entry-level and move-up builder headed by James Previti Jr., took over management of...

Going up.(HOUSE BLEND)(sales of Otis Elevator Co.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Chalk it up to aging boomers, the vertical housing boom, or sheer laziness, but elevators are on the rise in residential design. In recent years, manufacturer Otis Elevator Co. has reported annual sales increases of 12 percent to 15 percent for...

Small as Texas?(HOUSE BLEND)(undervalued housing markets)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... With all the discussion about housing costs spiraling out of control, there are still undervalued housing markets out there. According to a report from National City Corp., one of the nation's largest financial holding companies, four out of...

Double down.(HOUSE BLEND)(property purchased)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Toll Brothers' vice chairman Bruce Toll will pay $25.2 million to acquire a 2.5-acre lot in Atlantic City, N.J., that was the site of Donald Trump's World Fair boardwalk casino hotel. Toll intends to build a luxury residential high-rise that...

Noted builder dies: Corky McMillin will be remembered for a life devoted to building, community service, and off-road racing.(Obituary)
December 1, 2005... CORKY MCMILLIN, A LEADING figure in Southern California's home building, development, and business circles for more than four decades, died Sept. 22 in San Diego at the age of 76. The cause of death was heart failure. McMillin and his...

A trusted source: a Chicago-area community uses a teardown tax to fund affordable townhomes.(WORKFORCE HOUSING)
December 1, 2005... HIGHLAND PARK, ILL., A HIGH-PRICED SUBURB north of Chicago, has found a way to deliver housing to some of its service workers and moderate-income residents. Late last year, service workers moved into the Temple Avenue Town Homes, a...

Sprinkler-free.(fir sprinklers not mandatory in new houses)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The HBA of Central Arizona successfully defeated measures in the Phoenix-area towns of Goodyear and Avondale that would have required fire sprinklers in all new houses. The builders were concerned that mandating sprinklers would add about $1...

Set your sites: a new study says immigration peaked five years ago, likely leading to greater demand for housing by decade's end.(POPULATION STUDY)
December 1, 2005... GET READY FOR A SPIKE IN HOUSING DEMAND from foreign-born residents by the end of the decade. According to a new study from the Pew Hispanic Center, immigration peaked in 1999 and 2000. But immigrants tend to hit their peaks in home buying...

Retail therapy: Beazer Homes brings the joy of shopping to its new design center in New Jersey.(DESIGN CENTERS)
December 1, 2005... AS FANS OF IKEA HOME FURNISHINGS stores know, the store highlights its products in creative vignettes cram-packed with design and style ideas. The New Jersey-Pennsylvania division of Beazer Homes USA has adopted a similar approach at its new...

Betting the house: new products target investors who think they know where the housing market's headed.
December 1, 2005... HOUSING SPECULATORS AND BUILDERS have a few things in common. Many in both groups have profited greatly from the rapid run-up in home prices. But they're also heavily invested in such tangible assets as raw land and newly built homes, and they...

A new record: Texans build a house in less than three hours.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Want to break the world's record for building a house? The members of the Tyler Area Builders Association in Tyler, Texas, are the guys to beat at 2:52:29. Before you get cocky and think, "We can top that," consider this: That time includes...

Raising the ante: BIA of Washington offers six-figure reward in fight against eco-terrorism.(INSIDE STORY)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... THE BIA OF WASHINGTON STATE IS applying more heat to politically motivated arsonists. On Sept. 20, the Olympia-based trade group offered a $100,000 bounty--the highest-ever in the housing industry--for information leading to the arrest and...

Knife fight.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... DRYWALL INSTALLERS KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING BLADE CHANGES CAN BE: THEY TAKE time away from work and can be complicated. Mag Knife combats the problem by allowing faster and safer blade changes, says the manufacturer. The knife is designed to be...

