Builder articles from May 2004

Builder archives from May 2004

The big picture: super-achieving home builders lead most all-American industries.(Editor's Notes)
May 1, 2004... EVERY YEAR AT THIS TIME WE LIST THE 100 LARGEST builders in America. It's an impressive list, redolent with accomplishment. A quick glance shows that four builders now produce roughly 30,000 or more units annually, a level thought unsustainable...

Cool solar system.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... GREAT ARTICLE IN THE MARCH ISSUE of BUILDER magazine ("Solar Giants," page 75). I really appreciate your positive assessment of the [photovoltaic] industry and the impact builders have had on our market. Large production builders in Southern...

Hindsight is 20/20.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... IN HIS MARCH EDITOR'S NOTES ("MISSED Opportunity," page 23), Boyce Thompson smugly criticizes housing economists for not predicting in January of 2003 that housing starts would rise during the year. I would remind Mr. Thompson that a...

Calendar.(Book It)(Calendar)
May 1, 2004... MAY 13-15 Remodeling Leadership Conference, Washington This is the premier conference event in the $234 billion home improvement industry. Top pros gather with manufacturers and suppliers in this high-level management conference designed to...

Open gateways: immigrants are bypassing city centers for the 'burbs.(New Numbers)
May 1, 2004... FOR GENERATIONS, IMMIGRANTS FOLLOWED A predictable path as they arrived in the United States, living first in densely populated urban neighborhoods and eventually moving to the outlying areas. A new study on immigration patterns, though, shows...

Short fall.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
May 1, 2004... A new study released by the California BIA maintains that the state's complex and uncertain governmental regulations have led to a cumulative shortfall of 500,000-plus homes and apartments since 1995. The study, conducted by Bain & Co., found...

Girl power.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
May 1, 2004... According to a recent report from the Washington-based Center for Women's Business Research, the number of construction companies owned by females increased 35.5 percent between 1997 and 2002. And, of nearly 279,000 women-owned businesses that...

Urban challenge.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
May 1, 2004... Attendees at a recent Urban Land Institute forum said that though infill development is popular, developers are hindered by a variety of factors that prevent them from acquiring separate tracts of land from different owners. Contributing...

March madness.(Big Deals)
May 1, 2004... Georgia-Pacific has found a buyer for its building products distribution business. In March, the Atlanta-based company announced that Cerberus Capital Management, a private investment firm, will purchase the distribution unit for $810 million....

Banished builder.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
May 1, 2004... Ever wonder how best to deal with bad builders who drag the industry's reputation through the mud? Apparently, the Australians play a rough-and-tumble game. When a kitchen company started by George Jorgensen of Brisbane failed financially this...

Nextel station.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
May 1, 2004... Nextel's massive ad blitz has hit Las Vegas, where the wireless carrier most used by builders plans to build a 15,000-square-foot technology showcase at the Convention Center stop on the new Las Vegas Monorail. Scheduled to open a few months...

Housing trust furor: Florida housing advocates fight plan by Gov. Jeb Bush to eliminate housing trust fund.(State Politics)
May 1, 2004... HOME BUILDERS IN FLORIDA HAVE JOINED forces with bankers, real estate agents, and low-income housing advocates to fight Gov. Jeb Bush's plan to eliminate the state's affordable housing trust fund and roll it into the general fund. Edie...

Real estate futures: company makes online home reservation a reality.(Editor's Internet Pick)
May 1, 2004... TORONTO-BASED AREAS INTERACTIVE HAS developed a new Web-based tool that allows consumers to search and select builders' homes on the Internet and reserve units and condos with a credit card. "The Web Store helps builders to better market and...

Chain reaction.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
May 1, 2004... The Harvard University Distribution Study is continuing its research on the changing residential building supply chain. The first round focused on pro dealers and other distributors of building products. The study shows that a variety of market...

It's a plan.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
May 1, 2004... Suffolk County, New York has appointed a commission to tackle the workforce housing issue. A recent report released by the county found that home prices increased more than 60 percent in the past four years, while incomes have risen only 14...

