The warehouse looks like a foreign object that sprouted in the middle of a Midtown neighborhood. Surrounding the two-story warehouse at 802 Rozelle St. are two-story, single-family homes with fenced yards. The adjacent CSX and Union Pacific railyard is the only indicator that this enclave was once an industrial area. After a $2 million renovation, the dated warehouse will emerge as a highly modern neighborhood asset.

2. US New-Home Sales Climb to Best Level Since Late 2007 - Wednesday, August 24, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans stepped up their purchases of new homes in July to the fastest pace in nearly nine years, the latest sign that low mortgage rates and a solid job market are helping support the residential real estate market.

3. City Council Approves Colonial Conversion, Vintage Trolley Purchase - Wednesday, January 20, 2016

One of two golf courses at Colonial Country Club would give way to houses under a planned development approved Tuesday, Jan. 19, by the Memphis City Council.

The council approved a development that would turn the north course at Colonial into either a mix of single-family homes, townhouses and cottages or a mix of housing for senior citizens.

4. Southern Junkers Holding Fall Sale in Overton Square - Thursday, September 10, 2015

Transformed trash will be on display in Overton Square this weekend.

Southern Junkers will host its annual fall market in the entertainment district’s Tower Courtyard Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

5. Good Health, Wealth Go Hand in Hand - Thursday, March 5, 2015

Ray’s Take: One of the biggest and most challenging issues in retirement is how to plan and pay for health care expenses. Medical bills can mushroom in later life and empty nest eggs. Reimbursements are being reduced regularly. The healthier we are, and remain, the lower our health costs will be. Especially in a world where health costs are rising more each year.

6. Millennial Challenge: Do I Rent or Do I Own? - Saturday, January 17, 2015

Mike Smalling is a mortgage loan originator with F&M Mortgage and is a lifer in mortgage lending. He recently penned a book entitled “Your Mortgage Matters,” and the work provides information for those new to home buying, as well as those that have bought and sold numerous homes.

7. Shelby County Homebuilding Activity Continues to Slow - Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Homebuilding in Shelby County was off last year’s pace again in November, with builders pulling fewer permits and selling fewer homes than in November 2013.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 43 permits last month, down 29.5 percent from 61 permits in November 2013, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. The 43 permits filed in November is down 31.7 percent from the 63 permits filed in October.

8. Shelby County Building Permits Dip in October - Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Shelby County home building activity cooled in October, with builders pulling 5.9 percent fewer permits than in October 2013.

Shelby County homebuilders pulled 63 permits in October, down 5.9 percent from 67 in October 2013, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, chandlerreports.com. The 63 permits filed in October is down 18 percent from the 77 permits builders filed in Shelby County in September.

9. Stonewall Jackson's Little Slice of Heaven in Brentwood - Saturday, November 22, 2014

“Everybody has to meet his Waterloo,” sings honky-tonk hero Stonewall Jackson in his breakthrough No. 1 hit back in 1959.

Of course, that line, the entire song really, means everybody must meet his or her fate someday.

10. HipD: Donelson Finds Its Cool Side - Saturday, September 27, 2014

The tag “Hip Donelson” evoked plenty of snickers, eye rolls and snarky comments when it first appeared. After all, the local joke goes, Donelson’s known for hip replacements – not hipsters.

11. Discover Labor Day Getaways Close to Home - Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Labor Day, the traditional end to summer. Public swimming pools are closing and college football is getting underway.

It’s also time for one last getaway before fall settles in, especially if you have school-age children.

12. Lot Shortage Poses Next Roadblock - Saturday, July 26, 2014

Local homebuilders say a dearth of developed lots is slowing down the new housing rebound, weighing down an industry still trying to drag itself out of the rubble left by the worst recession in decades.

13. Uphill Climb - Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Shelby County’s homebuilding industry is off to a slow start in 2014, with builders filing 16.6 percent fewer permits in the second quarter than in the same three-month period a year ago.

Builders filed 245 permits in Shelby County in the second quarter, compared with 294 permits in the second quarter of 2013, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. Builders filed 191 permits in the first quarter.

14. March Building Permits Drop 35 Percent - Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Homebuilding declined significantly in March compared to a year ago, with builders filing 35.2 percent fewer permits than last year.

Builders pulled 57 permits in March, down from 88 permits in March 2013, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. The 57 permits filed by builders in March was down from 67 permits filed in February.

