April 4, 2007

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            The two previous months were similarly slower than in previous years with 27 permits in January and 44 in February.

            If that rate of residential building permits continues through the year, Wake Forest could see about 600 new homes by the end of 2007.

            That number compares sharply with recent years. The town issued permits for 1,116 homes in 2004, for 1,005 homes in 2005. Because the town has to be careful about its water, now that Raleigh owns the system, it only pays attention to those homes on the town system, and there were 783 homes in that category in 2006. The remaining 123 homes of the 906 permits issued were in Richland Hills using Franklin County water.

            All forecasts are for Wake County to grow rapidly in the next 20 years, but there is some talk of a slowdown caused by the ripple effect of the national housing slump. Realtors say some people who plan to move here cannot purchase a home because they cannot sell the house they are leaving.

            Another development in the last three to four years has been the number of national builders who have begun operating in Wake Forest.  Some are seeing severe market downturns nationally.

            Lennar is one of those, and last week the Associated Press reported Lennar had seen a 73 percent drop in its first-quarter earnings, meaning it will probably fall short of its 2007 earnings goal. Lennar is building Thornrose on Forestville Road.

            Hovnanian Enterprises, which operates here as K. Hovnanian and is building Richland Hills on Will Wall Road, has also reported a drop in national profits.

            Centex Homes, which has begun a very large subdivision on U.S. 401 south of Rolesville and build in Wake Forest in Dansforth and Heritage, had its first-ever national quarterly loss for the fourth quarter of 2006.

            Beazer Homes USA has just moved into the Wake Forest market in the Austin Creek subdivision on Wait Avenue (N.C. 98). The Associated Press says it has not only had severe losses but is also facing a federal investigation on charges of mortgage fraud. The Charlotte Observer has reported the company had an unusually high rate of foreclosures in and around the city, above 13 percent when the national rate is less than 3 percent.

            The following building permits were issued by Wake Forest in March. The listing names the applicant, the type of permit, the address, the subdivision, the creek basin and the estimated cost of construction. SFD stands for single-family dwelling.

            -- Robuck Homes Triangle, SFD permit renewal, 528 Hallburg Court, Heritage Heights, Smith Creek, $285,000.         

            -- Shea Homes, SFD permit renewal, 404 Vodin St., Heritage North Phase 1, Smith Creek, $270,143.

            -- McCar Homes Raleigh, SFD plan change, 2220 Rainy Lake St., Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $299,990.

            -- McCar Homes Raleigh, SFD plan change, 2216 Rainy Lake St., Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $325,330.

            -- Robuck Homes Triangle, SFD plan change, 1008 Prairie Aster Court, Wildflower, Smith Creek, $250,000.

            -- McCar Homes Raleigh, SFD plan change, 2101 Rainy Lake Court, Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $290,960.

            -- Rising Sun Pools, swimming pool, 3512 Trawden Drive, Dansforth, Smith Creek, $29,000.

            -- Daniel McPhillips, contractor change, 512 S. Wingate St.

            -- Lennar Carolina, SFD plan change, 1321 Lagerfeld Way, Thornrose, Smith Creek, $125,435.

            -- Homes by Dickerson, townhome, 1215 Heritage Links Drive, Heritage Links, Smith Creek, $200,000.

            -- Homes by Dickerson, townhome, 1217 Heritage Links Drive, Heritage Links, Smith Creek, $200,000.

            -- Homes by Dickerson, townhome, 1219 Heritage Links Drive, Heritage Links, Smith Creek, $200,000.

            - Homes by Dickerson, townhome, 1221 Heritage Links Drive, Heritage Links, Smith Creek, $200,000.

            -- Homes by Dickerson, townhome, 1223 Heritage Links Drive, Heritage Links, Smith Creek, $200,000.

            -- Biltmore Homes, SFD plan change, 549 Clifton Blue St., Heritage North Phase II, Smith Creek, $220,000.

            -- Cady Construction SFD, 9928 San Remo Place, Porto Fino, Smith Creek, $320,0000.

            -- John L. Hayes Building, SFD, 246 Capellan St., St. Ive’s, Richland Creek, $350,000.

            -- Ammons Development, SFD plan change, 1037 Marshall Farm Road, Wildflower, Smith Creek, $0.

            -- Stonewood Builders, deck, 405 Capellan St., St. Ive’s, Richland Creek, $0.

            -- Matt Ortosky, screen in deck, 9305 Glamis Circle, Thornrose, Smith Creek, $11,000.

