The Denver Business Journal reports from Colorado. "As with many homebuilders around metro Denver, KB Home Colorado Inc. had a busy 2013 and seems primed to be even busier in 2014. The evidence comes by way of the company's recent single-family home land grab in metro Denver. 'We've just had so much activity by way of acquisitions we've closed down in the past few months,' said Matt Mandino, president of KB Home’s Colorado division. Mandino said the homebuilder is not finished with land purchases. 'We think it's relatively early in this housing cycle,' Mandino said. 'Our assessment of metro Denver is very favorable, which is why we've been so aggressive on the acquisition front. And we'll be increasing our community count as we go forward.'"

The Denver Post in Colorado. "Metro Denver's housing market got off to a respectable start in January, with prices steady despite a rising number of homes sold and a tight inventory, according to Metrolist, which runs the metro area's multiple listing service. The average price for new and existing homes in January, both attached and detached, was $302,251, down 3 percent from December. The number of active listings increased 5 percent from December and was up 7 percent from January 2013."

"'We are optimistic about the 2014 real estate landscape,' said Kirby Slunaker, CEO of Metrolist, in a statement. 'We'd advise any consumers who are planning on entering the market for a new home later this year to start looking early.'"

The Albuquerque Journal in New Mexico. "The flood of foreclosures began to recede in the Albuquerque metro area during 2013, dropping to the lowest level in four years. Although the pace of new foreclosures was down by half in 2013 compared to the peak, reminders of the crisis still dot neighborhoods across the metro. 'Over the last several years, in my talks with (state) legislators in both the House and Senate, most were appalled at the number of vacant homes in their districts that were either in the foreclosure process or had been foreclosed upon,' said Bill Elliott, president of the mortgage lenders group."

"'The average time from start to finish on a foreclosure in New Mexico is well over 450 days, according to the Federal Housing Finance Administration,' he said. 'I know of one case that has lasted well over five years and still has not been resolved.'"

The Phoenix Business Journal in Arizona. "Meritage Homes Corp. capped off 2013 with strong home closing revenue and profit, but like its peers nationwide saw a slowdown in orders that has stretched into 2014. 'We invested approximately $565 million during the year in land and development, and contracted for approximately 11,200 new lots in great locations at attractive prices, ending the year with about 25,700 total lots under control,' Steve Hilton, Meritage’s CEO, said during a conference."

"Hilton did, however, note that things slowed down during the second half of the year, and has remained so into 2014. 'I think people are taking a little bit longer to pull the trigger on the home-buying decision than they were a year ago,' Hilton said. 'There was much more urgency in the market a year ago as prices were rising a lot quicker. Prices are now rising more modestly and that’s slowing the buying process.'"

"'I think sales per community for the first quarter will probably be off from the first quarter of last year, but you have to remember we raised sales prices extensively over the last 12 months, so to some extent that’s purposely done,' said Larry Seay, Meritage’s chief financial officer. 'On the other hand, obviously we’d like to see increases in sales per community.'"

"Meritage doesn’t plan to budge on those prices either. 'Even at lower volume levels, at these price levels we can be more profitable than decreasing prices and increasing volume,' Hilton said."

Fox 5 in Nevada. "Home sellers hoping to recoup value lost during the recession are dealing with a glut of new properties on the market. Economic recovery has spurred a building spree, and new homes are selling, despite the fact that many have above-market prices. 'I would say we are out of intensive care but we're not ready to go home, so to speak,' said Noah Herrera, president-elect of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, of the housing market. 'Our inventory has gone up quite a bit, and there are a lot more properties on the market now,' Herrera said."

"Herrera and UNLV economist Stephen Brown are optimistic the market is heading in the right direction and will continue to do so as long as there is economic growth. Many of the new homes are prices well above $200,000, considerably higher than the median. 'We are looking for 2014 to be stronger, but if something were to happen and we were to go into another spell of weak economic activity, I think that would be a drain on the economy and a drain on the housing market,' Brown said."

The Globe and Mail on Nevada. "The majority of Canadians buy winter homes in Florida, Arizona and California, but Las Vegas is gaining attention. Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors president Heidi Kasama says there are still buying opportunities for Canadians, even with the Canadian dollar down to 90 cents (U.S.). 'Perhaps the purchasing power [for Canadians] has diminished, but the potential for continued appreciation in our market is certainly there,' she says. 'But aside from all that, this is a great place for a second home.'"

"'We come to relax for a week,' says Langley, B.C., resident Peter Saris who, with his wife Grace, purchased a three-bedroom town home in an upscale Las Vegas suburb for $300,000 in 2009. In 2009, the couple purchased a townhouse in Summerlin, a 9,100 hectare master-plan community. On paper, the Saris house dropped in price 50 per cent after the couple made their purchase but has since regained much of its value. 'We don’t look at that because we are not looking to sell,' says Mr. Saris, who tries to head south with his wife for a week every three months."