Ember Heart Construction

As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed new legislation that:

• Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.
• Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

Here is more information about how the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream. If you have specific questions or need additional information, please contact a tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service at 800-829-1040.

Architectural Billing Index

Is the worst over?

It appears to be so.  However, we may still have a long way to go.

The Architectural Billing Index gives an idea of future construction activity.  While an index below 50 indicates declining business conditions, the data clearly shows an encouraging prospect of  potentially increased construction movement.

Is this a reason to be happy? … Well, maybe.

According to an article in the WSJ (Saturday May 23, 2009, page A28) about  a financial guru’s book: The Intelligent Investor, it may be.

This guy’s greatest achievement was to realize that investors should not blindly follow the mood swings of Wall Street.   If we extrapolate this concept to construction activity, it is obvious that with not much activity, there is no reason for construction investors to be happy.  But for the Intelligent Construction Investor, it should be a clue that now is the right time to invest in construction.