Smooth spray.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... THE SPRAY STATION 5000 OFFERS AN ANTIDOTE TO heavy, noisy, wasteful conventional spray guns, its maker says. The high-volume/low-pressure tool applies paint evenly and produces less overspray, the company adds, giving users greater control. It...

Hood ornament.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... TO SUIT HOME BUYERS WHO WANT MEDITERRANEAN-styled products in their Tuscan-inspired homes, check out this manufacturer's line of hand-painted and hand-finished range hoods, which fit various styles. The Tuscan wall-mount (shown) comes with a...

Cole cases.(TOP SHELF)
December 1, 2005... CHRISTOPHER COLE WAS A CUSTOM BUILDER WHO had a hard time finding interesting bath products, so he started manufacturing his own using solid wood and wood veneers. The Lily Contemporary vanity (shown) measures 40 inches wide and has simple...

Blade change.(TOP SHELF)
December 1, 2005... IF YOU'RE CUTTING METAL WITH TRADITIONAL CIRCULAR saw blades, you can stop. The manufacturer says this metal-cutting blade is a better alternative. The carbide-tipped product cuts angled iron, sheet metal, pipe, and steel more quickly than...

Super sticker.
December 1, 2005... THE COMPANY THAT BROUGHT YOU GORILLA GLUE INTRODUCES GORILLA I Tape, a product the maker says is thicker, stickier, and tougher than any all-purpose tape on the market. The tape features 17 mils of adhesives--as opposed to 7 1/2 to 10 mils in...

Make room for everyone: building for multiple generations under one roof requires flexibility.(REALITY HOUSE: PART TWO)
December 1, 2005... HOW DO AMERICAN FAMILIES REALLY live in their houses? That was the question our Reality House 2006 endeavors to answer. To find out, BUILDER commissioned San Diego--based Marketscape Research and Consulting to investigate. Researchers...

Confusing times: what the heck is going on with this housing market?(booming)
December 1, 2005... IT'S BEEN POSSIBLE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL months to pick up one newspaper and learn that the housing market's boom continues, only to read a headline somewhere else declaring proof of a bursting bubble. We're told that prices and sales are up,...

Sneak peek: don't want to miss anything? Here's a preview of some wares debuting at IBS.
December 1, 2005... THE QUESTION THAT WILL BE FACING attendees at the International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla., next month is a simple one: How do you find time to attend seminars and visit the more than 1,600 exhibitors that will be displaying their wares in...

Mass entertainment: Leviton and JBL team up to offer a low-cost audio/video system to production home builders.(JBL Consumer Products, Leviton Telcom)
December 1, 2005... AS 2005 RECEDES, EXCITEMENT IS brewing among consumer electronics companies that 2006 could be the year vendors finally start making some headway with production home builders. During the past year, Microsoft rolled out Windows Media Center...

Hear, hear.
December 1, 2005... Elan has a new line of speakers called TheaterPoint designed specifically to optimize the home theater. The speakers are available in freestanding, in-wall (shown here), and in-ceiling models and come in Elan's noted "good, better, best"...

On screen.(DIGITAL HOME)
December 1, 2005... Starting in the first quarter of 2006, Control 4's new 4Sight service will offer online control of the home. The service lets dealers configure, program, and upgrade the system remotely and gives homeowners the ability to check on their homes...

Product placement: home builders sold $11 billion in tech products in 2004 and should increase sales by 10 percent in 2005.(DIGITAL HOME)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... DATA RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR BY Parks Associates--a research firm that focuses on technology for the digital home--provides evidence that home builders may finally become a much more important channel for selling home-technology products....

Expanded reach.(TECH TOOLS: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN HOME BUILDER)(ServiceMagic Inc. enhances its website)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Online marketplace ServiceMagic has enhanced its Web site to more effectively match home shoppers with the right builder. In the past, shoppers would receive only four matches per search. Now, when someone makes a builder query, the directory...

Instant CRM.(TECH TOOLS: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN HOME BUILDER)(customer relationship management )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Home builders who don't want the fuss of deploying a full-fledged customer relationship management (CRM) system but want access to historical home buyer, warranty, and subcontractor data for customer service calls will like HomeProfile from...

