NATIONALLY, THE HOUSING MARket is a...

NATIONALLY, THE HOUSING MARket is as of high temperature as ever. Climbing prices are fueling speculation about a housing small matter New-home sales are hitting the one-million mark. And in a certain communities, buyers are camping on the outside for new releases like guild students looking to score harmony tickets.

But the national story doesn't always mirror local reality, as builders, likewise conscious of their own markets, know. While public companies report record orders, many hometown builders have a different experience to report--weakening demand, ruthles price concessions, and a shifting market. still they're making it, thanks to slowdown planning, niche building, and business diversification,