Workforce partners: NAHB teams up with Fannie Mae to deliver workforce housing.(Affordable Housing)
May 1, 2004... THE NAHB HAS FORMED AN AMBITIOUS PARTNERSHIP with mortgage finance company Fannie Mae to deliver workforce housing to some i,000 communities nationwide. Tops on the list is a $10 billion investment by Fannie Mae through the end of this decade...

Infill options: the rise in city living has builders looking for low-cost teardowns.(Urban Renewal)
May 1, 2004... CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE RISING cost of land have combined to make cities a red-hot place to live these days, which means the notion of infill is gaining ground among builders. And where there is talk of infill there is, naturally, talk of...

Green light.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
May 1, 2004... According to the NAHB, a total of 18,987 eco-friendly homes were built between 1990 and 2001. In 2002 alone, the number of green homes built totaled 13,224.--K.S. SOURCE: CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

Prop down.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
May 1, 2004... The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce has rejected the Proposition J initiative that was designed to create more middle-income housing by offering incentives to city developers. Supporters had hoped that the initiative would keep middle-class...

Price hurdles: high material prices threaten to slam the brakes on both commercial economic recovery and home building affordability.(Roller Coaster Economics)
May 1, 2004... WHEN BUILDER REPORTED ON SKYROCKETING plywood and OSB prices in November 2003, the pundits urged calm. They predicted that wood prices would level off by January 2004, and they were right. What they didn't predict was that those price...

New player: CitiMortgage enters residential construction lending market with temp-to-perm product.(Money, Money, Money)
May 1, 2004... CITI MORTGAGE'S NEW MORTGAGE program may not sound as catchy as sister Citigroup subsidiary Citibank's "live richly" ad campaign, but it means good news for builders. After focusing on existing-home mortgages, the national lender has...

Green houses.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
May 1, 2004... The St. Johns Housing Partnership and World Island Builders have teamed up to build 32 houses using energy-efficient and green building techniques to make the homes healthier and to minimize the effects of development on the environment....

Ergonomic realities: a British study finds that construction workers suffer far more from repetitive strain injuries than office workers.(No Arm Twisting)
May 1, 2004... A NEW STUDY IN BRITAIN SUGGESTS THAT CONSTRUCTION workers are at far more risk of developing repetitive strain injuries (RSI) on the job than office workers. In fact, the study by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy found workers on...

Alternative lifestyle: California study sheds light on recycled-content building products.(Emissions Study)
May 1, 2004... A QUICK SURVEY OF THE BUILDING materials landscape shows that more manufacturers today offer products made with recycled content. This should be good news. But some design professionals have charged that recycled-content products harm indoor...

Sales tax blues: builders face increasing scrutiny of sales tax payments as states look for extra money.(Inside Story)
May 1, 2004... AS THEIR BUDGETS SHRINK, STATES are looking for new ways to fill their coffers. For builders and developers, that may translate into an increased chance of an audit on their tax payments. "With all the states being in deficit, they're...

No free leads! Searches for new homes turn up major portal sites, not individual builders.(The straight dope: the whole truth and nothing but the truth)
May 1, 2004... Late last year some small businesses were up in arms, charging that search engine Google changed its algorithm to favor large companies and portals. The reality, says analyst group eMarketer, is that all the major search engines now tend to...

More control, better communications, and increased productivity--all on schedule: Hyphen Solutions brings schedule management into the 21st century.(Cycle Time Trade Secrets)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2004... Today's large homebuilders employ hundreds, perhaps thousands of superintendents in multiple cities and multiple locations. These superintendents, in turn, are each tasked with managing the building schedules of hundreds of suppliers &...

Easy off.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
May 1, 2004... REPLACING THE TOILET PAPER IS A HASSLE FOR many Americans (especially the men), which is probably why so many avoid doing it. The Emery pivoting paper holder solves that problem. Instead of a spring-mounted roller, it has an arm that pivots...

Slim down.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
May 1, 2004... SOMETIMES A FULL-SIZED DISHWASHER IS more than you need. For these situations, the Monogram 18-inch stainless steel dishwasher fits the bill. Ideal as a second dishwasher or for condos and vacation homes, the product has a stainless steel...

Graves anatomy.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
May 1, 2004... ARCHITECT MICHAEL GRAVES BELIEVES IN MAKING DESIGN ACCESSIBLE TO all. With his new line of faucets and accessories, he builds on this conviction. The line includes kitchen faucets, latory faucets in three configurations, and tub and shower...

