New Century News

Volume 3 , Issue 8

An Industry News Service provided by
New Century Consulting

May 2014

To our viewers:

Our goal with New Century News is to help our clients, prospective clients and associates within the real estate development industry improve their bottom line by suggesting the use of better marketing and management techniques.

We use several local, regional and national media and government sources to assemble what we deem to be the most pertinent to our client consulting activities and the services we provide. We welcome your comments.

Please visit our web site: www.ncconsulting.net

to view our current and past projects including comments from many of our clients.

Thanks for viewing.

Sincerely,

Bill Effinger
Principal,
New Century Consulting
360-626-1624 office

760-736-3073 cell

bill@ncconsulting.net

New Century Consulting

What we do for our clients:

New Century Consulting specializes in site selection, forward planning, entitlement processing, community outreach, marketing and project monitoring for builders, developers and investors. We maintain a particular focus on projects in San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino & Imperial counties in California, and now Kitsap & King Counties in Washington state. Please visit our web site to view what our clients say about us at:

www.ncconsulting.net

Spring has (finally!) sprung! The March/April issue of Sales+Marketing Ideas is here to help you make the most of the spring selling season!

Are you a builder, or do you work for a builder? Check out the cover story, and make sure you are not making any of these common mistakes. Are you closing customers in 2014 the same way you were in 2010? Learn the best way to close the deal in today's market. Looking for some inspiration? Read the stories of 9 sales and marketing superstars who took home gold at The Nationals.

In 2013 year-over-year sales of homes costing more than $1 million were up close to 50%. At the same time, applications for home loans of more than $600,000 were up 40% or so. And, at the same time, the median size of new homes reached a about 2400 square feet, a new record.

Americans Sold on Real Estate as Best Long-Term Investment

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans today are more likely to think real estate is the best option for long-term investments than in the past, ranking it ahead of gold and stocks.

Housing Finance Reform Takes Center Stage in the Senate

Bipartisan housing finance reform legislation recently proposed by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) is scheduled to be considered by the full committee on April 29.

This is an issue of extreme importance not only to the housing sector, but to the overall health of the economy.

NAHB has launched a targeted grassroots campaign encouraging its members to contact their senators who sit on the Senate Banking Committee and urge them to support this legislation.

The Johnson-Crapo housing finance reform plan would fix the nation's flawed housing finance system and breathe new life into the housing sector by providing a consistent and affordable supply of mortgage credit for single-family and multifamily housing

Here's proof the housing bubble is about to burst

If those economists who believe the government will continue to intervene are right, the outcome would further fuel a false demand for available housing. But will this government or even a new one want to step in again to bail out consumers?

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Idea Corner

Spring is here, a time for the new and fresh. In our annual Best in American Living trends issue, we visit at all things bright and beautiful-in your neighborhood, your home, products and more! The hottest kitchen design tips; the coolest green advancements; new looks at landscaping; and facelifts for your front entries. Plus, a can't-miss Best in American Living Award Winners Showcase, living single-family in the city and the NAHBGreen Award winner.

Meritage Homes offers free solar systems for Earth Month

The builder will offer SunPower solar power systems at no additional cost with the purchase of a to-be-built home through April 30.

In celebration of Earth Month, Meritage Homes is including a high-efficiency solar power system from SunPower Corp. at no additional cost with the purchase of a to-be-built home in select Meritage California communities. The offer is available through midnight (PDT) April 30, 2014.

The promotion launches a nationwide joint offering announced by Meritage and SunPower in February to provide comprehensive energy efficiency and solar power solutions to all Meritage homebuyers throughout the U.S. It reinforces Meritage's commitment to make every home it builds solar-ready, with the ability to achieve zero net energy consumption.

"Meritage Homes is setting new standards of excellence for energy-efficient homes, and the addition of well-designed, cost-effective solar power systems helps achieve even greater energy cost savings while enhancing the quality of life for our customers," said Steven J. Hilton, chairman and CEO of Meritage Homes. "By partnering with SunPower, the industry's most experienced provider of solar technology to new home communities, we can provide homebuyers the most reliable and efficient solar technology available, enabling customers to create value the moment they take ownership of their new Meritage home."

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