Cooling trend forecast after another year of record sales

Jack SnyderSentinel Staff Writer January 2, 2006 Orlando Sentinel

This past year was the fifth consecutive record for housing sales and the experts, while expecting some cooling, see 2006 as shaping up as the second-best year ever.

Everyone from home builders to real-estate sales people are pumped, ready for another year of strong sales.

However, David Lereah, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, says there was evidence this year of "a tapping of the brakes on a hot market."

Back to the Big Easy

Good news for New Orleans: Realtors say they're proceeding with their annual convention as scheduled Nov. 8-13 in the Big Easy. That will mean more than 25,000 visitors and an economic impact exceeding $30 million.

Record year

Locally, look for announcements of record years in housing. Beazer Homes' Orlando Division said it sold 600 houses last year for more than $186 million, a record. Nicholson Homes posted 400 new-home sales last year and is getting in position for a strong 2006. The company has contracted to buy more than 500 building lots at Cara Estates in Haines City in Polk County. Construction on homes is expected by this summer.

Breaking up

After 10 years of affiliation, Brentwood Custom Homes of Altamonte Springs is ending its relationship with Arthur Rutenberg Homes. Brentwood has been one of the largest Rutenberg franchise builders, but Chairman Frank Pizzica said the company is moving into new territory. When Brentwood started as a Rutenberg builder, it did $3 million in the first year. In 2005, sales exceeded $100 million. Pizzica said Brentwood now builds one-of-a-kind luxury homes.