15. Winter Drags Down Q1 Building Permits - Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Shelby County’s homebuilding industry, plagued by poor weather early in 2014, got off to a slow start in the first quarter, with builders filing 14.2 percent fewer permits than in the same three-month period a year ago.

16. Lot Dearth Problematic for Builders - Saturday, March 8, 2014

A dwindling supply of developed lots could threaten the nascent local homebuilding rebound, according to homebuilders.

“It’s going to eventually sidetrack the recovery because there’s not enough lots being developed to replace the supply,” said Charles Morgan of Vintage Homes LLC.

17. Cost Crunch - Saturday, March 8, 2014

The aftermath of the housing crash and economic recession produced a roller coaster of changes in construction costs, one with more peaks than valleys.

And local construction industry officials and homebuilders say they’re still struggling with fluctuating prices for materials.

18. New Home Permits See Slight Bump - Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Despite bitterly cold temperatures that plagued the Memphis area last month, homebuilders pulled slightly more housing permits in January when compared to the same month last year.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 64 permits in January, up from 57 permits filed in January 2013 and 53 permits in December 2013, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

19. Building Permits Dip in 2013 - Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Last year turned out to be a mixed bag for Shelby County homebuilders, who filed fewer permits in 2013 than they did in 2012 but sold slightly more homes.

Homebuilders filed 860 permits in 2013, down 6.3 percent from 918 permits filed in 2012, but still far above the 700 permits filed in 2011, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

20. Slow Job Growth Yields Dip in New-Home Permits - Friday, December 13, 2013

Shelby County homebuilding activity continued to cool off in November, with builders filing fewer permits and selling fewer new homes compared to the same month a year ago.

Homebuilders pulled 58 permits in November, down 23.6 percent from 76 permits filed in November 2012, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

21. Shelby County Homebuilding Slows in October - Thursday, November 14, 2013

Shelby County homebuilding activity cooled in October, with builders filing fewer permits and selling fewer new homes compared to October 2012.

Homebuilders pulled 54 permits in October, down 38.6 percent from 88 permits filed in October 2012, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

22. Shelby County Housing Permits Drop 14 Percent in Quarter - Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Shelby County’s homebuilding industry showed signs of cooling in the third quarter, with builders pulling 14 percent fewer permits than in the same period a year ago.

Builders filed 197 permits in Shelby County in the third quarter, compared with 229 permits in third quarter 2012, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

23. Shelby County Building Permits ‘Stable’ in August - Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Shelby County home building activity was relatively flat in August, with builders pulling slightly more permits while selling fewer new homes compared to August 2012.

Homebuilders pulled 72 permits in August, up 9 percent from 66 permits filed in August 2012, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

24. Building Permit Activity Cools in July - Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Shelby County home building activity cooled in July, with builders pulling fewer permits and selling fewer new homes compared to July 2012.

Homebuilders pulled 77 permits in July, down 6.1 percent from 82 permits filed in July 2012, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. The average permit in July measured 2,958 square feet and $225,199 compared to 3,080 and $229,633 in July 2012.

25. ‘Transition Period’ - Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The number of permits pulled by homebuilders in the second quarter was flat with the same period last year. Shelby County homebuilders filed 269 permits during the second quarter of 2013, the exact same number they filed in the second quarter last year, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

26. Shelby Home Permits Stagnate, Sales Decrease - Wednesday, March 13, 2013

New home permits were flat in February compared to the same month last year. 

Shelby County homebuilders filed 70 permits in February averaging 3,142 square feet and $222,975, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. That compared to 72 permits filed in February 2012, averaging 3,520 square feet and $294,109.

27. Builder Permits Rise 10 Percent in November - Monday, December 24, 2012

The National Association of Homebuilders said Tuesday, Dec. 18, that sentiment across the homebuilding industry rose to its highest level since the middle of 2006.

National housing permits in November posted a 26.8 percent increase from November 2011. And while they’re not up quite that much, local starts are seeing increases as well.

28. Permits Up 89 Percent in October - Thursday, November 29, 2012

Local homebuilders filed 89 percent more new home permits during October compared to October of last year.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 83 permits last month, a healthy boost from the 44 filed during October 2011, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. October permits also posted a 6 percent increase from the 78 permits filed during September.

