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Sales of new single-family homes rose 4.1 percent in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.050 million units, following substantial downward revisions to the sales rate for the previous three months, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department reported today. The preliminary sales pace was down 17.4 percent from a year ago.
“The sales increase for August reported by the government was somewhat surprising," said National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) President David Pressly, a home builder from Statesville, N.C. “However, mortgage rates have been coming down from mid-year levels and many builders are offering substantial incentives to bolster sales, making this a good time to buy."
“The bounce-back in new home sales certainly is a welcome development, although the reported increase was from a downward-revised July level that was the lowest reading since March 2003," said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders.
NEW YORK, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw-Hill Construction has entered into an agreement with the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of California to publish California Constructor, a monthly magazine for its members. This agreement expands the collaboration between McGraw-Hill Construction and the AGC of California. McGraw Hill Construction and AGC of California formed an alliance in 2003 which provided the AGC of California members substantial savings for all McGraw-Hill Construction project news products, including the McGraw-Hill Construction Network®, Network for products, and its online bid management module. According to Norbert W. Young, Jr., president of McGraw-Hill Construction, "The expanded alliance will leverage the core competencies of each organization and will enable AGC of California to devote more time and resources on issues important to the state's construction industry." "We are pleased to partner with McGraw-Hill Construction to increase AGC's visibility.
Zimbabwe's Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is seeking the government's approval for its 460 million U.S. dollars grand investment deal with an American investor for the establishment of a tourist facility in Kariba, The Sunday Mail reported. The Zimbabwe Attorney-General's Office is believed to be currently evaluating the nature of the transaction. Also, the deal has to be sanctioned by other stakeholders such as the Zimbabwe Investment Center (ZIC), which has already given its blessings. Significant progress has been made in negotiations with the investor and the deal was certain to come to fruition, the newspaper said. The authority's finance director Thomas Meke confirmed this development and said that the American investor was prepared to partake in the venture, but the discussions were still sensitive at the moment.
People can be rather subjective when forming impressions. One example of this is the notion of "love at first sight." Two strangers meet, and for reasons unknown – yet undeniably strong – become inseparable. In contrast, this same reasoning can cause us to immediately dismiss a well-intended and capable person even before we get to know him or her.
Similar first impressions can take place in your showroom. For instance, a customer might think twice before setting foot in a store with an unflattering typeface on the sign. Another may not notice signage, but might be turned off by an overzealous employee. The reasons for negative first impressions can be vast, as they differ with individual opinions. Nonetheless, the fact that customers might be driven away, whatever the reason, cannot be ignored.
EAST BRUNSWICK: Kara Homes, Inc. one of the state's largest private home builders of condominiums and active-adult communities, is anticipating filing for bankruptcy.
Patrick W. Turner, the general counsel for Kara, said yesterday that the company terminated some personnel on Tuesday because it is "trying to restructure'' the payroll.
"We are trying to become more profitable,'' Turner said, without disclosing what sort of financial trouble the homebuilder is experiencing.
Kara Homes sent a memo to several employees indicating that "the company anticipates filing Chapter 11.''
Employees would be eligible to file for unemployment benefits, according to the letter sent by Roberta W. Schultz, the company's vice president of Human Resources and Organizational Development.
On Friday, October 13, the Peace Prize, crown of the awards, was conferred on Bangladeshs Muhammad Yunus, dubbed the banker to the poor, and his Grameen Bank for helping millions escape the poverty trap through a system of small-scale loans.
Lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty. Micro-credit is one such means, said Ole Danbolt Mjoes, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Muhammad Yunus has shown himself to be a leader who has managed to translate visions into practical action for the benefit of millions of people, not only in Bangladesh, but also in many other countries.
Yunus began fighting poverty during a 1974 famine in Bangladesh with a loan of 27 dollars to save a group of villagers from the clutches of moneylenders.
JACQUIE Norton has returned to Mount George after the tragic car accident in February which left her paralysed from the chest down, and she is keen to thank the community that rallied together to complete her new home. "I'm overwhelmed, it's just blown me away. I didn't believe that people could get together and help others in situations like this," said Jacquie. At the time of the accident the Nortons' home was in the very early stages of construction but thanks to a special group of close friends including Lyn King and Cindy Smoothy a campaign was set in place to finish the home to accommodate her special needs before she returned from hospital. .
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