1936–1945: Depression and War
When Professional Builder was founded in 1936, the housing market was in a slump, along with the rest of the country's economy. From the heights of 1929, the home building market dropped 90 percent in the first four years then flattened out for the middle part of the decade.
Designed with a Woman in Mind
1946–1955: Driving Toward Profit
Pinched pennies during the war led to spending in the aftermath. Economic growth started one year prior and continued through to 1960, making the United States the world's richest country. The two major sources for economic growth from 1946 to 1955: housing and automobiles.
1956–1965: Baby Boom
As soldiers made their way back home from World War II, the American family sprung into action. An increase in births from 1946 to 1964 created a population boom — known as the Baby Boom. The Baby Boom accounted for more than 76 million births in the United States during its 18-year run with the highest concentration of births occurring between 1957 and 1964.
In My Own Words: Jagoe Homes
1966–1975: A Revolution
It was the sexual revolution, and the home building industry wasn't left untouched — at least not if Practical Builder could help it. A 19-page feature in August 1967 called "Sex and the Single-Family Home" attempted to tackle how sex influenced — or failed to influence — builders' business decisions.
ProBuilder Product Report: New Products
Sustainability
1976-1985: Low Energy
Battered by an energy crisis, record inflation, and high interest rates, the housing industry came through this 10-year period bruised but not beaten. Baby boomers came of age in the '70s and '80s and began forming households, renting apartments and buying homes. As a result, 1978 marked an all-time high for yearly housing starts — 2,020,300.