Dead ringer.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
May 1, 2004... AT FIRST GLANCE, THIS KNOTTY ALDER DOOR appears to be a regular wood door. But a closer inspection reveals that it is not. The door is made from a composite material with a natural wood grain and rich knots that complement rustic architectural...

Water stopper.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
May 1, 2004... THE ASTROPAN DOOR AND WINDOW SILL pan system protects houses against moisture and water damage, the manufacturer says. By channeling water outside, the unit limits water intrusion that can lead to rot and mold. It is available in standard jamb...

Crown jewels.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
May 1, 2004... GEMSTONES AREN'T JUST FOR JEWELRY ANYMORE. NOW YOU CAN use them for tiles, too. Available in solid tiles or mosaics, GemTiles are cut from raw gemstones and polished to a high shine. They can be made from more than 40 exotic gemstones,...

Clear vision: this Chicago-based window maker hopes to break new ground by adopting a complex, far-reaching model of environmental responsibility.(Window To The Future)
May 1, 2004... IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW JUST how far and wide into the resources chain a single product, such as a vinyl window, can extend. Everything counts on the environmental report card, from the oil used to keep the welder pumping, to the...

Lessons from The Art of War: take a lesson from the pros of old when you find yourself staring down a bigger, better-equipped competitor.(Small Builders vs. Big Builders)
May 1, 2004... SOME TIME BETWEEN 700 B.C. AND 200 B.C. a Chinese general, thought to be named Sun Tzu, prepared a text that has become known as The Art of War. The advice contained therein is still relevant today, especially where it pertains to small- and...

Step up your standards with Silestone: an integrated, comprehensive and customizable program for your communities.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2004... Silestone announces its comprehensive "Step Up Your Standards With Silestone[R]" builder program. Silestone provides a unique program that grants builders the opportunity to offer natural quartz surfaces profitably, within the homes they build....

Site-sensitive density.(First Draft)
May 1, 2004... Q. Our sales and marketing team is concerned that the three-story, stacked-flat condos that we originally proposed for an infill site surrounded by lower-density detached homes will not get local approval and may not meet buyers' expectations...

'Lil Beazer's: Beazer Homes' pizza-themed campaign boosts traffic and sales at a pair of vacation properties.(Market smarts: new marketing and sales techniques with proven results)
May 1, 2004... IF YOU WANT REAL ESTATE AGENTS TO pay attention to your vacation-home project, feed them pizza every Friday for 10 weeks. Oh, and it might not hurt to offer cash and prize incentives for new prospect visits and sales, as well as free pizza...

Surreal sales: a series of esoteric print ads helps Davidson Development boost traffic and sales of its high-end vacation homes.(Market smarts: new marketing and sales techniques with proven results)
May 1, 2004... WHAT'S THAT WOMAN DOING STANDING UP IN A BOAT HOLDING a golf club? She's enticing readers of The New York Times, T&L Golf, Newsweek, and other publications to inquire about the custom home sites and land-home packages at The Estates at World...

Radio waves: Clearwater Mortgage establishes a market reputation for managing the nuances of an FHA-sponsored down-payment grant program.(Market smarts: new marketing and sales techniques with proven results)
May 1, 2004... ANYONE WHO SAYS RADIO IS DEAD SHOULD TALK TO ERNIE Menchaca. As the president of Clearwater Mortgage in Boise, Idaho, Menchaca used the lower-tech medium to become the market expert in shepherding buyers through a bureaucratic federal...

Price pressure: structural panel prices continue their steep ascent.(Vital Signs)
May 1, 2004... LAST FALL, BUILDERS CRAMMED INTO A crowded room at the NAHB fall board meeting, desperate for answers about soaring wood panel costs. The composite price for structural panels hit $535 in mid-September, according to Random Lengths, and builders...

Loving laminate again: solid surfaces are in vogue, but no countertop offers more bang for the buck than laminate.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR HOME BUYERS WHO are in the midst of choosing a countertop surface. Their options are endless--from engineered stone and granite to solid surfaces, butcher block, and stainless steel. These pricey materials are wonderful,...

