A pair of reports from Florida. "Southwest Florida home builders, many of whom are still finishing residences ordered last year, are bracing themselves for the day when those jobs dry up by trimming their work forces through attrition and, in a few cases, through actual layoffs."

"'WCI has adjusted the size of its work force to be more consistent with the current business environment,' said Steve Zenker, a spokesman for the company. 'As stated previously, new orders through the first part of the year have been much lower than experienced during the same period in prior years.'"

"The picture is much the same nationally, but may be more exaggerated here because of the extent of the boom in 2004-05. 'The market is definitely slowing down,' said Michael Carliner, an economist with the National Association of Home Builders. 'I think the outlook is for declining employment by sometime next year, perhaps before then.'"

"Builder Lee Wetherington seemed to agree: 'We had too many speculators. Now we've got to burn all that inventory off. It will be burned out easily by this coming season. That is why summer and fall of next year is when you're going to see the uptick. That is how business works.'"

The Gainsville Sun. "Condominiums in Gainesville are going up and being sold in record numbers, particularly around the University of Florida campus. One under construction is asking for more than half a million dollars: $546,984 for a three-bedroom, three-bath unit."

"Realtor Eric Wild said the price tags are justified on a variety of fronts. 'The contractors aren't getting rich; they're not getting greedy,' he said."

"'For one, it's the quality of construction that warrants the price,' Realtor Bonnie Seide said. 'It's top quality, steel and brick exterior, granite countertops in the kitchens, great security and excellent management. And the location is highly appealing to buyers who want to be in a lively downtown area.'"

"Even though occasional outdoor events could disrupt someone's sleep 'when you're four stories up, it's not disturbing,' she said. 'Plus, some people want that sort of noise.'"

"John Marti said the amenities make the price worth it, with ceramic tile floors, wood cabinets, granite countertops and high-speed Internet access. 'Internet, it's like water,' he said. 'You really have to have it.'""Realtor Wild said parents, many of them alumni, see value in the long-term investment. 'If they bought a house in this area, in a couple of years they would be stuck with an old house,' he said. 'These will hold their value.'"