Illustrating what’s selling in today’s tough marketplace and some of the features that prospective buyers are looking for, three modular homes will be assembled in the parking lot of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando and open for tours during the 2012 NAHB International Builders’ Show Feb. 8-11.

Sponsored by Professional Builder magazine, the homes comprise the 13th annual Show Village, where building systems manufacturers and suppliers show off their latest products and designs.

In addition to being open for visits by show attendees, the homes will serve as the venues for special events for clients, suppliers and dignitaries during the week. Read More

A new research study from NAHB Economics finds there is considerably more to the story of the stereotypical large home in the suburbs than what appears in the misleading and misguided criticism often leveled against it.

The authors of the study, “The Geography of Home Size and Occupancy,” concede that there is an element of truth in the observation that owner-occupied homes are smaller in downtown areas and inner suburbs and larger in the outer suburbs.

But this characterization “overlooks how many people actually reside in these homes,” write NAHB economists Robert Dietz and Natalia Siniavskaia.

“That is, it is incorrect to claim that those larger homes mean more ‘housing space’ for people who live outside central cities,” they say, because those homes in outlying areas tend to be occupied by larger households.... Read More

With its thousands of square feet of exhibit space to explore, more than 160 classes to attend and dozens of special events and speakers to see and hear, NAHB is hosting a free webinar next month on how to get the most out of the 2012 NAHB International Builders’ Show.

Part of NAHB’s Webinar Wednesdays series, “Maximize Your Time at IBS”, which will be from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Jan. 25, will enable home builders, remodelers, suppliers, developers and others to plan their visit to Orlando on Feb.8-11.

Denise Miller, NAHB’s director of trade shows marketing, will lead the webinar.

To Register

The webinar is free to all potential attendees.

Register for the webinar; or for more information, email the Office of the Registrar, or call 800-368-5242 x8338.

Nation's Building News will not be published on Dec. 26, Jan. 2 or Jan. 9. Publication will resume on Jan. 16.

Have a happy and warm holiday season and a Happy New Year.