29. Vintage Homes Wins Bronze in National Housing Awards - Friday, October 19, 2012

Vintage Homes has received a Bronze in the 2013 National Housing Quality Awards.

The 33-year-old homebuilder was recognized for facing challenges to its business model and revamping itself successfully. Vintage Homes also received credit for its marketing strategy, Opportunity for Improvement program and implementation of business technology tools.

30. Building Permits Remain Steady in September - Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Shelby County homebuilders in September filed 78 permits averaging 3,374 square feet and $263,645, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

31. Building Permits Show Little Change - Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Local homebuilders didn’t change much the amount of new home permits they filed during the third quarter compared with the same period last year.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 218 permits during the quarter (July to September), compared with 216 filed during the same period in 2011, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. Third-quarter permits marked a 12 percent drop from the 249 permits filed during the second quarter of this year.

32. June Permits Up 45 Pct. - Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Last month proved to be a positive one for local homebuilding activity, with a 45 percent increase year over year in new home permits.

Shelby County homebuilders in June filed 81 permits averaging 3,154 square feet and $233,996, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

33. Active Builders - Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Local homebuilders filed 54 percent more new home permits during the second quarter compared with the same period last year.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 247 permits during the quarter (April to June), compared with 160 filed during Q2 2011, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

34. Homebuilding Permits Rise During May - Wednesday, June 13, 2012

May’s new home permit totals saw a significant upswing year over year, and homebuilders attribute the improvement to low inventory levels and low interest rates.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 91 permits in May – a 78 percent increase from the 51 filed during May 2011 – according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

35. Building Blitz - Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Some of the city’s prominent homebuilders huddled up at McDonald’s on Winchester and Tchulahoma roads around 4:30 a.m. on Monday, June 4, trying to decide what the weather had in store for the first morning of the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis/Memphis Area Home Builders Association Home Builders Blitz.

36. ‘New Enthusiasm’ Yields Permit Rise - Monday, May 14, 2012

While new-home sales remain low, average new-home sales prices are increasing, along with the number of permits and permit amounts.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 75 permits in April – up 36 percent from the 55 filed during April 2011 – according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

37. Habitat for Humanity Preps for Home Builders Blitz - Thursday, May 10, 2012

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, the Memphis Area Home Builders Association and Emmy Award-winning television personality Steve Thomas will join forces Monday, June 4, to kickoff Habitat for Humanity International’s Home Builders Blitz 2012.

38. March Permits Improve 47 Pct. - Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Last month proved to be a positive one for local homebuilding activity, with a 47 percent increase year over year in new home permits.

Shelby County homebuilders in March filed 75 permits averaging 3,224 square feet and $243,143, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

39. Permits Rise 60 Pct. in Q4 - Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Local homebuilders filed 60 percent more new home permits during the fourth quarter compared with the same period last year, but as with 2011’s overall total, there were several underlying factors that created artificially high year-over-year totals.

40. Permits Remain Flat in 2011 - Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Last year’s new home permits filed by local homebuilders were unchanged from the year prior, and inventory continued to deplete due to lack of demand.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 742 permits during 2011, compared to 740 in 2010, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

41. Vintage Homes Helps Buyers Build Credit - Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Vintage Homes LLC created its Home Buyers Connection program two years ago, and the company is forecasting 2012 to be its most successful year yet.

42. Permit Increase Implies ‘False Hope’ - Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Local homebuilders filed 75 percent more new home permits during November compared to the same month last year, but there are several underlying factors in those artificially high year-over-year totals.

43. Vintage Homes Named Builder of the Year - Monday, October 24, 2011

Charles Morgan, president of Memphis-based Vintage Homes LLC, was named 2011 Builder of the Year by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency Monday, Oct. 17, at the Governor’s Housing Summit in Franklin, Tenn.

44. France Perfect Spot to Broaden Palate - Monday, October 17, 2011

We all know that travel is broadening, and there’s no reason why that expansion of knowledge and experience shouldn’t apply to what we eat and drink. We don’t have to necessarily go as far as chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain, who gleefully scarfs down inner and outer organs of creatures many of us in the safety of our own homes would regard as bizarre, if not life-threatening, but we should try to extend the boundaries of our personal envelopes as we can.

