Sunday
"Lumber Sales have Declined 15 to 20 Percent"
The Daily News reports from Massachusetts. "Home builders in MetroWest are re-evaluating the real estate market now that housing prices are decreasing, adjusting marketing tactics and even delaying construction to wait out the cycle. The inventory is increasing because prices are too high, said Laurie Cadigan in Concord, who is president of the Greater Boston Association of Realtors."
"'It takes sellers about six months to catch up to buyers' expectations,' Cadigan said. 'Sellers looking to sell at last year's prices aren't going to be happy.'"
"Framingham Acquisition LLC changed plans for its 290-unit Arcade project in downtown Framingham because the condo market softened, according to Michael Gatlin, an attorney for the developer. The original plans called for condos to be built in the building but the units were later changed to apartments."
"'When you do any kind of project like this, you have to justify it to your lender, the prices you're getting for the units,' Gatlin said. The developers 'found that there were some condo prices that were soft and it seemed like a difficult market to justify to a lender.'"
"'Toll Brothers Inc. is building an over-55 development in Marlborough, called the Regency at Assabet Ridge. The developer is using a different approach to moving its homes: getting them on the market as soon as possible, according to Jason Witham."
"Builders creating more homes for the market are creating even more supply, according to Terry Egan, editor-in-chief of the Warren Group. 'Any new home built that comes on the market right now is facing a lot of competition,' Egan said. Not only from other new homes but from an expansive supply of existing homes for sale."
"'Right now, buyers have clout that they haven't had for a long time in Massachusetts. They're driving hard bargains, and it's something developers are aware of,' he said."
"Lumber yards that supply home builders have also been affected by an increasing supply of homes and downward pressure on home prices. The cost of lumber has declined $35 per 1,000 square feet of board according to David Lamson, chairman of Lamson R.S. & Sons of Hudson. He said it's because developers aren't building as many new homes."
"'They are not building as much, and they don't have the demand,' Lamson said. 'There's a glut of houses on the market right now, and all our builders are cutting their prices for the houses to move them. Most every builder has got houses in inventory.'"
"Lumber sales have declined about 15 percent to 20 percent in the Northeast, and particularly in Massachusetts this year, he said."
Is your construction company shifting from new home construction to remodeling? Find local job leads at Construction Deal today.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
