• Is the Real Estate Market Affecting Your Job? How to Stay Afloat (By Kristina Cowan)
As the real estate market continues its slowdown, it's been tricky for workers in finance and real estate jobs, reports say, as many face losing their jobs. But there is hope for these employees-even if they're not looking to leave their industries.
• Mattamy Moves to Mouseland (Teresa Burney)
Builder plans to start sales in four new communities within 60 days.
• Builder Confidence Stays Steady in March (Alison Rice)
With buyers uncertain about their own financial futures, builders’ assessment of the housing market held steady in March with a reading of 9, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today.

About Master-Planned Communities

• Understanding the Housing Market
Texas Housing Market offers many choices in styles and locations.
• What are Master-Planned Communities? (Judy Hedding)
Majority of Homes Being Built are Part of a Master-Planned Community.
• Why Buy Land in a Subdivision?
It is believed that master-planned communities subtly changed the entire outlook of the housing market. The concept came into existence somewhat 50 years back and offered the society a completely different style of home arrangements.

Compensation and Salaries

• Some Big Builders Still Paying Execs Big Bucks (John Caulfield)
Cash flow and cost control are the performance metrics used by public companies for compensating their executives.

Compensation and Salaries for Master Planned Communities

• Home Building Salaries Stop Skyrocketing (Alison Rice)
The skyrocketing salaries of the housing boom have come back to earth.

Economy

• Meritage Home Builder reinvents itself to survive (Catherine Reagor, Arizona Repubic)
Price cuts are industry model. Home builders who three years ago were selling new homes at record prices must now overhaul their entire operations to survive.
• Defying the housing slowdown (By Les Christie)
Divosta Homes in Jupiter, Florida is in the midst of building a 500 home community despite the slowdown. Other areas defying the slowdown, Texas, North Carolina, Califorinia and Arizona.
• Big Builders Paint Gloomy Picture of 2009 (John Caulfield)
But housing executives speaking at Credit Suisse conference predict downturn will produce opportunities for land and market share gains.

Hotel Industry

• Opportunity knocks for developers in the hotel industry (By John Walsh)
The tables might be turning—in favor of the US hotel industry. A few years ago, when development was booming throughout the country, condo developers were outbidding hotel developers for real-estate projects. Times are changing.

Jobs for Master Planned Communites

• Should you take a step down the ladder (By Caroline Waxler, contributor)
It may be against your instincts, but in this job market, one good move might be in a backwards direction.
• 10 Qualities of a GREAT Residential Sales Manager (By: Pat Curry)
“Years ago, the sales manager’s job was about paper management, organization, and managing the interest lists,” Capaldi says. “Now, it’s about keeping the sales team accountable, motivated, and focused on the basics of selling. Top 10 Qualities below.
• Hardy Growth in Green Jobs Projected (Jenny Sullivan)
There aren't many new jobs sprouting up in home building at present, but that's likely to change as the emerging "green economy" gains momentum worldwide.

Master Planned Community Sales Agent tips

• WHY FOLLOW UP IS A MUST IN THIS MARKET for Master Planned Community home sales. (By Shirleen Von Hoffmann, President Homebuilders AdvantEdge)
Most Sales Agents don’t look forward to follow up but if you want to close the sale, it’s usually necessary. Think of follow up as something you can do to get more sales and make more money that should make it an easier task.

Retail

• Master Planned Communities offer unique retail advantages (By: Tim Dillard)
In a world where real estate and property values are fluctuating and dropping all over the country, Houston commercial real estate in master planned communities continues to be an excellent investment.