Buckeye Surfaces

Professional Builder has published its latest Best in American Living Award (BALA) Winners -- and they are impressive indeed. The diverse categories illustrate the possibilities of what happens when good design prevails.

Check them out at: www.housingzone.com/info/ca6718741.html

Sales of new single-family houses in January 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 309,000, a decline of 11.2 percent, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The median sales price of new houses sold in January 2010 was $203,500; the average sales price was $254,500. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of January was 234,000. This represents a supply of 9.1 months at the current sales rate.

"This disappointing report highlights just how fragile the economic and housing recovery is right now, and the uncertainties that continue to weigh on consumers, particularly with regard to concerns about job security," said Bob Jones, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. "Even with today's exceptionally favorable home buying conditions - including low interest rates, stabilizing house prices and the availability of home buyer tax credits - many consumers simply weren't confident enough to go forward with a new-home purchase in the beginning of this year."

"While the overall economic picture has brightened somewhat, these numbers indicate that the road to a housing and economic recovery remains very uncertain. Many Americans have yet to see much evidence of improvement first-hand, and are therefore reluctant to consider a home purchase," noted NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "Meanwhile, competition from below-market-priced foreclosed and short-sale homes poses an additional challenge to the new-homes market right now. Although we continue to expect a boost in overall sales activity prior to the expiration of the $8,000 and $6,500 home buyer tax credits at the end of April, unseasonably poor weather across much of the country may delay the full impact of those incentives until closer to the deadline."

The Midwest was the only region of the country to register an increase in new-home sales this January, posting a 2.1 percent gain from an abnormally low December rate. The Northeast and West posted double-digit declines, of 35.1 percent and 11.9 percent, respectively, and the South posted a 9.5 percent decline.

While the overall number of new homes on the market remained virtually unchanged in January, at 234,000 units, the month's supply rose to 9.1 from 8.0 in the previous month due to January's slower sales pace.

In his annual letter to shareholders posted over the weekend, investor Warren Buffett believes that the housing sector will recover by 2011.

Buffett's parent company, Berkshire Hathaway, has interests in many housing-related companies, including Clayton Homes and Shaw Industries. Read more on the story at USA Today

To read Buffett's entire letter to shareholders, go HERE

MIAMI, FL -- Lennar Corporation announced that it has closed a deal with Starwood Land Ventures LLC to acquire or option more than 2,700 homesites in 38 communities across Florida. These land holdings constitute one of the most desirable real estate portfolios to come to market in years.

The homesites are part of the extensive Florida holdings formerly held by TOUSA Inc. that Starwood acquired at auction in late January. The Florida homesites are located in first-time homebuyer, master planned, active adult and premier golf course communities in the Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Southeast Florida markets where Miami-based Lennar plans to build single-family homes, townhomes and garden villas priced from the low $100,000s.

"We are very pleased to work with Starwood on this transaction and we view this deal as a major step forward for Lennar's growth in the State of Florida," said Fred Rothman, Regional President for Lennar. "These new communities will complement our existing operations. We have great designs and floor plans in place for each of the communities and our team is ready to build beautiful new homes at great prices that will appeal to savvy buyers."  

Mike Moser, East Region President of Bradenton-based Starwood, said "Starwood chose Lennar as its preferred Florida homebuilder because of Lennar's proven track record for performance and quality."

"Lennar is one of the nation's premier homebuilders and we trusted their ability to help us maximize our return on investment," Moser said. "Lennar's geographic diversity and depth of operations throughout Florida was aligned perfectly with the portfolio we purchased in the bankruptcy auction."

Jim Bavouset, Lennar's Regional Vice President for Acquisitions, said "Lennar was pleased to work with Starwood on the transaction as their position and expertise in the residential real-estate market had made the firm one of Florida's most prominent real estate investors."

"Lennar's unwavering commitment to the State of Florida is enhanced by Starwood's market-changing acquisition," Bavouset said. "We are excited to continue to grow our business in Florida and look forward to a long relationship between all the Starwood and Lennar associates whose hard work brought this transaction together."

Starwood Land Ventures, LLC is a Bradenton, FL, based residential real estate investment firm focused on land acquisition, development and financing nationwide. The firm is primarily funded by an affiliate of Greenwich, Conn. based Starwood Capital Group Global, a privately held international real estate investment firm founded in 1991. Starwood Land partners with builders, developers, lenders and landholders and provides creative solutions to recapitalize assets with both debt and equity. The firm also purchases debt and specializes in the acquisition, entitlement and development of large, master-planned communities, which may include mixed-use components. Through its platform of partnerships with leading development firms across the country, Starwood Land and its experienced team aim to be the capital partners of choice to land owners, developers and builders. For more information about Starwood Land, visit www.starwoodland.com

ADRIAN, MI --Merillat's "My Kitchen Crisis" contest launched Tuesday, Feb. 23, via Merillat's Facebook page (www.Merillat.com/Facebook) in an effort to seek out the most cluttered kitchen in America.

The contest encourages people nationwide to upload and share photos of their disastrous kitchen space as well as tell the story behind the problem.  The entrant with the most votes will win a $500 Visa gift card plus a $500 mail-in rebate for the purchase of Merillat cabinets and/or accessories.  Two second place winners will also be named and each will receive a $250 Visa gift card plus a $250 mail-in rebate for any purchase of Merillat cabinets and/or accessories.

"We know almost everyone can identify with kitchen clutter," said Mark Ayers, vice president of marketing for Merillat. "This gives people a forum to share their stories and possibly win an opportunity to turn their kitchen disaster into a more functional and improved kitchen space."

The contest runs Feb. 23 – March 21; and voting is from March 22 – April 2.  The lucky winners will be announced April 9. Entries can be submitted by going to Merillat's Facebook page (www.Merillat.com/Facebook).