Taylor Wimpey, the U.K.-based parent company of Taylor Morrison, reported home closings were down 20% in the United States in 2009, down to 3,347 from 4,212 the year before.
Average U.S. sales prices for the company fell 12.4% to $255,000 in 2009 from $291,000 in 2008.
The company's "order book" of homes sold but not yet delivered also was flat at the end of 2009, with 737 buyers signed up compared with 727 at the end of 2008, the company reported.
Taylor Wimpey's U.S. Taylor Morrison investment results are lumped in with its Canadian building company, Monarch, as part of its North American division. While the company sells more homes in the United States than in Canada, its Canadian market held up better, actually logging 16% more closings in 2009 than in 2008--1,408 versus 1,209.
Taylor Wimpey also said it committed to buy 3,723 new lots in the last part of 2009, though it didn't specify whether the lots were in Canada or the United States.
Like other U.S. builders, Taylor Wimpey is expecting the home buyer tax credit extension to help boost sales in the near term.
"With the recent extension of the U.S. government's first-time home buyer tax credit to the end of April 2010 likely to continue to provide support to the market and affordability at extremely good levels, we are optimistic with regard to future prospects," the company's report said.
