For Builders Only

Spring has arrived and after a long winter (for builders and communities in this region that has lasted for several years now), a combination of historically low interest rates, substantially reduced pricing over the past several years, and the lack of new approvals for new homes make this the time to consider buying new. Add in the $8,000 tax credit this year for the first-time home buyer and it is really as affordable and smart to buy as it is to lease! To industry experts, this feels like the bottom of the decline and by next year, the best deals on new homes will have departed the market. With foreclosures and short sales declining and the number of new home communities not increasing significantly, the ability to buy anything you want at the price that you want will be diminished significantly.

Relative affordability and a “deal” seem to be the necessary components to make a sale in today’s market. Work with a builder to achieve the number that is right for you, but also remember that the builder is in business and you want him to stay in business! Beating down a builder on its homes to the lowest possible price point will also hurt the value of your new home in the long run.

The building industry has undergone a transformation in the past several years. As leaner more efficient machines, builders are listening to the consumer and building homes that meet the expectation of the buyers from both a price point and a livability standpoint. In the current market, the manse is gone; replaced with enough square footage to live comfortably and still not feel undersold with a price point that won’t stretch the pocketbooks of buyers.

Following is some of the good news that can be found in the building industry.

builder happenings

The business deal of the decade is certainly the announcement that Pulte Homes Inc. acquired Centex Corp. in a stock for stock deal valued at $1.3 billion. This creates the country’s largest home builder, with 39,000 combined closings in 2008 and pro forma revenue of more than $11 billion.

At Augustine Homes in Stafford County, Sal Migliore is now running its operation. At Lennar’s Virginia Division, Robert Krieff has been named Division President. EYA has yet again been named America’s Best Builder – an honor bestowed upon this builder by the National Association of Homebuilders for excellence in homebuilding.

The Bozzuto Group announced that Bozzuto Management Company has been named Property Management Company of the Year for the second time by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). This prestigious national recognition, honoring superior leadership in multifamily housing property management, was presented in conjunction with NAHB’s annual Pillars of the Industry conference. Also honored were Upstairs at Bethesda Row/Federal Realty Investment Trust for Best Rental Apartment Community (non-garden) and Highland Park/Donatelli & Klein Development for Best Mid-Rise Apartment.

associates news

Be on the look out for the emergence of the new Leigh Agency. Jodi Leigh is open for business now. Stan Settle has established Settle Land and is up and running. Howard Bomstein has joined the Williams Whittle ad agency group. Fiona Hughes has found a new home at Ecendant Interactive as its Director of Operations.

And Jack Shoptaw has has formed a new agency, The Shoptaw Group in Georgetown.

Lyons & Sucher Ad Agency was thrust into the national spotlight when it was recognized for its work on Silo Point, a dynamic condominium community in Baltimore, Maryland. Winning at the National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) National Marketing awards program earlier this year, Lyons & Sucher’s work for Silo Point received gold awards for Best Sales Office and Best Community Brochure and Silver Awards for Best Graphic Continuity and Best Advertising Campaign.

Chris Delucchi and her strategic real estate marketing firm, Delucchi+ announced that the agency was awarded a gold ADDY in the collateral Material Brochure Campaign category for the Met Warner Center brochure. These awards are the advertising industry’s largest competition, rewarding creative excellence.

Carlyn and Company, a full service Interior Merchandising firm, was awarded the “Pillars of the Industry” National Award for Best Leasing or Sales Center. It walked away with the gold for its work on the Silo Point Condominium Sales Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

Women Giving Back, a component of Home Aid, the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association’s charitable arm, is holding its Annual Fundraiser on May 7, 2009 from 6:30PM to 9:30PM. A Wine Tasting will be held in Herndon, Virginia as the fundraising event. This group benefits women in transition allowing them to shop without charge for new and gently used professional attire, accessories, purses, shoes and jewelry. For tickets and additional information, please visit the web site, WomenGivingBack.org.