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The Commerce Department today released its October new residential construction data today. We’re all looking for proof that the housing decline has hit its lowest point and will begin a correction. But was today’s news indicative of that? Well, the report contained some good news: After falling in September, housing starts set at an annual pace of 1.229 million units in October. That’s their biggest monthly increase (3 percent) since February — and a surprise to many economists who had said they were anticipating a decline. Single-family housing completions in October were 2.8 percent above the September figure of 1,127,000….

The National Association of Homebuilders’ housing index was released this afternoon, and it revealed what many expected: As home prices decline and mortgage restrictions increase, homebuilders are not feeling good about the industry. The Financial Times reported this morning that industry experts expected that the NAHB housing index — compiled from a monthly survey in which builders rate aspects of the housing situation as good, fair or poor — would set a new low point of 17 (compared with 19, the revised number from October). However, the reading stayed at 19. Some thoughts: Yay And Nay: A consistent reading is…

As more and more homeowners felt trapped by rising mortgage rates and stricter lending guidelines, more and more homeowners found themselves in foreclosure — not a nice place to be. According to the RealtyTrac Inc., Nevada — a state particularly hard hit by the housing slump — has the nation’s worst foreclosure rate, with 1 in every 61 households filing for foreclosure. Nationally, the rate is one filing for every 196 households. And while homeowners are finding foreclosure isn’t a nice place to be, their neighbors are finding it’s not so hot to be near foreclosure, either. That’s because those…

Earlier this week we discussed our heated anticipation for the LEED for Homes program release — is it finalized? What will it entail, exactly? Good news: The USGBC‘s site now includes news about the member ballot process ending Nov. 26. (You and I can’t vote … unless you’re a member organization primary contact. I’m not.) And the LA Times has some information about LEED for Homes’ final OK in an article about last week’s Greenbuild conference in Chicago. According to the Times, LEED for Homes, which has been in the testing phase for two years, *was* officially announced last week…

As residential building starts slow — the annual housing start rate was more than 2 million in 2005; economists expect it to fall to 1 million by mid next year, according to the Associated Press — some large homebuilders, no matter how many bargains they offer, may be in trouble. They’re not going down without a fight, mind you. Some, like the 50-year-old Centex Corp. and Pulte Homes Inc., are reducing their operating costs and cutting prices via sales promotions and auctions to sell homes. (Pulte recently trimmed $10,000 to $50,000 off prices at an event and also offered a…

Residential construction company owners have a lot to lose sleep over these days. First, there’s the decrease of work — a year ago, business may have been booming. Now, it’s barely limping along in many parts of the country. Then there are the building costs — many materials have gotten more expensive, which isn’t helping. And reports keep pushing the end of the housing slump further and further into 2008, showing no relief on the immediate horizon. Which is why many construction small business owners may be wondering what things they can do to help business run as smoothly as…

We waited and we watched … we heard progress reports about the pilot program and whisperings that a final set of guidelines would be announced in fall … and finally, our LEED for Homes wish was supposed to be granted last Friday when the U.S. Green Building Council was set to unveil the official LEED for Homes program at the Greenbuild conference. But did they? The USGBC has launched a new LEED for Homes Web site — that I can confirm. And while it appears the site still needs a bit of work — I had problems downloading the program…

They’ve hinted at it before, using terms like " will likely slow." But yesterday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said in a speech — after months of a sluggish housing market, inconsistent spending and other brow-furrowing economic events — that the economy is expected to noticeably slow in the coming months. Just in time for the holidays! That should thrill the retail industry (sorry, guys.) The immediate result? The dollar hit a new low against the euro today and dropped further from the British pound, CNNMoney.com reported. That brings the dollar down more than 11 percent against the euro since the…

Spain’s Balearic islands have been a popular vacation spot since the 1960s — maybe a little too popular. That’s why Spain is expected to announce tomorrow that all construction on the islands of Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca will be halted, the Guardian reported today. Done. No more. Details haven’t been announced but the move is expected to save land in Palma, at one of Mallorca’s largest bays and in urban marshlands in Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca. Those areas will be made protected land, making them untouchable in the future. Last week, the government began a plan to remove illegally…

Apple’s iPhone was a huge hit — 1.1 million iPhones were sold in the last quarter. And while it may not appear to be a likely way to sell real estate, REALTOR.com is ringing up potential homebuyers using what may be this season’s hottest tech accessory. REALTOR.com, the National Association of Realtors’ Web site, decided to utilize the iPhone’s popularity and create a search capability compatible with the iPhone. Using their phone browser, iPhone owners can access listings at http://iphone.realtor.com, search by neighborhood, view photos, property info and listing agent contact information. This isn’t the site’s first foray into cell phones:…