Grain games.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... GRAIN GAMES: The wood-grain collection includes a variety of wood patterns, from oak and cherry to exotic species such as bamboo and dry creek plum. Featuring the manufacturer's Armored Protection Surface. the product offers superior abrasion...

Metal winner.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... METAL WINNER: The Authentix Collection combines the look and feel of real metal with the value--and ease of installation--of a laminate, says the manufacturer. Ideal for vertical as well as horizontal applications, the product is available in...

Quartz of appeal.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... QUARTZ OF APPEAL: For those clients who can't afford the real thing, the Topaz line of laminates boasts the look and feel of quartz engineered stone, the manufacturer says. A premium finish gives the products' surface the highly polished sheen...

Plain 'n fancy.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... PLAIN 'N FANCY: The Pure & Simple Collection is a basic laminate composed chiefly of resin and paper products. The manufacturer says the product features an enhanced surface that stands up to wear and improves chemical and stain resistance...

Designer line.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... DESIGNER LINE: The manufacturer says its newest line of high-pressure laminates, the Designer Series, offers 20 surfaces. Melding durability and affordability, the line includes an assortment of granite, fiber, and marble laminate designs that...

Faux fire: versatile and safe, electric units can go where other types of fireplaces can't.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... TO MANY HOME BUYERS, A FIREPLACE is a wonderful thing. It provides real heat, but, even more important, it generates the kind of warmth people feel in their hearts. So it's no wonder that most new homes built today have at least one fireplace....

Vent not.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... VENT NOT: The 26-inch Silhouette is less expensive than traditional fireplaces because there are no venting requirements or gas lines needed, the company says. It has burned-out-looking logs, an on/off switch with a two-stage brightness...

Fire starter.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... FIRE STARTER: The fireplaces in the Crestfire Electric Ambience line are sized to fit the smallest of rooms and can be used with or without their heating element, so they can operate year-round, the manufacturer says. The units are designed to...

Home economics.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... HOME ECONOMICS: Easy to install and operate, these fireplaces are priced right for the new-home market, the manufacturer says. Available in 36- and 42-inch sizes, the products are factory-wired for 120 volts and feature optional heat elements,...

Flame on.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
May 1, 2004... FLAME ON: OptiFlame built-in electric fireplaces come in 30-, 36-. or 42-inch models, including the 36-inch, two-sided unit shown here with stainless steel trim. The product requires no venting--so it can be placed anywhere in the house--and...

Flood zone.(NAHB Briefs)
May 1, 2004... Recently, the nation's home builders called on Congress to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years and for FEMA to address repetitive loss properties to ensure the long-term viability of the program. ...

Stay connected: visit the NAHB online for the most comprehensive information regarding the home building industry.(From The President)
May 1, 2004... YOU CAN DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ONLINE these days. Need to pay some bills? With just a few keystrokes, the money has been transferred. Want pizza? Not a problem. Dinner will soon be delivered to your front door. Want to adopt a kitten or puppy?...

Still stable: the Fed has no plans to raise interest rates to weaken house prices.(Seiders Economy)
May 1, 2004... THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS BEING ROUNDLY chastised in some circles for keeping interest rates too low for too long, on the grounds that the Fed is feeding house price bubbles that will burst when interest rates eventually rise. These pundits argue...

Zero down.(NAHB Briefs)
May 1, 2004... Testifying before Congress, the NAHB expressed support for H.R. 3755, the "Zero Downpayment Act of 2004," legislation that would authorize the FHA to insure no-down-payment mortgages for single-family, first-time home buyers. "The bill...

Green scene: model Green Home Building Guidelines take green to the mainstream.(The NAHB Research Center Corner)
May 1, 2004... The NAHB AND THE NAHB RESEARCH Center are making it easier for home builders to construct more resource-efficient and cost-effective housing across the nation. The Model Green Home Building Guidelines, which are slated for completion by the end...

Water wars.(NAHB Briefs)
May 1, 2004... With the recent release of the General Accounting Office's (GAO) report "Waters and Wetlands," the NAHB issued the following statement: "The EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers have shirked their responsibilities on wetlands regulations...

