BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/30/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/30/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:

• Case-Shiller Indices show home pries continued to rise in November
• Pending home sales declined in December, due mostly to lack of supply
• Consumer Confidence falls further in January as payroll tax increases
• Durable goods orders rose by 4.6% in December, up seven of the last eight months

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/28/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/28/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:

• New home sales in December dip by 7.3% from November but still 8.8% above estimate for December 2011

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/25/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/25/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:

• Leading Economic Index jumps in December as housing turns into a positive for growth
• Initial unemployment claims fall by 5,000 in latest report
• FHFA House Price Index rose by 0.6% in November and by 5.6% for previous 12 months
• Mortgage applications rise by 7.0% in latest survey, mostly due to refinancings

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/23/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/23/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:

• Existing home sales dip in December but 2012 finishes with highest total in five years and strongest price bump since 2005
• Federal Reserve Beige Book shows modest growth in recent weeks, but real estate a bright spot

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

About Those New Qualified Mortgage (QM) Rules...

About 20 years ago, it was fairly common for home builders to have close relationships with outside mortgage lenders.  This was done for two reasons:  to streamline the financing process for their buyers, and to bolster their competitive position by offering various incentives for using these affiliated lenders.  Throughout the 1990s, most large builders figured out that bringing these operations under the corporate umbrella – including in-house title and escrow services -- could make the process even more efficient, while also adding more revenue streams to the bottom line.

Click here to read more

Live blogging from IBS

Later today I'll be leaving for Las Vegas to attend the International Builders Show.  Although I expect to be pretty busy while there, I'll also try to live blog about any important announcements, ideas or new products that I see.

I've also been asked by Peninsula Publishing, publisher of Builder & Developer magazine, to contribute daily updates from the show floor to BuilderBytes, their email newsletter which is sent three times per week to 130,000 professionals in the building industry.

If you do see me at the Peninsula Publishing booth, at an education session or at a party, please be sure to say hello.  I'd love to hear how you're faring during this stage of the housing rebound.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/21/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/21/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:

• Consumer sentiment dips for second month due to fiscal cliff debate and higher payroll taxes
• Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey declines in January, although firms still expect growth in first half of 2013
• Initial unemployment claims fell by 37,000 in latest report; four-year average dips by 6,760
• Mortgage applications jump by 15.2% in latest survey due to both refinances and purchase loans

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/16/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/16/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicator:

• Retail sales in December up by 0.5% from November and by 4.7% from December 2011
• Producer Price Index falls again in December
• Empire State Manufacturing Survey shows continued decline but six-month outlook up from December
• Business sales in November up by 1.0% from October and 4.3% from November 2011

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/14/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/14/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicator:

• U.S. trade deficit jumps to seven-month high

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/11/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/11/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:

• Initial unemployment claims rise by 4,000 in latest report
• Wholesale sales in November rise by 2.3% from October and by 5.6% from November
• Mortgage applications rise by 11.7% in latest survey due both to increases in refinances and purchase loans

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/9/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/9/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:

• Improving Markets List rises for fifth straight month to 242 in January
• Consumer credit rises for second consecutive month

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/7/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/7/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:

• Jobs rise by 155,000 in December as unemployment rate remains essentially unchanged at 7.8%
• Manufacturing activity rebounded in December following one month of decline
• Service sector economy continued to expand in December
• Federal Reserve minutes show QE3 ending in 2013 as economy continues to improve

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 1/4/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 1/4/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:

• Construction spending in November falls by 0.3% from October but still 7.7% above November 2011
• Private sector employment rose by 215,000 jobs from November to December; gains revised upwards for previous month
• Planned job cuts in December plunge to lowest level of 2012; lowest level total since 1997
• Initial unemployment claims rise by 10,000 in latest report; four-week moving average flat
• Mortgage applications fall in latest survey as rates rise slightly

Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Want to make sure your company or event is included in the events calendar? Contact editor Evan Lancaster at elancaster@penpubinc.com.

Hanley Wood Acquires MetroStudy

Some big news for the housing market research industry today:  after what I imagine were years of wrangling and offers, Hanley Wood, LLC has finally bought Houston-based MetroStudy.  This deal certainly makes sense to me:  if the goal of Hanley Wood's investors is to be the 800-pound gorilla in the housing data space, then it can't get there if another 800-pound gorilla (MetroStudy) is in the way.

It also seems likely that the merger will continue to use MetroStudy's unique data collection methodology, which has some significant differences with Hanley Wood's Market Intelligence division.  In addition, Hanley Wood will also pick up a national consulting business, something they disbanded in late 2007 and thus won't have to jump-start from scratch.  Nonetheless, with this acquisition completed, Hanley Wood can now own the national new home data collection space by itself -- until, of course, another well-capitalized competitor (hello, Jeff Meyers) comes along to upset the apple cart.

From the press release:

Hanley Wood LLC ("Hanley Wood"), the premier media, information and marketing services company serving the residential, commercial design and construction industries, announced today that it has acquired Metrostudy, a leading provider of primary and secondary market information to the housing and related industries nationwide.

(click here to read more)

Economic updates from over the holidays

Since the email newsletter BuilderBytes was suspended during the recent holiday season, the MetroIntelligence Economic Update was also not released.  Following here are the economic stories that you may have missed during this time period (click here to read entire story):