            -- BTC Custom Builders, complete attic, 1537 Green Edge Trail, Bowling Green Phase 2-A, Smith Creek, $15,000.

            -- Harland Windows & Siding, deck extension, 9705 Clover Bank St., Shearon Farms, Smith Creek, $14,000.

            -- Aptco East, townhome, 3807 Heritage Spring Circle, Heritage Spring at Wildflower, Smith Creek, $118,604.

            -- Aptco East, townhome, 3805 Heritage Spring Circle, Heritage Spring at Wildflower, Smith Creek, $114,748.

            -- Craig Thorpe, walk-thru, 3634 Rogers Road, Heritage.

            -- McCar Homes Raleigh, SFD, 2117 Rainy Lake Court, Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $315,330.

            -- Jerry Lewitsky, sunroom, 121 E. Cedar Ave., Smith Creek, $18,000.

            -- Ronald Young, deck, 2821 Penfold Lane, Prestwick, Richland Creek, $6,800.

            -- Freddie E. White, deck, 920 Borage Drive, Wallridge, Richland Creek, $2,500.

            -- Tim Nickodemus, commercial fitup, 3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Heritage Professional Park, Smith Creek, $70,000.

            -- Blue Ridge Woodworks, screen in deck, 3516 Trawden Drive, Dansforth, Smith Creek, $9,000.

            -- Medallion Construction, SFD, 10017 San Remo Place, Porto Fino, Smith Creek, $290,000.

            -- Benchmark Homes, SFD, 10004 San Remo Pleace, Porto Fino, Smith Creek, $150,000.

            -- H.J. Morris Construction, SFD, 1705 Strategy Way, Bishop’s Grant, Smith Creek, $197,036.

            -- Turning Point Builders, SFD, 604 Houndsditch Circle, Olde Mill Stream Phase 5B, Richland Creek, $205,000.

            -- Legacy Custom Homes, finish storage space, 1114 Front Gate Lane, Heritage Crest, Smith Creek, $1,600.

            -- Cady Construction, SFD, 701 Holding Ridge Court, Bennett Park, Richland Creek, $199,400.

            -- Perry Builders, repairs, 9717 Corktree Court, Shearon Farms, Smith Creek, $1,500.

            -- Centex Homes, SFD, 9001 Willington Place, Dansforth, Smith Creek, $285,400.

            -- APTCO East, townhome, 3804 Heritage Spring Circle, Heritage Spring at Wildflower, Smith Creek, $117,902.

            -- APTCO East, townhome, 3806 Heritage Spring Circle, Heritage Spring at Wildflower, Smith Creek, $117,459.

            -- H.J. Morris Construction, SFD, 1701 Strategy Way, Bishop’s Grant, Smith Creek, $223,879.

            -- Realiscape, retaining wall at new CVS, 245 Roosevelt Ave., $17,500.

            -- Smartbuilt, install doorway, 12324 Hampton Way Drive, Hampton Commons, Richland Creek, $1,200.

            -- Douglas Pond, finish basement, 3704 Amberwine Lane, Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $25,000.

            -- Cameron B. and Angela W. Turner, complete bonus room, 143 Melksham Road, The Village at Olde Mill Stream, Richland Creek, $2,500.

            -- Tripp and Nicki Black, repairs, 520 S. Main St., $80,000.

            -- Centex Homes, SFD, 1309 Vanagrif Court, Heritage North Phase 1, Smith Creek, $188,900.

            -- Sitescapes, retaining wall, 11685 Northpark Drive, North Park, Richland Creek, $100,000.

            --St. Lawrence Homes, SFD, 1512 Green Mountain Drive, Bowling Green Phase 2-A, Smith Creek, $232,407.

            -- Centex Homes, SFD, 9012 Willington Place, Dansforth, Smith Creek, $264,000.

            -- Homes by Dickerson, SFD, 500 Lolley Court, Heritage Heights, Smith Creek, $277,500.

            -- Creech Construction, SFD, 1353 Heritage Heights Lane, Heritage Heights, Smith Creek, $370,000.

            -- Chadmor Homes, SFD, 304 Capellan St., St. Ive’s, Richland Creek, $450,000.

            -- Manoj Jain, SFD, 513 Brumber Circle, Olde Mill Stream, Richland Creek, $210,000.

            -- Matt Ortesky, deck, 4009 Song Sparrow Drive, Thornrose, Smith Creek, $2,384.

