NJ's 'ugliest building' is back from the dead

Mall of America's owner plans to spend $2 billion finally getting the dormant American Dream mall project built. 

By Ron Gallagher • May 6, 2014

Buyers prefer new homes to existing ones

Trulia, the real estate data company, commissioned the survey, which also found that people who would prefer a new house to an old one are not excited about paying more to get it.

By Ron Gallagher • May 6, 2014

Analysts see home prices settling down

The days of double-digit percentage rises in home prices are likely gone, and houses will settle in an annual price appreciation of 3% to 5%, according to Clear Capital.

By Ron Gallagher • May 5, 2014

Construction jobs go to some old faces, some new ones

Contractors are sometimes able to rehire employees who left during the recession, but lots of rookies are coming on board, too.

By Ron Gallagher • May 4, 2014

Single- and multifamily help total U.S. spending rise

Spending on single-family and multifamily construction in March, aided by some parts of nonresidential, eked out a 0.2% rise in total spending.

By Ron Gallagher • May 1, 2014

Nonresidential construction spending slowed in March

Federal numbers out Thursday show spending in March, measured as an annual rate, was down in nine of 16 categories.

By Ron Gallagher • May 1, 2014

U.S. home ownership rate hits 19-year low

The tough jobs recovery is part of the reason that only 64.8% of households were owner-occupied homes in the first quarter of this year.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

Confused global copper market works to contractors' benefit

Lower prices for wire and transformers are helping restrain the IHS PEG Engineering and Construction Cost Index.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

Texas school construction costs total $14B over last 7 years

A database created by state Comptroller Susan Combs shows how local schools spent on construction over the past seven years.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

Bad omens: Architects' billings fall in March index

The index, a leading indicator of construction, slipped under 50 last month after going up for two months, putting an increased focus on this month's results.

By Ron Gallagher • April 28, 2014

Research finds people in U.S. move less for jobs now

This has an impact on demand for new homes.

By Ron Gallagher • April 28, 2014

Construction employment up in 197 U.S. metro areas

Despite the gains, a breakdown of federal jobs data shows few areas are back to where they were before the recession.

By Ron Gallagher • April 28, 2014

How new immigration policies can help construction

Skilled and unskilled, workers are in short supply – sometimes no supply – for construction, and builders are advocates for doing something – anything – to address the problem.

By Ron Gallagher • April 25, 2014

March sales sag for new homes

The annual sales pace for newly built homes last month was 14.5% below February and 13.3% below a year ago.

By Ron Gallagher • April 24, 2014

Analyst: Too much 'friction' will keep home-building down

Fitch Ratings thinks home construction will get it in gear this year, but another analyst says there are too many things gumming up the engine.

By Ron Gallagher • April 22, 2014

First-time buyers for existing homes stuck in 30% range

The National Association of Realtors said the March annual rate of existing-home sales was on a plateau as well.

By Ron Gallagher • April 22, 2014

Construction rises 7% in March after two troubled months

Total starts were up 7% from February, but the first quarter wound up being down 2% from 2013, and weather is again catching much of the blame.

By Ron Gallagher • April 22, 2014

Merrill Lynch trims expectations for 2014 housing starts

The financial firm says it is shaving its prediction for housing starts to 1.03 million in 2014 while it waits to see if the pickup from late 2013 has legs.

By Ron Gallagher • April 21, 2014

Housing data indicative of bubble or healthy market?

Differing interpretations of home prices, housing affordability and lending activity lead economists to very different conclusions about the U.S. residential market.

By Ron Gallagher • April 21, 2014

Economists: 2014 construction outlook is mostly sunny

Three economists agree the economy is doing better, but they had some differences on where housing will go this year.

By Ron Gallagher • April 20, 2014

March construction employment figures changed little from Feb.

Federal data showed 24 states and the District of Columbia added jobs, but 23 states lost them.

By Ron Gallagher • April 20, 2014

Report: Oil and gas will employ 10% of construction workforce by 2017

FMI figures the ever-burgeoning energy industry that employed 6.4% of construction workers in 2012 will keep needing more. 

By Ron Gallagher • April 17, 2014

Home starts turn sunnier as weather gets warmer

Government figures show March housing starts had such a post-winter boom that they drove the national figure up 2.8% from February.

By Ron Gallagher • April 16, 2014

Tenn. highway plans come with a warning about federal funds

The state warned there will be major revisions if the federal Highway Trust Fund is not rescued. Congress and the White House have not yet agreed on a plan to extend the fund beyond the fiscal year.

By Ron Gallagher • April 15, 2014

Las Vegas has fewer, but healthier, builders

Southern Nevada lost nearly half of the builders who were most active in 2006, but their post-recession status is improving.

By Ron Gallagher • April 14, 2014