Table of Contents December 2008

Editor's Notes

• Stop the Bleeding

  Mortgage modification programs—though unfair—are necessary to stabilize the economy.

   

Products

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  Green Room

  The right products keep the Builder LivingHome glowing green.

   

Inside Story

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  Treading Water

  A construction moratorium doesn’t stop

   
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  Making Do

  How one city is coping with losses in revenue from housing.

   
• 

  Fool’s Gold?

  Toll Brothers moves forward cautiously on a dicey New Jersey project.

   

Top Shelf

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  Hand-forged Faucet

   
• 

  Automatic Portable Generator

   
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  Four-in-one Hand Tool

   
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  Concrete Repair

   
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  Baroque Ceramic Tiles

   
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  LED Work Light

   
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  Modular Shelving System

   
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  Mini Reciprocating Saw

   

Business Update

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  Global Meltdown

  Experts say that the world’s financial storm will continue for some time to come.

   
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  Calling the Shots

  Strapped for cash, banks put the squeeze on builders.

   

Sales Strategies

• Pooling Resources

  Builders in healthy housing markets work together to get the word out.

   
• 

  British Invasion

  UK natives leverage a weak dollar to buy homes here.

   
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  Sharpen Your Strategies

  Industry guru Al Trellis offers a few tips for weathering housing’s current market conditions.

   

Seiders' Economy

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  Help Wanted

  The turmoil in financial markets is making the bad housing situation worse.

   

Digital Home

• Out of Sight

   

• Dig Deep

  Manhattan is the newest frontier

   

Features

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  Show Home Tour

  Two very different show homes for the 2009 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas.

   
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  Only Game In Town

  With credit tight, builders and buyers line up for FHA financing.

   
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  Manifest Density

  Check out four projects that share walls, look great, and may portend housing’s future.

   
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  No Stone Unturned

  Struggling builders turn to remodeling and commercial work, some for the long haul.

   

National Beat

• Changing Course

  The latest Soft Market Study shows builders shifting their emphasis to green construction.

   
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  The Right Reasons

  It’s time to remind potential buyers of the many benefits of homeownership.

   

Last Word

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  Last Word: NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders

  “I’d like to be remembered for my ability to become a strong housing advocate and a key spokesperson for the housing industry while managing to maintain a high degree of credibility.”

   

Other Articles

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  How Green Is the Valley?

  The Southern Nevada Green Building Partnership might be a catalyst for reviving the Las Vegas market.

   
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  Information Age

  IBS '09 offers 250 educational programs during show week. These caught our attention.

   
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  Hot Products

  The exhibit floor is sure to be chock-full of good ideas. Here are a few to look out for.

   
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  First Time?

  The IBS will offer an orientation to first-time attendees and an a la carte fee structure to attract builders to the show.

   
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  Green Day, Take Two

  The NAHB follows up last year's successful launch of green building initiatives with a full slate of activities in 2009.

   
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  Coached Up

  Lou Holtz headlines the show as this year's keynote speaker.