Builder Magazine presents six lessons for builders to learn from the housing bust, including 'limit your land holdings', 'build smarter', and 'diversify beyond new-home construction'.
"1. Build Smarter
When K. Hovnanian unveiled its high-performance Building America Concept Home earlier this month, it took a bolder step onto a path towards energy-efficient construction that more builders are also now walking.
Building efficient homes makes business sense in what's shaping up to be a tougher regulatory climate. As such, it's not surprising to see more builders promote their "greenness." Lennar and Concordia Homes are among the builders that have made solar panels standard for certain of their communities. Artistic Homes in New Mexico has spent the last decade moving towards its ultimate goal of building net-zero-energy homes exclusively. And then there's Centex and Pulte, whose merger brings together two companies whose homes have garnered recognition for their energy-saving features.
Environmental concern is also manifesting itself in builders' and buyers' increasing interest in transit-oriented development."
FULL STORY: 6 Lessons For Builders From the Housing Bust
Breaking NYC’s Housing Speculation Cycle
When wealthy investors treat homes like poker chips, it is the tenants who end up losing. How do we interrupt the vicious cycle of speculation and displacement?
Boston Will Urge Developers to Provide Diversity Disclosures
Stopping short of a mandate, the city plans to request that developers provide information about diversity and inclusion on their teams.
Changing the Rules to Bring More Capital to Developers of Color
LISC and Enterprise, two large community development intermediaries, have announced major racial equity initiatives that emphasize how affordable housing gets built—and who builds it. We take a closer look at what they’re planning.
Seattle Legalizes Co-Living
A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.
NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project
Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.
Denver's New High-Rise Integrates Vertical Canyon in Architectural Design
Unlike other new builds in Denver, Colorado, a new high-rise reveals a unique “sculptural canyon” running vertically through the facade to foster a sense of community and connection to nature.
Federal Resilience Program a Lifeline for Affordable Housing Providers
The little-known Green and Resilient Retrofit Program funds upgrades and repairs that improve efficiency and comfort in existing housing stock.
Fort Worth To Relaunch Bike Share System in January
Trinity Metro shuttered its current system at the end of November and plans to relaunch with a mostly-electric system.
A Brief History of Kansas City’s Microtransit
The city’s costly experiment with on-demand transit is yielding to more strategic investment.
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