REAL ESTATE : Next 3 Months Great to Build and Sell, Developer Believes

At lot of new home builders are planning lengthy winter vacations while they wait for the market to revive. But Larry Webb, president of the southeast division of Kaufman & Broad, thinks the next three months will be a great time to build and sell.

He just announced the opening of new phases in two Aliso Viejo developments--both starting at under $200,000, including a tract of single-family detached homes that begin at $189,990. And he says he has begun construction of 70 new units in the county.

A lot of people have been shouting that now is a great time to buy a home because of all the deals sellers are willing to make, and Webb figures the buying public is finally seeing that there’s some truth in it.

“If we give people great value, they will buy,” he said.

A veteran of the housing-industry collapse in Colorado in the early 1980s, Webb also said that the local downturn, while not pleasant, isn’t the end of the world.

“We’re looking at the next three months as a window of opportunity,” he said. “The traffic we see in our sales offices is all serious buyers. And with so few builders starting new homes, we are heading into a period where we’ll have a shortage. So I’m betting on that and starting new homes now to take advantage of the situation.

“Check back in three months to see if I’m right.”