45. Builders File 70 Permits in September - Wednesday, October 12, 2011

September’s permit totals notched a double-digit increase year over year, much like the performance seen during the third quarter.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 70 permits in September, a 27 percent leap from September 2010’s 55, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

46. Home Starts Jump 20 Percent - Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Local homebuilders filed 20 percent more new home permits during the third quarter compared to last year, giving 2011 its best quarter so far, but experts say there are still obstacles on the horizon.

47. Building Momentum - Thursday, September 15, 2011

Local homebuilders were busy in August, filing more permits than the same month a year ago.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 73 permits last month, a 21.7 percent increase from 60 filed in August 2010 and a 19.7 percent increase from 61 filed in July, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

48. New-Home Permits Improve 12 Percent - Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Local homebuilder permits saw a healthy bump last month, and industry experts said the rest of year looks promising as well.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 61 permits in July, an 11.7 percent increase from 55 filed the same month a year ago and a 35.5 percent increase from 45 filed in June, according to the real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

49. ‘Worse and Worse’ - Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Local homebuilders filed 35 percent fewer new home permits for the second quarter compared to last year, and experts say there’s a ways to go before signs of recovery emerge.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 142 permits during Q2 (April to June), down from 220 in Q2 2010, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

50. Permits Dip 21 Percent in May - Friday, June 10, 2011

While local homebuilders filed fewer permits in May than they did during the same month a year ago, average sales price – of both pulled permits and builder new-home sales – saw a significant leap.

51. Builder Struggles Continue Into Spring - Tuesday, May 10, 2011

As permits decline and construction costs rise, local builders urge prospective buyers to act now before the price of new homes continues to climb.

Shelby County builders filed 46 new home permits in April, a 58 percent decrease from 111 permits in April 2010, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

52. March Permits Down Half From Last Year - Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Shelby County builders filed 51 new home permits last month, a 51 percent decrease from 104 permits in March 2010 – a dip they attributed to the now-expired homebuyers tax credit.

“Us being down isn’t really a story, it was last year being up was the story because of the tax credit,” said Sean Carlson, principal with Regency Homebuilders LLC. “If the tax credit wasn’t there, there wouldn’t be those jumps in numbers.”

53. Q1 Permits Slip 29 Percent - Tuesday, April 12, 2011

For the first time in recent history, homebuilder sales didn’t exceed starts in the first quarter, a sign that demand has caught up with supply.

But both numbers – sales and starts – decreased from the same period a year ago, halting the notion that housing recovery is imminent.

54. Vintage Homes Adds Consumer Credit Expert - Monday, March 28, 2011

Vintage Homes LLC has recently added consumer credit expert Craig Cline to its team as director of the Home Buyers Connection.

55. Builders Struggle to Turn ‘Lookers’ Into Buyers - Thursday, February 24, 2011

While Shelby County builders filed just 24 permits last month – a 41.5 percent decrease from 41 permits in January 2010 – industry professionals are confident the numbers will be corrected by the close of the first quarter as the weather improves.

56. Building Blocks - Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Shelby County builders filed 681 new home permits last year, a 13.8 percent increase from 587 permits in 2009 according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

57. Monthly Building Dips, But 2010 Numbers Up - Thursday, December 16, 2010

While the holidays typically slow down the pace of building new homes, November’s permits took a bigger hit than usual as the industry continues to work through the recession.

Shelby County homebuilders filed 38 permits last month, a 34.5 percent decrease from 58 permits the same month a year ago, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

58. Building Permits Hold Steady - Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Shelby County homebuilders filed 49 permits last month, a 2 percent increase over the same period a year ago, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports.

But that marked 2 percent decrease from the 50 permits filed in September and an 11 percent decrease from 55 permits filed in August. Homebuilders filed 48 permits in October 2009.

59. Constructech Magazine Recognizes Vintage Homes - Monday, October 25, 2010

Vintage Homes LLC was recently awarded a 2010 Vision Award by Constructech magazine.

The Memphis-based homebuilder received the Gold award in the Builder/GC (General Contractor) Residential $6 million-$25 million category.

60. Low Home Sales Yield Slow Job Growth - Wednesday, October 20, 2010

As the unemployment rate for the construction industry climbed to 17.2 percent in September, local construction experts say the residential numbers are a direct reflection of sales activity.

The construction industry lost 21,000 jobs in September, and over the past 12 months, the industry has lost 210,000 jobs, according to the most recent employment report by the U.S. Department of Labor.

