Number Crunch

A DesignIntelligence survey found that architects with 20 or more years of experience get an average base compensation of $100,723. The Top 20 percent in this group can make $142,200.

John Burns Real Estate Consulting's survey of 218 public and private builder executives around the country, representing more than 1,600 new home communities, showed that both new home sales and expectations rose again in February. Current new home sales are still poor, but the national rating lifted to a 2 on a sale of 0 to 10.

Six months after being hired to manage Freddie Mac, CEO David Moffett announced he is stepping down.

The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 49.9 days in January 2009, reports the California Association of Realtors. In the same month in 2008, it took 70.8 days. What will be the stats following the tax credits?

Residential construction spending fell 2.8 percent in January, while in December it dropped 4.4 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the California Legislature passed a budget compromise that included a $10,000 state tax credit for home buyers. Home builders in California hope this will get the people buying. This is in addition to the $8,000 tax credit from the stimulus package President Obama signed into law.

One compact fluorescent light bulb uses about 75 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb, according to Energy Star. However, a Canadian Broadcasting Corp. report suggests energy savings associated with CFLs may be offset by higher heating bills and more greenhouse emissions.

The "Beige Book," a Federal Reserve Bank survey of regional economic conditions, found economic conditions poor with no pick-up in recovery until late 2009/early 2010.

KB Home is offering 880-square-feet, two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath houses for $64,000 in Houston. It's the company's strategy to combat the foreclosed homes the banks are selling.