            -- Matt Ortesky, deck 1504 Lagerfeld Way, Thornrose, Smith Creek, $5,493.

            -- Rising Sun Pools, swimming pool, 3528 Trawden Drive, Dansforth, Smith Creek, $23,000.

            -- APTCO East, townhome, 3801 Heritage Spring Circle, Heritage Spring at Wildflower, Smith Creek, $117,018.

            -- APTCO East, townhome, 3803 Heritage Spring Court, Heritage Spring at Wildflower, Smith Creek, $119,488.

            -- Centex Homes, SFD, 349 Dimock Way, Heritage North Phase 1, Smith Creek, $186,700.

            -- Centex Homes, SFD, 341 Dimock Way, Heritage North Phase 1, Smith Creek, $169,600.

            -- Centex Homes, SFD, 420 Dimock Way, Heritage North Phase 1, Smith Creek, $161,800.

            -- Legacy Custom Homes, townhome, 1100 Denby Pointe, Heritage Crest, Smith Creek, $200,000.

            -- Legacy Custom Homes, townhome, 1102 Denby Pointe, Heritage Crest, Smith Creek, $200,000.

            -- Legacy Custom Homes, townhome, 1104 Denby Pointe, Heritage Crest, Smith Creek, $200,000.

            -- Legacy Custom Homes, townhome, 1106 Denby Pointe, Heritage Crest, Smith Creek, $200,000.

            -- Legacy Custom Homes, townhome, 1108 Denby Pointe, Heritage Crest, Smith Creek, $200,000.

            -- Ammons Building, commercial fitup, 1839 S. Main St., Richland Creek, $39,500.

            -- St. Lawrence Homes, SFD, 1748 Main Divide Drive, Bowling Green Phase 3-A, Smith Creek, $207,250.

            -- St. Lawrence Homes, SFD, 1751 Main Divide Drive, Bowling Green Phase 3-A, Smith Creek, $208,320.

            -- St. Lawrence Homes, SFD, 1736 Main Divide Drive, Bowling Green Phase 3-A, Smith Creek, $195,440.

            -- Parker & Orleans Homebuilders, SFD, 209 Forbes Road, Reynolds Mill Phase 1, Richland Creek, $213,,450.

            -- Parker & Orleans, SFD, 116 Forbes Road, Reynolds Mill Phase 1, Richland Creek, $184,400.

            -- Parker & Orleans SFD, 212 Forbes Road, Reynolds Mill Phase 1, Richland Creek, $189,550.

            -- James and Diane Savage, storage building, 1312 Shirehall Park Lane, Northampton, Smith Creek, $2,325.

            -- Michael Gross, storage building, 9425 White Carriage Drive, Smith Creek subdivision, Smith Creek, $3,000.

            -- Jerry Lucas, covered porch, 410 Seventh St., Smith Creek, $2,800.

            -- Brem Masonry Co., handicap ramp, 410 Sixth St., Smith Creek, $2,000.

            -- JMC Construction, convert porch, 1336 Heritage Hills Way, Heritage North Phase 1, Smith Creek, $14,500.

            -- St. Lawrence Homes, SFD, 1305 Shirehall Park Lane, Northampton, Smith Creek, $287,213.

            -- Homes by Dickerson, SFD, 1505 O’Brien Circle, Heritage, Smith Creek, $490,500.

            -- Benchmark Homes, SFD, 1-104 San Remo Place, Porto Fino, Smith Creek, $150,000.

            -- McCar Homes, SFD, 3641 Willowstone Lane, Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $238,970.

            -- McCar Homes, SFD, 210 Lower Lake Road, Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $344,450.

            -- McCar Homes, SFD, 2121 Lower Lake Road, Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $347,810.

            -- McCar Homes, SFD, 2204 Rainy Lake St., Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $289,920.

            -- Lennar Carolina, SFD, 1313 Lagerfeld Way, Thornrose Phase II, Smith Creek, $172,812.

            -- Medallion Construction, SFD, 9905 San Remo Place, Porto Fino, Smith Creek, $300,000.

            -- Benchmark Homes, SFD, 9924 San Remo Place, Porto Fino, Smith Creek, $150,000.

            -- The Drees Company, SFD, 1500 Green Mountain Drive, Bowling Green Phase 2-A, Smith Creek, $205,643.

            -- Picket Fence Custom Homes, SFD, 128 E. Vernon St., Richland Creek, $220,000.