61. Homebuilding Shows Slight Improvement - Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Memphis area homebuilders agree that business is looking up, but they also agree that a complete recovery will be slow in coming.

Local builders filed 725 permits between September 2009 and August 2010, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

62. Consigned to a Cause - Thursday, September 9, 2010

When the women of Les Passees sit down to discuss the Stock Exchange – the nonprofit group’s largest annual fundraiser, which kicks off with a preview party Thursday at 7 p.m. – they don’t talk much about the sale itself.

63. Builders Look to Vesta for Business Boost - Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Memphis Area Home Builders Association gets some much-needed publicity this month with the Vesta Designer Home Showcase, which began over the weekend and runs through July 5.

The home show is being held at Neshoba Grove Subdivision in Germantown, an infill development at the northeast corner of Cordova and Neshoba roads, just west of Germantown Road near the Germantown Performing Arts Centre.

64. Rebounding Activity - Monday, May 17, 2010

Shelby County homebuilders last month reached triple digits with new home permits for the first time in nearly two years.

But instead of congratulating themselves for the increase in activity, companies are focused now on maintaining momentum and further pulling themselves out of the biggest homebuilding slump in recent memory.

65. Residential Building Sees Uptick in February - Friday, March 12, 2010

No other industry has been clamoring for spring more than homebuilders.

The horrid weather to start the year has prevented some companies from starting every home they hoped to get into the ground, so the recent rise in mercury has also raised their spirits.

66. Poor January Home Starts Blamed on Inclement Weather - Tuesday, February 16, 2010

January’s foul weather wreaked havoc on homebuilders, as the barrage of snow, ice and cold temperatures severely limited the ability to start homes.

Shelby County builders filed just 36 new home permits last month, half of December’s 72, but a slight increase from the January 2009 total of 31, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

67. Q4 Permits Show Improvements - Wednesday, January 13, 2010

A familiar trend in the housing industry played out during fourth quarter 2009. Like what happened with home sales and mortgages, building permits enjoyed a rare improvement as the year drew to a close.

68. ’09 Building Permits Tell Scary Tale - Wednesday, January 13, 2010

For anyone who thought the homebuilding numbers couldn’t get worse than they did in 2008, that year looks like a housing boom compared to 2009.

Shelby County builders filed just 529 new home permits last year, a 43.7 percent decline from 940 permits in 2008 and a staggering 80 percent decline from 2,643 permits in 2007, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

69. Residential Building Heats Up in November - Friday, December 11, 2009

Arlington is back in the news, although this time it has nothing to do with Mayor Russell Wiseman posting remarks on his Facebook page about President Obama and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” television special.

70. Housing Slump Makes Self Known In October - Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Shelby County homebuilders continue to feel the brunt of the housing slowdown, as October saw builder sales plummet and housing starts reach a seven-month low.

Homebuilders filed just 38 permits for new homes last month, the worst period for starts since the March total of 30. That marked a 9.5 percent decline from 42 starts in October 2008 and a 33.3 percent decline from 57 starts in September, according to the latest from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

71. More Building Permits Bode Well for Housing Market - Wednesday, October 14, 2009

For the second straight quarter, homebuilders pulled more permits than the previous period, perhaps signaling the beginning of the end for the housing crisis.

Builders started 144 homes during Q3 (July through September), according to the latest data from Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. That marked a 47.3 percent drop from 273 starts in Q3 2008, but it also marked a slight improvement over 141 permits made during the second quarter of 2009.

72. Morgan, Vintage Homes Stays on Top in Trying Times - Friday, September 11, 2009

Charles Morgan learned the homebuilding business from the ground up – literally.

The 58-year-old owner of Vintage Homes LLC began a nearly lifelong building career as a young boy working for his father’s framing and foundation subcontracting company. Morgan’s grandfather also worked in the framing and foundation field, so the basics of homebuilding run in his blood.

73. Paul Stanley's Fall From Grace - Monday, August 17, 2009

Jim Kyle, a Memphis Democrat who serves as minority leader in the state Senate, gave the first lunchtime address of 2009 to the Memphis Rotary Club.

Rotarians got a bird’s-eye view of the state’s financial picture from Kyle, who described choices needed to close the state’s budget shortfall. Kyle this week announced his candidacy in the 2010 gubernatorial race.

