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More bureaucarcy

ABC: More Federal Bureaucracy Would Hurt Small Business Growth: Associated Builders and Contractors Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has expressed concern over the creation of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB), that is included in the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 (S.3217). The CFPB would add a new layer [...]

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Construction: Pressure builds on the hard-hat brigade

FT.com / Reports – Construction: Pressure builds on the hard-hat brigade: In Rio de Janeiro, three bulky men, wearing nothing but shorts and sandals, hammer away at a wooden structure sprawled across the pavement, forcing pedestrians to walk around them.Despite the laid-back uniform, they are skilled labourers in Brazil’s construction industry, toiling into the night. [...]

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Real Estate and Construction

Real Estate Rebound : Estimating Market Performance: Real Estate is the major source of investment for many Americans; in fact, over 60 percent of the average American’s equity is in his home. With so much riding on the value of your home, the overall performance of the real estate market is important, especially if you [...]

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One Segment of the Home Building Market Thrives

Despite all the bad new and economic indicators there is still one segment of the home building market thriving. The market to build homes for the affluent. For proof look no further than Disney. Last week they launched a new residential development with homes priced at $1.5 million to $8 million. The reason, because there [...]

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Let the caulking begin

The Associated Press: Home renovators alert: House passes Caulkers bill: WASHINGTON — Homeowners could collect thousands of dollars in Cash for Caulkers rebates for renovating their homes with better insulation and energy-saving windows and doors under a new economic stimulus bill the House passed Thursday. The Home Star bill, passed 246-161, would authorize $6 billion [...]

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LEED Benchmark

LEED: Establishes Important Benchmark for Smarter, Greener Construction: LEED: Establishes Important Benchmark for Smarter, Greener ConstructionThere was a time when the term ‘LEED’ – short for ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’ – was reserved almost solely for construction-related manuals and trade publications. Not so anymore. Take the example of a February 2009 Toronto Star [...]

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Construction job Growth

Construction Job Growth Encouraging, But Hole Remains Deep: Construction Job Growth Encouraging, But Hole Remains Deep Washington, D.C. -The U.S. Labor Department reported that the jobs situation in the construction industry -a key driver of the U.S. economy – improved slightly for the second consecutive month, while still lagging behind other sectors. The number of [...]

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Drug Testing and Worker Comp Rates

How Drug Testing in the Construction Industry Affects Your Work Comp Costs By Michael L Carlson Here in Texas, it has been difficult to influence employers to implement drug testing in the workplace. In the construction industry, it has been even more difficult. As employees come and go so rapidly, employers fail to recognize the [...]

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Texas Laws Can Be Crazy For Builders and Homeowners

By Gary Moselle The much-maligned Texas Residential Construction Commission Act (TRCCA) is about to fade into the sunset if activists in Texas get their way. TRCCA took root in 2004. The legislated purpose was to (1) promote quality construction by registering home builders, (2) serve as a resource for home owners and (3) offer neutral [...]

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Fastest Growing City in Texas

Fastest Growing City in Texas Texas is still growing and that means construction will continue for some time. Not just residential construction for homes but along with it commercial and retail. It all goes hand in hand. Here is a list of the top 10 growing cities in the US for 2009. Yes the recession years still saw [...]

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Construction in Texas is big business

Construction in Texas is a big business. And not just from the amount of work to be done but also because of the amount to distance projects can cover. Texas is a big state with lots of land so construction projects are spread out. Why build right on top of each other when there is plenty of room [...]

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Residential construction is on a rebound

Residential construction has finally turned the corner and is beginning to grow again.  New homes are going up at a faster rate than in the last couple of month.  Large builders are once again buying up swaths of land and optioning even more.  We have not seen that since 2007. All in all life is [...]

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Understanding Remodeling Costs

There is absolutely no doubt about it, the most frightening aspect of remodeling is the cost. What initially seems like a small, inexpensive job to the untrained eye quickly becomes a big deal and very expensive. If you have some idea of how contractors come to their estimates and what is factored in, it might [...]

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Home Renovation And Improvement Tax Rebates Or Tax Credits? No The Difference

By: Home Renovations & Improvements Niagara Many have just found out that they are not getting this huge refund on there taxes for home renovation tax credits. First thing they are tax credits not rebates there is a difference. Tax credits are to make people that have money spend money. Tax rebates are for everybody. [...]

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