Urban Oasis.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)
May 1, 2004... Residences of Bradley Place, Chicago WHY IT WORKED: Families are lured by the in-town, Chicago location with large lots, detached garages, and five-bedroom floor plans. * Three levels offer up all the rooms families have come to expect,...

Attached alternative.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)
May 1, 2004... The Gables at Town Hall Commons, Morrisville, N.C. WHY IT WORKED: The Gables' Cottage Collection has a unique product design--single-family homes attached by rear storage sheds-and offers a well-priced alternative to more standard attached...

Pearl District appeal.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)
May 1, 2004... Park Place Condominiums, Portland, Ore. WHY IT WORKED: High-rise, brick-and-glass building touts a variety of well-appointed, one- and two-level lofts, one-level flats, and penthouse apartments in the heart of Portland's popular Pearl...

Year-round retreat: the Carneros Inn, a California wine-country resort, takes mixed use to new heights.
May 1, 2004... AT FIRST GLANCE, IT'S HARD TO SEE HOW THE Carneros Inn in Napa, Calif., could have any connection to the tenets of new urbanism. The 27-acre, $57 million resort property boasts the first of two dozen for-sale homes, 96 guest cottages, a spa,...

Gambling on the future: while the rest of the housing world--apartment builders, manufactured-home producers, and modular-home builders--waits for its luck to turn, home builders keep on doubling down, betting billions on Americans' continuing demand for new homes.(Builder 100)
May 1, 2004... BUILDERS NOW HAVE DESCENDED upon Vegas for two Januarys in a row, but their activity at the casino tables during the International Builders' Show is nothing compared with the bets they're making--and winning--on the housing market. Last...

Going for broke: the Builder 100 companies place their bets on growth, taking their chances on strategies they believe will help them win big.
May 1, 2004... CLOUDS CROWD THE SKY on this Saturday morning in Northern Virginia, but rain cannot deter these hopeful home buyers. The Preserve at Loudoun Valley Estates opens at 11 a.m., and they are ready to open their checkbooks for these $500,000 Toll...

Silver Line commends the Builder 100 for their hard work and tremendous dedication.(Advertisement)
May 1, 2004... Silver Line Salutes America's Best Builders. It takes a great deal of commitment to become one of the industry's elite builders. Your entire workforce deserves enormous credit for coming together as a team. Silver Line knows the importance...

The 2003 alphabetical listing.(Builder 100)
May 1, 2004... The 2003 Alphabetical Listing COMPANY RANK WEB SITE ALH II 58 n/a AMERICAN WEST HOMES 36 www.americanwesthomes.com ASHTON WOODS HOMES ...

The 2003 gross revenue ranking.(Builder 100)
May 1, 2004... The 2003 Gross Revenue Ranking RANK COMPANY GROSS REVENUE * 4 CENTEX CORP. $10,810 1 D.R. HORTON ...

Staying in the game: despite the talk of consolidation, the local and regional builders of the Next 100 have no intention of folding.(Builder 100)
May 1, 2004... ACCORDING TO JUST about everyone, the odds are against the Next 100. Compared with public builders, these local and regional companies don't have the land, the capital, or the financial discipline to compete effectively with their national...

The 2003 next 100.(Builder 100)
May 1, 2004... U.S. GROSS RANK COMPANY CLOSING REVENUE * 101 EASTWOOD HOMES 672 $96 102 HACIENDA BUILDERS 666 $121 103 J.T.S....

After the bust: buried beneath collapsed financing and bottom-dollar interest rates, manufactured home companies have begun clawing their way back to better times.(Builder 100)
May 1, 2004... THE MANUFACTURED home industry accepts boom and bust cycles, in the same way the people of Southeast Asia accept monsoons and flooding. Both groups maintain a certainty that one day the rains will cease, and they will begin the familiar...

2003 top 20 manufactured home builders.(Builder 100)
May 1, 2004... 2003 TOP 20 MANUFACTURED HOME BUILDERS RANK COMPANY/CEO ADDRESS/PHONE 1 CHAMPION ENTERPRISES * 2701 Cambridge Ct., Suite 300, Al Koch Auburn Hills, MI 48326 ...