74. Local Homebuilding Numbers Still Depressed - Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Shelby County homebuilders continue chipping away at inventory by selling more homes than they start, but the industry remains mired in a slump as new home sales and permits hover at record lows.

Homebuilders sold 53 homes in Shelby County in July, a 57.9 percent dip from 126 homes sold in July 2008 and a 34.6 percent dip from 81 homes sold in June, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

75. Q2 Building Permits Continue Downward Trend - Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The homebuilding industry in the mid-2000s distinguished itself through a record-setting pace – each year it seemingly topped the previous one in terms of housing starts.

Now, the converse of that is true as builders consistently set new lows because of the ongoing housing crunch and credit crisis.

76. Building Permit Activity Abysmal in June - Friday, July 10, 2009

Home permits continued to slide in June, reaching their lowest monthly mark in years as the demand for new housing remained soft and the building industry remained focused on sales.

Builders filed just 17 permits in Shelby County last month, down 77 percent from 74 permits in June 2008 and down 57.5 percent from 40 permits filed in May, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

77. MAHBA Mothballs First-Time Buyer Program - Tuesday, June 16, 2009

As if builders didn’t have enough headaches, a new program launched last month by the Memphis Area Home Builders Association to increase home sales had to be scrapped because of a legality.

Don Glays and Stephen Hodgkins, MAHBA executive director and president, respectively, said a program in which the trade association would lend $8,000 of down payment money to homebuyers and recoup the money through the federal tax credit was rejected by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

78. Q1 Data: All Quiet on the Homebuilding Front - Wednesday, April 15, 2009

When an industry slows down dramatically, it’s often said its business comes to a screeching halt. The demise of local homebuilding can’t exactly be summed up that way because it implies some kind of sound is being generated.

79. Real Estate Gloom Far From Over, Numbers Show - Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The first two months of 2009 are in the books, and the real estate market has shown no signs of improving. For the second straight month, home sales declined by a third from the same month a year ago, proof that housing still needs to dig itself out of a deep hole.

80. Q4: the epitome of slow - Wednesday, January 14, 2009

One a day. That’s about the rate builders started new homes in Shelby County during the fourth quarter of 2008, helping it achieve the dubious distinction of being one of the slowest periods in history for the industry.

81. Building Permits Consistent With ‘08 Doldrums - Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Stephen Hodgkins, owner of Oaktree Homes LLC and president of the Memphis Area Home Builders Association, traveled to Washington last week with a contingent of builders to present ways the housing market could be repaired.

82. Local Building Reaches Historic Low - Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The past 12-month period was the worst stretch for homebuilders in more than three decades, with permits totaling just 830 between December 2007 and November 2008.

That marks the only year housing starts didn’t reach 1,000 dating back to 1974, when permit figures were first available from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

83. Vintage Homes, Next Solutions Form Partnership - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Charles Morgan founded Vintage Homes LLC in 1979 and spent the past three decades transforming it into one of Shelby County’s leading homebuilders.

84. Latest Numbers Paint Dreary Homebuilding Picture - Friday, November 14, 2008

The homebuilding industry suffered another period of slower sales and fewer starts in October, signaling a continued crisis in the housing market.

Shelby County saw just 61 home sales by builders last month, a staggering 61.6 percent decline from the 159 homes sold in October 2007, according to the latest data from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. Last month’s total even marked a 53.1 percent dropoff from the 130 homes builders sold in September.

85. Q3 Building Permits Plummet - Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Listen to homebuilders’ language and it’s easy to discern their problems. Instead of using terms such as “expanding operations” and “ramping up production” – as they did a few years ago – builders now resort to phrases like “hunkering down” and “scaling back.”

86. U.S. Bank Leads Local Home Sales - Thursday, October 9, 2008

In these chaotic economic times, with bailouts and bankruptcies galore, with stocks sinking and foreclosures skyrocketing, one thing has remained consistent in Shelby County throughout 2008: Banks and trust companies have dominated the sales reports, and September was no different.

87. Deutsche Bank Leads Home Seller List - Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. in August retained its spot as the top seller of homes in Shelby County in terms of dollar amount, marking the seventh month out of eight this year that the New York-based trust company ranked No. 1, according to the latest residential sellers report from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

88. Lenox Homes Makes Adjustments In Poor Market - Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Chris Christian had been in the homebuilding business long enough – more than 20 years – to know it was time to shake things up.

