The construction lending challenge: Why winning projects have to 'check all the boxes'

As banks tighten their purse strings, developers must prove their projects can succeed — or find an alternative lending route.

By Kim Slowey • April 18, 2017

Builder optimism dips in April as post-election outlook moderates

A three-point drop in the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index could indicate a leveling off in market outlook.

By Mary Tyler March • April 17, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Construction Dive

Construction Dive editors curate some of the industry’s top stories from this year.

By Construction Dive staff

Small banks hold majority of residential construction loans

Banks with assets between $100 million and $1 billion have the largest share of residential construction loans relative to their total assets.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 17, 2017

Related Group cancels Miami luxury condo project

The developer's decision to axe the Auberge Residences is another sign that the area's luxury condo market could be slowing down.

By Kim Slowey • April 17, 2017

Substandard housing contributes to poor mental, physical health

More than 30 million housing units in the U.S. have major physical or health hazards, per a report from the Urban Institute exploring ways to battle blight.

By Mary Tyler March • April 17, 2017

Builders, remodelers confident despite labor, inventory woes

Architects, too, are optimistic again after a cautious 2016, according to the Houzz Renovation Barometer for the first quarter of 2017.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 17, 2017

Construction material prices rise for fourth-consecutive month

Price growth slowed slightly, likely due to deflating confidence in the economy and speculation about a potential delay of President Donald Trump's infrastructure plan.

By Mary Tyler March • April 13, 2017

Builders to benefit from targeting immigrant homebuyers

Newcomers to the U.S. continue to play a key role in the housing market’s recovery from the recession, says a new report from the Urban Land Institute.

By Mary Tyler March • April 13, 2017

Century Communities, UCP to merge in $336M deal

Expect growth in homebuilding M&A activity this year as builders seek to tap new market segments, such as entry-level, and their access to capital improves.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 13, 2017

Down payments still a barrier for renters looking to own

As home prices rise, lenders are responding to many renters’ inability to put the conventional 20% down with loan products that let them pay less up front.

By Mary Tyler March • April 13, 2017

Five Point's IPO filing signals faith in CA housing market

Although the developer has not yet signaled its intentions, the move is expected to help secure more funding for new projects.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 12, 2017

There's an app for that: How new tech is changing the way we buy and sell homes

The growing use of the internet and mobile is spurring the development of tools giving consumers more power and builders new ways to move their products.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 12, 2017

Staten Island, NY sees $1.6B surge in new waterfront project investment

Officials characterized the outlay as a "never-before-seen level of investment in the area" and predicted it will generate more than 2,000 jobs.

By Kim Slowey • April 12, 2017

Renters shift ownership plans as financial confidence grows

Renters today have a favorable view of renting, so much so that many plan to stay put even if rates climb, according to a new report from Freddie Mac.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 12, 2017

Market volatility takes the wind out of vacation-home sales

Purchase activity likely dropped in 2016 due to a mix of rising prices, tight inventory and uncertainty in the stock market surrounding the presidential election.

By Mary Tyler March • April 12, 2017

Home-improvement pros wary of labor market, optimistic about demand

More than half of remodelers and specialty trade contractors said finding skilled labor is a challenge, according to the new HomeAdvisor Farnsworth Index.

By Mary Tyler March • April 12, 2017

NY, TX dominate 2016 commercial development

Nationwide, the commercial real estate sector added $861 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product and supported 6.25 million jobs last year.

By Kim Slowey • April 12, 2017

Developers facing tougher multifamily lending landscape

Although construction lending for large developments has tightened, there are still opportunities for projects with strong fundamentals.

By Kim Slowey • April 12, 2017

CA developer to turn shipping containers into veterans' housing

Community Development Partners' $21 million Rocky Hill Veterans Housing facility, in Vacaville, CA, will be designed to LEED Gold standards.

By Mary Tyler March • April 11, 2017

Home prices drive mortgage sizes to record levels

The combination of mortgage-rate increases and slow post-recession income growth may take the industry into unfamiliar territory.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 11, 2017

TX leads US states with fastest-growing cities

The relatively lower cost of living and economic stability are together fueling migration to cities in the Lone Star State.

By Mary Tyler March • April 11, 2017

Builders continue to put larger homes on smaller lots

The post-recession strategy of maximizing land area is being considered again as builders eye the entry-level category.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 11, 2017

Consumer confidence in homebuying falls in March

Several factors continue to keep housing's recovery modest, including low inventory, high prices, potential mortgage rate rises and, in general, a wary public.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 10, 2017

HI lawmakers consider tiny houses for agricultural workers

The bill would allow houses of less than 500 square feet in the state’s farming districts, but some critics fear the growth of housing communities in those areas.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 10, 2017

Dodge Momentum Index rises for sixth-consecutive month

The institutional sector once again drove the overall increase in nonresidential projects in the planning stages, compensating for a dip in the commercial segment.

By Kim Slowey • April 10, 2017