Merger of Mega-Builders May Reshape the Industry

Standard Pacific has merged with Ryland, a move that will position them to build  homes in 17 markets. Pictured; a Standard Pacific home on offer in Winding Creek, Southlake, TX. Photo courtesy of Standard Pacific.  Whether the reason is competing executive egos or … Continue reading

Multifamily Development Will Stay Strong Through 2017

Nationwide, developers are focused on building more mixed-use luxury multifamily developments such as this one, currently under construction in downtown Miami. Photo courtesy of Constec Developers. Urban developers are counting on the demand for multifamily residences to stay strong over the next two to three … Continue reading

Fannie Mae Embraces LEED for Multifamily Through Lower Interest Rates

On February 6, the United States Green Building Council announced that Fannie Mae will reward green-built multifamily projects with a lower interest rate. The USGBC’s LEED rating system is one of several recognized certifications, with ENERGY STAR® and Enterprise’s Green … Continue reading

Muskogee, OK’s Downtown Welcomes New Homes

As the energy industry in Oklahoma continues to stay strong, smaller towns like Muskogee have begun to invest in making their downtowns more welcoming to young professional families that want to stay out of the big city.  Muskogee’s downtown has … Continue reading

New Commercial Construction Breaks Ground in Catoosa

November 13, 2014 marked the groundbreaking ceremony for the new office complex of Linde Process Plants. This office complex is an expansion of the existing Linde Proces Plant and manufacturing facility at the Port of Catoosa. The new offices are … Continue reading

Construction Education Builds Norman Construction Workforce

HBW subscribers know there are more jobs for skilled construction workers in Oklahoma than can be found in most other states. The strong local economies of Tulsa and Oklahoma City have led to a steadily increasing construction boom. The only … Continue reading

August Marks Increase in Private Residential Spending

While the signs of a market slowdown for new residential construction have begun to surface, the construction spending numbers for August were still high enough to offset the effects of the slowdown. According to the Federal Savings Bank, Americans increased … Continue reading

Tulsa Area Home Construction Falters in August

Both monthly and yearly numbers for local home construction in Tulsa slipped in August. 215 homes broke ground last month. This number is slightly lower than the 271 homes breaking ground in July and the 231 homes that broke ground … Continue reading

Q3 Brings a Sliding House Market

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a Q2 GDP estimate of 4.6% last week, which seems to indicate a definite long-term economic recovery, but the faltering housing market indicates that our economic health is still precarious. Homes.com recently released their … Continue reading

Keeping Your Home Strong on Shaky Ground: Seismic Retrofitting

While California is certainly famous for its earthquake activity, the rate of seismic activity has been drastically increasing of late in Oklahoma, Kansas, and even New York. While most homeowners in these states shouldn’t expect massive earthquakes any time soon, … Continue reading