Builders see multifamily continuing to lead recovery

At the International Builders' Show, a panel on multifamily housing concluded that despite a potential slowdown, it will still do better than predicted.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 17, 2014

Crowdfunding is the money source of choice for Manhattan hotel

Rodrigo Niño, who has specialized in projects backed by individual investors, is using the strategy again for an extended-stay hotel being built in New York City.    

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 17, 2014

Bi-Partisan Panel Pushes Importance Of Infrastructure Investment

Pols not optimistic about long-term transportation bill.

Feb. 12, 2014

Many Construction Firms Not Keeping Up With Succession-Planning Timelines

Many factors go into creating a solid management-succession plan.

Feb. 11, 2014

CBRE Adds Former Walker & Dunlop Guru

JACKSONVILLE, FL—During his tenure at W&D, Phil Rachels was responsible for arranging financing and institutional equity investments totaling more than $2.2 billion.

Feb. 10, 2014

Construction jobs added in Jan., but jobless rate also rises

Nonresidential construction contributed almost 48% of the hiring in January as 48,100 more people found work, but the industry's unemployment ticked up.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 9, 2014

GSA FY 2014 Construction Funding For Space Consolidation Efforts

Congress Willing to Spend Money on Construction to Save Money in Long-Run The appropriations law Congress passed last week sets the General Services Administration’s (GSA) FY 2014 construction funding at $1.5 billion—about $500 million for new construction and $1 billion for repairs and alterati...

Feb. 6, 2014

CoreLogic: Housing prices up 11% over 2012

CoreLogic reports that its Housing Price Index was up 11% year-over-year in December with distressed sales included, 9.9% without them.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 5, 2014

The new home building boom: Remodeling

Why move when you can have a new house where you are? That seems to be the trend, as remodeling spending last year rose 3.1%.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 4, 2014

ABC: Nonresidential spending down in 2013

Associated Builders and Contractors reported mostly negative numbers for December, but the group sees growth on the horizon this year.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 3, 2014

Residential propped up U.S. construction spending in 2013

Last year will not go down as a great one for contractors, but at least building houses and apartments put the total spending on construction up 4.8%.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 3, 2014

Carbon steel prices rise in Jan., but prediction for flat 2014 remains

Prices for carbon steel pipe rose in January, the first uptick in eight months.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 2, 2014

AGC liked Obama's words, but where's the money for infrastructure?

Associated General Contractors gave President Obama credit for asking Congress to move on infrastructure repairs, but wonders who will find a way to pay.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 31, 2014

Economists: One mediocre quarter for housing is not a trend

In the fourth quarter of 2013, housing was a drag on the U.S. economy instead of an engine behind it for the first time in three years.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 30, 2014

With contracts up 4%, D.R. Horton expects strong spring

Horton, which sells more houses than anyone else in the U.S., says it can hold prices steady and even raise them in some markets.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 28, 2014

Concrete industry expects 8% growth for 2014

The Portland Cement Association says it thinks that pent-up demand will pour out in the housing market this year and lead the way to higher sales.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 28, 2014

Drop in Dec. new home sales renews debate about recovery

Sales in December were at an annual pace of 414,000, down from a revised November number, and no one knows if it was due to cold weather, weak legs in the recovery, or both.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 27, 2014

South Florida is sprouting condo towers amid new building boom

The pace is not as fast as during the last boom from 2003-2007, but residential buildings are rising rapidly as developers see a demand for them.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 27, 2014

Companies that aren't hiring are also unlikely to be building

A survey of "middle" companies found that there are too many "ifs" for them to be hiring yet, which makes them unlikely to invest in new space.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 26, 2014

Fla. sees predicted wage increases amid tight labor market

In the Orlando area and across Florida, the widely discussed shortage of construction labor is showing up in rising wages for crafts and professionals.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 26, 2014

Private-sector investors seen as funding source for infrastructure

Institutional investors are looking to step up their participation in infrastructure projects, but those have to be structured with a solid revenue stream.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 24, 2014

Builders put positive spin on negative number for housing starts

Housing starts in the U.S. fell from November to December, but the National Association of Home Builders is happy with a down number that was the third highest of the year.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 22, 2014

While contractors look up, architects' billing index falls again

At the same time that numerous reports say most contractors are feeling good about 2014, the American Institute of Architects' billings index, a leading economic indicator, fell again in December.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 22, 2014

After losing construction jobs in 2012, Florida seeks workers

The Sunshine State took the hardest hit during the recession, lopping off half of its 700,000-strong construction workforce, and now it has to rebuild.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 21, 2014

U.S. housing prices are justified – if you ignore California

Ratings company Fitch figures that American housing prices are 15% overvalued, but that changes when you remove certain worrisome markets like San Francisco.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 21, 2014