In 2005, demand for new homes in many markets was propelled to unsustainable levels by speculative buying. We are now on the other side of that slope. Speculative demand has ceased and speculators are now putting their homes back on the market.
All of a sudden, the ads in the paper show special mortgage deals, special incentives. That's an absolute indicator that the market has softened.
Overcoming tight labor markets in many regions and the hurricanes' impact in the southeast, we surpassed our expectations for fourth quarter home deliveries. We produced over $2bn in revenues this quarter, which exceeded our entire year's production just five years ago.