Bill on Marketing

There is more and continued division within the builder-trade association front that needs mentioning. 16 large, national-type builders have formed the Leading Builders of America (LBA) group, in direct competition to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). Of course, LBA claims they are not in competition with NAHB, yada, yada, yada, but they surely are. It seems there is a clash over a recent bill that would have extended carryover losses forward, among other issues. Both groups, to my eye, are just fighting over how many government subsidies they can wrangle. Sad. Did anyone ever consider less government as the answer? On another front, a few people commented on the Dubai experience. Bryan Wahl of Wahl Strategies said Dubai in 2007 was “capitalism on steroids.” Sam Anderson from MBA was in Dubai in 2009 as part of the Seattle International Study Mission. Sam mentioned meeting a developer, Mohammad Alabbar, the owner of Emaar Development, who went to Bellevue Community College and then on to Seattle University. He said that in spite of owning homes all over the world, more than anything he wants to own a house in Kirkland some day. There are a few available in my neighborhood, Mohammad.

Winningham Reports on Apartments

Dupre + Scott continues to supply excellent information on the rental market. Vacancies are up, rents are declining, and a lot of new construction will hit in 2010. There are many positives for 2011 and beyond, but that is a different article. The first chart shows that apartment price per unit has declined in 2009, and that apartment sales below the purchase price have increased, as well.

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