PB December 2003

In many ways, he fits the image of a financier. He dresses conservatively, speaks softly and guards his words. But Wayne Stelmar also drives a brand-new Porsche Carrera.

Thanks to demographic changes projected for the next decade, single-family home construction should be even more robust than during the past decade.

John Laing Homes' move into the Southern California urban regeneration and infill housing market makes perfect sense to Dan Konnor, its director of infill land acquisition.

Richard Elkman, MIRM, president of Group Two Advertising, a real estate marketing and advertising firm offers recommendations to help builders overcome the holiday home buying malaise.

At John Laing Homes, satisfying the luxury buyer - one uninterested in enduring the usual custom home process - means creating a division populated with people uniquely focused on their needs and wants.

Michael Bosgraaf, president of Bosgraaf Homes in Holland, Mich., implemented two strategies during the second week of November to boost traffic.

Your assets, including your brand, present opportunities that you might not be realizing.

The Fort Worth, Texas, division of Melbourne, Fla. based builder Mercedes Homes began battling the expected holiday traffic slowdown as early as Oct. 15.

Set the bar high and understand which steps, people and skill sets are needed to reach it. Dedicate yourself and your associates to living the story you want told.

Perhaps most important, J.D. Power and most other customer satisfaction surveys miss the most critical factor of all because it's so hard to measure, and that is the impact of relationships.