Wireless worksite: a new device promises Internet access at remote jobsites.(TECH TOOLS: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN HOME BUILDER)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... A NEW PRODUCT FROM TOP GLOBAL JUST MAY be the breakthrough wireless device home builders have been looking for. Alan Zhou, the Irvine, Calif.-based company's founder and chief technology officer, says Top Global's MobileBridge simply plugs...

Microsoft's next move: the software giant integrates an accounting product with Corecon's Web-based system for small builders.(TECH TOOLS: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN HOME BUILDER)(Corecon Technologies )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... MICROSOFT CORP. IS MAKING NEWS IN the home building industry like never before. Earlier this year, we reported on Microsoft's push to make its Solomon accounting system a standard with companies building 100 to 200 homes annually by combining...

Fiber-optic advantage.(fiber optics broadband takes market in stride)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Fiber-optic broadband satisfies the consumer hunger for bandwidth. Using Verizon's fiber-based FiOS service, for example, supercharges the most bandwidth-intensive data, video and voice services and has already earned rave press reviews. ...

"Future-compliant" developments.(fiber-optic cable to be deployed by Verizon Communications Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Including a fiber-to-the-home infrastructure in your communities benefits you and your buyers. That's why Verizon calls them Enhanced Communities. In fact, Verizon is in the process of converting its network from copper to fiber-optic cable...

Redefining digital video.(FiOS TV from Verizon Communications Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... A fiber-optic broadband infrastructure lets developers deliver all of a home's communication and entertainment services--data, video and voice--via a single technology. Verizon took a leap in this direction in September 2005 with the...

Consumer case study.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: FIBER-OPTIC BROADBAND)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Jeff and Cathy Decker Floosmoor, Ill. Jeff and Cathy Decker have one son graduating from college and another graduating from high school. With an empty nest looming, they plan to enjoy their more active, unencumbered lifestyle by moving to...

Superior service.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: FIBER-OPTIC BROADBAND)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Verizon already offers its FiOS service in the following 13 states: * Massachusetts * New Hampshire * Rhode Island * New York * New Jersey * Pennsylvania * Delaware * Maryland * Virginia * Florida...

The bottom line.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: FIBER-OPTIC BROADBAND)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... For developers who want to keep pace with consumer demand and the broadband boom, fiber-optic broadband is the key. Research shows that buyers see fiber as adding several thousand dollars of equity to a home. It also earns its keep in apartment...

Verizon delivers.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: FIBER-OPTIC BROADBAND)(Verizon Communications Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The best part? There's virtually no cost to the developer. Instead, Verizon helps to create a marketing program and train the development's salespeople on how to present fiber-optic broadband, then compensates developers for their efforts. ...

Custom sound and home theater finally ready for prime time!(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... Every generation's idea of luxury amenities--starting with garage door openers and garbage disposals to today's stainless steel appliances and home networking systems--has followed the same migration path. First they gain acceptance at the...

New agency?(NAHB BRIEFS)(Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2005)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... In October, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would strengthen the regulation of government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs) while preserving their vital...

All for one: the NAHB asked for its members' help in defeating onerous proposed building codes. The response was swift and effective. Thank you.(FROM THE PRESIDENT)
December 1, 2005... GRASSROOTS BUILDERS HAVE SPOKEN, AND THE International Code Council (ICC) listened. Thanks to a major lobbying campaign that involved thousands of our members contacting their local code officials in response to a call to action by the NAHB...

Cruising altitude: the high-flying housing market is about to come down. Don't fret, though--it's just moving to a more sustainable level.(SEIDERS ECONOMY)
December 1, 2005... THE HOUSING SECTOR HAS PROVIDED AN UNPRECEDENTED degree of support to the U.S. economy in recent years, but things are about to change. The very success of housing will soon provoke a slowdown, and a rising interest rate structure will help...