His company, Lenox Homes LLC, was still performing well from Arlington to DeSoto County to Downtown. But as the housing market contracted, as sales sagged and new-home starts shrank throughout the region, Christian figured he better adapt to the changing times or suffer the consequences.

89. Builder Sales Suffer Drastic Dropoff - Monday, September 8, 2008

Reduction of inventory for Shelby County homebuilders continued at a snail’s pace last month, declining 59.3 percent from the same month a year ago.

Builders sold just 81 homes in August, a staggering decrease from the 199 sold in August 2007, according to the latest Top Builders report by real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com. Data includes only new homes sold in Shelby County.

90. Builder-Sold Homes Drop 50 Percent - Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Count the area’s homebuilders – along with Realtors and mortgage bankers – as another group that sees the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 as a salve for the ongoing real estate crisis.

Doug Collins, president of the Memphis Area Home Builders Association, said the landmark bill is so crucial to the viability of his industry that he has been furiously studying the ins and outs of the bill since President Bush signed it into law late last month.

91. Building Permits Down 72 Percent in Q2 - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

If the county’s new subdivisions sound quieter than usual – free from the cacophony of summer construction – look no further than the most recent data showing how housing starts have come to a screeching halt.

92. ProLogis to Begin Rehab On Hickory Hill Warehouse - Tuesday, July 1, 2008

5700 Challenge Drive
Memphis, TN 38115
Permit Amount: $1.1 Million

Project Cost: N/A
Permit Date: Applied June 2008
Completion: End of 2008
Owner: ProLogis
Tenant: ProLogis
Contractor: The Conlan Co.
Details: Denver-based ProLogis has filed a permit application to rebuild the foundation of its warehouse at 5700 Challenge Drive. The building, in the Memphis Distribution Center near Raines and Hickory Hill roads, was damaged in the Feb. 5 storms that ripped through the industrial section of Southeast Memphis.

93. Vintage Homes to Build Six More Rivercrest Homes - Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Vintage Homes LLC has filed a $1.1 million construction loan through Commercial Bank & Trust to build homes on six lots in Section D-2 of the Rivercrest Subdivision Planned Development in Bartlett.

94. Sales Drop 50% Despite Builders’ Best Efforts - Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Green building isn’t an instant salve for the ailing real estate market, but some local builders are moving in that direction as they continue to cope with slumping home sales.

Phil Chamberlain of Chamberlain & McCreery Inc. recently earned the Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation from the National Association of Home Builders, which he hopes will provide another viable option for prospective buyers in these difficult times.

95. Deutsche Bank Leads Ailing Home Market - Thursday, June 12, 2008

For the fifth straight month, Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. retained its place atop the list of Shelby County’s top residential sellers. That follows the recent trend of banks and trust companies leading the sales rankings while homebuilders struggle to keep up.

96. Builder Sales Take Short Leap Off Steep Cliff - Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Home sales by builders suffered another sharp drop in April, falling 43.6 percent from the same month a year ago.

Builders sold just 110 homes in Shelby County last month, down from the 195 they sold in April 2007, according to the latest Top Builders report from real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

97. Vintage Homes, FaxonGillisConsolidate by Trading Lots - Friday, February 8, 2008
     Vintage Homes LLC and FaxonGillis Homes Inc. are consolidating their work in two closely placed subdivisions in what amounts to trading lots.
     Vintage bought 20 lots in Richwood Hills Pla

98. EcoBUILD Home Standards Prove Energy Efficient - Monday, February 26, 2007

Now that the program's first study has been completed, Memphis Light, Gas & Water's EcoBUILD new homes program has exceeded the utility's own expectations.

A study completed in mid-December showed that houses built according to EcoBUILD standards consumed 34 percent less electricity and 56 percent less natural gas in one year than other homes.

99. Archived Article - Tuesday, August 8, 2006

7761 U.S. 64
Memphis, TN 38133
Sale Amount: $17 million

Sale Date: July 7, 2006

Buyer: TENN CMX Owner LLC

100. First Mercantile Taps Maness to Handle National Accounts - Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Philip E. Maness has been appointed director of national accounts and executive vice president of First Mercantile in Cordova. He began his career with First Mercantile in 1984, serving most recently as strategic planning officer.