From: BUILDER February 2006
Posted on: February 14, 2006
Vital Signs

A Word of Warning

Federal banking regulators caution lenders of nontraditional mortgages.

By:: Michele Mariani

Consumer PollHOME SICK:Consumers were feeling more upbeat in December, encouraged by some lower energy prices. But only 60 percent of respondents said it's a good time to buy a house. SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SURVEYS OF CONSUMERS

Regional StartsBRIGHT SPOT: The South continues to be the strongest region for starts, up 8.2 percent year over year. The Northeast, Midwest, and West posted double-digit declines. SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Median Sales PricePRICING POWER: By November, new-home prices settled close to their levels of a year earlier. Existing-home prices jumped $25,000 in a year. SOURCES: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS AND U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

New-Home SalesFALL BACK: November's new-home sales paled compared with October's buying spree, but they remained a healthy 6 percent ahead of November 2004, on their way to another record. SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Building PermitsSLOWER PACE: Permits fell slightly compared with both a month and a year earlier, but it appears that another year ended with more than 2 million permits pulled. SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Housing Market IndexGOING STEADY: The index of builder sentiment stayed even in January, thanks to a drop in long-term mortgage rates and stronger consumer confidence. SOURCE: NAHB

Lumber PricesVANISHING VOLATILITY?: Prices for framing lumber and structural panels moved only slightly in the last months of 2005 and into January. SOURCE:

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John McManus

Standard Pacific Strides Into the Black in Q1

Builder Pulse

John McManus is an award-winning editorial director for the Residential Construction Group at Hanley Wood in Washington, D.C. In addition to the BUILDER digital, print, and in-person editorial and programming portfolio, the group includes strategic content direction for AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE, APARTMENT FINANCE TODAY, CUSTOM HOME, EcoHome, MULTIFAMILY EXECUTIVE, and residential architect.

Standard Pacific released first-quarter earnings post market close last night that beat Wall Street analysts' posted predictions. After a near brush with death in 2008, and life-support from MatlinPatterson's real estate funds, Standard Pacific's strategic, operational, and tactical planning and execution are playing well in what continues to be an adverse market environment in most of its competitive arenas.