Category Archives: Ping.fm

For years, the promise of affordable LED light bulbs has inched closer. But it’s remained out of reach–until now. General-purpose LEDs from Cree and Philips are hitting the market at under $10, a price tag that could give the energy … Continue reading →

The market is in an upswing. The recovery is real. At the 2013 Housing Leadership Summit, we’ll show you how to capture new opportunities, and transform your operation into a team that thinks and plans expansively, but executes precisely and … Continue reading →

WE’RE beginning to hear noises that we’ve reached a major turning point in the housing market — and that, with interest rates so low, this is a rare opportunity to buy. But are such observations on target?   It would … Continue reading →

During last year’s housing recovery a question loomed: Where are all the construction jobs? The answer arrived Friday in a government report that showed the best hiring for the U.S. building industry since the peak of the housing boom. Construction … Continue reading →

Nationally, infill development qualifies as a widespread trend that many housing and planning experts love to discuss. But a new study by the EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities shows that the presence of infill varies significantly in housing markets across the country, … Continue reading →

By Kathleen Madigan Among all the measures of housing’s recovery, one gauge lags far behind: building jobs. But this year, construction payrolls may catch up finally with building activity. Although Friday’s new home sales data reported a disappointing 7.3% drop … Continue reading →

  U.S. benchmark prices for lumber could rise around another 25% this year, according to Capital Economics, which added lumber to its coverage of agricultural commodities on Monday. “We think that the price of lumber could rise further this year … Continue reading →

The bursting of the housing bubble plunged the economy into a recession from which it has yet to fully recover. But economists say this could finally be the year that housing lifts us out of the doldrums. Just over half … Continue reading →

PENDING HOME SALES, THE FED, GDP, INFLATION, MANUFACTURING, JOBS… This week tells us about lots of things economic, but the forecasts are mixed. December Pending Home Sales should be down a bit and Wednesday’s FOMC Rate Decision is expected to … Continue reading →

Although recent months have seen improvement in the number of housing starts and permits pulled, it will be multi-family builders that feel the uptick initially, according to a panel of economists speaking at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas … Continue reading →