Video pick.(NAHB BRIEFS)(jobsite safety orientation )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... In August, the NAHB released the first English-Spanish jobsite safety orientation DVD for home builders. Two 20-minute videos--one in English, the other in Spanish--provide an overview of the key safety issues residential builders and workers...

Good job.(NAHB BRIEFS)(Great Places to Work)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Home Builders Institute (HBI), the workforce development arm of the NAHB, has been selected by Washingtonian magazine as one of the D.C. metropolitan area's "Great Places to Work." The HBI was one of 55 organizations honored for providing...

Water torture: testing of new sill pan flashing technologies reveals best practices for sealing windows.(THE NAHB RESEARCH CENTER CORNER)(Williams Building Diagnostics)
December 1, 2005... BUILDERS ARE CONSISTENTLY seeking better protection from the effects of windblown rain and other forms of water intrusion. Fortunately; numerous new sill pan flashing products have entered the market in recent years, ushering in new hope for a...

Seiders web.(NAHB BRIEFS)(new online discussion forum)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The NAHB has launched the $eiders on Housing blog, an informal online discussion forum led by NAHB chief economist David Seiders that deals with timely economic issues, housing trends, survey research, and other topics affecting the housing...

Merillat creates multipurpose room to demonstrate unique cabinetry uses for various lifestyles and family activities.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)
December 1, 2005... The wide variety of styles and finishes offered by Merillat is ideal for creating distinctive kitchens and baths, but with a little creative ingenuity, cabinetry can be designed to meet specialized needs. A wide range of other room applications...

What to see at IBS.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(International Builders' Show )(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... Consumers building new homes want the latest designs and styles. New homebuilders want reliable suppliers that provide a quality product without any hassles. Merillat continues to respond with cabinetry that combines chic style and sensibility,...

Merillat chosen as speaker for 2006 International Builders' Show educational program.(model behavior)(Merillat Industries Inc.)
December 1, 2005... Merillat Vice President of Marketing Karen Strauss, is a featured speaker at the 2006 International Builders' Show. Her session, entitled "Kitchen Design for the Dynamic American Family and First Time Buyers" is scheduled on Jan. 12 at 9 a.m....

Future tense: 2005 is pretty much over, and there's no turning back. So focus your attention on the future--everything you'll need to make 2006 a banner year is right here.(LOOK AHEAD: 2006)
December 1, 2005... IF YOU'RE LIKE THE REST OF US, this is the time of year when you look back and take stock of what went right and what went wrong over the last 12 months. Looking back is a good way to learn from mistakes, but getting a glimpse of what could be...

What's in & what's out.(LOOK AHEAD: 2006)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Business In: using the Web to find infill condos Out: spending Saturdays driving to model homes In: slowdown Out: bubble In: innovative fixed-rate mortgages Out: one-year adjustable rate mortgages In: Reno/Lake...

Winds of change: storm damage uncovers some basic flaws in siding detailing.(SPECIAL HOW-TO FEATURE)
December 1, 2005... THE 2004 HURRICANE season blew the cover off a weakness in the way stucco is usually installed, with a number of Central Florida homes springing leaks despite having suffered no wind damage. The problem led the Florida HBA to commission a...

Marvin Windows and Doors: proud sponsor of the 2005 Builder's Choice Design and Planning Awards.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... Celebrating Its 25th Anniversary, This Year's Winning Projects Exhibit Restraint--With Flair Marking its 25th anniversary, this year's Builder's Choice winners exhibited restraint in their design through the inspired use of materials that...

Inaugural Hall of Fame winners announced at Gala Dinner.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Builder's Choice Design And Planning Awards)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... To celebrate its quarter-century achievements, the Builder's Choice Design And Planning Awards have launched a Hall of Fame for design excellence. Established to honor the residential market's architectural pioneers, this new Hall of Fame...

