Blast From the Past: Editor's Note Written Before Election

On the Horizon: A Housing Market Turnaround

Thanks to the vagaries of publishing, I’m writing to you from the past. By the time this magazine reaches your hands, the fate of the presidential election will be decided—hopefully without cries of voter fraud. Whichever way you lean on the political spectrum, I think we can all agree—the nonstop slogan spouting from both sides began to feel like having the same tooth drilled, day-after-day. Now we can all heave a sigh of relief.

Feeling good about government is like looking on the bright side of any catastrophe. When you quit looking on the bright side, the catastrophe is still there. That’s why—whoever wins the presidency—let us collectively wish them luck in leading this nation to more prosperous times. For those of you who have continued to survive and prosper in the new home construction market, take a moment to congratulate yourself. Many others have faded away.

Looking Ahead

There is reason for hope. Some are predicting a market turnaround. Jim Cramer, the brilliant and dramatic host of CNBC's Mad Money, is predicting the exact date of the housing turnaround: June 30, 2009. Here are his top 10 reasons.
1. Two years ago, we were building twice as many homes. By next June the supply won't accommodate the pent up demand.
2. Doom and gloom forecasters keep forgetting that Congress recently passed a bill authorizing $300 billion in FHA loans.
3. Bargains! Price levels will be so low by next June that they will be irresistible to buyers.
4. By next June, Wall Street and its power to drive down home prices, won't hurt the housing market anymore.
5. Cramer believes that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be nationalized, which will make them backed by the economic might of the entire nation.
6. Come June, the bulk of the reckless 2-and-28 loans (the ones with the low teaser rates) will have moved through the system, which will ease the foreclosure crisis.
7. We are still a growing nation (although we seem to have forgotten this at the moment). Four million babies born each year. There is pent up demand as a result, with families crowding into apartments and with in-laws.
8. Immigration. No matter who gets elected in this presidential race, both are immigration friendly.
9. The biggest problem areas for falling housing values remain Florida, Arizona and California. The rest of the country has stabilized.
10. The worst areas for foreclosures have hit bottom this summer. The first to fall are the first to return. When they head upward, the rest of the country will follow.

Tune In For More Info

But there’s other good news to report. But first, hearty thanks go to the advertisers who continue to support us. We have a symbiotic relationship. Without their support, we would not be able to bring you tales of the best and the brightest in the building systems world.

You may notice that this magazine is slightly slimmer. But that doesn’t mean we are shorting you on timely information. Nearly all the interviews for this issue are available in their entirety as podcasts on our website. Not familiar with podcasts? They are similar to radio programs, except you can download them for free and listen at your computer or on a mp3 player. These podcasts give you the ability to hear how builders and architects are succeeding—in their own words. Just click on the podcast button at the top of our home page, for a full selection

I also encourage you to visit our website daily for breaking news on the log, timber, modular, panel and SIP industries. You can also join our community for free, where you can share information, post your own blog, upload photos and videos, ask questions and offer answers. Together, we can revolutionize how homes and commercial structures are constructed in the United States.

I’m Charles Bevier and I approve of this message.