2003 top 30 modular/whole-house panel builders.
May 1, 2004... 2003 TOP 30 MODULAR/WHOLE-HOUSE PANEL BUILDERS RANK COMPANY/CEO ADDRESS/PHONE 1 CHAMPION ENTERPRISES * 2701 Cambridge Ct., Suite 300, Al Koch Auburn Hills, MI 48326 ...

Waiting for a better hand: multifamily players keep on building in anticipation of renters to come.(Builder 100)
May 1, 2004... FOR SURE, THE MULTI-FAMILY market has seen better days. With the exception of a few surprisingly strong markets such as Los Angeles, Manhattan, and Philadelphia, national vacancy rates were on the upswing in 2003, while rental rates remained...

The 2003 top 50 multifamily rental builders.(Builder 100)
May 1, 2004... The 2003 Top 50 Multifamily Rental Builders RANK COMPANY/CEO ADDRESS/PHONE ('02 rank) 1 SUMMIT CONTRACTORS 6877 Phillips Industrial Blvd., (-) Bob Fleckenstein Jacksonville, FL...

Playing the percentages: builders ride high or ride out the storm, depending on the market.(Local Leaders)
May 1, 2004... EVERY GAMBLER KNOWS that luck runs in cycles. Some tables are hot, and others are downright chilly. In ways, real estate markets aren't much different. Some regions constantly pay off for builders, while others struggle to break even. Once...

Stone work: thinking of adding stone veneers to your elevations? For clients who like the look of stone without the cost and engineering demands of quarried rock, design choices have never been better. But don't let misplaced concerns about a steep learning curve soften your enthusiasm. Follow these basic guidelines and your application should weather the test of time.(Special How-To Feature)
May 1, 2004... MANUFACTURED STONE HAS BEEN around for several decades now, but in recent years, the cement-based material has come of age, both in terms of technology and in its warm reception by residential designers and builders. Dave Hall, owner of...

Launch countdown: these 10 elements can make or break sales at a new community.
May 1, 2004... WHETHER A BUILDER HAS thousands or millions to spend on launching a new community, it can be money down the drain without the right strategy and the proper execution. Just what are the critical elements of a successful launch? What falls...

Keep your options open: carefully orchestrated options and upgrades programs are no longer just for the big guns of building.
May 1, 2004... DIANA ROLSTON, CO-OWNER OF Land Ark Homes in Ottawa, Ontario, remembers the days when her company's model homes showcased only standard items. Buyers were sent to suppliers all over town to purchase upgrades. They got confused and didn't spend...

What's a ZigBee? An industry alliance says wireless home control products based on a new low data rate network standard will ship by year's end.(Builder tech: new gadgets. New systems. New Future)
May 1, 2004... THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH WRITTEN IN THE past 15 to 20 years about smart homes and emerging wireless technologies that never materialized that it's easy to be skeptical when a new group comes along and proclaims that wireless home control is at...

Home nets grow.(Builder Tech)
May 1, 2004... A new report from advocacy and research group the Internet Home Alliance says that 12 percent of U.S. single-family households with Internet access now have home networks--a number expected to jump to 16 percent, or 10 million households, by...

Cat-5 camera.(Builder Tech)
May 1, 2004... Greyfox Systems recently released a new system that lets homeowners run a security camera monitoring system over Category-5 wiring. When combined with Greyfox's Internet protocol video server, the CAT5 Camera Module lets homeowners monitor...

No small service: a new Atlanta-based survey group targets small builders.(Builder Tech)
May 1, 2004... EVERY BUILDER WANTS TO TOUT A HIGH RATING on a customer service survey as a selling point to a potential customer. The problem for smaller builders is that most don't do enough annual volume to be considered by large national builder surveys...

Tool watch.(Builder Tech)
May 1, 2004... Robert Bosch Power Tool Corp. has added ToolWatch Express to its line of digital power tools. ToolWatch Express lets builders keep tabs on tools and equipment. The system has builders apply bar codes to tools so that they can be scanned before...

Funding frees up.(Builder Tech)
May 1, 2004... In a sign that the tech crash may finally be receding, HomeSphere recently landed $1 million of venture capital funding from Enhanced Capital Partners, an investment firm that funds small and emerging companies. The funding will help HomeSphere...