Industry pioneer honored.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Wm. S. "Bill" Marvin)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2005... Wm. S. "Bill" Marvin Wm. S. "Bill" Marvin assumed the presidency and chairmanship of Marvin Windows and Doors in 1960. Under his leadership, the business has moved from a regional manufacturer to a premier, made-to-order window company...

2005 Inaugural Wm. S. Marvin Hall of Fame Award inductees include ...(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(B3 Architects)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... Barry Berkus B3 Architects, a Berkus Design Studio | Santa Barbara, CA "To create a house that is art, not just shelter... gives dignity to the people who live in it and creates a quality of life above what they'd find anywhere else."...

Marvin Windows and Doors. Made for you.[R].(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... Each Marvin product is made-to-order--a manufacturing process designed to meet every customer's unique needs and specifications. Unlike any other manufacturer, Marvin does not build or warehouse an inventory of finished products. Instead, the...

About town: the best urban townhouses live like single-family homes, while offering the pleasures of city life.
December 1, 2005... TOWNHOUSES ARE A TIMELESS alternative to the single-family detached suburban home. Standing shoulder to shoulder with other buildings, they come with little maintenance, no persnickety co-op boards, and often with gardens or courtyards. Best of...

Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers.
December 1, 2005... Family Efficient Floor Plan Red brick and bold columns give this home a handsome exterior. Inside, an open floor plan facilitates traffic flow, and features like tray ceilings, built-in cabinetry; and walk-in pantry accomodate the needs...

Roofing and siding.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(American Colonial Crown Mouldings)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... Homeowners want the exterior of their home to reflect the beauty on the inside, to show the pride they take in their property. The aesthetic function of roofing and siding, two of the biggest exterior elements, cannot be overstated. By choosing...

Swiss Avenue, Dallas.(WALK THROUGH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... MUNGER PLACE--WITH SWISS AVENUE AS ITS MOST impressive example--was designed with many of the qualities that would later be incorporated into new urbanism. Though there were no zoning laws in the early 20th century in Dallas, the developer,...

Prepare to be dazzled! The International Builders Show is back, and the 2006 version promises to be the biggest and best one yet.(NAHB LETTER)
December 1, 2005... NOW IN ITS SECOND YEAR IN ORLANDO, FLA., THE International Builders' Show (IBS), scheduled for Jan. 11-14, 2006, will offer everyone in the building industry an unparalleled array of product exhibits, educational seminars, networking...

Colin Powell to give keynote address.(Show News & Highlights)
December 1, 2005... THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS' Show's long history of interesting keynote speakers, most recently including a former U.S. president and an ex-NFL star, continues in 2006. Former secretary of state Colin L. Powell is scheduled to address convention...

Student skills on display.(Show News & Highlights)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... YOUNG CONSTRUCTION WORKERS MAY BE A little wet behind the ears, but they sure can swing a framing hammer and handle a pointed trowel. Students enrolled in the Home Builders Institute Job Corps program will be showing off their carpentry,...

FYI: Orlando.(Show News & Highlights)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... * Orlando, Fla., attracts more visitors than any other amusement/theme park destination in the United States. * Florida is second only to Kentucky among Southeastern states in the raising of beef cattle. The town of Kissimmee in Osceola...

IBS to remain in Orlando.(Show News & Highlights)(International Builders' Show)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR JUST A two-year run in Orlando, Fla., ending with the 2006 show, the International Builders' Show (IBS) will remain at the Orange County Convention Center through 2008, absorbing the two years it was to be held in...

The NAHB has developed a comprehensive transportation plan for the International Builders' Show (IBS), refined and approved by a coalition of Orlando, Fla.-area stakeholders (including law enforcement agencies and charter bus companies).(Show Briefs)(National Association of Home Builders)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The NAHB has developed a comprehensive transportation plan for the International Builders' Show (IBS), refined and approved by a coalition of Orlando, Fla.-area stakeholders (including law enforcement agencies and charter bus companies). The...