            Landmark Construction, commercial fitup, 1655 Wake Drive, Suite 102, Richland Creek, $137,994.

            -- Richard Griffin, complete attic, 1041 Gold Star Way, Heritage South, Smith Creek, $6,500.

            -- Prostruction, interior demolition, 208 S. Main St., Wake Pointe, Richland Creek, $0.

            -- Elsie Derenoncourt, deck, 1204 Cantlemere St., Richland Hills, Richland Creek, $192.

            -- Garrett Building Corp., commercial fitup, 3204 Heritage Trade Drive, Heritage Business Park Phase I, Smith Creek, $104,000.

            -- McConnell Construction, install storefront, 2513 Burlington Mills Road, Wakefield Junction, Richland Creek, $2,500.

            -- Marvin D. Edwards, replace deck 722 Quail Ave., Smith Creek, $6,000.

            -- Legacy Custom Homes, complete attic, 1228 Heritage Hills Way, Heritage North Phase I, Smith Creek, $25,000.

            -- Centex Homes, SFD, 9025 Willington Place, Dansforth, Smith Creek, $245,300.

            -- Craig Ferri, addition, 519 N. Main St., Smith Creek, $50,000.

            -- Incept Properties, commercial fitup, 12335-205 Wake Union Church Road, Tarlton Park, $31,000.

            -- McCar Homes, SFD, 2200 Rainy Lake Court, Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $315,330.

            -- McCar Homes, SFD, 2144 Rainy Lake Court, Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $352,910.

            -- Pierre and Annie Messier, deck, 928 Marshall Farm St., Wildflower, Smith Creek, $1,000.

            -- Nunn Better Custom Homes, SFD, 247 Capellan St., St. Ive’s, Richland Creek, $460,000.

            -- Bridges & Beyond, walk-thru, 104 S. White St., Suite 205, Smith Creek, $0.

            -- IHN Properties, permit renewal for SFD, 215 Kinvara Court, Vernon Park, Richland Creek, $110,000.

            -- K. Hovnanian Homes, deck, 1004 Chamberwell Ave., Richland Hills, Richland Creek, $1,690.

            -- Parker & Orleans, SFD, 112 Forbes Road, Reynolds Mill Phase I, Richland Creek, $232,150.

            -- Salon One/21, walk-thru, 121 S. White St., $0.

            -- Evolutionary Decking, deck extension, 3420 Lonesome Spur Circle, Carriage Run, Smith Creek, $24,000.

            -- St. Lawrence Homes, SFD, 1756 Main Divide Drive, Bowling Green Phase 3-A, Smith Creek, $220,000.

            -- Homes by Dickerson, SFD, 609 Walters Drive, Heritage North Phase 1, Smith Creek, $277,600.

            -- St. Lawrence Homes, SFD, 1764 Main Divide Drive, Bowling Green Phase 3-A, Smith Creek, $216,650.

            -- St. Lawrence Homes, SFD, 1739 Main Divide Drive, Bowling Green Phase 3-A, Smith Creek, $216,650.

            -- Lindy Franciose, commercial renovations, 1002 Durham Road Suite 1200, Richland Creek, $3,500.

            -- Vance Construction, commercial fitup, 929-4 Heritage Lake Road, Heritage, Smith Creek, $43,500.

            -- Make-A-Key Locksmith, walk-thru, 525 S. White St., $0.

            -- McCar Homes, SFD, 2048 Rainy Lake St., Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $316,020.

            -- Moonlite Electri & Renovation, construction trailer, 11420 Capital Blvd., Shoppes at Caveness Farms Phase 1, Richland Creek, $0.

            -- McCar Homes, SFD, 2044 Rainy Lake St., Stonegate at St. Andrews, Smith Creek, $299,990.

            -- Sue H. Holding, walk-thru, 209 S. White St., $0.

            -- Landmark Construction, construction trailer, 2824 Rogers Road, Franklin Village, Smith Creek, $500.

            -- Brian and Siobhan Finnamore, renovations, 2500 Forest Lake Court, Fairlake at Waters Edge, Richland Creek, $1,000.

            -- Heery & D.H. Griffin, construction trailer, 1150 Forestville Road, Smith Creek, $0.

            -- Yamile Rodriguez, deck, 2204 Chamberwell Ave., Richland Hills, Richland Creek, $1,000.

            -- Rice General Construction, renovations, 118 E. South Ave., $30,000.