BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 4/11/12

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 4/11/12 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:

• Lennar finding success with multi-generational housing, but how big is the market?
  
• Wholesale sales in February 2012 up by 9.3% since February 2011 as total inventories rise by 9.3%
• SmallBusiness Optimism Index fell in March even as owners report largest increase in new jobs per firm in a year
  

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My Fox News interview on Lennar's NextGen homes now posted online

The interview I did last week with Fox News about Lennar's NextGen homes is now posted online. You can also watch it below:

Since the topic of multi-generational homes is gaining so much traction (besides speaking with Fox News about this, I've also spoken with the L.A. Times and American Public Media over the past few months), I'm going to devote an upcoming column in Builder & Developer magazine on this topic. If you know of any great & creative examples of other multi-generational homes I can cite, please let me know!

Look out for my interview on the Fox News Channel

UPDATED:

Yesterday, I was interviewed by a Fox News producer for a piece she's doing on multi-generational housing.

We talked about the NextGen product introduced by Lennar, but I told her they were not the only builder pursuing this trend, the reasons why, and if it's a passing fad or something here to stay.
And of course I'll post a link to the story once it runs.

The piece is scheduled to run all day Easter Sunday between 11am and 5pm Pacific Time. A good time to catch it would be at 4pm for the Fox Report.

Part II of my radio interview regarding Lennar's NextGen homes

Last week, I was interviewed by correspondent Sarah Gardner for the "Marketplace" program, which runs on public radio stations nationwide, for the "NextGen" series of homes now being built by Lennar. This second part of this program was aired this morning. Although other builders such as Standard Pacific and Taylor Morrison have also built homes with multiple generations in mind, Lennar's been getting most of the press regarding this trend lately (including a story in the L.A. Times).

You can listen to this segment via podcast or read a transcript by clicking here. So is this the beginning of a big trend for the industry? Way too early to say, but it certainly merits watching.

It's also not a product that would work just anywhere: you'd need enough of a customer base which thinks intergenerational housing is a good thing. Want to get a handle of the demographics of specific areas you're considering? Contact us at MetroIntelligence!

Quoted on public radio's "Marketplace" regarding Lennar's NextGen homes

Last week, I was interviewed by correspondent Sarah Gardner for the "Marketplace" program, which runs on public radio stations nationwide, for the "NextGen" series of homes now being built by Lennar. This program was aired this afternoon nationwide. Although other builders such as Standard Pacific and Taylor Morrison have also built homes with multiple generations in mind, Lennar's been getting most of the press regarding this trend lately (including a story in the L.A. Times).

You can listen to this segment via podcast or read a transcript by clicking here. On Friday morning the rest of my interview will run along with the latest stats on new home sales.

So is this the beginning of a big trend for the industry? Way too early to say, but it certainly merits watching.

It's also not a product that would work just anywhere: you'd need enough of a customer base which thinks intergenerational housing is a good thing. Want to get a handle of the demographics of specific areas you're considering? Contact us at MetroIntelligence!