A pair of reports on California homebuilders. The Press Democrat, "Feeling the blow from the housing market's downturn, Sonoma County's largest home builder, Christopherson Homes is laying off 18 percent of its employees over the next three to six months, company officials said Thursday. 'We hope this downturn will be short-lived but we will continue to make adjustments deemed necessary,' said George Casey, the company's CEO."

"Five years ago, the company opened a division in Roseville to expand into the Sacramento market as home building boomed in the Central Valley. But a strong, eight-year run of sales peaked last year, hitting first in Sacramento and then in Sonoma County and the market has been coming back down. Christopherson has slowed housing starts in response."

"'Climbing interest rates, increases in energy costs and longstanding affordability issues in California's metropolitan areas are all factors that have combined to slow the market down. Christopherson Homes is not immune from macroeconomic trends,' Casey said."

"Home builders across California are starting fewer homes and pushing to sell those both under construction and completed. The aim is to reduce inventories of unsold homes so construction can meet current demand, according to the California Building Industry Association."

The Victorville Daily Press. "In response to a slowdown in home sales, builders in the High Desert are reacting in different ways, some predictable, others not. Dallas-based Centex Homes, after watching its stock price fall from the mid-$70 range to the $50 range, has sold land, with one 23-acre parcel near Luna Road going to a private developer."

"KB Home laid off 25 of its 275 employees at its Pomona office in June. Other builders, according to contractors and agents, are scaling down their floor plans, causing subcontractors to worry about whether they will have to make layoffs themselves."

"Local builder Frontier Homes has decided to make a commitment to do none of the above. In a meeting this week with about 60 subcontractors, CEO James Previti asked them to join him in streamlining operations so they can all offer affordable homes and stay in business."

"Previti said he wanted to keep his sights on Frontier's main goal: affordability. 'Prices have pushed more and more people out of the marketplace,' he said."

"'I can afford to work on a little less profit margin too,' (subcontractor) Randy Becker said. 'I've had steak and potatoes, but maybe it's time to eat hamburgers sometimes and stay in business.'"