July 2015 Table of Contents

Here's a thought: what if housing's 'labor shortage' is not a political problem, but solely an economic one? Let's get real about what can solve one of housing's biggest pain points of the moment. Read more

Housing's biggest question in 2015 may be whether or not first-time buyers finally enter the market. You might be able to detect whether a market is likely to move toward serving the lower-price tiers if you understand where demand is changing. Read more

Focus is the key to raising profits, but developing it is far from easy. Here, from the Continuum Advisory Group, is a blueprint for how BPM firms might identify obstacles and overcome them. Read more

These hybrid eating spaces take streamlined layouts to the next level. Bigger than breakfast nooks but more open than formal dining rooms, they're just what modern families really need. Read more

Customization reigns in a new survey that shows a unique set of real estate priorities for millennial home buyers. What do millennials look for when they look for a home? Find out here. Read more

Woodside Homes emerges from the downturn with design choices geared to post-recession buyers. Read more

To stay competitive, N.C.-based Saussy Burbank expanded into infill spec development. The change has paid off in many ways. Read more

The New Economy Home emerged as a solution to the financial strains of the recession, but its universal design and flexible layout still resonate with buyers. Read more

BUILDER"s Laura McNulty looks at Chicago's Flexhouse 2, where thoughtful design and budgeting combine the amenities of suburban living with a desirable urban location--and a reasonable price tag. Read more

Epcon uses analysis to figure out where to take its brand of building. BUILDER's Les Shaver explains what the franchise builder aims to do with its data. Read more

BUILDER's Lindsay Machak profiles the career of John Colucci, a vice president with Westchester Modular Homes, as he looks back at the evolution of modular housing over the last 35 years. Read more

As starts increase, labor is in such high demand that construction crews are being lured from one site to another for extra pay and a signing bonus. Through reporting by BUILDER's Les Shaver and original data from Metrostudy, find out how the situation got to this point and what builders are doing about it. Read more

Builders are getting more inventive to secure labor, but ultimately a broader solution is needed. Here, BUILDER's Les Shaver looks at some successful strategies being used, and how a builder can become a "builder of choice." Read more

July kicks off the fourth annual National Log Home Open House Month, a time to honor log and timber frame construction, writes NAHB Chairman Tom Woods. Read more

Home Innovation Research Labs applauds those who have helped promote high-performance home building via the NGBS Green Certification program Read more

2015 got off to a slow start, but many positive signs suggest a better second half for housing, writes NAHB chief economist David Crow. Read more

Builders across the nation are struggling to fill key job-site positions, and here, we round up nine eye-popping facts and figures that give form to this ongoing challenge. Read more