Showing posts with label Homebuilding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homebuilding. Show all posts

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Dream Again


CSA is partnering with lumber dealer associations nationwide in an effort to promote home ownership, construction and remodeling. As published in the March 20, 2009, Random Lengths report, the following positive market conditions illustrate why we believe that now is the perfect time for the American public to DREAM AGAIN.

1. Affordability of both homes and building materials are now at an all-time high
2. Existing home sales are rising
3. There is an abundant supply of homes from which buyers can choose
4. There are some amazing incentive programs now available federally and through various local and state governments
5. Interest rates are at all-time lows

We believe lumber dealers and suppliers can play a vital part in educating the public that now would be a terrific time to build a new home, buy a home that is on the market, or finally build that long-desired room addition or garage.

> An electronic version of the DREAM AGAIN poster for reproduction
> Sample editorials that you can personalize and send to your local paper
> Sample display advertisements for local newspapers and publications
> Sample bill-stuffers that can be copied, cut, and used with invoices.
> Suggestions on how to have the posters printed

CSA is providing your company with this free DREAM AGAIN kit. Included in the kit are:

Starting May 15, and running through the summer of 2009, the campaign will be nationwide and anticipates that every local lumber yard and their suppliers will take part in just a small way. Because we have dealer-members and associate- members in every significant city in the United States, we corporately possess amazing public relations strength if we all act together towards the same end.

It is our hope that each of you will participate by doing the following in your local communities:

> Print and display the poster in your stores and in your cities
> Personalize the editorial and/or display ads for use in your local newspapers and publications
> Print, cut, and include the statement stuffers in all your mailings over the summer
> Consider placing the poster or display ad on billboards or advertising on buses, benches, etc.

As your association we will, of course, be available to help you with this promotion. Professional printers can create full-color posters using the electronic files that are available with the DREAM AGAIN kit. Posters can be printed and mounted on foam boards for under $40.00 at Kinko’s at http://fedex.com/us/office/.

Sincerely,

Jim Moody, President
Construction Suppliers Association

Friday, April 17, 2009

News You Can Use

The good news....

Home Builder Confidence Posts Largest Gain in Five Years
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose five points in April to the highest level since October 2008, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This gain was the largest one-month increase recorded since May of 2003, and brings the HMI out of single-digit territory for the first time in six months - to 14. Every component of the HMI reflected the boost, with the biggest gain recorded for sales expectations in the next six months. Read more...

First-Time Home Buyer Survey Reveals Increasing Demand Despite Concerns About the Economy
Century 21 Real Estate LLC, the franchisor of the world's largest residential real estate sales organization today announced the results of its recently commissioned first-time home buyer survey. The survey found that m ore than three-quarters (78 percent) of potential first-time home buyers say that now is a good time to buy a home, despite widespread concern about the economy. Out of the 1,000 prospective U.S. first-time home buyers surveyed in early March for the CENTURY 21 First-Time Home Buyer Survey, 68 percent think now is a better time to buy than six months ago. Read more.....



The bad news....

Significant Downturn Seen for Home Remodeling in 2009, According to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies
Reductions in the amount spent on high-end home improvement projects continue to hinder remodeling activity according to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies. For 2009, the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) points to homeowner improvement spending declining around 12%. Read more...

The odd request for news...

Roto-Rooter Seeks Submissions for Upcoming Book
Plumbing and drain cleaning service provider Roto-Rooter is looking for the strangest, wackiest, scariest and just downright oddest plumbing stories for their new bathroom reader. The book, designed to be a quirky, vignette style quick read will include commentary from Ghost Hunters stars Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson - real life Roto-Rooter plumbers - along with some practical plumbing advice and utterly useless trivial knowledge that will impress your friends. Read more, if you dare....