Home-Building firms have at hand, both very challenging business circumstances, as well as the opportunity to take a great leap forward in profitability, by introducing new technology to promote transparency in business operations.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the supply of foreclosed homes is rising again, signaling further downward pressure on home prices in some parts of the US. Banks and mortgage investors held a total of 645,800 foreclosed homes in January, up 4.6% from 617,286 a month earlier. Barclays projects that this number will rise to about 733,000 in April and then begin to decline gradually. With foreclosed properties accounting for roughly a fifth of all homes listed for sale nationally, this may put continued downward pressure on new home sales for some time. Not very pleasing for Builders to hear, especially after a dismal 2009. The future looks murkier still. With uneven market predictions...