Investment Trends:Homebuilding On The Mend

We're a little more than halfway back in homebuilding,according to Joseph McAlinden,Chief Investment Officer at Catalpa Capital Advisors.We've been under-building.The data that we see show that the shadow inventory calculations are actually coming down.The inventory will come to market,but we're gonna have a shortage,and prices will continue going up.
The play could very well be financials and companies such as Home Depot that support homebuilding.For the year as a whole,several million people who are now underwater on their mortgages will actually come back above water.
The National Association of Homebuilders says buyer traffic is rocketing.That means construction workers will buy big pickup trucks and other products,helping the economy as a whole,Mr.McAlinden pointed out.
Joseph McAlinden,CFA,has more than 40 years experience in the investment industry.He has a BA  in Economics from Rutgers University.A frequent guest on business television,Mr.McAlinden previously worked at Morgan Stanley,Dillon Read and Argus Research.
Home Depot(HD),Lowes(LOW)

New Home Sales Career Fair

K.Hovnanian Homes is holding a career fair on Wednesday,March 28 at the
Bethesda Marriott
5151 Pooks Hill Road
Bethesda,MD 20814
They are seeking experienced New Home Sales Consultants and New Home Sales Trainees with a college degree.They have multiple openings throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland.Their homes live up to a high standard of craftsmanship and customer satisfaction.
You may apply online at www.khov.com/careers for the VA Sales Positions #14537 and the MD Sales Positions #14523
If attending,please pre-register by sending your resume to the appropriate job posting on their Careers site by March 22.
K.Hovnanian Homes:The First Name in Lasting Value
Hovnanian Enterprises(HOV)

Luxury Homebuilding:The Toll Brothers View

Toll Brothers' buyers are skittish;they're scared.It's been a choppy summer.The psyche of this country is fragile.We need good news,to get the bad news out of the headlines.There is tremendous pent-up demand.Right now,they're just skittish.The tax credit didn't help Toll Brothers.It's the highest time ever for affordability,with the 4% rate.Toll Brothers doesn't think it's about a price reduction.Their backlog is down.They have about nine months' visibility.They're not a spec builder.In the short term,they think it's slowing,but in the long term,they think it looks pretty good.They feel pretty good about 2011.The housing market problems started with Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
It really begins with the quality of a Toll Brothers visitor.The quality today is up significantly.They seem to be real qualified visitors who are interested in buying.
Douglas Yearley is now CEO of Toll Brothers,having succeeded Bob Toll.They describe themselves as "America's Luxury Home Builders."They sponsor Metropolitan Opera broadcasts on public radio.
Toll Brothers(TOL)