Exclusive Research + Data

Most Builders Believe Now Is a Great Time to Buy Land

Recognizing the abundance of land deals available, the fact that banks are loosening their grip on distressed properties, and forecasts that show the housing market is finally on the road to recovery, most home builders believe now is a great time to be in the market for land

KB Home, Toll Bros. among builders that may be on hook for desert land

Some of the country’s largest home builders might have to buy hundreds of acres of desert near a failed development at boom-era prices. The legal battle between builders such as KB Home and Toll Brothers and a group of banks led by J.P. Morgan Chase stems from Inspirada, a failed development near Las Vegas.

Beazer Homes settles stormwater violations in 21 states for $925,000

Beazer Homes has agreed today to pay a $925,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations at its construction sites in 21 states, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced. As part of the settlement, Beazer will also implement a company-wide stormwater program to improve compliance with stormwater runoff requirements at current and future construction sites around the country.

Starwood Capital infuses TRI Pointe Homes with $150 million for home building operations

Southern California home builder TRI Pointe Homes, LLC, Newport Beach, Calif., has entered into a strategic partnership with an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group Global, LP, a leading global private equity firm focused on real estate. The partnership infuses TRI Pointe Homes with $150 million in new strategic growth equity capital to drive the expansion of its home building operations in California and the Western Region.

4 best practices from the 2011 NHQ Award winners

The NHQ Awards represent the best of the best in quality-driven home building companies, and the 2011 class is no exception. All three winners — Charter Homes & Neighborhoods, Haseko Construction, and Wathen Castanos Hybrid Homes — employ numerous quality management best practices. Here are a few particularly interesting best practices that caught our attention.

Community Development

Back to the land: Trends in conservation communities

Are conservation communities on a comeback? Some experts believe so. We profile three recent conservation community developments that re-think the decades-old planning model.

Home building Industry Years Away From Recovery

Signs are increasingly pointing to a home building industry that is years away from recovering from the excesses of the housing boom. Even with a modest rise in construction last month, the pace of building would need to at least double to signal a healthy market and contribute in a meaningful way to job growth, according to most economists.

Taylor Morrison opens 1,900-site development in Arizona

Nestled against the San Tan Mountains, the Valley’s newest sanctuary — and the largest community ever by Taylor Morrison — opened to home buyers on September 18.

Mastering Mixed-use Housing

Mixed-use residential development is on the upswing, particularly in urban areas. But before jumping into this market, home builders need to consider the risks versus rewards.

Sustainable Landscaping: the Next Step in Green Building

Home builders are getting up to speed on sustainable landscaping practices such as bioswales, rain gardens and the use of native plants