Economy: Page 136


  • Wary of put-backs, banks are gun-shy about mortgages

    They simply do not trust Fannie and Freddie to keep loans they buy from lenders.

    By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 4, 2012
  • Univ. of Ky. signs up with a partner for a long-term, live-in relationship

    The university, facing large maintenance costs for aging housing, formed a partnership with the EdR student-housing REIT.

    By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 3, 2012
  • AGC image library construction worker with steel Explore the Trendline
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    Permission granted by Associated General Contractors of America
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    Trendline

    Labor

    A roundup of articles about issues affecting the workforce.

    By Construction Dive staff
  • The market is favoring owning over renting as the year wears on

    Returns from home-building companies have been rising while apartment-owning funds have seen a decline.

    By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 3, 2012
  • Feds charge Calif. man was running fraudulent mortgage-relief scam

    Prosecutors say the scheme victimized more than 1,000 underwater owners who were trying to keep their homes.

    By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 2, 2012
  • Morgan Stanley: Housing prices will continue to rise

    The investment giant predicts that even a bearish finish to the year would find home prices up 4% to 6%.

    By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 2, 2012
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    Procore
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    What can you do to hang onto talent as markets come back?

    Having to work to keep good employees is a challenge that comes with a recovering market.

    By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 1, 2012
  • Total construction spending slackened in August, analysis finds

    Observers say construction spending was at a slower pace in August than in July, though still up from 2011.

    By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 1, 2012
  • Deep Dive

    Most Read Construction News of the Week: Hurricanes, AirStone and giant cranes

    Every Friday, for one post, we let you pick the most important stories of the week. Here are the results.

    By Sept. 27, 2012
  • Home-sale contracts were off some in August, but sales agents unworried

    The National Association of Realtors found contracts for homes slackened a bit last month.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 27, 2012
  • ULI's mid-term perspective: Commercial will grow, but less than hoped

    The Urban Land Institute's poll of economists made it scale back sales expectations for commercial properties.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 27, 2012
  • FHFA in step with parade of positive housing-price reports

    The Federal Housing Finance Agency measured a 3.7% gain from July 2011 to this year.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 26, 2012
  • After sliding for 3 months, overall construction starts were up in August

    McGraw-Hill found increases in all types of construction, both buildings and other projects.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 26, 2012
  • Median U.S. new-home price: $256,900, unseen since March 2007

    Even though the pace of sales of new homes retreated slightly last month, builders liked the price news.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 26, 2012
  • Now for the second act: Downtown Chicago tower shell is revving up with new financial fuel

    In 2008, the condo and hotel building on West Wacker Drive stopped 25 floors into its way toward 90 stories.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 25, 2012
  • Case-Shiller brings good news for the third month running

    The index that the media often call "widely watched" said home prices were up again in July after May and June increases.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 25, 2012
  • How much will U.S. transportation funding fall off the 'cliff'?

    The Highway Trust Fund is not directly affected by the budget cuts that, as it stands now, will hit on Jan. 2, but contributions to it are.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 25, 2012
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    Lennar clocks another good quarter, soaring past year-ago profits

    The home-builder reported 40 cents per share, which is 263% more than the 2011 third-quarter profit of 11 cents.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 24, 2012
  • AIA survey shows what the recession hath wrought in the business of architecture

    An American Institute of Architects poll of firms showed revenue declined 41% between 2008 and 2011.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 24, 2012
  • Land: Speed bump on the route to a continued housing recovery

    Keeping up the return from the recession will require building lots bought at affordable prices.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 23, 2012
  • U.S. looks to create commercial opportunities in Vietnam, Indonesia

    A trade mission in November is intended to put U.S. infrastructure companies in touch with potential customers.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 21, 2012
  • Recovery? Construction jobs off in 30 states in 2011-12 measure

    Associated General Contractors blames the decline on lagging infrastructure work an an uncertain tax climate.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 21, 2012
  • KB Home revenues increase 16% in third quarter from 2011's showing

    The builder's profit margin rose, too, from 16.9% a year ago to 17.5% for the period that ended Aug. 31.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 21, 2012
  • 30-year mortgage rates return to July's record lows; 15-year rates find a new bottom

    Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage-rate roundup finds the average 30-year fixed at 3.49% and the 15-year fixed at 2.77%.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 20, 2012
  • Existing home sales up again in August, and so were home prices

    The price of homes has not gone up for six straight months since 2005-06.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 19, 2012
  • Data report: Business is good for U.S. remodelers

    Building permits pulled in July for remodeling jobs were 6% ahead of June and 15% above July 2011.

    By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 19, 2012