The New American Home 2007, the 24th iteration of the show's premier idea house project, will be a "contemporary Craftsman" built on an infill site in the Lake Eola Heights Historic District of downtown Orlando, two blocks from the lake itself and about 15 minutes from the OCCC.(Show Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The New American Home 2007, the 24th iteration of the show's premier idea house project, will be a "contemporary Craftsman" built on an infill site in the Lake Eola Heights Historic District of downtown Orlando, two blocks from the lake itself...

The U.S. Air Force, specifically its Center for Environmental Excellence, will be at the show seeking contractors to privatize more than 30,000-plus military housing units nationwide.(Show Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The U.S. Air Force, specifically its Center for Environmental Excellence, will be at the show seeking contractors to privatize more than 30,000-plus military housing units nationwide. Exhibiting at booth number S10936 (South Building), the Air...

In his most recent "short-term" quarterly forecast published on HousingEconomics.com, NAHB chief economist David Seiders predicts continued economic expansion through 2007.(Show Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... In his most recent "short-term" quarterly forecast published on HousingEconomics.com, NAHB chief economist David Seiders predicts continued economic expansion through 2007, albeit with a dip in total housing starts (including manufactured-home...

Hot-product profile: Duct Diaper.(NEWS)
December 1, 2005... From the "why didn't anyone think of this before" file, the Duct Diaper (booth number W5988, www.duct diaper.com) is a woven mesh bag designed to block debris from entering ductwork during construction. The product attaches to the perimeter of...

Hot-product profile: Acoustiblok.(NEWS)
December 1, 2005... Sound abatement is a hot issue these days as builders increasingly grapple with home buyer complaints about noise levels both inside and outside the house. Among the growing number of solutions addressing the problem, Acoustiblok (booth number...

Architect/author Sarah Susanka of Not So Big House fame will be the keynote speaker at the NAHB Research Center's annual EnergyValue Housing Awards ceremony on Jan. 11.(Show Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Architect/author Sarah Susanka of Not So Big House fame will be the keynote speaker at the NAHB Research Center's annual EnergyValue Housing Awards ceremony on Jan. 11. The program recognizes builders who voluntarily incorporate...

Builders will take their turn at being exhibitors at the Home Builders Institute Job Fair in South Building A (the site of the grand opening ceremonies), to recruit HBI student chapter members from across the country.(Show Briefs)
December 1, 2005... Builders will take their turn at being exhibitors at the Home Builders Institute Job Fair in South Building A (the site of the grand opening ceremonies), to recruit HBI student chapter members from across the country. Though space is booked for...

Top 10 metro markets for 2006.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Despite a predicted 5.5 percent nationwide dip in housing permits next year, the Reno-Sparks, Nev., metro market (skyline pictured) is expected to experience a 6.4 percent jump in permits, which would make it the No. 1 market in terms of...

Hot new titles.(video recordings)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... THE NAHB BOOKSTORE, BUILDERBooks.com, which sets up shop along the main hall entrance of the West Building, will feature at least three new titles at the International Builders' Show. The second edition of Carol Smith's Building Tour Home...

Custom sound and home theater finally ready for prime time.(innovation LEADER)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... Every generation's idea of luxury amenities--starting with garage door openers and garbage disposals to today's stainless steel appliances and home networking systems--has followed the same migration path. First they gain acceptance at the...

Show house tour guide: six distinctive show homes give 2006 International Builders' Show attendees a peek at the industry's latest design and product innovations.(TOUR)
December 1, 2005... House 1 THE NEW AMERICAN HOME 2006 The "me" generation meets environmental consciousness in a lakeside luxury home. CELEBRATING ITS 23RD YEAR AS the premier show house at the International Builders' Show (IBS), the latest...

Chase: helping builders: put homebuyers into the house of their dreams.(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... Chase Home Finance, one of the nation's largest mortgage lenders, has developed a builder partnership program designed to simplify the home financing process. The Chase Premier Builder Relationship Program helps builders and developers sell...